Godzilla vs Biollante
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Template:Infobox FilmGodzilla vs Biollante (Gojira Tai Biollante) is a 1989 daikaiju eiga, the seventeenth entry in Toho's Godzilla series and a direct sequel to The Return of Godzilla. It was the first film in the series released in the Heisei period (Emperor Hirohito had died earlier in the year), but would become the second film in the VS Series, also called the Heisei Series. It was directed by Kazuki Omori with special effects by Koichi Kawakita.
This film focuses biotechnology, specifically the dangers of its use, its potential effects on the balance of power, and the threat of germ warfare. In addition to the genetic mutation Biollante and the second incarnation of the "Super X" flying battleship, it features a heavy element of espionage and several action sequences inspired by the James Bond films.
Plot
The movie begins where The Return of Godzilla left off, with Godzilla sealed away inside of a volcano and a scientific team picking through the ruins of a ravaged district of Tokyo, searching for tissue samples left behind by Godzilla. The search is successful. However, a mercenary unit attacks and kills the scientists, stealing the tissue samples and escaping.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, a Japanese researcher named Dr. Shiragami looks forward to returning home to Japan with his daughter, Erika. Unfortunately, a terroristic bombing destroys the research facility in which he works and kills his daughter.
Segue five years later. Dr. Shiragami is now a haunted dreamer, who has lately turned a majority of his attention to the study of the psychic energy of roses. A young psychic named Miki Saegusa, who also heads an institution for intuitive children, aids him in his research. Dr. Shiragami is now seen as a harmless old man who uses his scientific knowledge to satisfy his own curiosity.
However, two groups are watching Shiragami: a gang of thieves hired by a rival scientific company a group of assassins from a Middle Eastern country called Saradia. As it turns out, Dr. Shiragami is involved in the study of Godzilla cells, which are kept in a high security facility. It is believed by Shiragami's employers that he is aiding them in figuring out how to utilize the cells' properties to strengthen crop growth. But Shiragami, unbeknownst to everyone but himself, as been conducting his own secret experiments...
When both the thieves and the assassins catch each other breaking into the facility, a gunfight ensues. It is interrupted by an attack of a giant, mobile plant that kills one man and nearly kills another. The thieves flee, and the assassin barely escapes from the creature's grasp. Neither group realizes that they have just encountered the result of Dr. Shiragami's secret experimentations.
The next morning a giant flower is seen in Tokyo Bay, and Dr. Shiragami confesses that he combined the DNA of roses with that of Godzilla. Furthermore, he confesses privately to a young official that he had, in a fit of desperate grief, added the DNA of his daughter Erika to the mutated genetic structure, so that some of the creature is composed of Erika as well.
Meanwhile, the thieves send a letter to the Diet, informing Japan's government that they have planted a bomb inside of Mt. Mihara, Godzilla's current prison. If the Godzilla cells are not handed over, the thieves threaten to detonate the bombs and release Godzilla. With the entire country held hostage, the government is forced to comply. The trade-off with the thieves goes well until the Saradian agent (the assassin) shows up, killing the two remaining thieves before being driven off. The thieves die before they can show the officials how to deactivate the explosives, which are set on a timer. The bombs go off, Mt. Mihara erupts, and the mighty Godzilla is once again free.
Upon hearing Godzilla's roar, Biollante's blossom opens, and the creature begins calling out to Godzilla. Dr. Shiragami theorizes that this is because both Godzilla and Biollante are essentially the same being. With Godzilla's destination made clear, the JSDF prepare their strategies at dealing with the nearly indestructible creature. The Super-X 2, a remote controlled and stronger version of the Super-X from The Return of Godzilla, is deployed, and though at first seems effective in combating Godzilla, is eventually overwhelmed by Godzilla's brute strength, and is forced to retreat. Miki Saegusa also tries to help, attempting to make Godzilla turn away from Japan. Her efforts distract Godzilla momentarily, but force of Godzilla's will overwhelms the young psychic, and she faints.
Godzilla reaches Biollante, whereupon the giant plant attacks it. A mighty battle ensues, and briefly it appears that there is a stalemate. However, Godzilla's heat ray has an adverse affect on the composition of Biollante's cells, and the plant monster begins to disintegrate from exposure to the attack. With Biollante apparently dead, Godzilla continues on.
By now the JSDF is ready, with the young Lieutenant Goro Gondo in charge of operations. It is theorized that Godzilla, running low on radioactive energy after its fights with the Super-X 2 and Biollante, will head towards the nearest operational nuclear generator, which is located in Osaka...on the other side of the country. When Godzilla arrives in Osaka, a plan is put into action, involving infecting Godzilla with Anti-Nuclear Bacteria, which Dr. Shiragami helped develop. The bacteria devour all radioactive material, and should prove fatal to Godzilla. The operation is initially successful, despite the death of one soldier, with ANB injected into Godzilla at three different points, including its mouth. But Godzilla is unaffected by the germs, and continues on.
The failure of the bacteria to work is attributed to Godzilla's low body temperature, which keeps the bacteria in a near-dormant state. If Godzilla can be heated, Shiragami theorizes, then the ANB should work.
With Godzilla still in Osaka, a desperate attempt to save the city is implemented, with the damaged Super-X 2 being redeployed. A brief fight with Godzilla ends with the craft being destroyed. Victorious, Godzilla heads for the nuclear facility.
The JSDF has one last plan: lure Godzilla onto a field of microwave-emitting plates, where it will be heated by the microwaves. Once heated, the ANB should become active, and kill Godzilla.
Image:Biollante! 2nd stage.jpg
The operation begins, but it seems that Godzilla isn't affected by the microwaves as it crushes plate after plate beneath its feet. Just as everything seems lost a low rumble is heard, and a larger, more mutated Biollante emerges from the ground. After destroying all nearby land forces, Biollante attacks Godzilla, and the two massive monsters (with Biollante being roughly 50% larger than Godzilla) fight to a standstill. Suddenly, however, Godzilla begins to wobble and, losing its balance, falls headfirst into the ocean. With the intense battle raising its body temperature, the ANB inside of Godzilla became active. With Godzilla apparently taken care of, the mortally wounded Biollante succumbs to its injuries and dies, disintegrating and firing its spores into space. As the monsters remains float upwards, Dr. Shiragami sees the image of his daughter among the spores. Calling out to her, he walks forward, and is shot in the chest by the Saradian agent, who is still after Godzilla's cells. A young official chases the agent and fights him. The agent is at a disadvantage until he is able to grab his weapon again. Unarmed, the official awaits death as the agent, from atop an inactive microwave plate, takes aim. Suddenly the agent disintegrates, and the audience sees Lieutenant Gondo remove his finger from the button that activated the plate.
With everything resolved, the characters take a moment to reflect and relax, when a dark form rises from the water. It is Godzilla, whose body temperature has been lowered by the cool sea water. With the ANB inactive again, Godzilla is healthy again, albeit restricted to the ocean. Seemingly content with this, Godzilla turns and heads for deeper waters.
The body of Dr. Shiragami is placed inside a tent, with his superior briefly mourning him before leaving. Erika is heard to comment on the events of the film, and the movie ends with a shot of Godzilla swimming away.
Trivia
- Toho held a story contest in 1986 for the next installment of the Godzilla series. The winner was Shinichiro Kobayashi, a dentist.
- Kobayashi's original story included a ratlike kaiju called Deutalios, another one of Dr. Shiragami's creations. Deutalios would fight Godzilla and lose, and Godzilla ate its flesh. In the final draft, Deutalios was replaced with Biollante's rose form.
- The battle between Biollante's final form and Godzilla was intended to be in claymation. Some test footage of this exists.