| A large meteorite crashes into the Pacific Ocean, initiating a string of natural disasters. It even awakens Godzilla! On one of the Indonesian Islands, a landslide uncovers a gigantic egg. The Marutomo Corporation, in partnership with the Japanese government, had planned to exploit the island. They recruit a tomb-raiding adventurer named Takuya to investigate the strange object. He, his ex-wife Masako, and company man Ando make the journey to Infant Island. There, they make contact with tiny faeries called the Cosmos. The egg is Mothra’s, and the Cosmos detail their history. Long ago, they tried to control the Earth’s climate. Their ancient race was wiped out by this environmental tampering, with their guardian Mothra locked in mortal combat with her dark counterpart Battra. The current instability of the Earth’s environment mirrors that ancient time. Battra, a manifestation of the Earth’s life force, has reawakened! The Battra larva tunnels underground to Japan. It emerges, and attacks Nagoya.
The Marutomo Corporation orders the egg and the Cosmos brought back to Japan. En route, both Godzilla and Battra converge on the ship. Battered by two larger and brutal foes, the newly hatched Mothra larva swims back to Infant Island. Godzilla and Battra continue their battle underwater, and disappear into a volcano. In Japan, both Ando, and later Takuya, abduct the Cosmos for commercial exploitation. Mothra comes to Japan to rescue them. After battling the military, she makes a cocoon on the Diet Building and matures into her adult form. Just in time: Godzilla emerges from Mount Fuji, and Battra erupts from the sea and morphs into a flying form. While Mothra and Battra battle in the skies above Yokohama, Godzilla lays waste to the city below. When the three monsters meet, the battling bugs will have to put their differences aside to overcome the power of Godzilla.
Godzilla And Mothra: The Battle For Earth is a strong entry in the Heisei series. It has a lighter tone than the previous Heisei films. There is some blundering by the amateur explorers on Infant Island (Ando even wears a suit and tie in the jungle), and bickering between the estranged couple of Takuya and Masako. Their daughter, Midori, is the first prominent child character in the Heisei series. Psychic Miki Saegusa returns, though in a much smaller role. The film re-uses some plot elements of the original 1961 Mothra, and has a prominent environmental message. There are some great FX sequences, including Battra’s attack on Nagoya, Godzilla and Battra’s underwater battle, Godzilla emerging from Mt. Fuji, and the aerial dogfight between Mothra and Battra. Battra is an aggressive and formidable creature; it charges into battle against the larger and stronger Godzilla without hesitation. Even when airborne, it proves to be a fierce physical fighter, butting heads with Mothra, collapsing a building on Godzilla, and even whacking him with a giant Ferris wheel! G&M is a visual treat.
Grade: B+ |
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