Godzilla Raids Again (1955)

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water...

Godzilla Raids Again was the direct sequel to the original 1954 Godzilla. I'd heard it wasn't very good and saved it for my last Godzilla movie to watch. Happily, I was not disappointed with this follow-up to Big G's story.

Godzilla had a worthy adversary to complicate his story, Anguilus determined to fight for the title of top Kaiju. After battling on a deserted island with two human pilots as their audience, they took their fight to Osaka and tore up the town.

The human stories are usually the weak part of any Godzilla movie. I found these characters to be quite charming in a 1950's manner and wasn't the least bit annoyed by them. Instead of watching the clock waiting for the big guy to appear I found the time went by quickly as they built interest in the humans who would fight Godzilla and be his victims.

The monster fights were violent and animalistic, no comic boxing and professional wrestling moves that were to come in the movies that would follow. Speeding the film up also helped to distract from the obviousness of two guys in rubber suits. For a 1955 film, the special effects were quite good.

Sato Masaru's score was emotionally evocative hitting the right notes for each scene. Director Oda Motoyoshi also knew when to use silence to intensify the fear in the people waiting in a darkened city with only the sound of the fighter planes attempting to lead Godzilla away from them heard overhead. This was the last black and white Godzilla movie and I think it actually works better than many of the color films. It blurred the lines of the obvious miniatures and rubber suits and allowed for more suspension of disbelief. Regarding the miniatures, they were also much better than the 1960's -1970's Godzilla movies.

I am quite at peace, making nearly a full circle back to the 1950's. Godzilla Raids Again was not a perfect movie, but it was emotionally satisfying and entertaining. Instead of ending on a low note, I ended on a high one. Big G, thanks for the memories, you beautiful giant irradiated lizard.

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