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| “ | Monsters return to wipe us out! | „ |
— Tagline |
| “ | During the war between man and monster, a young girl uncovers the truth behind Godzilla's origins. | „ |
— Official synopsis |
Godzilla: The Kaiju Invasion (大怪獣戦争 Daikaijū Sensō, lit. The Great Kaiju War) is a 2022 Japanese tokusatsu kaiju film co-produced by Toho and GMA Pictures, and the thirtieth installment in the Godzilla series, as well as the second in the Reiwa series.
A sequel to 2018's The Return of Godzilla, the film is set 4 years after Godzilla's attack in 2018, during the re-emergence of giant kaiju. It was released to Japanese theaters on September 16, 2022, and to American theaters on May 12, 2023.
Plot[]
Following Godzilla's attack in Manila, more monsters have continued appearing worldwide, including Rodan in Davao, Mothra in Tokyo, and Hedorah in Beijing. The United Nations responded by founding the Anti-Monster Force (AMF) in hopes to develop new superweapons, and to study the existence of kaiju during the Kaiju War, between humanity and giant monsters.
By 2022, 16-year old Christine Gonzales, a high school student from Cebu City, is in the Aokigahara forest near Mount Fuji with her friends, filming a documentary regarding the forest's history and its connection to suicide incidents, when a small earthquake strikes the area, revealing a cavern containing cave paintings, along with ancient texts.
Kensaku Ijuin is now the lead scientist of the AMF's research division, and is notified regarding Christine's discovery. Ijuin discovers that Christine has been studying about a legend involving kaiju protecting Earth in ancient times, which she calls the Guardian Monsters, which is coincidentally similar to the theory presented by Takuya Fujito four years ago.
Japanese reporter Akira Hirakawa is getting frustrated with his recent articles regarding politics and wants something more extraordinary to boost his career. After discovering an article regarding an underground cavern being discovered in Aokigahara, he immediately travels to the Philippines, arriving at Cebu City, the country's temporary capital, to meet Christine.
A research team headed by Ijuin is sent to the newly discovered cavern at Aokigahara, and begins examining the contents of the cavern. The ancient texts transcribed are similar to those from ancient Pacific island civilizations, and were successfully translated to Japanese. The translated text speaks of a kaiju named Baradagi.
Near Mount Fuji, a small village is annihilated by a violent landslide, killing all of its residents. Another research team is sent by the AMF to investigate it. At the vicinity of the former village, a giant monster emerges from the side of a hill. The survivors retreat to alert the authorities, but the monster has already reached a nearby town.
The military forces provided cover for the evacuating residents with tanks, helicopters, and rocket launchers, but their weapons had no effect. The AMF decides to lure the kaiju to the edge of the Koyama Bridge that is rigged with explosives. Upon detonation, the kaiju toppled into the river below and seemingly killed.
After further researching Christine's Guardian Monsters, Ijuin approaches Christine and summons her to the AMF headquarters, where she is given the chance to prove her theory. Christine hypotheses that the kaiju Baradagi is actually a member of the Varanopode species, an ancient reptilian creature now extinct, but one individual escaped extinction.
Another giant monster emerged from Lake Ikeda, and begins burrowing across Japan, with its movements being interpreted by authorities as an earthquake with a moving epicenter. The monster later attacks an oil field in Akita Prefecture. During these attacks its physical appearance was not seen, resulting in many eyewitnesses misidentified the creature as Godzilla himself.
Christine was able to correctly identify the monster as Baradagi, now given the name Varan by the AMF. Varan then surfaces and attacks Nagoya, but is confronted by the AMF, using the newly developed Hyper Laser Cannons. The weapons were no match for the kaiju, as Varan topples the Nagoya Tower and burrows back underground.
An analysis of the first monster's remains on the Koyama Bridge determines it to be a robot, although the presence of unknown elements suggests its origin is extraterrestrial. Christine gave it the name Moguera, based on its appearance, which resembles a mole. Hirakawa begins publishing reports on the recent incidents, calling it as a "kaiju invasion".
In the Philippines, outgoing president Manuel Rodriguez arrange a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Hayato Mitamura, regarding the unauthorized use of the Super X in Manila four years ago. After a debate over the issue, president Rodriguez decides to prohibit the further use of superweapons, even if Godzilla returned and attacked the country.
Another series of earthquakes are recorded near the vicinity of Shanghai, China, with Christine believing it could be Varan. Ijuin wants the city to be evacuated as a precaution, but the AMF refuse to do so. A few hours later, Varan finally emerges and begins attacking the city. Godzilla soon surfaces off the coast of Shanghai, heading towards Varan.
The AMF launches their assault against Varan and Godzilla, but their weapons have no effect as Godzilla and Varan begin to battle near Lujiazui. Their battle destroys countless buildings, while the AMF provided cover for the evacuating residents. Christine hypotheses that Godzilla could be one of the Guardian Monsters, supported by Fujito's theory four years ago.
Eventually, the two monsters reach the Old City of Shanghai, which is destroyed during their battle. Godzilla then bites down onto Varan's neck, causing him to bleed, before Godzilla tackles Varan into the Temple of the City Gods, destroying it in the process. Godzilla fires his atomic breath at his foe, burning him to death and leaving Godzilla victorious.
Godzilla leaves Shanghai ablaze and in ruins. The AMF was criticized by the United Nations following its response to the Shanghai incident. In a public press conference, Christine tells the world that Godzilla could be one of the Guardian Monsters, and must be left undisturbed. As a response, the AMF is prohibited from launching further attacks against Godzilla.
Cast[]
Actor's name on the left, character played on the right.
- Kenji Sahara as Kensaku Ijuin
- The lead scientist of the AMF's research division.
- Hiroki Hasegawa as Akira Hirakawa
- A Japanese reporter that wants to boost his career.
- Romamae Cañedo as Christine Gonzales
- A high school student from the Philippines that is studying the Guardian Monsters legend.
- Tonton Gutierrez as President Manuel Rodriguez
- The outgoing president of the Philippines.
- Ren Osugi as Prime Minister Hayato Mitamura
- The incumbent Prime Minister of Japan, replacing Seiji Okouchi after his term ended in 2019.
- Yasmien Kurdi as Rebecca de Guzman
- A renowned lawyer and the presidental spokesperson of the Philippines.
- Jenzel Angeles as Louise Ocampo
- Christine's supportive best friend.
- Ayeesha Cervantes as Kathleen Gonzales
- Christine's older sister.
- Mylene Dizon as Dahlia Gonzales
- Christine and Kathleen's mother.
- Gabbi Garcia as Lily Pelaez (stock footage)
- A 20-year old veterinary assistant that likes to participate in beauty pageants.
Appearances[]
Production[]
Following the unprecedented success of the Justice for Love duology, Yasmien Kurdi was cast in the film as Rebecca de Guzman.
Alternate titles[]
- The Great Kaiju War (大怪獣戦争 Daikaijū Sensō, literal Japanese title)
- Godzilla: The Kaiju Invasion (Official international title)
Theatrical releases[]
- Japan - September 16, 2022
- Philippines - October 14, 2022
- United States - May 12, 2023
Reception[]
After its release, Godzilla: The Kaiju Invasion received mixed reviews from both Japanese and Western critics. The film's special effects, cinematography and the story were praised, but the film was criticized for its short pacing and underwritten characters.
Video releases[]
Toho DVD/Blu-ray (2022)
- Region: 1 & 2
- Discs: 2
- Audio: Japanese, English, Tagalog (3.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital for DVD, 3.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio for Blu-ray)
- Subtitles: English, Japanese, Tagalog
- Special features: Trailers, promos, and footage from previsualization and storyboards (20 minutes); additional previsualization and tokusatsu footage (15 minutes); alternate and deleted scenes (12 minutes), VFX breakdown (10 minutes); general behind-the-scenes featurette (15 minutes)
Trivia[]
- Godzilla: The Kaiju Invasion is the first Japanese Godzilla film released during the political Reiwa period of Japan.
- At the age of only 16, Christine Gonzales is the youngest protagonist in the Godzilla series.
- The Anti-Monster Force that was established in this film references the Anti-Megalosaurus Force featured in the films Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla and Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., both use the exact same abbreviation as well.
- During Varan's attack on Nagoya, he is confronted by Hyper Laser Cannons, which was used against Godzilla in the 1984 film The Return of Godzilla.
- "Baragadi" is the name used for Varan by the villagers who worship him in his debut film.
- Varan and Godzilla's battle takes place in Shanghai, China, which was previously featured in Godzilla: Final Wars.
- There are several monster scenes in Godzilla: The Kaiju Invasion that mirror those in past Godzilla films.
- The film's opening scene features kaiju attacks, which is reminiscent of the 2013 movie Pacific Rim, which has a similar opening scene.
- The scene which shows Christine filming a documentary in Aokigahara while discovering a cavern is reminiscent of GMK.
- The Guardian Monsters legend featured in the film is a direct reference to the three Guardian Monsters from GMK.
- Cebu City becoming the temporary capital after Manila was destroyed is a reference to Godzilla vs. Megaguirus.
- The ancient texts translated into Japanese were written from ancient Pacific island civilizations, referencing Gamera's origins in Shusuke Kaneko's Heisei Gamera trilogy.
- Moguera emerges from a mountain, attacks a nearby town, battles with the military, and is destroyed when the Koyama Bridge is rigged with explosives, much like its Showa counterpart.
- Varan's place of emergence is Lake Ikeda, which is reflective of Mothra's emergence in GMK.
- Varan attacks an oil field in Akita Prefecture, which echoes Baragon's first attack in Frankenstein vs. Baragon.
- Varan was initially misidentified as Godzilla. This is reminiscent of both Frankenstein vs. Baragon and GMK, in which Baragon's initial attack was blamed on Frankenstein and Godzilla.
- Varan's attack in Nagoya is framed similarly to a scene in Godzilla vs. Mothra. In that film, Battra emerges from underground and attacks Nagoya, is confronted by Maser Cannons, and topples the Nagoya Tower before burrowing back underground.
- President Rodriguez prohibits the use of superweapons in the Philippines, which echoes Prime Minister Mitamura's actions regarding nuclear weapons in The Return of Godzilla.
- Godzilla and Varan's battle in Shanghai ends with Godzilla biting down onto Varan's neck, then tackles him into a prominent landmark, before firing his atomic breath at Varan, burning him. A similar scenario plays out in Godzilla Raids Again.
- Yasmien Kurdi previously appeared as Alicia Salvacion in the 2020 film #JusticeForLove: End of the World and its 2021 prequel series.
- This film's literal Japanese title is identical to the Japanese title of Invasion of Astro-Monster.
- The name Christine Gonzales is a direct reference to Beauty Gonzalez, whose real name is Christine Gonzalez, and also from Visayas.