MOTHRA VS GODZILLA

Yuriko Hoshi, Akira Takarada, Hiroshi Koizumi

MOTHRA VS GODZILLA (aka Mosura tai Gojira/Godzilla vs. Mothra/1964). Director: Ishiro Honda. Dubbed version released in the United States as Godzilla vs the Thing.

A gigantic egg is found floating offshore and a greedy entrepreneur decides to claim it and exhibit it, even though the tiny little twins from Infant island tell him it is the giant moth Mothra's egg and it must be returned to avoid "problems." Concurrently, Godzilla reawakens from his recent burial [in Godzilla Raids Again, perhaps?] and goes on another rampage. Professor Miura (Hiroshi Koizumi), reporter Ichiro (Akira Takarada), and pretty photographer Yoka (Yuriko Hoshi) appeal to the islanders to send Mothra to battle Godzilla, as the former's egg is threatened by the big lizard. The battle between the big bug and a flabby-jawed Godzilla is pathetic, the process work is decidedly uneven (with a few effective shots), and even children probably found this to be ultimately tedious. There is some majestic music as well as the twins' awful songs to Mothra. Akira Takarada, known as "Mr. Handsome" in Japan for good reason, was also in the original Godzilla/Gojira. FX by Eiji Tsuburaya. At least Mothra is a colorful and "attractive" creation.

Verdict: For Godzilla completists only. **.