Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989)

Godzilla vs a Giant Rose!

Godzilla’s biggest and most terrifying opponent is---- a giant rose bush? Breaking with the formula of Big G fighting his traditional opponents, the writers took a chance and invented Bolliante, the most creative Kaiju in the Godzillaverse.

The biggest problem for me with this film was that it took a long time to gain any traction. The humans had a lot going on, dominating most of the story. One of the characters, a scientist, had fused Godzilla’s cells from a previous battle with a rose he’d already infused with his dead daughter’s DNA in hopes of keeping her soul alive, thus accidentally creating Bolliante. American terrorists and a Middle Eastern terrorist were running about killing people and trying to steal the Godzilla cells and super secrety secret nuclear energy eating microbes. In the process they free Godzilla from his volcano prison inside Mt. Mihara. Throw in a bunch of politicians who want to use all of the discoveries as weapons against Godzilla and their enemies and it’s a lot to take in. I can't forget the ESP students who can communicate with Godzilla and Bolliante. The young commander of the Super X-2 Godzilla fighting drone seemed superfluous most of the time with all the political maneuvering, scientists, terrorists, ESP folks, and agents running around.

None of the characters of this large cast were developed and the acting was lackluster at best. Without an emotional connection to the characters their deaths and decisions held little meaning. The military walking about and giving monotone orders wasn’t any more interesting than the spies chasing each other around.

What I liked about this movie---Big G looked good, I really liked this costume. Bolliante was a beautiful giant rose and then turned equally frightening. B was one of the more interesting and sympathetic antagonists for Big G. She was also the biggest and one of the most fearsome he'd ever faced. Historically speaking, Godzilla has had his hands full when facing a female opponent, Mothra for another example. This movie was darker and more violent than many other Godzilla movies. The fights were intimate and fierce, really well made using this technology.

The miniatures and pyrotechnics were spot on emphasizing the size and destructiveness of the great monsters tearing through the city. The music was best when using a few of Ifukube’s familiar Godzilla tunes.

Like a lot of Godzilla movies, this one had a moral to the story. This film focused on the hubris and greed of humanity and how man creates some of his own biggest problems. Godzilla and Bolliante weren’t the true monsters, it was the men and societies who created them. Plus, you’ll think twice the next time you walk into your garden.

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