Strange as it sounds, I am making none of that up. Mothra vs. Godzilla is a weird film and it works because it does go into some strange, new territory. Godzilla doesn't make his way on screen for quite some time; it felt like almost halfway through. The egg that floats ashore during a huge typhoon is at the center of the movie most of the time. Scientists and that straight-laced Reporter I mentioned want the egg given to the public domain. The local fishermen decide the egg landed in their water on their beach and want a cut of any proceeds. A circus owner desperate for a hit goes into business with a rich businessman to buy the egg and show it off. Their schtick is that people will pay money to see the egg and pay again to reserve a spot when it opens. Since nobody knows when or if the egg will open, this is a safe bet.
The giant moth and pint-sized girls come into play when the "good guys" are informed that Mothra wants her egg back. The twins ask for help, but the Reporter and his scientist friend can't think of a way to help. The frisky woman running the camera intervenes and makes a plea to visit Mothra and ask for help. The movie is interesting in light of the story between the US and Japan. I thought of an analogy pulled from the first movie about the US devastating Japan and being an unstoppable foe. Mothra isn't representing Japan or anything, but Mothra vs. Godzilla is a good representation of Godzilla's Yin & Yang. Unlike King Kong with his attractions and emotional reactions, Godzilla and Mothra both are cold. Mothra cares about her egg and wants it back, but she isn't threatening as an enemy. When our heroes meet the villagers on the island where Mothra can be found, they are all very serious and suspicious. The spirit of negotiation between Japan and the US has become more frosty after they started kicking our economy's butt in the mid 90's. This movie came out of a similar period where Japan was trying to find out what to identify with and grow into. Japan became the Bruce Banner of the East, so it's no wonder they needed countermeasures. Godzilla is every bit as unpredictable and dangerous. When he is dispatched at the end of the movie, you want to cheer.
There are great extras here including the dubbed version of Mothra vs. Godzilla. This collection is very well produced with excellent packaging and nice featured extras. Here's hoping that more classics are released so we can all get our dose of monsters battling.
