Yes, I have seen the rather cheesy Americanized version of this film with the obviously inserted Raymond Burr scenes and while you do get to see Godzilla crush Tokyo you miss most the the plot from the original Japanese version. The Japanese version is very well done and has a very good story, which for some reason we felt like changing. I don't know why, there really isn't any overtly anti-American messages to be found, rather a message against Japan's own nuclear testing and the dangers of said weapon to all people. So suffice to say this movie has a giant monster who comes out of the ocean, apparently a dinosaur that was entrapped in some underwater area where it remained undetected for millions of years...a nuclear test has not only released the beast it has horribly mutated it as well to a much bigger radioactive super beast. So scientist and military and politicians must now find a way to destroy the beast before it destroys all of Japan. The movie is very good and rather sad at the same time. The sweeping march on Tokyo is very well done as there is a rather good scene of a mother with her children surrounded by flames trying to comfort her kids by saying they will be with their father soon. Also a very good ending and very sad ending. It is also an ending in the Japanese version that warns that other Godzilla's may emerge and indeed they do as the next Godzilla to emerge would actually never be killed and end up being somewhat of a hero, kind of funny they did turn one of the most effective destructive monsters scarred by radiation into a hero, however I liked those Godzilla movies as well.
Godzilla
(1954)
Wow, watching the Japanese version makes quite a bit of difference.
23 September 2006