La Planète des monstres

This movie features Godzilla's son, which is exactly what you'd expect to see. I believe the son is referred to as Minya. The main problem with this film is that it seems disorganized. While most Godzilla movies have the flaw of focusing too much on the humans, I'm thinking this one had the problem of focusing too much on the monsters. Minya is pretty annoying and doesn't even look much like a baby Godzilla. This features them fighting giant praying mantises on an island. That's more or less the whole plot of the movie.

I suppose the special effects aren't any worse than any of the other movies. This was just weird because it was too cutesy. It really does make me think back to the classic Godzilla film and realize how low the series has gotten. I guess it is nice to see more emphasis being placed on the actual monsters, but it's not very rewarding. I think Leonard Maltin summed it up best when he asked where Mrs. Godzilla was when you really needed her. Did Godzilla reproduce asexually? **

Son of Godzilla is one of those weird movies which inspire strange feelings. The story is unique, no Godzilla doing his typical destruction. The story centers on the very human relationship between Godzilla and his son, Minya. This movie really touched me on this level. Some scenes really stick in my mind. The great scene with Godzilla teaching Minya how to shoot radioactive fire comes to mind. There is a real bond that comes out. When Minya is confronted with a monster, i.e. a bully, Godzilla makes Minya fight his own battle but is always there to back up his son.

Godzilla protects Minya and teaches him lessons; and in one of the climactic scenes, the son fights for his father's life; this is poignant. The scene at the end of the film in which father and son embrace to huddle from the cold is touching. If you divorce this from the typical Godzilla movie, what you are left with is a movie about a very close bond between father and son. I think I'm probably the only one who appreciates this movie on this deep a level.

One question: What Hollywood movie has a positive view of a father and son relationship?--- This movie made me very emotional, go figure. In short, if you want to see a typical camp Godzilla, look elsewhere. If you want to see something with emotional content; see this movie

8++++++/10

On an island, a scientific team's experiment goes totally wrong, it mutates mantises into deadly mantises and they unearth an egg and out hatches a slimy, talking, peice of crap that keeps saying this word, WAAAAAGWAAAAAA!!!. Then we find out it's supposed to be Godzilla's son and sure enough Godzilla comes to save it and he sure kicks the deadly mantises' asses. Father and son have many more adventures together. The creature, Minya grows into this toddler Godzilla that looks much more like a human than Godzilla and puffs smoke Os, but when Godzilla steps on his tail he breathes fire. Then a huge mechanical spider named Spiega attacks Godzilla and son while the scientists' experiment causes it to snow on the island (this is the first and only Godzilla movie that shows the big G in snow). This is really silly, but a lot of fun to watch. It's not only silly, but also funny, and with an effective playful score by Masaru Satoh. I recommend this is mostly recommended to kids though.

Easy to laugh at it, but if you give yourself over to the experience you might feel some real emotion from this oddity. Godzilla is back and he's traveling to an island. On this island are a team of scientists, a reporter, a plan to stop world hunger, and giant insects. Godzilla's here to find his son. Like the previous effort, this is set on an island. Not my favorite setting for the city stomper, but this time it didn't detract from my enjoyment. Your enjoyment will all depend on how willing you are to see the ferocious monster as a dad. He's a reluctant father at first. A protector to his heir, but not all playful and loving. As the film progresses, he teachers his son the ways of atomic breath and even rubs him on the head to congratulate him. The film is aimed as a much younger audience, with Minilla being a constant source of slapstick humor. A tail in the face here, tumbling down there etc. The big insect monsters are pretty darn decent if unimaginative. The final scenes in the snow are really sweet, and as long as I'm still entertained, I'm willing to see a more human Godzilla.

Wow! I expected something along the lines of GODZILLA'S REVENGE, what I got instead was a pretty exciting giant monster film. Sure Minya does make for a few cutesy moments but I didn't feel these were overdone as badly as they could have been. Plus I thought the ending embrace was quite moving..of course it does work to take some of the hard edge off of Godzilla so some may hate it for that. I'd recommend this one mostly to older kids who love science fiction adventure stories and who won't be frightened by all the cool-looking giant insect critters. Too bad Minya and Godzilla look so thoroughly silly and goofy in comparison.