Line #24 Film/GodzillaVsMegalon


1	[[quoteright:220:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/godzillavmegalon_ja_1475.jpg]]
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3	->''"This is the film most baby boomers saw in U.S. movie theaters and on TV. Fans had to rely on badly cropped VHS and DVD bootleg copies to enjoy the film thereafter."''
4	-->-- Section of blurb from the back of the first U.S. DVD release, showing the long run of NoExportForYou this film suffered from
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6	''Godzilla vs. Megalon'' (''Gojira tai Megaro'') was the 13th entry in the ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' series. It was the first film in the series to have someone other than veteran suit performer Creator/HaruoNakajima in the role of Big G, with Shinji Takagi taking over the rubber suit. Interestingly enough, this wasn't going to be a Godzilla film. To cash in on the [[Franchise/UltraSeries Kyodai Hero]] craze, Toho held a contest in 1972 to make a tokusatsu hero that would appear in its own film. The winning entry was from an elementary student, who called his creation "Red Arone". Toho changed the name to Jet Jaguar, and he was set to star in ''Jet Jaguar vs. Megalon'', but, unfortunately, was found not to be able to carry the film. Tomoyuki Tanaka suggested adding Godzilla and Gigan into the film. In order to make up for the lost time, the film was shot in three weeks and, all in all, production time lasted six months. The film bombed at the Japanese box office, and Jet Jaguar didn't get the intended series.
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8	For everything its predecessor did wrong, ''Godzilla vs. Megalon'' did it that much worse. Stock footage abounded, the special effects were dodgy at their zenith, and much of the plot was contrived. However, this film did substantially better in international markets, especially in the United States, where it became a surprising success thanks to a marketing push by Cinema Shares, which had its release timed to cash in on the success of ''Film/KingKong1976''.
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10	As for the newcomers, Megalon and Jet Jaguar have been consistently approved of by fans both inside and outside Japan, and a series of video game appearances from the 1990's onward helped introduce the two to a new generation of fans and cement the positive opinion of them among those more familiar with the franchise. Thanks to him returning here, Gigan’s popularity among fans was also furthered by this film.
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12	The plot centers around the conflict between an opulent undersea civilization known as Seatopia, host to large underwater and underground cities and people who resemble the cultures of Ancient Greece and Rome. Nuclear testing resulting in damaging earthquakes have severely impacted their people, and as revenge against the surface, they plot to unleash the wrath of their god, Megalon. The Seatopians set up a base by drying out a lake where our ostensible human protagonists, an "inventor" named Goro Ibuki, Goro's younger brother Rokuro and their friend Hiroshi Jinkawa, are trying to relax. They [[DullSurprise don't take it well.]]
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14	The Seatopians attempt to steal Jet Jaguar, a prototype robot, from the inventors. The first attempt, while the robot is still incomplete, is [[HilarityEnsues less than successful]], but the second time sees them capture not only the robot but the three humans. The brothers are sent to be offed, while Jet Jaguar is turned against Japan and used to direct Megalon towards Tokyo.
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16	The heroes escape from the clutches of the Seatopians, and after meeting up with [[RedshirtArmy the always hapless JSDF]], manage to regain control of Jet Jaguar and decide [[GodzillaThreshold to call in Godzilla]] to combat Megalon.
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18	With the guidance of Jet Jaguar removed, Megalon is reduced to flailing around and stomping on a few redshirts. Upon [[OhCrap learning of Jet Jaguar's recapture]], the Seatopians send out a distress call to [[Film/GodzillaVsGigan the Nebula M aliens]], requesting Gigan's assistance, which is ''no way'' an excuse to rely overly on stock footage, no sir.
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20	Jet Jaguar [[{{Sizeshifter}} grows to]] [[HumongousMecha Kaiju size]] and teams up with Godzilla to fight Megalon and Gigan. Much silliness ensues, including the [[SarcasmMode awe-inspiring]] tail-slide dropkick from Godzilla to Megalon. Eventually, the two villains are repelled and Godzilla shares a victory handshake with Jet Jaguar, who shrinks back down to rejoin his creators. Godzilla, meanwhile, returns to Monster Island, ready for the next adventure...
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22	For the ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' episode see [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S02E12GodzillaVsMegalon here]].
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24	Followed by ''Series/ZoneFighter'', then ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzilla''.
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26	In 2023, to celebrate the original film's fiftieth anniversary, a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5I00p3KqvE short film]] was released for free Internet viewing under the same title, with the two combatants engaging in a rematch.
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28	----
29	!Godzilla vs. Megalon provides examples of the following tropes:
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31	* AIIsACrapshoot: Subverted by Jet Jaguar. He is content to be controlled like any robot - until danger is about, at which he becomes a BigDamnHero and takes control of himself.
32	* AntiVillain: The Seatopians, and by extension Megalon. Their bizarre decision to send Megalon to attack ''Japan'' for nuclear weapons testing (!) aside, you can't help but feel they're a ''little'' entitled to be ticked at the surface world routinely exploding nukes, threatening their underground civilization with constant earthquakes.
33	* ArtisticLicenseHistory: About the UsefulNotes/EasterIsland statues in the InfoDump, one of the main characters states they are 3 million years old. On the contrary, they were built between the 13th-15th centuries; this would actually make them the newest pieces of architecture Seatopia's cities are based on, as they're combined with features familiar to Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece.
34	* ArtisticLicensePhysics: Godzilla's tail-sliding dropkick allows him to gather speed and momentum without any means of propelling himself along the level ground he stands on. This doesn't in any way detract from how awesome it looks.
35	* BashBrothers: Godzilla and Jet Jaguar fight together and show signs of close comradeship, such as Godzilla helping Jaguar back to his feet during an intense part of the fighting, and the two clasping hands after the fighting is done.
36	* BigDamPlot: Megalon destroys the Ogouchi Dam in the film's most elaborate set-piece.
37	* TheBully: Megalon and Gigan exhibit traits not unlike schoolyard bullies beating on kids weaker than them. Their relentless pummeling of Jet Jaguar when he can't even fight back further reinforces them as this trope. Cue Godzilla coming in to save the day and teach them both a lesson.
38	* CallBack: Godzilla's drop kick, last seen in a poorly-edited stop-motion frame in ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla'', returns in full, monster-suited glory here.
39	* TheCameo: Anguirus and Rodan, during the Monster Island scenes.
40	* CoversAlwaysLie: The American poster for the movie has Godzilla and Megalon fighting on the top of the Twin Towers. Nothing of the sort happens, it was just an attempt to cash-in on the release of ''Film/KingKong1976'' (where the giant monster ''does'' climb on the Twin Towers).
41	* CuteBruiser: Cementing the completion of his turnaround from aggressive force of nature to a monster superhero, Godzilla got a brand new suit for this film... and it makes him look adorable! In particular, he has a rounder, less aggressive face, and larger eyes. This seems to have paid off, as during [[Film/GodzillaVsGigan the previous film]], the last suit used for Godzilla was visibly falling apart.
42	* DolledUpInstallment: It wasn't going to be a Godzilla movie at first, but Toho had doubts about Jet Jaguar being able to carry the film by himself.
43	* DumbMuscle: Megalon. Seriously. Removing Jet Jaguar as a guide reduced him to basically non-functionality for a while. He does get a little bit smarter when he's teamed up with Gigan, but once Godzilla and Jet send the latter fleeing, Megalon goes straight back to being woefully outclassed.
44	* FanServiceExtra: If the watcher can get over how strangely dressed they are the Seatopian dancing women are indeed mostly wearing swimsuits and boots.
45	** The pin-up girls on the back of the truck.
46	* GameBreakingInjury: Jet Jaguar manages to very visibly break Gigan’s arm, forcing the cyborg to retreat and allowing Jet Jaguar and Godzilla to double team Megalon for a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown.
47	* GratuitousEnglish: Rokuro wears a [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Snoopy]] sweatshirt with a "That was a stupid thing to do" thought balloon.
48	* {{Handwave}}: Jet Jaguar reprogrammed himself to change his size to fight giant monsters. As to how a change in software can make hardware violate the laws of physics... [[MST3KMantra shut up and watch the monster fight.]]
49	* HeterosexualLifePartners: ''Presumably'' how we're supposed to view Goro and Hiroshi, as the two never have their relationship explained. It's safe to say a majority of the viewers drop the "heterosexual" from that trope name when looking at the two of them.
50	** Somewhat explained in the Japanese version: Hiroshi addresses Goro as a student or employee who is senior to him, Goro addresses Hiroshi professionally, but as a junior, and Rokuro addresses Hiroshi as a respected but non-familial adult and Goro as a young child would address his big brother.
51	* MacGuffin: Jet Jaguar arguably serves as one for the first two-thirds of the plot, first guiding Megalon and then serving as the means to contact Godzilla.
52	* MechVSBeast: Jet Jaguar fights Megalon to buy time for Godzilla to arrive. Gigan arrives first to assist Megalon and they double-teamed against Jet Jaguar. Godzilla arrives and teams up with Jet Jaguar and they drove both antagonists away.
53	* MinimalistCast: The number of characters with on-screen, speaking roles can be counted on two hands.
54	* NonIndicativeName: Jet Jaguar doesn't look much like a jaguar.
55	* OpeningMonologue: Ted Thomas' deadpan delivery of "In the first part of 1971, on a small island near the Aleutians..." in the English version is unforgettable and has become a bit of a meme to a few.
56	* PlotHole: A minor one: Our heroes suddenly know Megalon's name despite never being informed of it. Averted in the dub, in which Megalon is only referred to as "the monster" by the surface dwellers.
57	* PoorlyDisguisedPilot / StillBornFranchise: This was going to be a vehicle to cash in on ''Series/{{Ultraman}}''. Needless to say, it didn't work. Which makes Godzilla's [[CanonImmigrant appearance]] in ''Zone Fighter'' HilariousInHindsight.
58	* RecursiveTranslation: Robert Dunham, who plays Emperor Antonio, the leader of Seatopia, read his lines in English on set, which were dubbed into Japanese by Creator/GoroNaya, and then those lines were translated back into English for the dub. [[HongKongDub It shows]].
59	* RingOfFire: Megalon manages to trap Godzilla and Jet Jaguar in one until Jet Jaguar flies them out.
60	* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The United States did in fact conduct an underground nuclear test in 1971 on the Aleutian island of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amchitka Amchitka]], but, contrary to the opening narration, it was in November, not the "first part" of the year.
61	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: At the climax of the ending fight, [[spoiler:Gigan flies off by having his arm broken by Jet Jaguar and then taking a couple of shots of Godzilla's atomic breath, while Megalon, after getting double-teamed by Godzilla and Jet Jaguar, flees to one of Seatopia's underground doorways, which Seatopia detonates immediately after.]]
62	* ShootTheHostageTaker: When Gigan grabs Jet Jaguar and tries to use him as a shield, Godzilla blasts him in the face with his atomic breath without missing a beat.
63	* SizeShifter: Jet Jaguar can change his height when required, going from the size of an adult human to the same size as Godzilla.
64	* TheSongRemainsTheSame: Foreign dubs usually end with the untranslated version of "Godzilla and Jet Jaguar: Punch! Punch! Punch!"[[note]]the Italian dub just uses the instrumental bed[[/note]]. The song's [[http://wikizilla.org/wiki/Godzilla_and_Jet_Jaguar:_Punch!_Punch!_Punch! Japanese lyrics]] are only ''slightly'' less goofy than the ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' GagSub.
65	* SpaceWhaleAesop: Stop testing nuclear weapons with reckless abandon, or an ancient civilisation from underground will sic their beetle god on you!
66	* StockFootage: Oh yes.
67	** The footage of the "nuclear test" at the beginning is from the end of ''Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep''. Godzilla jumping into the ocean is also from the same film.
68	** Megalon's powers seemed to be made for this. His lightning attack is an excuse to borrow King Ghidorah's Gravity Beam footage and his Napalm bombs are built for generic explosion scenes.
69	** The three tanks being blow torched make their fourth appearance since ''Film/MothraVsGodzilla''.
70	** Megalon's arms infamously turn into Gigan's hooks when he's destroying planes.
71	** The sequence of Gigan ducking for cover behind trees from ''Godzilla vs. Gigan'', which was already mostly made up of stock footage taken from ''Film/WarOfTheGargantuas'', is reenacted here by Megalon (though ironically, not once Gigan himself arrives). Like in ''vs. Gigan'', it's plainly obvious that the creature moving behind the trees is a hairy Gargantua.
72	* TemptingFate: Rokuro tells Jinkawa he feels more secure driving vehicles on land instead of water. Cue him getting kidnapped by the Seatopians minutes later.
73	* ToughBeetles: Megalon is a giant rhinoceros beetle {{kaiju}} who, besides being very strong and tough, can also [[ThunderBeetle fire lightning]] from his horn, spit napalm bombs from the mouth, and has got drills for hands.
74	* UltramanCopy: Jet Jaguar is a very notable Ultraman copy, being a silver/red (with some yellow and blue added to make him more distinct) hero that can grow in size and fights the Kaiju Megalon and Gigan alongside Godzilla. His flying stance is also taken from Ultraman's own.
75	* UndergroundCity: Seatopia is an entire civilization of these.
76	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: In some international prints of the movie (most noticeably the one featured on [=MST3K=]), we never get to see what happens to the Seatopian agents that took control of Jet Jaguar. Averted in the Japanese prints which show their demise (one gets pushed out of a truck by the truckers he took hostage and falls to his death and the other gets crushed by a boulder Megalon flung in the air).
77	* VillainousFriendship: Megalon and Gigan seem to have shades of this in their interactions.
78	* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe:
79	** Godzilla has a look like this when he first sees Jet Jaguar coming to pay him a visit as if even he can't believe what he's seeing.

Context Film / GodzillaVsMegalon