Talkback: Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)

[MVHutch]

I enjoy the more serious take on MechaGodzilla compared to the previous movie, but this had a major misstep: After the sonic ray hit Titano, he should've switched sides and helped Godzilla defeat MechaGodzilla. He's a peaceful dinosaur and this would've demonstrated that, plus it would MechaGodzilla seem much less weak than he appears here after losing to Godzilla with Titanosaurus on his side

[Legion1979]

There's a scene early in the film that I've grown to love recently. Mugan goes to check on Mafune inside Mechagodzilla's head. It seems he's only just there to bullshit and butter Mafune up a little. Lost in his work, Mafune explains that Mechagodzilla needs brain tissue to be perfected and immediately after mentions Katsura multiple times. You see it in the way Mugan's demeanor changes that the alien just connected the dots and is already formulating his plan. From that moment on Katsura is completely fucked.

[miguelnuva]

There's a scene early in the film that I've grown to love recently. Mugan goes to check on Mafune inside Mechagodzilla's head. It seems he's only just there to bullshit and butter Mafune up a little. Lost in his work, Mafune explains that Mechagodzilla needs brain tissue to be perfected and immediately after mentions Katsura multiple times. You see it in the way Mugan's demeanor changes that the alien just connected the dots and is already formulating his plan. From that moment on Katsura is completely fucked.

It isn't Katsura is fucked as much as the Black hole aliens played themselves. They think Katusra is a Cyborg that will follow orders and in return provide MechaGodzilla the human brain without human emotion but by placing the controller in her MechaGodzilla is a fucked as she is. They didn't account for her still being human and she is the one who ultimately gets Godzilla over the hump.

Tying MechaGodzilla and Titanosaurs to Katsura's humanity vs cyborg duality was a good move on the film's part.

[king_ghidorah]

There's a scene early in the film that I've grown to love recently. Mugan goes to check on Mafune inside Mechagodzilla's head. It seems he's only just there to bullshit and butter Mafune up a little. Lost in his work, Mafune explains that Mechagodzilla needs brain tissue to be perfected and immediately after mentions Katsura multiple times. You see it in the way Mugan's demeanor changes that the alien just connected the dots and is already formulating his plan. From that moment on Katsura is completely fucked.

I noticed this too. Great stuff.

[edgaguirus]

Tying MechaGodzilla and Titanosaurs to Katsura's humanity vs cyborg duality was a good move on the film's part.

The movie is good at showing how the differing parties see her. Our hero sees a woman, even when he finds out she has mechanical parts. Her father, to some extent, and the aliens see a pawn. The woman's triumph over those using her as a pawn are a parallel with Godzilla's victory over MG. The biological beats the machine.

[Mechagigan]

I've always loved MechaG's acting in this one specifically. He moves so heavily, he's like a slow, mechanical tank - makes him so much more intimidating. The hand flips are always really hype.

[king_ghidorah]

I think I prefer the 74 look of the character BUT I absolutely agree that the 75 interpretation is the more definitive take.

He seems more “evil”, cold and calculating. It’s honestly my favorite portrayal of the character.

[Mechagigan]

Watching this one, I always find it interesting how shades of the Heisei era's imagery and cinematography make their way into the battles. The panning shots of Titano against Godzilla especially feel similar to later Heisei stuff, and some of Godzilla's slow, menacing bits over the city feel like G'84s lumbering incarnation. Its neat to me how a lot of this movie feels very fresh and experimental among the Showa era, yet, at the same time, does a lot of the usual stuff; feels appropriate as the end of it's series.

[edgaguirus]

I think I prefer the 74 look of the character BUT I absolutely agree that the 75 interpretation is the more definitive take.

He seems more “evil”, cold and calculating. It’s honestly my favorite portrayal of the character.

While the 74 look is classic, this version is the more powerful. The addition of a second "head" was a clever decision, making the robot deadlier and showing that the aliens learned from their errors.

[daveblackeye15]

Really Terror seems more powerful? The first was a beast at melee AND long range. Terror seems helpless once Godzilla gets close up with Titanosaurus handling close combat. I do like the second head and look of Terror.

[Legion1979]

MGII blew up an entire city block and knocked Godzilla out completely just with its revolving missiles.

Once Godzilla ripped off the first one's head the battle was over. The second time that happened the robot kept on going with a pretty devastating laser beam and was only put out of commission when Katsura committed suicide.

[LSD Jellyfish]

It feels like the second version prioritized heavy firepower and is much more of a glass cannon. I still need to rewatch TOMG again.

[king_ghidorah]

What I like about Mg 75 is that he is just a lot colder and more methodical. He doesn’t have a lot of wasted movements and is all too happy to let Titanosaurus take the brunt of the beatings.

That being said….not sure how I reconcile both MG and titanosaurus acting so differently when their being controlled by the same person.

[miguelnuva]

MGII blew up an entire city block and knocked Godzilla out completely just with its revolving missiles.

Once Godzilla ripped off the first one's head the battle was over. The second time that happened the robot kept on going with a pretty devastating laser beam and was only put out of commission when Katsura committed suicide.

I remember the missiles running knocking him down when they went down his throat but you hearing him vocalize still.

Mechagodzilla II's weapons are more powerful no question but then you see Godzilla run through all out assault in TOMG where as before it bloodied him.

[Mechagigan]

I've always seen Katsura's control as somewhat limited; Titano seems like he's got some free will. MechaG seems much more directly tied to her mind

[king_ghidorah]

Yeah I think that’s more or less correct.

She can guide their actions but they still have their own personalities etc

[daveblackeye15]

Hm I agree with the idea that they still have personality and are guided somewhat. I do like 75 Mechag being more calculating BUT I still think making him more of a glass cannon with a weakness removed feels like a downgrade from balanced 74 one.

[king_ghidorah]

The more I think about it, the more I can see the argument that MG 74 is “more powerful/a better fighter”.

I still like how cold Mg is in TOMG, but he does seem brittle when engaged in hand to hand combat compared to the previous version.

[daveblackeye15]

I mean 75 being a 'glass cannon' seems plenty accurate too even though I'm camp '74 is a superior fighter.'

[edgaguirus]

It feels like the second version prioritized heavy firepower and is much more of a glass cannon. I still need to rewatch TOMG again.

MG 75's fighting style does match that assessment. MG lets Titanosaurus handle most of the combat and unleashes the lasers and missiles when needed.