When Godzilla opened in Japan in November 1954, it was an enormous success, selling over 9 million tickets. For Toho, the studio that produced the film, the next logical step was, of course, a quickie sequel. Arriving a mere six months later, Godzilla Raids Again would be the first of 27 sequels produced over the course of nearly fifty years, and while it lacks a lot of what made the original a masterpiece, it is definitely one of the better sequels.

Tsukioka and Kobayashi are pilots who work spotting schools of tuna for a fishing fleet. When Kobayashi's plane develops engine trouble, he crashes in the water near a small, remote island. Tsukioka arrives to rescue his friend and they are both startled by the appearance of a second Godzilla. Even more frightening is the fact that there are not one but two giant monsters on the island. Fortunately for the pilots, the monsters, this new Godzilla and Anguirus (a monster that resembles a reptilian porcupine) aren't as interested in them as much as they are pounding the snot out of each other. After the pilots flee the island, Godzilla and Anguirus bring their fight to Osaka, reducing the city to a pile of charcoal briquettes. Since the device that killed the first Godzilla can't be rebuilt (its inventor committed suicide so that his bomb, the Oxygen Destroyer, couldn't be used as a weapon against humanity), the best minds in Japan, along with the military, try to figure a way to avoid becoming snacks for these rampaging behemoths.

The original Godzilla was not merely a daikaiju eiga (giant monster film), it was a parable for the nuclear age and an emotionally devastating drama. Godzilla Raids Again makes little attempt to being anything more than an elevated monster movie. And the world is a better place for it. It's one of the first movies where giant monsters not only pick on humanity, but they're picking fights with each other, setting the stage for nearly five decades of actors pummeling each other in rubber monster costumes on the big screen.

And when it comes to rubber suit action, Godzilla Raids Again doesn't fail to please. The acting and the drama aren't nearly the caliber of the original film. The characters possess mostly stock traits: low grade stoicism, buffoonery, and desperation. But those aspects aren't really what we're watching it for, are we? People are watching the Godzilla films for creative destruction of urban centers and rubber suit mayhem. The fights between Godzilla and Anguirus are very well staged, taking advantage full advantage of the special effects wizardry of Eiji Tsubraya. However, when the fight is over (guess who wins…hint, it's not Anguirus' name above the title), the film gets bogged down in a miasma of recycled footage and Godzilla stuck neck deep in a pile of giant ice cubes. The climax is enjoyable, if a bit static compared to the frenetic action earlier in the film.

If there are things noticeably absent from this production, they're the guidance of the original Godzilla director Ishiro Honda, and the music of composer Akira Ifukube. While Tsubraya and his suit actors bring the visual effects to life, the human elements, directed by Motoyoshi Oda, often come across as flat, sometimes even frivolous. And, while Masaru Sato's score lacks the inimitable majesty of maestro Ifukube, it still possess the requisite martial menace for a film like this.

Presentation
G-fans expecting Godzilla Raids Again to get the same monkey-spank treatment on dvd as the original Godzilla (aka Gojira) did last year may be a disappointed, but only slightly. Classic Media has done a commendable job on this release. Like the first film, both the original Japanese and the American versions are included. In America, Godzilla Raids Again was originally released as Gigantis, The Fire Monster, and, despite being around two-and-a-half minutes shorter, contains endless amounts of stock and recycled footage. However, instead of the deluxe double platter we were treated to with Gojira, both versions of the sequel are compressed onto a single disc. The Japanese version fares better, with a satisfactory transfer (in its original aspect of 1.33:1), from well preserved elements and new yellow subtitles. The print shows frequent signs age, but none that are overly distracting or objectionable. The American version, on the other hand, doesn't get nearly the same tlc, with an obviously worn and un-restored-in-any-way print.

My suspicion is that Classic Media figured that most viewers were interested in making sure that the Japanese version was well presented, and would find the American version an interesting curio. If you think of the American version as a special feature, you're on the right track. Just as it was with the original Gojira, the American version is good for a laugh and there is good sport to be had in noticing just how different the two versions are. But other than to listen for the voice of George (Lt. Sulu) Takei, who voices several characters, and to look at the changes made, the American version doesn't warrant repeat viewings. At the end of the day, it's a welcome move on the part of the label to release both versions. Maybe George Lucas could learn a thing or two about consumer value from the folks at Classic Media.

Extras
In addition to having both versions of the film, there is a commentary track on the American version by Steve Ryfle, author of Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography Of "The Big G", a book no serious Godzilla aficionado should be without. This guy knows what he's talking about when it comes to this franchise, and never fails to illuminate, except when he's trying to be funny. Ryfle frequently riffs on what's happening onscreen, but his attempts at humor are as amusing as a summons. Ryfle is joined on the commentary by Stuart Golbraith IV and Ed Godziszewski, who both provide additional insights to the film, as well as nuggets of trivia. As a little bonus, Ryfle plays two of the original radio commercials for Gigantis, The Fire Monster during his commentary.

Another special feature is a short film produced by Godziszewski called Art Of Suit Acting, which is a loving examination and tribute to the actors who risked life and limb to play the giant monsters in Toho films from Godzilla to War Of The Gargantuas. While it looks like a lot of fun to get paid to stomp on models of Tokyo and Osaka, rubber suit work was often a life-threatening gig, with the costumes sometimes weighing over two hundred pounds. Filming would sometimes involve the risk of immolation from on-set pyrotechnics or drowning in a studio tank. This featurette is a fitting tribute to those unsung heroes.

Finally, there is a poster slide show which presents the various posters and adverts for the film, providing a neat little window into daikaiju marketing.

Bottom Line
My personal rule of thumb is that any Godzilla sequel that isn't Godzilla Vs. Space Godzilla can't be all bad. Godzilla Raids Again is definitely one of the better ones. The monster action is satisfying and the storyline tries its best to maintain the pathos. If you're a daikaiju or science fiction fan, this release is well worth your hard-earned shekels.