© 2008 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title: Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla
Japanese Title: Gojira Tai Mekagojira
Movie also known as: Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla II
Godzilla vs. Super-Mechagodzilla
CD Label: Toho Music Corporation
CD Number: G-020
Music by: Akira Ifukube
Number of tracks: Disc 1 - 44
Disc 2 - 29
Running time: Disc 1 - 69:58
Disc 2 - 75:10
Number of discs: 2
Year of release/manufacture: January 31, 2008
Year Movie Released in Japan: 1993
Year Movie Released in U.S.: 1999

REVIEW

February 21, 2008

Review courtesy of Matti Keskiivari

The first movie soundtrack contained in the fifth Godzilla Soundtrack Perfect Collection box set is Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1993). This movie is the 20th Godzilla movie, and the 10th (or 11th if you count Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) which consisted of only stock music) with the music composed by maestro Akira Ifukube. As with his other Heisei soundtracks, Ifukube once again creates a beautiful score, with old themes and some new ones too.

The first track, "Opening", starts the movie quite eerily with the use of King Ghidorah's theme, as the remains of Mecha-King Ghidorah are shown in the opening scene. After we are shown the progress of G-Force's development, the "Main Title" track kicks in with Ifukube's new Mechagodzilla theme. This theme isn't actually "new", it's an updated version of Mechani-Kong's theme from King Kong Escapes (1967), which is also heard as a military theme in King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962). You can clearly hear the closest resemblance in "Mechagodzilla Repair Operation". Ifukube's new themes for this movie include the "G-Force March", Baby Godzilla's theme, and "The Esper Chorus". Especially the latter two are definite masterpieces. The theme of Baby Godzilla is quite touching, particularly in "Parting with Baby", and "The Esper Chorus" is a pretty haunting piece.

Ifukube's beloved theme of Rodan makes a triumphant return in "Rodan Appears". Track 24, "Rodan Attacks Sendai", features a longer version of Rodan's theme, which actually uses part of the Godzilla theme last heard in Destroy All Monsters (1968), or Godzilla vs. Gigan, to be more precise. This part can also be recognized as the beginning of Daimajin's theme. Speaking of Daimajin, "Electrical Discharge Attack" is an updated version of the "chase theme" from the first two Daimajin movies. And, of course, the maestro's great Godzilla theme is back. This movie actually brings back the version of Godzilla's theme that was last used in Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), or, again, Godzilla vs. Gigan. And it definitely sounds as wonderful as ever. But what would a Godzilla movie be without the classic Godzilla march? No need to worry, as the track "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II" features the title march of the first Godzilla movie in full glory.

As for the bonus material, this two-disc release of the soundtrack features lots of extra tracks to keep the listener busy. Granted, this release doesn't contain the complete soundtrack as heard in the movie like the earlier two-disc release (TYCY-5342~3) did, but this new release does have plenty of tracks that weren't included in the earlier one, including many of the "outtakes" in disc 2. However, some of the tracks on this new release can be recognized from the earlier one. Most obvious examples are tracks 18, 19, 41 and 44 on disc 1.

Disc 2 also contains a few songs, which are being referred to as "Godzilla Single Collection 1992-2000". The first two songs are already familiar from the previous box set, more precisely from disc 2 of Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992). The always-awful "Gojirap" sounds about the same, but "Godzilla - So-Fa-Mi-Re-Do" is actually a new version of the song, which is, in my opinion, slightly better. The next song, "The Sorrow of Godzilla", is definitely a highlight. It's a very nice pop song with a female vocal, and all in all, one of the better Godzilla songs I've heard. Disc 2 has also got the theme song of the TV series called Godzilla Island (tracks 21-22), and another song called "Run Run Goji-run", which is only slightly better than "Gojirap". According to the booklet, this song was made to promote Godzilla 2000 Millennium (1999). Quite interestingly enough, this disc also contains an alternate version of the "Opening Title" of the 1998 US version. The rest of the tracks are karaoke versions of the songs. The awful "Gojirap" sounds a lot better without the disturbing vocals. On the other hand, the karaoke versions of "Godzilla's Theme" and "Run Run Goji-run" can get pretty tiresome.

Not too surprisingly, the booklet is great. It's got a nice picture of Godzilla's face on the front cover, and images of Ryoko Sano and Shinobu Nakayama on the back cover. The booklet contains lots of information about the movie, notes for the tracks, and even an interview with Akira Ifukube. The standout feature of the booklet is, however, the lyrics of "The Esper Chorus".

(Ah-)

Kimta an kamui

Repta an Kamui

(Ah-)

Ukohor poho

rehe tapne

ene ene ene

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1993) is another great soundtrack from Akira Ifukube, and it has been given a wonderful presentation as a 2-disc release in the new box set. More dedicated collectors will most likely try to find the earlier 2-disc release for the complete soundtrack as heard in the movie, but for those who don't have any of the earlier releases, then definitely get this box set as soon as you can.

Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla
Track listing courtesy of Sci-Fi Japan

    Disc 1

  1. Opening (M1) 2m06s
  2. Main Title (M2) 1m37s
  3. G-Force Training Center (M3) 1m42s
  4. Fossil of Adonoa Island (M4) 0m58s
  5. Rodan Appears (M5) 1m24s
  6. Godzilla vs. Rodan (M6) 5m02s
  7. Music of Ancient Vegetation (M7) 1m24s
  8. Baby Godzilla is Born (M8) 1m11s
  9. Baby and the Azusa (M9) 0m49s
  10. Godzilla Arrives At Yokkaichi (M10) 1m56s
  11. Mechagodzilla Sortie (M11) 3m30s
  12. Mechagodzilla Landing Preparations (M12) 0m49s
  13. Tyrannosaurus Rex Descent (M12A) 0m32s
  14. Electrical Discharge Attack (M14) 1m12s
  15. G-Force March (M16) 2m52s
  16. Godzilla Leaves Kyoto (M17) 1m10s
  17. Baby's Transport (M18) 0m46s
  18. Mechagodzilla Repair Operation (M19) 0m55s *
  19. Garuda Simulation (M20) 1m01s *
  20. Kazuma And Azusa (M21) 1m29s
  21. Esper Chorus (M22) 1m44s
  22. Bird Of Fire (M23) 0m16s
  23. Converstation Of The Night Sky (M24) 1m08s
  24. Rodan Attacks Sendai (M26) 1m48s
  25. Container Of Rodan And Baby I (M27) 0m19s
  26. Mechagodzilla's Repeat Sortie (M29) 0m18s
  27. Garuda Sortie (M30) 1m04s
  28. Container Of Rodan And Baby II (M31) 0m25s
  29. Garuda vs. Rodan (M32) 2m07s
  30. Mechagodzilla vs. Rodan (M33A/M26 compilation) 0m35s
  31. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla I (M34A/M10 compilation) 0m56s
  32. Search Eye (M37) 0m37s
  33. G-Crusher (M38) 0m39s *
  34. Rodan Takes To The Air (M39) 1m11s
  35. Resurrected Godzilla (M39A) 0m06s
  36. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (Godzilla Theme EXTRA) 3m19s
  37. Parting With Baby (M41) 1m49s
  38. From Miki To Baby (M42) 2m29s *
  39. Ending (M43) 3m07s
  40. Bonus Tracks

  41. Godzilla vs. Rodan (M6 compilation) 3m53s
  42. Theme Of Godzilla And Rodan (M10 CD-only) 1m39s
  43. Mechagodzilla Landing Preparations (M12 EXTRA) 0m56s
  44. From Miki To Baby (M42/M22 compilation) 2m12s
  45. Pre-scoring of the Esper Chorus (PS-1) 3m09s
  46. NOTE: * Tracks 18, 19, 33 and 38 are un-used pieces

    DISC 2

  1. Main Title (M2-1) 1m39s
  2. Main Title (M2-3) 1m37s
  3. G-Force Training Center (M3-5) 1m43s
  4. Godzilla vs. Rodan (M6-1) 3m35s
  5. Godzilla vs. Rodan (M6-2) 5m00s
  6. Baby And Azusa (M9-2) 0m59s
  7. Electrical Discharge Attack (M14 EXTRA-1) 1m15s
  8. G-Force March (M16-1) 2m28s
  9. G-Force March (M16-3) 1m01s
  10. Baby's Transport (M18-2) 0m51s
  11. Mechagodzilla Repair Operation (M19-4) 0m55s
  12. Esper Chorus (M22-2) 1m37s
  13. Converstation Of The Night Sky (M24-4) 1m10s
  14. Rodan Rodan Attcks Sendai (M26-1) 1m57s
  15. Mechagodzilla's Repeat Sortie (M29-4) 0m20s
  16. Garuda Sortie (M30-1) 1m05s
  17. Ending (M43-1) 3m07s
  18. GODZILLA SINGLE COLLECTION 1992-2000

    "Adventure! Godzil-Land"

  19. Godzilla So-Fa-Mi-Re-Do (Godzilla Gymnastics) NEW VERSION 3m43s
  20. Traditional Tune Godzil-Rap 3m46s
  21. "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla"

  22. The Sorrow Of Godzilla 4m01s

    "Godzilla Island"

  23. Godzilla's Theme ~ The Theme of GODZILLA ~ 3m25s
  24. Godzilla's Theme (Instrumental) 1m04s
  25. "Godzilla TV"

  26. Run Run Goji-Run 4m09s
  27. "GODZILLA"

  28. OPENING TITLE 4m31s
  29. GODZILLA SINGLE COLLECTION 1992-2000 KARAOKE COMPILATION

    "Adventure! Godzil-Land"

  30. Godzilla So-Fa-Mi-Re-Do (Godzilla Gymnastics) (Original Karaoke) 3m43s
  31. Traditional Tune Godzil-Rap -ambient mix- (Original Karaoke) 3m45s
  32. "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla"

  33. The Sorrow Of Godzilla (Original Karaoke) 4m01s
  34. "Godzilla Island"

  35. Godzilla's Theme 3m26s
  36. "Godzilla TV" (1999) Theme Song

  37. Run Run Goji-Run (Original Karaoke) 4m05s