Rebirth of Mothera (I,II,III) (Blu-ray Review)
Rated: UR/Region A/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 2
Available from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Rebirth of Mothra (1996)
Directed By: Okihiro Yoneda
Starring: Megumi Kobayashi, Sayaka Yamaguchi, Aki Hano
A logging and mining company working in Northern Japan disrupts a set of magical seals buried undergound, causing the release of Death Ghidora, an enormous, three-headed monster that had previously wiped out all life on Mars and caused the extinction of the dinosaurs on Earth. When Death Ghidora begins sucking the life out of the environment, the only thing that can save the planet from destruction is Mothra, the giant flying insect.
I like Mothra overall. I also tend to like MOST the Godzilla films and seeing as how Mothra is a character I thought was kind of cool, I was looking forward to this one. The only real flaw most might see is that it seems these might be aimed more towards kids than grown ups, but then again Godzilla only really appeals to kids and movie geeks with good taste and I’d put this in that group. Things are certainly on a fantasy level, as they should be with this character and things stay fun more or less. From a visual stand point, things looks really strong and solid. This is a nice fantasy film that might make kids weep one minute and cheer the next. It is both creative and at time fun and tense. I don’t know if I’d put it above most Godzilla films, but it is a nice twist towards the fantasy range of the Toho Universe.
Rebirth of Mothra II (1997)
Directed By: Kunio Miyoshi
Starring: Megumi Kobayashi, Sayaka Yamaguchi, Aki Hano
Three kids join Mothra’s priestesses on a journey to find the Lost Treasure of Nilai Kinai, an ancient lost “under-the-sea” civilization in hopes of preserving the Earth’s declining environment. Pollution has unyielded the evil monster Dagahra, a monster seemingly too powerful for Mothra to vanquish. As a result, the environment’s fate lies in the hands of the Lost Treasure.
Unlike before, I don’t think I’d call the second Mothra as smooth as the original Rebirth of Mothra film. Maybe there are some areas in the plot that needed another once over or had some more logic towards it, or as much logic as one can have in a giant monster movie. Still, we have fantasy elements that are fun like before and from a visual standpoint we have a stunning look that does indeed benefit from the 1080p and I don’t think anyone will complain towards that. There is often a slump in the trilogy and two isn’t as strong as one, but it isn’t too far behind and once again has some cheering at the screen moments and overall is fun. Fun being the key to these films in all honesty.
Rebirth of Mothra III (1998)
Directed By: Okihiro Yoneda
Starring: Megumi Kobayashi, Misato Tate, Aki Hano
A meteorite yields the three-headed dragon King Ghidorah on Earth, after Mothra’s priestesses predicted that the King of Terror would return. The monster was said to be responsible for the death of the dinosaurs, and now, he is out to get all of Earth’s children. While Mothra’s powers are no match for the dragon, he is sent to the past, in the time of the dinosaurs, to battle a younger, and apparently less powerful, King Ghidorah.
Here we have what I’d call and overall fine entry that concludes the Rebirth Mothra trilogy. The plot might get a little tricky at times here, but I’m all in for a plot that takes a flying creature like Mothra and sends it back in time to do battle with a big bad monster. That is the cool part of the film and that makes the film a lot of fun. The movie looks good and we get the growing visual coolness that we are well aware and use to by a third Mothra film. There is still the same toss of fantasy sprinkled on top and it makes for a fun adventure that seems to go into these movies that the Godzilla stuff doesn’t seem to even be able to make use of. It makes for a film that is up there with one and still better than part two.
– Trailers
