I love this movie so much

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Godzilla's back and has a new look... I like this 1985 Godzilla because he looks and acts more animal. He's clearly perfect. And To add to this, I must talk about Raymond Burr, he returns and reprises his role but both he and some of those in the American Army don't do much for the plot, they just sit and stand around and tell things which I really don't care for. All and all this film is great and I love it! (The Japanese version that is.) 9/10 highly recommended.

(review of Japanese 103 minute cut: Gojira, aka 'The Return of Godzilla) This was a mixed bag for me. There wasn't that much middle ground for me on this viewing - on the one hand, this has some of (not, not some of, simply) the best use of a Godzilla as far as a man in a suit, not to mention with the practical effects, the use of miniatures (for instance the special flying machine that they use to especially zap Godzilla as opposed to the usual nuclear bombs, but we'll get to that in a moment), and the sets. It's sophisticated for the time even if at certain moments it may seem dated. It is, but that didn't stop me being riveted during every moment Godzilla was on screen, whether it was stomping all over a nuclear facility or, of course, all over Tokyo, and this latter part takes up much of the 2nd half of the movie (or at least the last half hour or more). The money, however much they spent, is up there on the screen. Even the film stock works to make it terrifying at times.On the other hand though, this is a return not just to Godzilla as a legitimate threat after something like 20 years as a "bad guy" (the last time he wasn't doing something 'heroic' in some way, whether it was battling other, worse monsters, or hanging out with his son or fighting aliens or whatever, was Mothra vs Godzilla), and the tone is meant to be going back to what was done at the start in Honda's Gojira and to an extent it's first sequel, Godzilla Raids Again. The problem here though is that the filmmakers focus on two story lines with the humans: one is relatively compelling and emotional, with a character who first discovers some men on a boat who have been killed by some unknown entity (and he also does battle with, uh, monster sea lice, yeah, it's weird), and then is questioned by scientists and officials about what he's seen and it's confirmed it is Godzilla, and then the guy's sister comes into the picture. But the other storyline involves the government itself and... dull is too nice a word.I don't know how it will be for others in the audience - and again, this is the original Japanese version I'm talking about, I haven't seen the American re-edit, which features Raymond Burr to connect it to the original American re-edit of the 54 film, and was panned by a lot of critics including sci-fi geek Roger Ebert - but there's a stretch of this movie I checked out of. I understood what the prime minister was dealing with was meant to be dramatic, but the conflict here, which involves the Soviets and to an extent the US and using nuclear weapons (including a missile from outer space) is more dated than any Godzilla costume or tiny airplane or set of cars. At the time the threat of nuclear annihilation was in the air, but even then it was sort of in its last gasp of air, and seeing the prime minister have to mediate between Russians and Americans is acted so poorly and written so stiffly that it occurs to me even more how necessary the satire on bureaucracy in Shin Godzilla is (which, like this movie, features little title cards showing who certain people are, though the new one goes even more nuts for it).I think if you watch this only for the Godzilla action, it is incredible. It's shot in a way that is intentionally menacing - low angle shots of Godzilla return, how long had it been by then! - and the suit looks really sharp for its time, and the explosions and lighting are a great homage to the style that Honda originated with Toho's special effects people in 1954. If only the rest of the ho-hum movie (and yes the actors playing the 'ordinary' non-military/government people are quite good, though stock), with its barebones story and War-Games style theatrics around nuclear launch codes and outdated synth score (yes, synth can be dated folks), it could be one of the greats in the series.

Unfortunately, I have yet to locate a copy of the original Japanese version, so I only have the bastardized dubbed version to review. Anyway,I'll get on with the review. I had mixed feelings about this film. There are elements of this film which I like, and others that I don't.I'll start with the things I do like. For one thing, the soundtrack is brilliant, perhaps on a par with Ifukube's music. It is dark and foreboding, giving the movie a real ominous feeling. Next is the effects work. I'm a longtime fan of suitmation, which I feel is an unappreciated special effects style. Not to mention the intricate Tokyo set. I love miniatures, and the mini Tokyo in this film is a doozy. I really love the opening, and also the first time we see Godzilla, emerging from the mist, growling threateningly, and subsequently destroying the power plant. It's a truly brilliant moment, especially with that tense and creepy music playing.Now for the things I don't enjoy. For one, when Godzilla finally does show up in Tokyo, it's a bit of an anticlimax. Big G doesn't really destroy much, he just walks around a bit. Don't get me wrong, the rampage isn't the only reason for watching the movie, but it is an integral part of many Godzilla movies (I say "many" because in some of the films there is very little city destruction, as they focus more on the combat of the monsters, which is fine for films with two or more monsters, because you don't need the city destruction as much when monsters are fighting), and the fact that Tokyo is left largely intact is disappointing to me. This one only applies to the bastardized version only, and of course, that is, the added scenes of American actors. Pointless, dull, bad acting and annoying. So that's my two scents on Godzilla 1985, or The Return of Godzilla, or just Godzilla. Whatever you want to call it.

I love it when artists refer to their other work. In the 'Masters of Horror' sequence 'Deer Woman' directed by John Landis one of the characters mentions the "...giant mutant wolf they shot in Piccadilly Circus back in 1980..." an obvious reference to 'American werewolf in London' also directed by Landis.The best line in the Americanized release of Godzilla 1985 (or Gojira 1984) goes to Raymond Burr, reprising his role of Steve Martin from the original Godzilla movie. After the American general orders planes to attack the monster one of the observers wonders aloud "Do you think it will work?" And Burr deadpans "It didn't last time..."Now THAT's Theater!