Review: REBIRTH OF MOTHRA (1996)

The list.  It feels like we'll never get through it.

Today's film is Rebirth of Mothra (aka Mothra; 1996).




I'll go first:

After weeks of the Heisei Godzilla films and the first Heisei Gamera movie, I really had to tell myself, again and again, "It's aimed at kids.  It's aimed at kids." 

In case you didn't already know, RoM is aimed at kids. 

Don't worry.  You'll figure that out with a quickness. 

Bratty, shrill children.  Inept adults.  That parent who's only worried about work but comes around by the end of the film.  You know.  The usual. 

The low points are fairly numerous, including a nigh interminable fight scene between the "good" Elias and the "bad" Elias in the kids' home.  Seriously, it goes on for at least ten minutes. 

Elias?  Oh, yeah.  That's the new name for Mothra's diminutive custodians.  Shobijin.  Cosmos.  Elias.  All the same, I guess.  And there's a third one this time, and she's evil, riding on a little robotic demon-type thing.  The good Elias ride a small version of Mothra they call Fairy. 

I'll say this for the Rebirth series: we get some new creatures and new designs.  We're introduced to Mothra Leo in this movie, as well as the antagonist Desghidorah. 

If the name looks familiar, so does the monster. 

 

Yep.  Desghidorah destroyed life on Mars sixty-odd million years ago, but it was imprisoned by the Elias' civilization until it was freed by a greedy logging company (PSSSST, MESSAGE!). 

There's a greater problem with Desghidorah ... but I'll save it for the review of Rebirth of Mothra III when another prehistoric three-headed menace menaces the world. 

Here's the basics.  Desghidorah looks pretty metal.  Mothra, Mothra larvae and Mothra Leo get some good action.  You just have to wade through about an hour or so of fluff to see it all. 

Rebirth of Mothra ... I hope you like glitter.  2.5 out of five atomic breath blasts.

Here's my son, James:

Well, this one is starring Mr and Miss Obvious because they overexplain everything, their two annoying kids and the stupid Mothra twins who sing even more than usual. Almost-King ghidora is in this series so much, and it's really confusing me between this movie and the third one.  

So, rating wise, i'll say 2.009 out of 5 Atomic Breaths of Awesomeness!!!

Here's the trailer:



Next, Gamera 2: Attack of Legion.

(GIFs by midna421 and tokumonster)