Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

In 1998, the Godzilla series was in a state of flux. The Toho series had been effectively ended with Godzilla vs Destroyah, as the studio announced that they were resting the series for a few years. Meanwhile, the American film by Emmerich and Deviln was rapidly grinding to a halt at the box office, where it quickly became apparent that the dreams of a USA produced series were briskly evaporating. As the US market imploded, Toho announced that they were taking the series back, reintroducing a Godzilla for a new millennium, rubber suit and all.

So did the Japanese succeed where the American studios fail? Read on and fnid out!.

Our film opens with the traditional typhoon crashing against a nameless Japanese shore. A momentary nod to Buster Keaton, as Godzilla nearly flattens a lighthouse keeper and we're onto the meat of our story, and the main human characters:

There's Yuji Shinoda, the head of the Godzilla Prediction Network. The GPN is a kind of freelance Godzilla detection service - which really strikes me as an unnecessary job, seeing how it's easy to pinpoint his return to every two years (and I could give you even odds on his probable landing point, too), and once he shows up, a 30 story tall lizard is pretty easy to find. But I'm not a Japanese scientist, so what do I know? Perhaps there's special training I'm unaware of.

Then there's Iyo, the GPN's precocious 10 year old girl and daughter to Yuji. At first glance, Iyo appears able to veer suddenly into Kenny territory at any moment, but fortunately we're (mostly) spared that fate. She's the other 50% of the Prediction Network's staff - which seems kind of small, but considering that we've already establish that Godzilla is a creature of habit and really easy to find, they probably don't need more than two people at any given time.

Rounding out our cast of Human protagonists is Yuki Ichinose, the Plucky young (and female) reporter assigned to report on Godzilla. Her and every other newspaper man this side of mainland China.

The film (after the pre-credit opening) starts with our human heroes, waiting at the shoreline for Godzilla to make landfall. Being that it's a Godzilla film, its not long before G shows up, and is attracted by the flash of Yuki camera, eventually chasing their SUV into a tunnel. It's a surprisingly moody and well done sequence, especialy when compared to more or less the same scene in the US Godzilla.

Meanwhile, we meet the other human of any importance to the story - Katagiri, the head of the Crisis Control Institute (and the human "villain" of the film - although all Katagiri really does is gruffly block Shinoda's efforts to study Godzilla while trying to kill the beast himself). His team of scientists has found a gigantic mysterious rock on the ocean floor, and brought same to the surface. Once there, the mysterious rock begins moving by itself, following the angle of the sun.

The rock (now determined by the scientists to be 60 million years old, and possibly alive) learns of Godzilla's existence - and more importantly his amazingly regenerative abilities - and takes off for a Rumble in the Jungle (the Tussle in Tokyo?) with the Big Man. Two rounds later, and the newly dubbed Orga (who comes up with these names, anyway) takes on Godzilla in downtown Tokyo in a knock down, drag out brawl to the finish, shoulder laser vs atomic breath to the death.

For being miniature technology and a man in a giant rubber suit, the special effects are very impressive, The battle of between Godzilla and the Japanese Self Defense Force is one of the most exciting battles in recent Kiju history. The miniatures look real, and the (sparingly used) CGI is well done. None of this hokey effects that we get in the American Godzilla here. The second fight between Orga and Godzilla is great stuff too - the Toho fight choreography really shines in this film, with buildings toppling like dominos left and right.

Sadly, there is one big flaw with the film. Godzilla vanishes for about half an hour in the second act, leaving the humans with all of the screen time. Suddenly instead of the Monster Mash, we're left with scenes of Shinoda and Yuki try and get out of an office skyscraper rigged to explode and take out the alien spaceship on the roof. Aside from a burgeoning (and predictable) love interest between Shinoda and Yuki, nothing comes of this subplot - aside from a cool explosion.

So, when it counts - in the monster on monster action - Godzilla 2000 delivers the goods. Solid action, a mostly straightforward (if slightly nonsensical) plot, and some great special effects means that this should scrub the wicked memory of Godzilla in Name Only from your brain in short order.

AND THE WINNER IS:
Godzilla, clearly and without a doubt. G takes the film two falls out of two.

AND NOW YOU KNOW:
"There's a little bit of Godzilla in all of us!" Wha-huh?

THE KENNY FACTOR: 30%
Oddly enough, it’s not the precocious 10 year old girl, but the plucky young reporter that acts in a Kenny manner.

THE END. . . .?
Lets see - Godzilla standing triumphant in the center of a burning downtown Tokyo. You need a roadmap to figure this one out? (Sadly however, poor box office returns doomed any further American theatrical releases)

THE DVD:
The DVD is a pretty slick production with a couple of extras too boot. For starters, we get commentary from the US producer in charge of US localization. While not terribly deep, it's clear that he's a fan and does care for the subject material. At the very least it's interesting to hear about what changes he made and why. There's also some trailers for various other Sony films, including the original US G2K trailer. Finally there's a short feature - behind the scenes footage, really - of the final battle, as the man in the suit destroys a model Tokyo. It's not quite as in-depth as some of the Classic Media releases, but it's a darn sight better than we usually get.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
Not as good as some of the all time classics in Godzilla canon but far, far better than some. It delivers some good monster mash action, has reasonably well done effects, and it's just a ton of fun. Frankly, what more could you want from a Godzilla film.

This review is part of my "Thirty Days of Godzilla" review blitz, where I watch every single Godzilla movie made. Check out the rest of the Godzillathon:
* Godzilla: King of the Monsters
* Godzilla Raids Again
* King Kong vs Godzilla
* King Kong Escapes
* Mothra vs Godzilla
* Godzilla vs the Sea Monster
* Godzilla's Revenge
* Destroy All Monsters
* The Terror of MechaGodzilla
* Godzilla: The Animated Series
* Godzilla vs Biollante
* Godzilla vs King Ghidorah
* Godzilla vs Space Godzilla
* Godzilla vs Destroyah
* The American 1998 Godzilla
* Godzilla 2000
* Godzilla vs Megaguirus
* Godzilla: Final Wars


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12