© 2008 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title:	Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla
Japanese Title:	Gojira Tai Supesugojira
CD Label:	Toho Music Corporation
CD Number:	G-021
Music by:	Takayuki Hattori
Number of tracks:	Disc 1 - 30 Disc 2 - 37
Running time:	Disc 1 - 65:53 Disc 2 - 73:30
Number of discs:	2
Year of release/manufacture:	January 31, 2008
Year Movie Released in Japan:	1994
Year Movie Released in U.S.:	1999

REVIEW

May 06, 2008 Review courtesy of John M Emmons The second soundtrack featured in the Godzilla Soundtrack Perfect Collection Set 5 is the penultimate Heisei movie, Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla composed by Takayuki Hattori. For his first Godzilla score, Takayuki Hattori wrote a number of themes and motifs, most notably for the two adversaries in the main title: Godzilla and SpaceGodzilla. Godzilla's theme is filled with heroic brass and accompanying timpani. This theme seems almost more fitting for the army than a giant radioactive monster. SpaceGodzilla's theme, on the other hand, is a tense piece that is both threatening and foreboding. One of the major problems with this score is Hattori's over-reliance on these themes and motifs. It sounds like every other track is a minor variation of a previously heard theme, such as the "Birth Island" or "Mischief "motifs. This becomes even more evident when listening to the bonus CD, where variations of the same theme are placed in a row. It would have made it easier on the listener to spread out these themes, so it doesn't seem like you're listening to the same thing for ten minutes in a row. Unfortunately, Hattori's score also has elements that remind me of other movies. "Birth Island" sounds like something straight out of one of John Barry's classic Bond scores. The opening notes of "Epilogue" remind me of a motif from Toto's Dune score. I'm not saying that Hattori purposely stole these themes, just that it's distracting when listening to the score. Overall, Godzilla VS SpaceGodzilla is a nice listen, but nothing in it really stands out or sets it apart from all of the other Godzilla scores. Luckily, Hattori's second score, also included in this collection, is a vast improvement.

Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla Track listing courtesy of Jolyon Yates Disc 1 Toho Logo Main Title Birth Island Little Godzilla Birth Island II Planetary Investigation Ship Meets With Disaster Yuki's Theme Space Godzilla Approaches MOGERA ready to go Miki & Little Little Mischief Hyper Battle Area Miki & Godzilla I First Meeting Space Godzilla ~ Descent of the Destruction God Miki & Godzilla II Miki & Shinjo Couple on the Beach Space Godzilla ~ Descent of the Destruction God (+ version) Space Godzilla ~ Descent of the Destruction God (up tempo version) Telekenesis G Force Theme Godzilla Theme 1994 Hyper Battle Area (slow version) Godzilla Theme 1994 (slow version) Space Godzilla, Crazy MOGERA Ready to Die Requiem Epilogue Echoes of Love DISC 2 Revised Edition Unused Music + Original Version Unused Music Godzilla Theme (10/28 revision) Godzilla Theme (without snare) Space Godzilla Theme (10/28 revision) Space Godzilla (normal brass rising) Space Godzilla (C-start brass rising) Space Godzilla (C2 horn start) M1 2nd Half Space Godzilla Approaches Space Godzilla Psychic Power MOGERA Sortie Little Godzilla (alternative type) Birth Island 1 Birth Island 1 (A only) Birth Island 2 (last extended) Birth Island 3 M5 M5 (crystal body) M8 (+ rising) Suspense (10/28 version) Yuki's Theme (no percussion) M52 (piano rising version) Edited + Misappropriated Music Toho Logo ~ Opening Main Title Fairy Mothra Groove It, Yourself Cosmos' Warning MOGERA 1st Sortie Godzilla Hits Land T Project Begins Asteroid Belt Space Battle Sacred Fountain Godzilla, To The Battle Area Crystal Body Attack Land MOGERA MOGERA Assembles Epilogue Ending ~ Echoes of Love