Story
In 2004, endless warfare and environmental pollution has resulted in dangerous kaiju and the Earth Defense Force (EDF) is created to protect the planet. The organization is equipped with the best technology, weapons and soldiers, as well as mutants with special abilities. Godzilla is the EDF’s only unstoppable opponent. The EDF’s best combat vehicle, the Gotengo, corners Godzilla at the South Pole and buries him under the Antarctic ice, freezing him alive.
Forty years later, the EDF discovers a mummified space monster. The mutant soldier Shinichi Ozaki and the United Nations biologist Dr. Miyuki Otonashi are sent to research it. Shortly thereafter, the two encounter the Shobijin, fairies of the guardian monster Mothra, who reveal that the monster is Gigan, an alien cyborg sent to destroy Earth 12,000 years earlier. They also warn that a battle between good and evil will happen soon and that Ozaki, because of his mutant capabilities, must choose between the two.
Suddenly, kaiju appear in major cities. The EDF attempts to drive them away. The monsters include Anguirus in Shanghai, Rodan in New York City, King Caesar in Okinawa, Kamacuras in Paris, Kumonga in Arizona, Zilla in Sydney and Ebirah near Tokyo. Despite defeating Ebirah, the EDF is unsuccessful in destroying the monsters. After destroying most of the cities, the monsters vanish and an enormous alien mothership appears over Tokyo. The aliens, known as Xiliens, say that they are friendly and have eliminated the monsters. They also warn the Earth about an impending asteroid called Gorath that will impact soon. Because of their seemingly-friendly nature, the UN is disbanded and the Space Nations, an alliance to unite the universe, is organized.
Ozaki, Miyuki, Douglas Gordon (the Gotengo’s captain) and several others distrust the aliens. Using research and undercover work, they discover that the Xiliens are actually the ones who unleashed the kaiju; and that they also replaced several members of the EDF with android duplicates. They plan on subjugating humanity to harvest their mitochondria for food. The Xiliens are exposed on television. Opposed to the Xilien commander’s decision to subtly take over Earth, his subordinate, the Regulator named X, kills the commander and assumes control of Earth’s mutants, except for Ozaki. The kaiju are again released in Earth’s major cities. Ozaki, Miyuki, Gordon, and others flee to their secret facility, and the EDF is defeated.
On Mt. Fuji, a hunter, Samon Taguchi, and his grandson, Kenta, discover Minilla, Godzilla’s son. They are successful in keeping a low profile and hiding from the Xiliens’ assault.
Gordon proposes freeing Godzilla to allow the dinosaur to defeat the other kaiju. Using the Gotengo, the EDF goes to Antarctica while being chased by Gigan. After Godzilla is released from his hibernation, he kills Gigan, and follows the Gotengo. The Gotengo returns to Tokyo, hoping Godzilla will unwittingly defeat the Xiliens. The Xiliens send the controlled kaiju after Godzilla, but he defeats them in short battles. While all of the other kaiju are presumably killed, Godzilla spares Anguirus, Rodan, and King Caesar after defeating them at Mt. Fuji (breaking free their controls). The Gotengo and Godzilla arrive at Tokyo, whereupon the Gotengo enters the mothership.
During the battle, Ozaki’s friend Kazama destroys the Mothership’s shield generator at the cost of his own life. Meanwhile, the asteroid Gorath strikes Godzilla. Monster X materializes and starts to battle Godzilla. Gigan, who has now been upgraded, aids Monster X, but Mothra arrives to engage him into battle. Inside the Xilien mothership, the humans confront the Xilien Regulator. Ozaki is revealed to be a “Keizer”, an all-powerful being capable of controlling Earth. Deciding to stay with the humans, Ozaki fights the Xilien Regulator, who is also a Keizer. After an extended battle, the humans are victorious and flee the Mothership’s destruction.
During their battle, Gigan hits Mothra with a laser beam, causing her to be engulfed in flames. However, Mothra is able to kill Gigan with a kamikaze-style attack after Gigan accidentally cuts off its own head with boomerang saw blades.
With Gigan and Mothra dead, Godzilla continues his battle with Monster X, who mutates into Keizer Ghidorah. Keizer Ghidorah initially has an advantage over Godzilla using lightning to overpower him, and it drains Godzilla’s power through its teeth. Ozaki aids Godzilla by transferring some of his Keizer powers over to the monster and Godzilla prevails over Ghidorah. He then turns to attack the Gotengo, but a much larger Minilla arrives, along with the hunter and his grandson, and blocks his father from harming the humans, which causes Godzilla to realize that he must forgive mankind. The survivors watch as Godzilla and Minilla head back to the ocean, as Godzilla turns and lets out one final roar.
During the credits we see that Mothra actually is still alive as she is seen flying back to Infant Island.
Godzilla: Final Wars is a 2004 Japanese Science fiction Kaiju film directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, written by Wataru Mimura and Isao Kiriyama and produced by Shogo Tomiyama. It is the 28th installment in the Godzilla film series, and the sixth in terms of the series’ Millennium era. The film stars Masahiro Matsuoka, Don Frye, Rei Kikukawa, Kane Kosugi, Maki Mizuno and Kazuki Kitamura.
Cast & Characters
Masahiro Matsuoka as Shinichi Ozaki (尾崎 真一 Ozaki Shin’ichi), a soldier in the Earth Defense Force’s M-Unit team. Rei Kikukawa as Miyuki Otonashi (音無 美雪 Otonashi Miyuki?), a molecular biologist recruited by the United Nations. Don Frye as Colonel Douglas Gordon (ダグラス・ゴードン大佐 Dagurasu Gōdon Taisa), the captain of the Gotengo. Kane Kosugi as Katsunori Kazama (風間 勝範 Kazama Katsunori), a soldier in the Earth Defense Force’s M-Unit and close friend of Ozaki. Maki Mizuno as Anna Otonashi (音無 杏奈 Otonashi Anna?), Miyuki’s older sister and a news reporter for Nitto Television. Kazuki Kitamura as the Xilian Regulator (X星人参謀 Ekkusu-seijin Sanbō), the villainous leader of the Xilien race. Kumi Mizuno as Akiko Namikawa (波川 玲子 Namikawa Akiko), the Earth Defense Force Commander. Kenji Sahara as Hachiro Jinguji (神宮寺 八郎 Jingūji Hachirō?), a paleontologist and friend of Miyuki who discovers Gigan in Hokkaido. Masami Nagasawa and Chihiro Otsuka as the Shobijin (小美人), the fairy guardians of Mothra. Shigeru Izumiya as Samon Taguchi (田口 左門 Taguchi Samon), an elderly hunter based in Mt. Fuji. Kenta Suga as Kenta Taguchi (田口 健太 Taguchi Kenta), Samon’s grandson. Masakatsu Funaki as Commander Kumasaka (熊坂教官 Kumasaka Kyōkan?), the leader of the M-Unit and Ozaki’s direct superior. Masatoh Eve as the Xilien General (X星人司令官 Ekkusu seijin Shirei), the initial leader of the Xiliens until he is killed. Jun Kunimura as Major Kumoro (小室少佐 Kumuro Shōsa), the assistant commander of the Gotengo. Akira Takarada as Naotaro Daigo (醍醐 直太郎 Daigo Naotarō), the United Nations Secretary-General. Tsutomu Kitagawa as Godzilla, the titular King of the Monsters, who was imprisoned in an icy tomb in Antarctica for 40 years but was later released by the Gontengo and follows the ship all over the Earth to defeat the monsters under the control of the Xilien Invaders. According to Kitamura, he wanted his Godzilla to be stronger, smarter, and faster in this film by adding more speed, power, and intelligence to the character. Naoko Kamio as Minilla, the Son of Godzilla, and Rodan, a giant mutant pterosaur. Mothra, a giant, divine, butterfly/moth-like deity who aids Godzilla in the final battle with Monster X and Gigan. Kazuhiro Yoshida as Gigan, a primary villain of the film, and Hedorah, a giant tadpole-like creature. Toshihiro Ogura as Keizer Ghidorah, the three-headed kaiju, Anguirus, a giant ankylosaur, and Ebirah, a giant lobster. Motokuni Nakagawa as Monster X and King Caesar, a lion-like creature. Zilla, a mutated iguana that was misidentified as Godzilla by the Americans. Manda, a sea serpent who was seen battling the Gotengo, but was ultimately defeated. Kumonga, a giant spider. Kamacuras, a mutated praying mantis.
Staff
監督：北村龍平
特殊技術：浅田英一
音楽：キース・エマーソン、森野宣彦、矢野大介
ゴジラテーマ曲：伊福部昭
挿入曲：「WE’RE ALL TO BLAME」 Sum 41 （ユニバーサル ミュージック）
タイトルデザイン：カイル・クーパー
製作：富山省吾
脚本：三村渉、桐山勲
プロデューサー：山中和成
アソシエイトプロデューサー： 鈴木律子
デザイン：新川洋司、寺田克也、韮沢靖、西川伸司
アクションコーディネーター：竹田道弘
アクションアシスタント：カラサワイサオ
アクション協力：坂口拓
スーツアクションアドバイザー：喜多川務
海外演出：高津隆一
特撮別班演出：加藤晃
製作進行：今西健太
Director: Ryuhei Kitamura
Producer: Shogo Tomiyama
Screenplay: Isao Kiriyama
Wataru Mimura
Narration: Kōichi Yamadera
Starring: Masahiro Matsuoka
Rei Kikukawa
Don Frye
Kane Kosugi
Maki Mizuno
Kazuki Kitamura
Masakatsu Funaki
Kumi Mizuno
Kenji Sahara
Masami Nagasawa
Chihiro Otsuka
Masatoh Eve
Jun Kunimura
Akira Takarada
Tsutomu Kitagawa
Music: Keith Emerson
Nobuhiko Morino
Daisuke Yano
Themes: Akira Ifukube
Cinematography: Takumi Furuya
Fujio Okawa
Editing: Shūichi Kakesu
Studio: Toho
Distributor: Toho
Tristar Pictures
