Godzilla: Final Wars

The promotional poster for Godzilla: Final Wars

Godzilla: Final Wars ゴジラファイナルウォース, Gojira: Fainaru Uōsu?) is the 50th anniversary film and the 28th installment in the Godzilla film series.

File:Final Wars Poster.jpg

The promotional poster for Godzilla: Final Wars

Godzilla: Final Wars ゴジラファイナルウォース, Gojira: Fainaru Uōsu?) is the 50th anniversary film and the 28th installment in the Godzilla film series.

The movie was released theatrically in Japan on December 4, 2004 grossing an estimated ¥1,200,000,000 ($10,000,000[1]. Godzilla: Final Wars has the largest budget ever used in the Godzilla franchise around ¥2,000,000,000 ($20,000,000)[2]. The film was released on DVD and Video in Japan on July 22, 2005, and in America on Columbia/Tri Star DVD on December 13, 2005.

It was directed by Ryuhei Kitamura and produced by Shogo Tomiyama. As a 50th anniversary celebratory film, a large group of actors from previous Godzilla films, both classic and recent, made appearances as main characters or cameo appearances. This goes for the monsters as well, as most of the monsters in the film had been missing from the screen for more than 30 years.

Contrary to the title, this will not be the final Godzilla film—Toho has decided to temporarily "retire" the character for a period of 5-10 years (possibly around 2013 [3]) in order to renew interest in the series.

Plot Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In the early 21st century, extensive warfare and careless science had mutated or awakened great beasts of all sorts. During that period, the frequent occurrence of enormous monsters had become commonplace, and thus, the Earth Defense Force (known in short as the EDF) was established by the Japanese government. The sole purpose of the force was to combat the monsters and hopefully restore peace to the world. During the worldwide wave of monsters, mutant humans with superhuman strength and extraordinary physical capabilities were discovered whose origins or mutations were not yet understood. The EDF realized the potential and effectiveness of the mutants as super soldiers, and established a subdivision known as the M-Organization. Utilizing the mutants' handy physical feats and superior piloting skills, along with the militaries' best war machines, the threat was slowly subdued and the monsters were slowly but surely defeated.

However, many years earlier in 1954, the greatest enemy that the EDF faced first appeared and died from that point on but had returned somehow and frequently attacked Japan in the 1960s during the great monster wars. This monster was the King of the Monsters, Godzilla. While they succeeded in defeating all the other monsters, Godzilla was the only one remaining and continually threatened mankind. One year, the EDF's best battleship—the Gotengo—was battling Godzilla deep in Antarctica. It was only with the help of a large earthquake that the crew of the Gotengo was able to finally triumph against Godzilla. The earthquake had caused the ground to split and cave in beneath Godzilla, causing him to fall into a seemingly bottomless pit which was followed by an avalanche of ice and rock caused by missiles fired from the Gotengo that buried Godzilla and imprisoned him in an eternal icy tomb.

Decades later in the near future of the mid 21st century, peace has been recognized worldwide with the exception of very rare, but occasional monster attacks. The EDF has easily defeated such threats, and the monster-scare has become a thing of the past. During this time a mysterious mummified monster is found off the coast of Hokkaido and is being suspended by large support cables in the EDF warehouse/hangar and being researched. It was calculated at being 12,000 years old and composed of organic and machine tissue, making it a cyborg. It is also discovered that the monster's D.N.A. contains M Base, which is also found in Earth's mutant soldiers. The two Shobijiin fairies reveal the creature's name to be Gigan, an evil monster from space that was sent to wipe out life on Earth, but was subdued by Mothra. They give the mutant Shinchi Ozaki a small sword, saying he has a important destiny coming up and that he must choose his fate.

Suddenly the largest group of monsters appear at one time simultaneously and attack major cities of the world. The EDF is dispatched and valiantly attempts to defeat the monsters. A supersonic pteranodon creature known as Rodan streamlines through New York leaving it in flames. The giant mutant iguana, Zilla, tramples Sydney, Australia. The armored, spiky ankylosaur, Anguirus destroys the buildings and scenery in Shanghai. In Okinawa, Japan, the giant shisa King Caesar marches through an oil refinery. Kamacuras, a high-speed mantis, cuts through Paris, and tears the city to shreds. A trailer home in Phoenix, Arizona is crushed by a giant desert tarantula, Kumonga. In Tokai, Japan, a petrochemical complex gets smashed by the giant crimson lobster, Ebirah.

Astonishingly, during the international devastation, an alien race known as the Xilians appears and captures the monsters, and proposes a peaceful union with mankind. They reveal that an asteroid named Gorath was going to collide with Earth unless all weapons are pointed at it. The missing Secretary of Defense, who was considered dead when Rodan attacked his plane, began to pursue a new future with the Xilians, claiming that humanity will become the Space Nations. But distrust of the Xilians begin to fume. When the Secretary was attacked by a distrustful man, his blood was analyzed and soon to be found out to be not human. Worse, the image of Gorath was nothing more than a hologram. Shinchi feared that the Xilians were plotting a takeover of Earth, and that many of their leaders could have been compromised. He could only trust one man, Captain Gordon, who fired the missiles that sealed Godzilla.

Doctor Miyuki Otanashi went looking through the files of the Secretary but is caught by the EDF leader. But Gordon came in at the last moment and shot her, revealing the leader to be an impostor. They bring the corpse of the clone to the broadcast studio where the Xilians were on live television, also revealing the Secretary as a fake. The second-in command of the Xilians, known as the Controller, shot his commander, tired of his plans to peacefully takeover. Using his species' control over M-base, he takes control of the mutants, except Shinchi, and releases the monsters to resume their attacks on the cities and send out an army of small fighter ships to assist in leveling and decimating the human civilization. M-Unit commander Muasaka held off his former command while the others escaped. But their escape is partially hindered by Kazama, a fellow mutant, who Shinchi is able to subdue.

In a secret hanger, the Gotengo crew set out on a risky, last resort plan to defeat the Xilians, releasing Godzilla from Area G. But the only risk is that Godzilla may be controlled by the Xilians. Unfortunately, the Controller unleashes Gigan to follow them. They succeed in unfreezing Godzilla, who battles with Gigan and wins, though it is later revealed that he does not actually kill him, despite that the cyborg was completely decapitated by Godzilla's atomic ray. The Controller, unfamiliar with the more ancient creature. Godzilla, thinking he was still battling with the Gotengo, chases after it, as the crew leads him to Sydney, where he defeats Zilla. He then proceeds to defeat Kumonga, Kamacuras, Anguirus, King Caesar, Rodan, Ebirah, and Hedorah before he is finally brought to the Xilian mothership. The Gotengo attempts to destroy the mothership but its shield are too strong and has to be busy with fighters. Kazama takes a fighter right through, destroying the generator, allowing the Gotengo to drill through to the core and attempted to fire the Maser, only for Xilians to beam onboard nad kill the non-essential crewmembers, bringing the four most important ones, Shinchi, Miyuki, Gordon and pilot Akiko Namikawa to the Controller. He reveals that the Xilians want the mitochondria in human cells to survive and were simply demolishing civilization to show humanity its place as "cattle". He also reveals that he and Shinchi are Kaiser, a fusion of mutant and human DNA, which allowing Shinchi to escape his control. But the Controller attempts to turn Shinchi to his Xilian nature only for the process to be stopped by Miyuki, who uses the Shobijiin's sword to free him. Then the Secretary of Defense and the EDF leader are revealed to be alive, having escaped imprisonment. As they humans make their escape, Shinchi battles the Controller, ultimately winning. Going insane, the Controller self-destructs the mothership, intend on taking everyone down with him. Shinchi is able to get on the Gotengo just as the mothership is destroyed.

Godzilla battles a new, final foe known as Monster X while Mothra battles a rebuilt Gigan. Gigan perishes as Mothra turns the cyborg's own power against him, just as the remaining crew are victorious. Godzilla is still fighting Monster X, who soon transforms into his true form, Keizer Ghidorah, who starts to drain the lifeforce of Godzilla. Ozaki, one of the mutant super-soldiers, transfers his "Kaiser energy" to Godzilla and restores his strength and empowers him. Godzilla destroys two of his enemy's heads and tosses him around the ruins of Tokyo. Finally, he hurls Kaiser Ghidorah into the air and fires his over powered red atomic breath to destroy Kaiser Ghidorah. Godzilla then tries to kill the crew of the Gotengo, but his son, Minya, calms him down. Together, they leaved the ruined Toyko and Godzilla lets out one final roar for 50 years of destruction.

Characters

Shinchi Ozaki is the main protagonist of the film, and is a Keizer Japanese mutant, and was recruited by the EDF, and was

the main mutant for the Gotengo. He was the only mutant to not be controlled until the battles, and defeated the Controlller.

Captain Gordonis the Gotengo's current captain in the future. He was accused of nearly losing the Gotengo with Manda. He

had devised a plan to wake Godzilla in fighting the other monsters after he trapped him in the South Pole several years ago.

Biologist Ms. Otonoshi is the female lead of the film. Shinchi Ozaki was sent to be her bodyguard. Her occupation was

United Nations biologist. She was in the Final War. During the final war battle at the Mothership, a Xillian resembles her. '

Akiko Namikawa is the driver of the Gotengo, and was less braver than Captain Gordon. He was one of the four people who

were alive and fought Xillians in the Mothership. He was afraid of Godzilla, but successfully saved the Earth.

'The Controller of Planet X is the main antagonist and villain of the film. He is immature, and is the most powerful

Keiser Xillian. He controlled many monsters to destroy cities, but was defeated by Ozaki in battle, and was killed.

M-Unit Commander Kumasaka is the commander who leads the M Organization and the Mutant humans. However, when the mutants

were controlled, he needed to fight all of them except Ozaki and Kazama. He was killed by the mutants and failed to defeat them.

Kenita is a boy who lives in Mt. Fuji with his hunting grandfather. He found Minila(although called him Milla), and was

unharmed in the wars. At the end, he made peace to stop his grandfather from shooting Godzilla with his rifle.

Kazama is the mutant who the partner of Shinchi Ozaki. He was brainwashed by the Controller of Planet X, and fought

Ozaki but lost. Ozaki spared and let him live. He piloted a Air Force plane into the Barrier Shield and was killed.

Kaiju

Godzilla is the main star of the film. In 1954, Kenita's grandfather and the Opening Credits clip show of most of his

films had explained mankind had made Godzilla angry because they awoken him in a nuclear explosion, and he had attacked Japan and blamed the country for mutating his body making himself look like a monster. However, Godzilla was not a evil monster, and he showed his spare of Earth by saving the entire planet of eliminating off his monster foes in the Final Wars.

Monster X is the primary antagonistic kaiju of the film, and formely the main villain monster. He had been put in his

home-meteor called Gorath. He had later turned into Kaiser Ghidorah when Godzilla and Monster X both could not end their battle quickly after their powers were too similar. However, Godzilla's empowered help from the Earth Defence Force had made Monster X-2 become destroyed after Godzilla quickly had become stronger, smarter, and more powerful than the monster.

Gigan also is a primary villain in the movie, as he had been sent by aliens 12,00 years ago to destroy all living life

on Earth to make civilization development for the Xilliens and the M Nebula Space Hunter Aliens. Mothra was able to hold him off after she had formed into Fire Mothra, killing Gigan. He had new Chainsaw-Claws, and he still was no match for Godzilla's atomic breath, but surprisingly, the atomic breath that blew off his head did not kill him. He paired with Monster X.

Reaction

Godzilla Final Wars received mixed reviews from fans. It was intended to be a "monster mash" to celebrate Godzilla's long history, but due to the large cast of monsters, each was only allowed limited screen time. Furthermore, the movie departed from previous films in the series by introducing elements of human-focused action — an addition that was variously praised and condemned. The film makes a number of obvious references to The Matrix, Independence Day, X-Men, and Star Wars, which attracted some criticism from audiences.

The monster fights in Final Wars are unusually short for the series, with many of the beasts apparently suffering from the stormtrooper effect. This was done to make Godzilla appear far more powerful than he had in the past, and to solve the problem of having 14 monsters jammed into one film. This decision has been proved generally unpopular with Godzilla fans.

Box Office

Any hopes Toho had of Godzilla: Final Wars ending the series with a box office bang were crushed when the film opened in Japan on December 4, 2004. In its opening weekend, it came in third at the box office, with a mild $1,874,559 gross. It was crushed at the box office by Howl's Moving Castle and The Incredibles, and ended its run with an unprofitable $12 million

Godzilla : Final Wars outside Japan

In a majority of countries (US, Thailand, Germany, etc.) Godzilla: Final Wars went straight to DVD. While it did go theatrical in France on August 31st, 2005 with a DVD release almost a year later on August 26th, 2006. G:FW also saw a theatrical release in China on July 22, 2005. In October of 2005, Godzilla: Final Wars had a straight to television release on Halloween in Russia with a DVD release soon after. Thailand was the first country to release the film on DVD and VCD in April of 2005. The film was easily accessible to people around the world from www.ethaicd.com. Toho Co., LTD. then made the webstore halt any further shipments until the film got a wider release.

Locations

New York City(attacked by Rodan)
Okinawa,Japan (attacked by King Caesar)
Sydney, Austrailia(attacked by Zilla)
Tokai, Japan (attacked by Ebirah)
Shanghai, China (attacked by Anguirus)
Paris, France (attacked by Kamacuras)
Tokyo, Japan (attacked by Gigan)
Phoenix, Arizona (attacked by Kumonga)
Kanazuru, Japan (Godzilla fights Kamacruas)
Papua, New Guinea (Godzilla fights Kumonaga)
Mount. Fuji (Godzilla fights King Caesar, Rodan, Anguirus , and where Minila was found by Kenita)
South Pole (where Godzilla is imprisoned in ice)

Music

The Music in Godzilla: Final Wars was composed by Keith Emerson, Daisuke Yano and Nobuhiko Morino, while the band Sum 41 contributed the song We're All To Blame to the soundtrack. Some critics expressed concern with the music of Final Wars, arguing that Emerson's score would be better suited for television or video games, while others pointed out that it made a refreshing change from the music of previous Godzilla films. Most kaiju fans missed the music of the original, especially the contributions made by composer Akira Ifukube. Some believe the score would be better off as stock Ifukube music from earlier films.

Goofs

=Sony's DVD

The name of the alien invaders is spelled "Xilian" in the film and Japanese publicity materials, and "Xilien" is Sony's press sheets.
The Son of Godzilla has no less than three names on the Sony disc; the Chapter Menu uses the American name "Minya", the subtitles use "Minilla" (a direct translation of the Japanese name Minira, as in "Mini Gojira"), and Toho's English dub calls him "Milla".

In film

When the Gotengo drills into the ship, the Xillians come and kill the crew members as the Controller of Planet X orders. When

the protagonists come back to the ship, the crewmembers have vanished, and there is no remaining bodies. The movie was released theatrically in Japan on December 4, 2004 grossing an estimated ¥1,200,000,000 ($10,000,000[1]. Godzilla: Final Wars has the largest budget ever used in the Godzilla franchise around ¥2,000,000,000 ($20,000,000)[2]. The film was released on DVD and Video in Japan on July 22, 2005, and in America on Columbia/Tri Star DVD on December 13, 2005.