KAIJU VIRGIN #50

I liked Mothra a lot more before watching the Rebirth trilogy. Her original film is still near the top of my kaiju ranking, but this family friendly triple header sits closer to the bottom. I'm now kind of tired of the character's world and am happy to be getting a break for a few films.

Of the three, I enjoyed Rebirth III the most. The kiddie humor is dialed way back and the monster fights are improved.…

KAIJU VIRGIN #49

This was the first Godzilla film I saw in theaters. My family had the VHS tape and I watched it a bunch like you do with the few movies your family owns. I even think I listened to the soundtrack once. I never thought it was great, the failures just really dawned on me with this viewing after working my way through 45 years of previous Godzilla history. But at the end of the day I don't…

KAIJU VIRGIN #47

An outstanding sequel to Guardian of the Universe, this second Heisei Era Gamera film improves upon its impressive predecessor in nearly every regard. An alien invasion sweeps Japan after a swarm of creatures, dubbed Legion by the military, hitch a ride on some meteors. The initial investigation of the landing sites have the atmosphere of an early X-Files episode. Once the man-sized insectoid extraterrestrials reveal themselves in the subway system and within dark warehouses, the series goes…

KAIJU VIRGIN #45

This is what happens when you add stakes to a film. I realize it seems absurd to praise a series that has continued on for 25 years after this film for finality, but at the time this was going to be it. Toho was going to end their Godzilla series so that American could have its own trilogy (don't count your raptor Godzilla eggs before they hatch). They went about this in such a smart way. Godzilla,…