I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Toho has long recognized that women make up a significant portion of their audience, which is often why women have played such a prominent role in many of the "Godzilla" features that have been released over the decades since the mighty King of the Monsters's debut in "Gojira" (1954). That is why women play such a prominent role in some of the newer "Godzilla" features released between 1984 and 1995.Hence, that is also perhaps why Toho took the chance in 1992 to revive one of the longest-standing staples of its kaiju (monster) library: Mothra, whose name would imply, is a giant moth - a monster-god - with decidedly feminine characteristics. Mothra was not the first female kaiju to appear in the second-generation Heisei-Era "Godzilla" films. That first monster was the horrific yet tragic Biollante, from "Godzilla vs. Biollante" (1989), which I will contend remains the crowning achievement of the Heisei-Era films.Takao Okawara was selected to helm 1992's "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth" (or more simply known as "Godzilla vs. Mothra") by Kazuki Ohmori, who wrote and directed both previous Heisei-Era features "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" (1991) and the aforementioned "Godzilla vs. Biollante." "The Battle for Earth" is ostensibly a remake of the classic "Godzilla vs. Mothra" (1964), but with a much stronger environmentalist subtext.Things begin with a huge meteor crashing into the Pacific Ocean, setting off a chain reaction of environmental disasters all across the world.The film opens with a direct homage to the timeless opening sequence from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981): Takuya Fujita (Tetsuya Bessho) manages to retrieve a priceless artifact from the ruins of an ancient temple in Thailand, and is promptly arrested for the theft. His ex-wife Masako (Satomi Kobayashi) comes to see him in jail (while also trying to extract delinquent alimony payments out of him), and offers him a chance at freedom: she has talked to the Thai police and they will let him out on the condition that he helps her to locate Infant Island, where a giant egg was recently discovered following a powerful typhoon.It's an offer he'd be stupid to refuse.They travel to Infant Island and find the egg, but also its two protectors - the Cosmos (Keiko Imamura and Sayaka Osawa), two beautiful young girls who are only a few inches in height; they're also the successors to the Shobijin from the first-generation Showa-Era "Godzilla" films, who performed a similar role. They explain that they're the last of an ancient civilization that had once tried to control the weather, and they were protected by their benevolent monster-god Mothra. But they were eventually wiped out during a battle with the malevolent "anti-Mothra" monster Battra, who is described as being the physical manifestation of Earth's innate instinct for self-preservation.Eventually, the enraged Battra is awakened from its eons-long slumber, and he does battle with an even stronger and more menacing Godzilla at sea; Mothra, too, soon joins the fray, after she hatches from her egg - in a sequence referencing a scene from "King Kong vs. Godzilla" (1962). (It must be said that "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth" is one of the more visually arresting features of the Heisei-Era "Godzilla" features, highlighted by the strong cinematography and the top-notch special effects by Koichi Kawakita.)It is interesting to note the strong feminine presence in this film. Mothra remains the most prominent female kaiju in Toho's legion of giant monsters. But even more note-worthy with "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth" is the strong performances of its human females, Masako and the Cosmos, who both play significant roles in the film's events and don't just stand around doing nothing while all the men do the heavy lifting. There's some romance in here, too, but none of the really gushy stuff we shallow Yanks are so accustomed to on our side of the Pacific. It's also remarkable that the film's two main characters are a bickering divorced couple (rather than scientists or heroic military folks, and who predictably rekindle their love for one another over the course of the film) - one of whom is a criminal, a thief, no less! - but are able to put aside their marital troubles to try to help save humanity. It is a little tragic that essentially Takuya is an adult child who's running away from his familial responsibilities, and ex-wife Masako has to hide the fact from their young daughter that her father is a thief (which is a heavy emotional burden she's none too happy, or willing, to bear).The last and greatest aspect of "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth" is the beautiful, elegant film score by Japan's most renowned film composer, Akira Ifukube (who sadly passed away in 2006), and who returned to the "Godzilla" series on the previous entry "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah." Ifukube's score for this film is just another one of the high points of his incredibly long and illustrious career. It's highly emotional, incredibly evocative of the feelings of the film, and is just an amazing piece of film music to listen to; it truly captures the magnificent beauty of the film, apart from its savage, special effects-laden giant monster battles. And the songs sung by Keiko Imamura and Sayaka Osawa will most likely bring tears to your eyes as they sing their lovely new rendition of "Mothra's Song," as well as the song "The Appearance of Imago Mothra" (which is featured in the spectacular sequence where Mothra emerges as a moth from her cocoon after crashing the National Diet Building - Japan's house of parliament, in case you don't know). I would highly recommend trying to find Ifukube's score somewhere.With its lush visuals, beautiful Akira Ifukube music score and devastating monster battles, "Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth" is definitely one of the better films from the Heisei-Era "Godzilla" pictures.8/10

I had problems with this movie. For one thing, mothra looks like a plastic toy, both in larval and adult stages. The military artillery and miniature buildings look less convincing than before and like mothra, they often look like toys. The film is definitely inferior effects wise to the previous and subsequent Heisei films (with exception of Godzilla vs Spacegodzilla). The final battle, though enjoyable, is a little bit of a let down. Godzilla doesn't put up much of a challenge for the two moths and is bested with uncharacteristic ease.However, there are things I like as well. Despite the slightly shoddier effects work, it is still an enjoyable Godzilla movie. It retains the darker tone of the Heisei series. Battra looks fantastic in both larval and adult form, and of course, Godzilla looks awesome as always. Akira Ifukube provides a spectacular musical score, and hearing the numerous songs sung by the twin fairies is always an awesome auditory treat, and are very fitting for the deity-esque nature of mothra. Godzilla's emergence from Mt. Fuji is spectacular, and far surpasses his previous volcano escape in Godzilla vs Biollante, and is by far the most impressive special effects sequence in the film, and one of the best in the history of Godzilla movies.And of course, though I complained about the special effects, it is really only a minor gripe. Though I prefer the better effects of most of the other Heisei films, this one still manages to impress visually, and there are Godzilla films with far cheaper effects work that I love. So overall, not the best Godzilla film ever, and one of the weaker entries to the Heisei series, but still a good and enjoyable movie. I recommend that fans of Godzilla and just giant monster movies in general should see it, though it may not appeal to people who are not fans of the genre.

It probably has something to do with the fact I have never been a big Mothra fan and hate it when they fight each other, because Mothra should not do as well as it always does. Lets face it, it is a giant moth and they should burn to a crisp when hit by fire. Still this one starts out promisingly enough with a nice little comical jungle adventure. Still when it is the scenes with the people that are the strongest and not the ones with Godzilla then you are probably in trouble. Godzilla is in this one a bit more than the previous movie, but this one just is kind of dull. To much singing for Mothra to come and such, and watching Mothra trample through the city is always boring cause Mothra just doesn't compare to other monsters doing the same. We also have another monster a tougher version of Mothra called Battra that wants to fight Mothra. Near the end they fight and Battra is beating Mothra and Godzilla literally saves Mothra so what does it do? It joins forces with Battra to attack Godzilla. Godzilla is to much of a secondary monster here, with to much focus on the stupid moth. Still it has its entertaining moments such as Godzilla's first appearance and his resurrection on the volcano. More Godzilla less Mothra would have helped however.

I liked this movie and I think those twin girls are quite cute in fact I'll share the entire movie with you SPOILERS!!!!!!!: A meteor has been spotted and is going to hit a trench in the ocean as it hits it wakes up Godzilla! An archaeologist named Takuya Fujita who also likes to steal breaks into a temple in Thailand. Then he takes an ancient idol suddenly there is an earthquake Takuya barely escapes but finds himself in front of a Thai army who arrest him and take him to jail. He gets 3 visitors: Dobashi from Godzilla VS King Ghidorah, Andoh who is working with a corporation in Tokyo, and Takuya's ex-wife Masako. Takuya is promised freedom but he Andoh, and Masako will have to explore an island near Indonesia called Infant Island. While they are exploring they have a close call with a bridge then they discover a huge egg. They want to know how it got there then 2 voices say in unison "It's Mothra's egg" then the 2 1-inch girls called the Cosmos walk from a flower. They tell the 3 about Mothra and the Black Mothra Battra they fear that the meteor has awoken Battra. The Cosmos allow the egg to be taken to Japan. Back in Tokyo scientists pick up a wake in the ocean they think that it's Godzilla but one says it's Battra. The egg is loaded onto a huge barge and sets sail for Japan. Meanwhile Battra emerges in the city of Nagoya and tears through the streets destroying tanks, and laser cannons with orange rays from his horn and purple rays from his eyes and obliterates almost all of the city. The 3 explorers on a ship near the barge hear about what happened at Nagoya and they pick up something huge on their radar and discover that it's Godzilla. Then the egg hatches and Mothra a big brown caterpillar climbs out then Battra appear and Godzilla and Battra battle underwater as a terrified Mothra swims back to Infant Island. Suddenly an underwater volcanic eruption swallows Godzilla and Battra the 3 explorers end up in Manila in the Phillippines and Takuya and Mesako have a drink together. Then next morning the Cosmos have disappeared Andoh has stolen them and took them back to Tokyo for his boss Tomokane. Tomokane wants to keep the Cosmos but they beg not to be. Takuya and Mesako return to Tokyo and Mesako is quite mad and their daughter Midori left in care of Mesako's sister is waiting for Mesako and Midori wants to see Takuya but he has left. Mesako goes to Mt Fuji and tells her sister's husband (I forgot his name) about the Earth wanting revenge then a small earthquake rocks the mountain. Back at Tokyo the Cosmos go to a window and sing a beautiful song which summons Mothra from Infant Island into the ocean heading for Japan. Takuya snatches the Cosmos from Andoh while he wasn't there and places them in a wicker box. Mesako tells Dobashi about Mothra but Dobashi doesn't care Mothra must be attacked and killed. Mothra is attacked in Tokyo Bay by ships but destroys them. Mothra appears in Tokyo and begins destroying the city. Mesako, Midori, and the telepathic girl Miki go to the hotel where Takuya is staying. Mesako now knows that Takuya wants to sell the Cosmos for $1,000,000 he wants to be remarried Mesako says that if he sells the Cosmos it won't be possible but if he doesn't then they can work something out. Miki runs in and tells them that Mothra is getting close and the have get out of the building. Then Mothra smashes into the building Midori begs the Cosmos to tell Mothra to stop destroying Tokyo. They tell Mothra to stop then while Mothra begins leaving the army fires at her she slowly crawls to the Diet building and curls next to it and turns herself into a cocoon. Tomokane sees what happened and ordered Andoh to get the Cosmos but Andoh refused. Then Mt Fuji suddenly erupted and Godzilla emerged Dobashi and other scientists find out that he is heading for Yokohama. Miki tells Takuya and Mesako that Godzilla is coming then the cocoon suddenly lights up then the Cosmos sing a very beautiful song as Mothra now a beautiful butterfly emerged and flew off to go kill Battra who is still alive and turned into his adult stage. Tomokane is furious and fires Andoh but Andoh doesn't care. The army tries to redirect Godzilla back into the ocean but fail. Then astonished bystanders in an amusement park in Yokohama watch as Mothra flies over them. But their awe is short lived however by loudspeakers announcing that Godzilla is approaching Yokohama and they must evacuate the amusement park. Mothra spots Battra and Battra gives chase to Mothra by firing purple rays from his eyes at her. Then Godzilla appears in Yokohama and Battra and Godzilla battle and Godzilla throws Battra wounding him and knocking him unconscious. Mothra appears and fires rays from her antennae at Godzilla and revives Battra. Then Mothra and Battra begin battling Godzilla Mothra emits lightning bolts from her wings then Godzilla throws her and she lands next to a giant ferris wheel. Then Godzilla knocked the wheel down as it's about to crush Mothra Battra grabs the wheel and drops it on Godzilla. Then Mothra and Battra join forces and Godzilla can take no more he drops to the ground and Battra and Mothra pick up Godzilla and transport him. Godzilla bites into Battra's neck killing him Mothra lets the two drop into the ocean. The next day the Cosmos tell everyone that a giant asteroid is going to hit the Earth in 1999 and completely destroy it. Mothra must go into space and destroy it Midori asked Takuya and Mesako who are going to be remarried if Mothra will be back Takuya said that they will and until that time they must take good car of the Earth. Beautiful/Sad music plays as Mothre serenely flies off into space. Really good movie 10/10