GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973)
Among the many entries in the Godzilla franchise, there is no film that divides opinions quite like 1973’s GODZILLA VS. MEGALON. Seemingly equal parts loved and reviled by fans, the 13th entry into the Showa series has a very unique legacy that gives it a cult classic sort of appeal among genre fans. I know I feel this way because to me this is one of the most entertaining entries into the Godzilla franchise and I can’t get enough of its bizarre qualities. The film is the very essence of Saturday morning cartoons thanks to its ridiculous human characters, breakneck pacing, and, in my opinion, one of the most entertaining battles in Godzilla history.
The plot centers around the underwater civilization of Seatopia seeking revenge on the surface world due to nuclear testing destroying part of their city. The leader of Seatopia, Emperor Antonio, summons Megalon, a giant beetle kaiju to go forth and wreak havoc. But mixed up in all this you have Goro, his little brother Rokuro, and their friend Jinkawa who suddenly find themselves attacked by Seatopian agents who are after Goro’s newest invention, a robot named Jet Jaguar.
You can’t talk about this movie without focusing specifically on Jet Jaguar who, for all intents and purposes, is the major star of the film. It’s no surprise that this film was originally meant to just have him facing off against Megalon when you consider how little Godzilla is in the movie. Seen as a cheap Ultraman ripoff to some, Jet Jaguar has gained the status of fan favorite thanks to his overall endearing appeal. Sporting a permanent smile and an eagerness to help and defend, Jet Jaguar only made one film appearance but made an impact on many.
For proof of this you can look to the comic book series Godzilla: Rulers Of The Earth and the newly released Godzilla Singular Point anime on Netflix. Despite appearing in what many fans consider one of the worst entries in the series, Jet Jaguar has endured and continues to be a popular character. I myself consider him one of my favorites and easily place him among the likes of Ultraman and Spectreman. He even has his own theme song!
GODZILLA VS. MEGALON delivers on that with one of the most entertaining, over-the-top, and ridiculous kaiju battles in the whole genre. Playing out like a pro-wrestling match, the battle features so many great little moments that are hard not to earn a laugh or a smile. Gigan gets called in to back up Megalon and the two beat down Jet Jaguar, laughing villainously while doing so.
Godzilla comes to the rescue and helps Jet Jaguar up, shaking his hand in thanks before they get back to taking on the villainous duo. There’s even an “I’m not leaving you behind!” scene as the battle rages on.
It’s just a wonderful spectacle that embodies the kind of feeling you’d get as a kid smashing your toys together.
It also has what might be one of the most iconic–for better or worse, depending on who you talk to–moments in franchise history: the tail slide kick. Truly driving home the point that this fight scene could almost take place in a wrestling ring, the triumphant heroes get payback on Megalon with Jet Jaguar holding the monster in place while Godzilla excitingly gets a running start and drop kicks him not once, but twice. Fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 probably have this clip of the perfectly horizontal Godzilla suit sliding across the plain seared into their memory.
What else can really be said about GODZILLA VS. MEGALON? It’s a strange movie, there is no denying that. This was Godzilla at possibly the peak of his “good guy” phase and the film is geared towards younger audiences with its light plot. It’s definitely a case of you either love it or hate it. It’s not one of the well-made movies in the franchise. The whole thing was produced in a time span of about six months and was actually shot in only three weeks. It uses a ton of stock footage and the human acting is incredibly hammy.
Yet despite these flaws there’s an earnest quality to the movie that just makes it hard to not love. For some of us, it may be nostalgia from this being one of the first films in the genre we saw thanks to its aggressive marketing over here in the States. Or it might be, when taken for what it is, the film is just a delightfully fun time and a distillation of the childlike fun that a kaiju movie can be. Either way this film left an impact on some and endures—much like the lovable underdog Jet Jaguar.
