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Movie Title: Godzilla Raids Again Studio: Toho Studios Release Date: April 24, 1955 (in Japan ) Director(s): Motoyoshi Oda Producer(s): Tomoyuki Tanaka Rated (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, X): N/A Starring: Hiroshi Koizumi, Setsuko Wakayama, Minoru Chiaki IMDB Page ONLINE MOVIE REVIEW RATING: 2 out of 5

American arrogance can sometimes lead to bumps in the road of history. After the successful release of the movie Godzilla in the United States in 1956, producer Joseph E. Levine owned the rights to the name “Godzilla” in the United States . When Warner Brothers wanted to release Godzilla Raids Again in the United States , Levine wanted an prohibitive amount of money for the rights to the name “Godzilla' in the United States .

The result was a three-year wait for American Godzilla fans to see a movie called Gigantis the Fire Monster. Godzilla was not mentioned and once again, the American version completely changed the tone of the original Japanese versions. The music was even changed from the Japanese-inspired score of Masaru Sato to a mish-mash of music from the movie Kronos and The Deerslayer. Once again, American movie makers completely missed the point of Godzilla.

The original Japanese version of Godzilla Raids Again falls incredibly short of being a successful follow up to Gojira. We see Godzilla fight another monster for the first time as he squares off with Angilus in this movie, but there is too much wrong with this movie to allow even Godzilla to save it.

Toho rushed this sequel out only six months after the release of Gojira in 1954, and it shows. The plot never explains why there is suddenly an appearance of Godzilla after he was just destroyed in the previous movie. There is also no back story to the appearance of Angilus. He just, suddenly, appears and starts fighting with Godzilla.

If you only watch the American version of this film then you would think this movie is worse than it really is. The American version uses Angilus' roar almost exclusively and we hear very little of the famous Godzilla roar. The script for the American version is simplistic, childish and difficult to follow.

The Japanese version is just as dark as the original Gojira , but there is just too much missing here to be an effective horror movie. What does make Godzilla Raids Again redeeming is the incredible advances in special effects and monster suit acting that are made in this movie.

Some of the scenes of the battle between Godzilla and Angilus look quite natural and meticulously planned out. The scenes of Godzilla walking among the ice and the jets flying overhead are impressive shots as well.

Gigantis the Fire Monster set the Godzilla franchise back a few years in the United States as movie audiences were puzzled about this new monster that looks like Godzilla, sounds like Angilus and is called Gigantis. The movie Godzilla Raids Again is a not-so-great sequel to a great science fiction masterpiece.