Godzilla 2000: Millennium

Godzilla saves Tokyo from a flying saucer that transforms into the beast Orga.

There are some noteworthy firsts in this film: we have the first green Godzilla (no longer the dark gray we are used to), and the first Toho Godzilla using CGI (for better or worse) in some scenes.

No, could this be the best looking man-in-suit Godzilla yet? I think so. While a bit more "rock star" this time around, he looks incredibly mean and aggressive, the monster you do not want to mess with.

This may have been the last good Godzilla movie made (as of 2014). Although, I suppose that is all a matter of taste. Some people probably dislike this one while others probably love the Gareth Edwards version.

Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999) is a movie that I recently watched on a random streaming service. The storyline follows an alien artifact that crashes to Earth leading to the emergence of Godzilla. Initially they find Godzilla's attacks to be a threat to humanity, but what he's really doing is preparing for what's about to emerge from the alien rock. What could be more threatening than Godzilla and is he powerful enough to stop the alien?

This movie is directed by Takao Okawara (Yukai) and stars Hiroshi Abe (After the Storm), Shirô Sano (Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack), Masahiko Nishimura (Princess Mononoke) and Denden (Cold Fish).

I adored that this movie went back to the Godzilla roots of a man in a costume and the traditional model trains and civilizations for Godzilla to destroy. The modern tanks and airplanes used via CGI were fine also. The dialogue in this was hilarious at times and the acting was as you'd expect for the monster universe. The alien monster CGI initially is awful but the final monster battle is fun, just not as good as some of the legendary monster fight conclusions. The music also uses the classic soundtrack which was a treat.

Overall, this falls short of some of the monster universe classics but it's still worth a viewing. I would score this a 5-5.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

I was fortunate enought to see the original Japanese version of Godzilla 2000. I have to say that this is The Best Godzilla Movie Of All Time. Instead of the futuristic technologies of the Heisei series (maser tanks, mechas and ESP), G2K presents more or less ordinary Japanese life. The only thing slightly futuristic in the movie are the JSDF's Full Metal Missiles (and the UFO itself).

I loved the human cast. G2K will be the second movie that I loved which has a human cast I enjoyed watching, the other being "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe". Katagiri and Shinoda shined throughout. Yuki Ichinose and Io Shinoda are just as good to. One of my favorite scenes with the humans is Io and Shinoda giving Yuki the runaround in their little headquarters (a scene deleted from the American version, I believe). The Godzilla Prediction Network is very well thought-out organisation. Shame they don't really exist ^_^*

MireGoji (the fan name for the 2000 suit) is one of the best G-suits in existence. The new dorsal plates are just great, especially as they light up. They seem to heat up from the inside, rather than flash. The new heat beam is just marvellous. Shame Goji lost the ability to blink.

The UFO and Orga are one of the greatest enemies Goji's had yet. Shame Orga didn't get much to do. However, his destruction was new and refreshing.

The special effects are fantastic. It's so relieving to see missiles hit their target. The CGI shots are great. My favorites are the shot of Goji swimming underwater and the tracking shot of the Full Metal Missiles under the bridge. The music by Takayuki Hattori is also fabuluous.

To sum up: GOJIRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Heh heh, what isn't there for me to love "Godzilla 2000"? Minimal computer graphics, well built city models, awesome looking makeover for the big G and a neat and fierce looking foe named Orgah. Oh, and not to mention a cute little girl named Iyo, who shows a big interest for Godzilla and Orgah (perhaps a nostalgic refrence to the monster loving kids Ken Yano and Rokku-chan?).

Alot of people seem to hate this movie due to it not having too much CG, no "super sexy" model actor or actresses or were just spoiled off of the recent Hollywood trash cinema. OMG, and someone even compaired the recent Godzilla movies to Evangellion (GAG ME!).

I however, stand up for Toho. Long live Toho! Long live the King of Monsters!

In truth, I was planning on coming here and stating how disappointed I was in this movie the second time around . . .

HOWEVER, that was before the movie ended. This may be the only Godzilla film I've seen thus far where I've enjoyed the later half more than the beginning, but I have reasons for that. Firstly, in the old movies, Godzilla didn't normally appear until the second half, allowing for background information and characters to develop. This film introduces him right away, and I believe that is so the on screen characters can begin their study and dissection of Godzilla on a scientific level (which is a "no-no." Godzilla is not science).

Also, the first half of the film relies heavily on special effects, something I wouldn't recommend to any nation other than the U.S. (not because other nations are poor at producing good CG. It's just that America has such a reputation for "pretty colors"). Godzilla started as a guy in a rubber suit. Since then, the technique has greatly improved and I love it.

Anyways, after the halfway marker, the two monster begin their final battle which is as glorious as ever in any film. I highly enjoy the miniatures and models more than any CGI. I can't remember a Godzilla flick with more on-screen destruction, and in such a modernized Japan as well.

The very ending, I would also like to bring up, is very romanticized, exciting, and visionary. Probably my favorite ending of any Godzilla movie.

Finally, I want to mention the music. Most of the soundtrack doesn't really make an effect on me, and sometimes it even stole the mood away from what it should have been . . . but as I said before, I liked the ending. I even spied the theme song from the original 1954 "Gojira" in the ending credits (Cool!) as well as other familiar tunes which I couldn't forget.

I did, however, think that the acting could have done with some work. Otherwise, the storyline and ingenuity matched all previous film plot lines.

There will always be fans of Godzilla, and from what I've seen there is only room for improvement.