It's Kaijuly! Movie #4 is "Godzilla Raids Again" (1955)

by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s Godzilla Raids Again which is part of our inaugural “Kaijuly” look at some giant monster films (of which we both love thanks to seeing them in our childhood of the 60s and 70s).

Note: Joe is on a much needed holiday, so Mike is flying solo with this entry.

Synopsis

Fishing scout-pilots are startled to discover a new monster named Anguirus alongside a second Godzilla. The monsters make their way towards Osaka as Japan can only brace for tragedy and relive the horror of Godzilla once more. Also known as Godzilla's Counterattack and by its U.S. name, Gigantis, the Fire Monster.

(A lot could be said about the U.S. version (including its ridiculous name change), but we’re going to focus on the Japanese (and real) version of the film)

The Good

Mike: Godzilla Raids Again is what a sequel should be. As the second installment in the iconic Godzilla franchise, the movie successfully builds upon the foundations laid by its predecessor and introduces several elements that would become staples of the series. One of the most significant improvements was the inclusion of a monster opponent for Godzilla in the form of Anguirus. This marked the beginning of the destructive spectacles and classic kaiju battles that would go on to define the films for over over 60 years.

Additionally, Godzilla Raids Again showcases considerable advancements in special effects over the first film. The city destruction sequences, despite the technological limitations of the era, were impressively executed, while making the creature battles more realistic and engaging set the stage for the awe-inspiring destruction that would become synonymous with the franchise.

We also get one of the best human characters to appear in any of the films with Kobayashi, one of the pilots who first spots Godzilla. Played by Minoru (Rashōmon, Seven Samurai) Chiaki, Kobayashi is a bit of a lovable goof who experiences the fullest character arc within the film en route to ultimately (albeit accidentally) discovering how to stop Godzilla.

The Bad

Mike: Personally I can’t find too many things wrong with this aside from the ending which I felt was a bit weak (trying to avoid spoilers).

Objectively, I would say that there are some pacing issues that make parts of the film feel a bit disjointed which could lead to a lack of interest. The story, aside from everything it DOES bring to the table, is not terribly original and seems to repeat a lot of the beats from the first film in addition to the lack of strong social commentary which may turn people off by giving them the feeling that this is nothing but an uninspired sequel.

The Verdict

Mike: Although it’s a sequel that seems to often be overlooked, Godzilla Raids Again is a pretty strong sequel and an important film in the Godzilla mythos as it establishes the fact that other monsters exist and that Godzilla would/could be a recurring threat. For that fact alone it’s worth a (re)watch.

While there may be elements that some people could point to as being “bad”, there are some superb effects and great monster battles between Godzilla and Anguirus that set a high standard for subsequent kaiju films and not only expanded the beloved franchise, but make it a very enjoyable film.

Godzilla Raids Again, from Toho Company, is available via streaming on numerous platforms such as Pluto, Tubi, etc.

Godzilla Raids Again