Godzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003) [Tokusatsu Review]

Godzilla: Tokyo SOS; or, Ménage à trois
     Sayonara, Kiryu!
A couple of months ago I posted my review of Godzilla X Mechagodzilla (2002) on the blog, so I relentlessly come back to my revisitation of Godzilla movies, and this time I am taking a look at the film’s direct sequel which came out a year later; that is, Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS.

Release Info

Directed by:  Masaaki Tezuka Starring: Noboru Kaneko, Miho Yoshioka, Mitsuki Koga

Language: Japanese Original Title: ゴジラ×モスラ×メカゴジラ 東京SOS Runtime: 91 min

Synopsis
A year after defending Japan from Godzilla’s attack, Kiryu undergoes necessary repairs. However, Mothra appears and warns the authorities that they should dismantle Kiryu and return the remains of the original 1954 Gojira to the sea. Mothra offers to take Kiryu’s place as the Kaiju defender if these terms are fulfilled. Nevertheless, the Big G reawakens and proceeds to initiate a monster rumble in Tokyo. Kiryu is dispatched to the scene and Mothra together with her offspring rush to join the fight.

Kiryu Returns
After the successful release of Godzilla X Mechagodzilla, director Masaaki Tezuka was immediately given a green light to make a new entry in the Millennium series by producer Shogo Tomiyama. The director was allegedly given four potential story treatments, but he rejected all of them, opting to write his own screenplay. The final result became Tokyo SOS, a movie that is a continuation of Godzilla X Mechagodzilla, but most of the time, it throws out the window the style of the previous film and tries to be its own thing.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Tokyo SOS is the fact that it does not continue the storylines of Godzilla X Mechagodzilla. Yumiko Shaku reprises her role as Lt. Akane, but her role is unfortunately marginal, and she is only there to pass the baton to the real heroes of the movie, who are Yoshito Chujo (Noboru Kaneko), Lt. Azusa Kisaragi (Miho Yoshioka), and Kiryu Operator Kyosuke Akiba (Mitsuki Koga). What is more, the characters of Professor Yuhara and his daughter are completely missing in the film, even though Yuhara was the co-constructor of Kiryu and he was in love with Akane.

Therefore, this movie can be regarded as a very loose sequel that strives to be more action-packed and bombastic than its predecessor. In addition, the presence of young cast members and Tokusatsu veterans cannot go unnoticed. Apart from the appearances by Akira Nakao and Koichi Ueda, there is also Hiroshi Koizumi, who reprises his role as Doctor Shinichi Chujo from the original Mothra (1961) movie. He does an excellent job in the film even though his storyline is a bit limited. What is more, Chihiro Otsuka and Masami Nagasawa herself play the new incarnations of the twin fairies who look after Mothra.

Although Tokyo SOS does not attempt to recreate the grandeur of Godzilla X Mechagodzilla. I can’t help but appreciate the film for what it is. Undoubtedly, it is a solid Tokusatsu spectacle with an awesome blend of miniature and CG special effects as well as the magnificent music score by Michiru Oshima. Additionally, the third act is one massive battle between the titular monsters that really leaves you out of breath.

My favourite monster of the Millennium era, Kiryu, gets a bit overshadowed in this film by Mothra, but it is understandable since the picture focuses on three monsters this time. It is a shame though that there is not just more of him in the story. Still, there is a wonderful, touching moment involving Kiryu towards the end that really made me teared up when I watched the film for the first time.

Oddly enough, it seems that I am not the only viewer who underwent such an experience with Tokyo SOS. In an interview, director Tezuka stated that during the screening of the film in the US, some lady came up to him, shook his hand, and said that this was the first Godzilla flick that made her cry (source).

Interestingly, as in the case of other Millennium movies, Tokyo SOS has an intriguing post-credits sequence, which may have possibly served as lead in for a new movie had Tezuka directed it. Unfortunately, this was not the case because Toho decided to go in a new direction for the Big G’s 50th anniversary, but more about this some other time. 

Recommendations
All in all, I greatly like Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS, but I think the story would benefit more from Kiryu action. I believe that this movie often gets omitted in the fan discussions because it came out in between highly-enjoyable Godzilla X Mechagodzilla and highly-controversial Godzilla: FInal Wars. The movie was originally released on DVD by TriStar in 2004 and it was re-released on Blu-Ray in 2014.Overall score: 7/10

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