Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: Terror of Mechagodzilla
Year: 1975
Director: Ishiro Honda
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese

The previous Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla was enough of a success for Toho to bring the cyborg monster back the following year for a direct sequel. With Honda at the helm, Terror of Mechagodzilla aims for a more serious and often tragic human plot to go alone with the standard monster-mashing. While the previous picture was more of a lighter affair, this is much darker (albeit, it does have some silly moments)

Godzilla comes to the rescue when an alien race rebuilds Mechagodzilla to destroy Earth's cities. A traitorous scientist gives them a second weapon: Titanosaurus.

Terror of Mechagodzilla isn't regarded as a classic in the series; the action isn't as memorable as say Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, but it does have some impactful scenes. Overall the humans stood out much more in this flick. Ishiro Honda knew how to put the human element in the forefront of his movies and indeed this is one of the few 70's zilla to balance an engaging human drama with  the kaiju action

Despite its qualities, the second Mechagodzilla outing flopped at the Japanese box office, drawing the smallest attendance of any Godzilla yet, and ended the classic series of movies.The monster wouldn't make a comeback until 1984's appropriately namd The Return of Godzilla, though there were may plans that didn't pan out. 

The ending of the film is sombre and bitter sweet. Godzilla walks off into the sunset in the last shot and we can't help but feel grateful for everything - good and bad- that the monster has brought to the Cinema. A worthwhile watch, if just for that scene alone.