Godzilla × Mothra × Mechagodzilla: Tokyo SOS (2003)

aka Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.

Having been licking wounds for a whole year, Godzilla returns to finish the job. It's time to reset the counter... [00] Days Since Last Kaijū Attack.*
It's a grudge match. No one is safe. Measures must be taken. The military are warned against using their biggest gun, reminded of their previous folly, but when have men of war ever not wanted to fire a weapon they own? You might as well ask Godzilla to respectfully go around a building when the most direct route is obviously to go right through it!
The plot is more simplistic than the previous film, leaving more time for action, something that it readily plays up to. When fights are as spectacular as what's on display it's not ignominious to favour them. (In combat, nothing pleases me more than seeing Mothra.) As such, I'm scoring it by adjusted criteria.

*GxMxM is a sequel to GxM (2002). It’s the 27th film in the series and the 4th in the Millennium era. Interestingly, it also references the first Mothra film (1961).

4 big heart beats out of 5

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)

GvM contains some of the dumbest use of science that I've ever seen, but if I can accept a giant lizard without question then I guess I can’t say much about crazy human science. The purveyors of the silliness are an anti-Godzilla tactical unit created to combat the towering beast.
The creature scenes are mostly excellent, some are really mind-blowing, but all else is merely functional. More heart was needed to raise it above pure awesome spectacle into the realm of emotionally memorable. Nevertheless, I’d still highly recommend it to fans of the genre.
It’s the same suit that was used in Godzilla 2000 (1999), so the creature looks very, very pissed-off, like it went to the store for beer but they were all out of beer and it trod on a Lego factory on the way home.

It’s the 24th film in the series and the 2nd in the Millennium era (i.e. standalone, alternative sequels to the 1954 original).

3 insect bites out of 5

Godzilla x MechaGodzilla (2002)

Forty-five years have come and gone since the first Godzilla attack (see first film). Japan feels it’s prepared should it ever happen again, but when a new Godzilla descends upon the city unexpectedly they discover the truth: if the humans are to survive they’ll need to fight fire with fire.
A female pilot with something to prove, a scientist who wants to buy her dinner, and a young girl who sees the world in a way that adults are no longer able to each help the film juggle fun times and serious musings in different ways. But the action is where GxM really excels. When Mecha goes toe to toe with Godzilla and the missiles start flying... Oh, my!

It’s the 26th film in the series and the 4th in the Millennium era. The Millennium films are standalone, alternative sequels to the 1954 original that you can jump to directly after viewing it, except Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003), which is a sequel to GxM. It's less confusing than it sounds.

3½ military toys out of 5