Godzilla vs. Biollante
| Godzilla vs. Biollante | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Kazuki Omori |
| Written by | Story: Shinichirō Kobayashi Screenplay: Kazuki Omori |
| Produced by | Tomoyuki Tanaka Shogo Tomiyama |
| Starring | Kunihiko Mitamura Yoshiko Tanaka Koji Takahashi Megumi Odaka |
| Music by | Koichi Sugiyama |
| Distributed by | Toho |
Release dates | December 16, 1989 |
Running time | 105 min. |
| Languages | Japanese English |
| Budget | US $5,000,000 |
Godzilla vs. Biollante (ゴジラVSビオランテ, Gojira tai Biorante) is a 1989 daikaiju film, the seventeenth entry in Toho's Godzilla series and a direct sequel to The Return of Godzilla. It was the second film in the series released in the Heisei period (Emperor Hirohito had died earlier in the year). The film was written and directed by Kazuki Omori with special effects by Koichi Kawakita.
This film focuses on biotechnology, specifically the dangers of its use, its potential effects on the balance of power, and the threat of germ warfare. In addition to the genetic mutation Biollante and the second incarnation of the "Super X" flying battleship, it features a heavy element of espionage and several action sequences inspired by the James Bond films, as for the film's director Kazuki Omori himself being a fan of James Bond.
The film is often considered by fans to be a landmark achievement, and has received praise for its creative photography, original plot and special effects. Some, however, frown upon the movie for its limited amount of actual battle sequences.
Plot
The movie begins where The Return of Godzilla left off, with Godzilla (Kenpachirō Satsuma) sealed away inside of a volcano and a scientific team picking through the ruins of a ravaged district of Tokyo, searching for tissue samples left behind by Godzilla. A team of American paramilitary soldiers working for a United States-based genetics research company called Bio-Major attempts to escape with a sample, but is overcome by a lone mercenary and the samples are stolen.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, a Japanese researcher named Dr. Genshiro Shiragami (Kōji Takahashi) looks forward to returning home to Japan with his daughter, Erika (Yasuko Sawaguchi). However, a terrorist bombing destroys the research facility in which he works and kills Erika.
Five years later, in 1990; Dr. Shiragami is now a haunted dreamer, who has lately turned most of his attention to the study of the psychic energy of roses. A young psychic named Miki Saegusa (Megumi Odaka), who also heads an institution for intuitive children, aids him in his research. Dr. Shiragami is now seen as a harmless old man who uses his scientific knowledge to satisfy his own curiosity.
However, two groups are watching Shiragami: a gang of thieves hired by Bio-Major and an assassin from a Middle Eastern country called Saradia. As it turns out, Dr. Shiragami is involved in the study of Godzilla cells. It is believed by Shiragami's employers that he is aiding them in figuring out how to utilize the cells' properties to create an Anti-Nuclear Bacteria (ANB), which is supposed to be used as weapons against Godzilla. The bacteria are designed to devour all radioactive material, and should prove fatal to Godzilla, but Shiragami, unbeknown to everyone, has been conducting his own secret experiments...
When both the thieves and the assassin catch each other breaking into Shiragami's laboratory, a gunfight ensues. It is interrupted by an attack of a giant, mobile plant that kills one man and nearly kills another. The surviving thief flees, and the assassin barely escapes from the plant's grasp. Neither group realizes that they have just encountered the result of Dr. Shiragami's secret experimentations.
The next morning a giant flower is seen in a nearby lake, and Dr. Shiragami confesses that he combined the DNA of roses with that of Godzilla. Furthermore, he confesses privately to a young official that he had, in a fit of desperate grief, added the DNA of his daughter Erika to the mutated genetic structure, so that some of the creature is composed of Erika as well. He names the plant Biollante.
Meanwhile, Bio-Major anonymously sends a letter to the Diet of Japan, informing Japan's government that they have planted several bombs inside Mt. Mihara, Godzilla's current prison. If the anti-nuclear bacteria is not handed over, the company threatens to detonate the bombs and release Godzilla. With the entire country held hostage, the government is forced to comply. The trade-off with the remaining thief goes well until the Saradian agent (the assassin) shows up, killing the thief before stealing the ANB. The thief dies before he can show Lieutenant Goro Gondo (Tōru Minegishi) and Dr. Kazuhito Kirishima (Kunihiko Mitamura) how to deactivate the explosives, which are set on a timer. The bombs go off, Mt. Mihara erupts, and the mighty Godzilla is free once again.
Upon hearing Godzilla's roar, Biollante's blossom opens, and the plant monster begins calling out to Godzilla. Dr. Shiragami theorizes that this is because both Godzilla and Biollante are essentially the same being. With Godzilla's destination made clear, the JSDF prepare their strategies for dealing with the indestructible monster. The "Super X-II", a remote controlled and stronger version of the first "Super X", is deployed, and though at first seems effective in combating Godzilla, is eventually overwhelmed by Godzilla's atomic breath, and is forced to retreat.
Godzilla reaches Biollante. A huge battle ensues, and briefly it appears that there is a stalemate. However, Godzilla's atomic breath has an adverse effect on the composition of Biollante's cells, and the plant monster begins to disintegrate from exposure to the attack. With Biollante apparently dead, Godzilla continues on.
By now, the JSDF is ready, with the young Major Sho Koruki (Masanobu Takashima) in charge of operations. It is theorized that Godzilla, running low on radioactive energy after its fights with the Super X-II and Biollante, will head towards the nearest operational nuclear reactor, which is located in Tsuruga, on the other side of the country. All of Japan's military is sent out to meet Godzilla at Iso Bay.
Unexpectedly, Godzilla surfaces in Osaka bay, avoiding a confrontation with the JSDF. Saegusa tries to help, attempting to make Godzilla turn away from Osaka. Her efforts distract Godzilla momentarily, but the force of Godzilla's will and his physic brainpower, being infinately beyond Saegusa's, overwhelms the young psychic, and she faints. A plan is put into action, involving infecting Godzilla with the regained ANB, which Dr. Shiragami helped develop. In its final battle the Super X-II is destroyed by Godzilla after luring it into Osaka's business District. Here a division of soldiers, including Lieutenant Gondo, carrying rocket launchers equipped with the ANB awaits the monster. The operation is initially successful, despite the death of Lieutenant Gondo, with ANB injected into Godzilla at three different points, including his mouth. Godzilla is unaffected by the germs, and continues on.
The failure of the bacteria to work is attributed to Godzilla's low body temperature, which keeps the bacteria in a near-dormant state. If Godzilla can be heated, Shiragami theorizes, then the ANB should work. The JSDF develops another plan: lure Godzilla onto a field of microwave-emitting plates during an artificial thunderstorm, where it will be heated by the microwaves.
The operation begins, but it seems that Godzilla is not affected by the microwaves as he crushes plate after plate beneath his feet. Just as everything seems lost, a low rumble is heard and Biollante's spores rain down from the sky. Suddenly a larger more Godzilla-like Biollante emerges from the ground. After destroying all nearby land forces, Biollante attacks Godzilla, and the two massive monsters fight to the death with Godzilla winning the battle by blasting out biollante's back.Saving Japan from biollante. Suddenly, however, Godzilla begins to wobble and, losing its balance, falls headfirst into the ocean. With the intense battle raising its body temperature, the ANB inside of Godzilla became active. With Godzilla temporarly knocked out, the fatally wounded Biollante succumbs to her injuries and dies, disintegrating and once again, firing her spores into space. As the monster's remains float upwards, Dr. Shiragami sees the image of his daughter among the spores. Calling out to her, he walks forward and gets killed by the Saradian agent, who is still after Godzilla's cells. Godzilla has become to weakned to escape. Dr. Kirishima chases the agent and fights him. The agent is at a disadvantage until he is able to grab his weapon again. Unarmed, Kirishima awaits certain death as the agent, from atop an inactive microwave plate, takes aim. Suddenly the agent disintegrates and Major Koruki removes his finger from the button that activated the plate.
With everything resolved, the characters take a moment to reflect and relax, when a dark form rises from the water. It is Godzilla, whose body temperature has been lowered by the cool sea water. With the ANB inactive again, Godzilla is healthy again, albeit restricted to the ocean. Seemingly content with this, Godzilla turns and heads for deeper waters.
The body of Dr. Shiragami is placed inside a tent, with his superior briefly mourning him before leaving. Erika is heard to comment on the events of the film, and the film concludes with a shot of Godzilla swimming away.
Box office
In Japan, the film sold approximately 2 million tickets, earning $7,000,000.
Critical reaction
Ed Godziszewski of Monster Zero said the film is "by no means a classic" but felt that "for the first time in well over 20 years, a [Godzilla] script is presented with some fresh, original ideas and themes."[1] Joseph Savitski of Beyond Hollywood said the film's music is "a major detraction," but added that it's "not only one of the most imaginative films in the series, but also the most enjoyable to watch."[2] Japan Hero said, "[T]his is definitely a Godzilla movie not to be missed."[3]
Scott Ashlin of 1000 Misspent Hours felt Godzilla vs. Biollante was the best of the Heisei era Godzilla movies, adding: "It has a complex story that is not hobbled by glaring internal contradictions; its characters, though sketchy, are at least well enough differentiated that I did not have to spend half the time trying to figure out who was who (this would become a real problem later on), and while its plot does suffer from several bewildering non-sequiturs, the problem isn't severe enough to tear the story apart from the inside out (again, that would come with later movies)."[4] Anthony Romero of Toho Kingdom said "there are some obvious faults in the film, but it’s still a very enjoyable ride, and one that is required viewing for fans of the kaiju genre."[5]
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (December 2007) |
This film was the winner of a contest posed by Toho. The concept was created Shinichiro Kobayashi, a dentist. His script was widely different from the final film, the few parts that remained were Erika's death, Biollante's creation, a psychic girl, and for the most part, the ending. This first draft also had Dr. Shiragami first create a rat/fish hybrid monster named Deutalios who was quickly killed by Godzilla. This was cut and replaced by Godzilla's battles with Biollante's rose stage and Super X-II. In another ending, Biollante sacrifices herself to defeat Godzilla by turning into a wave of pure energy.
DVD Releases
There are currently no stated plans to release Godzilla vs. Biollante on Region 1 DVD from Miramax Home Entertainment.
Toho has released the film several times on DVD in Japan, but as a Region 2 release and without English subtitles.
There was a Region 3 release by Universe Laser & Video co. as a budget title alongside The Return of Godzilla. It contains Japanese and Cantonese Audio and also includes English subtitles.
References
External links
- "ゴジラvsビオランテ (Gojira tai Biorante)" (in Japanese). Japanese Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-07-19.
- Godzilla vs. Biollante at IMDb
- Godzilla vs. Biollante at AllMovie
- Godzilla vs. Biollante at Rotten Tomatoes
