The Return of Godzilla a.k.a Godzilla 1985 The Legend Is Reborn (1984-film)

## The Return of Godzilla

***The Return of Godzilla*** (ゴジラ, *Gojira*) is a 1984 Japanese *kaiju* film directed by Koji Hashimoto, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano. The film features the fictional monster character Godzilla. Produced and distributed by Toho Studios, it is the 16th film in the *Godzilla* franchise, and is the first film in the franchise's Heisei period, despite having been produced during the Shōwa period. In Japan, the film was followed by *Godzilla vs. Biollante* in 1989.

*The Return of Godzilla* stars Ken Tanaka, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Yosuke Natsuki, and Keiju Kobayashi, with Kenpachiro Satsuma as Godzilla. The film serves as both a sequel to the original 1954 film and a reboot of the franchise that ignores the events of every Shōwa era film aside from the original *Godzilla*, placing itself in line with the darker tone and themes of the original film and returning Godzilla to his destructive, antagonistic roots. The film was released theatrically in Japan on December 15, 1984. The following year, in the United States, New World Pictures released *Godzilla 1985*, a heavily re-edited American adaptation of the film which includes additional footage, and features Raymond Burr reprising his role from the 1956 film *Godzilla, King of the Monsters!*.

## 1985

***Godzilla 1985*** is a 1985 *kaiju* film directed by R. J. Kizer and Koji Hashimoto. The film is a heavily re-edited American adaptation of the original Japanese film *The Return of Godzilla*, which was produced and distributed by Toho Studios in 1984. In addition to the film being re-cut, re-titled, and dubbed in English, *Godzilla 1985* featured additional footage produced by New World Pictures, with Raymond Burr reprising his role as American journalist Steve Martin from the 1956 film *Godzilla, King of the Monsters!*, which itself was a heavily re-edited American adaptation of the 1954 Japanese film *Godzilla*.

Both the New World Pictures and Toho versions serve as direct sequels to the original 1954 *Godzilla*, with *Godzilla 1985* also serving as a sequel to *Godzilla, King of the Monsters!*. The same adaptation techniques used to produce *Godzilla, King of the Monsters!* were implemented with *Godzilla 1985*, with the original Japanese footage being dubbed and edited together with the American footage. The film retains the original musical score by Reijiro Koroku, while also integrating portions of the score for the 1985 Canadian film *Def-Con 4*, composed by Christopher Young.

*Godzilla 1985* was met with mostly unfavorable reviews upon its release in the United States. However, it have a minor cult success on home video. Like *Godzilla, King of the Monsters!*, much of the nuclear and political overtones featured in the original Japanese film were removed from the American version. *Godzilla 1985* was the last *Godzilla* film produced by Toho to be distributed theatrically in the United States until the release of *Godzilla 2000*.

## Plot

The Japanese fishing vessel *Yahata Maru* is trying to find its way to shore in a horrible storm, when a giant monster from a nearby uninhabited island attacks the boat. A day later, reporter Goro Maki finds the vessel intact, along with its sole survivor Hiroshi "Kenny" Okumura.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Mitamura, is informed of the attack and the potential return of Godzilla; he orders that Godzilla's involvement be kept secret. Maki's report is not published by his newspaper as a "national security matter" over concerns about mass panic and is told to interview bio-physicist Hayashida instead. Maki finds Naoko, Okamura's sister working as a lab assistant to Hayashida and informs her that her brother is safe, against the government's orders. She rushes to the hospital.

Godzilla attacks and destroys a Soviet submarine. The Russians believe the attack was orchestrated by the Americans and the situation threatens to escalate into war. Mitamura is informed of the submarine attack and shown evidence that Godzilla was responsible. The media blackout is lifted and the Americans are absolved of blame. The Japanese arrange a meeting with the Soviet and American ambassadors. Prime Minister Mitamura decides nuclear weapons will not be allowed in Japanese territory even if Godzilla were to attack the Japanese mainland. The Americans balk at this, while the Soviets are in full agreement. However, a Soviet Navy officer covertly prepares a nuclear satellite, claiming Moscow has ordered this.

Godzilla appears on an island off the coast of Japan and attacks a nuclear power plant, removing the nuclear reactor and feeding off the radiation. Godzilla suddenly drops the reactor and walks off after a flock of birds pass by. The Japan Self-Defense Forces deploy their forces in wait for a possible attack by Godzilla at Tokyo Bay. General Kakura of the JSDF briefs the Japanese cabinet about a top-secret weapon known as the "Super-X attack plane" that can be used against Godzilla.

Through the use of "ultrasonic images", Hayashida determines that Godzilla's brain is bird-like, only mutated. Hayashida realizes that Godzilla has a conditioned response to birds chirping and suggests they duplicate the sound electronically. Hayashida assists the Japanese emergency task force in a plan to coax Godzilla into Mt. Mihara's volcano by emitting the bird sound. The Prime Minister authorizes both the JSDF plan and the plan to use the volcano against Godzilla.

Steve Martin is brought into the Pentagon to assist against Godzilla. Godzilla is sighted at Tokyo Bay, forcing mass evacuations. Godzilla proceeds to attack Tokyo and the JSDF launch the Super-X. In the attack, Godzilla sinks a Soviet merchant ship which was in actuality an intelligence collection vessel. Before dying of his injuries, the captain launches the nuclear missile.

The Pentagon prepares to assist the Japanese but Martin cautions that weapons will only confuse and antagonize Godzilla further. Hayashida uses the bird signaling device on Godzilla, which works initially, but before it can be tested further, Godzilla is attacked again by the JSDF. The Super-X arrives and defeats Godzilla with cadmium missiles. At that moment, the Soviet missile is detected by the Americans as it draws closer to Japan. When Washington warns that this warhead will be akin to the Hiroshima bombing multiplied by 50, Mitamura permits the Americans to make an interception attempt.

Hayashida and his signaling equipment are evacuated and sent to Mt. Mihara. The Americans launch a counter-missile and successfully intercept the Soviet missile. However, the nuclear atmosphere from the blast reawakens Godzilla and he destroys the Super-X. Hayashida relaunches the signal and lures Godzilla into the mouth of Mt. Mihara. Using explosive bombs to cause the mountain to erupt, Godzilla becomes imprisoned after falling into the volcano.