Godzilla Raids Again

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Director: Motoyoshi Oda Year: 1959 Runtime: 78 min IMDb: ⭐ 5.7
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Synopsis

Two fishing scout pilots make a horrifying discovery when they encounter a second Godzilla alongside a new monster named Anguirus. Without the weapon that killed the original, authorities attempt to lure Godzilla away from the mainland. But Anguirus soon arrives and the two monsters make their way towards Osaka as Japan braces for tragedy.

Plot[edit | edit source] In 1955, a pilot named Shoichi Tsukioka, who is working for Kaiyo Fishing, Inc., guides a fishing trawler towards a school of bonito. Koji Kobayashi, another pilot, faces engine troubles and makes an emergency landing on Iwato Island. Tsukioka is sent to rescue Kobayashi, but they both encounter two giant dinosaurian creatures locked in battle: Godzilla and a new quadruped kaiju . The pilots escape as the kaijus tumble into the sea. Tsukioka and Kobayashi go to Osaka to help Dr. Yamane and the authorities investigate the encounter. The new monster is identified as an Ankylosaurus-like carnivore named Anguirus. Dr. Yamane shows the authorities footage of the first Godzilla attack and notes that the first Godzilla was killed by the Oxygen Destroyer, but its inventor died, and that there are no proven countermeasures left against Godzilla. Dr. Yamane suggests issuing a blackout and using drop flares to lure Godzilla away due to the first Godzilla being sensitive to light. Tsukioka’s girlfriend Hidemi, a plane dispatcher for the fishing company, expresses her concern for Osaka to him, and he reveals that he thought about her when he thought he might die on Iwato Island. They watch as the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) take off to find Godzilla, but scientists note that it may prove difficult due to the possibility of Godzilla hiding in caves within the seabed. Later, Godzilla is spotted heading for the Kii Channel between Shikoku and Wakayama Prefecture. Yamaji, Tsukioka’s boss and Hidemi’s father, notes that if Godzilla wreaks havoc in those waters, their fishing company will lose valuable fishing ground and strike a blow at production. Later, an alert is issued for the Osaka region as Godzilla changes course for Osaka Bay. The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) cut off the lights in the city and lure Godzilla with flares. Tsukioka leaves Hidemi at her home for safety and leaves with Kobayashi to meet Yamaji at his cannery. Convicts escape from their transport and lead police on a chase that ends with a few convicts crashing into an oil refinery, triggering an explosion, while other convicts escape into Osaka. The explosion lures Godzilla back to Osaka, forcing the JSDF to attack him. Attracted by the flares, Anguirus emerges and engages Godzilla. The kaijus battle throughout the city, destroying Yamaji’s cannery and killing the convicts in the process. Godzilla kills Anguirus and returns to the sea after burning the body with his atomic breath. In the aftermath, Yamaji moves operations to Hokkaido to make full use of the fisheries and cannery, and also sends Kobayashi to guide trawlers. During a company dinner, Tsukioka reunites with Tajima, a friend from college, and the war. Kobayashi hints to Hidemi that he’s fallen in love with a certain woman. The dinner is interrupted by news that a ship was sunk by Godzilla. The following morning, Tsukioka helps the JASDF search for Godzilla and tracks his location on Kamiko Island. Kobayashi departs to aide Tsukioka but leaves his notebook behind. Hidemi peeks at the notebook and discovers a picture of her inside. Kobayashi attempts to stop Godzilla from escaping but is struck by Godzilla’s atomic breath and crashes into the mountaintop, killing him. The crash creates a small avalanche that engulfs Godzilla, inspiring the JASDF to bury it with a bigger avalanche. Because they lack firepower, the JASDF return to base to reload missiles and Tajima reluctantly accepts Tsukioka’s request to take him. The JSDF creates a wall of fire on the island with barrels full of combustibles to block Godzilla’s escape, while the JASDF triggers avalanches by blasting the mountaintops. Godzilla exhales one last atomic breath before being completely buried by the last avalanche triggered by Tsukioka, the final surviving pilot. Relieved, Tsukioka lets Kobayashi's spirit know that they have finally defeated Godzilla.

Summary adapted from TMDb and Wikipedia sources.

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Content Warnings

⭐ IMDb Parents Guide 🛡️ Common Sense Media

an animal dies
spoiler Godzilla and Agilas are both killed.
a dragon dies
spoiler If you would classify Godzilla as a dragon, then yes. I can see how his death could be potentially triggering for some dragon-lovers.
a non-human character dies
spoiler Anguirus. I suppose it could be seen that Godzilla dies, but he breaks out of the avalanche that he was buried by in the following movie. Honestly, Godzilla has only died around five times in his nearly seventy year series.
a major character dies
Yes
someone dies
Yes
someone sacrifices themselves
Yes
there's natural bodies of water
Yes
there are sudden loud noises
Yes
there's flashing lights or images
spoiler The film is in black and white and contains minimal strobe-like effects - fire, explosions.
there's suicide
spoiler Debatable; some of the plane crashes may have been kamikaze attempts, but this was not clearly stated.
the ending is sad
spoiler This is debatable. A major character does not survive and the romantic conflict appears to have ended somewhat unfavorably for the female lead. The film could be interpreted as having an ominous overarching message of war as a means to an end.
a car crashes
spoiler Multiple fatalities.
a plane crashes
spoiler About five planes crash and at least one appears to have been an actual kamikaze attempt.
there's blood/gore
spoiler When Godzilla kills Angilas, we get a close shot of him biting Angilas's neck with plenty of blood running down. However, it's in black and white, which lends some subtlety.
there's gun violence
spoiler Guards shoot at escaped prisoners, but it is unclear whether anyone is hit. Godzilla is shot at using tanks and aircraft.
someone drowns
spoiler It isn't explicitly shown, but we do see some people escape into a subway system and then get washed away when the subway is flooded. A ship is also sunk off-screen near the end of the film with no survivors shown.
someone is buried alive
spoiler Godzilla is buried with snow from an avalanche.

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