Godzilla (1954)
The first and almost universally hailed as the best. Godzilla (or Gojira as was the original Japanese title) took cinemas by storm by bringing one of the most haunting and technologically impressive experiences fifties cinema had to offer. With Ishiro Honda behind the wheel, who would go on direct various following Godzilla films, the original was a dreary reflection of the trauma Japan suffered from the atomic bombs dropped less than a decade before. With the classic black-and-white giving a much more ominous feel, scenes where Godzilla emerges from the seas and where he breaks through power cables while being fired upon feel much more intense and akin to the horror genre than the more light-hearted Showa instalments. This is only further shown with the film’s focus on family devastation, hospital scenes with the dying, and desperate attempts from our main cast to create a weapon capable of ending the nightmare.
The characterisation of our main characters (most notably the scientist Dr Serizawa) is also some of the strongest the series has to offer, as they struggle whether or not to use something capable of ending Godzilla but which may be used for even greater destruction by humanity in the future. The legendary suit actor Harou Nakajima would also brave the Godzilla suit for the first time, which would prove to be a famously difficult job. With the suit weighing in at 100 kilos and with Nakajima being unable to see and constantly surrounded by pyrotechnic work, how he pulled off this movie and made it a cult classic is an achievement for the ages.
Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
Now onto a more light-hearted note, Invasion of Astro-Monster is probably the best monster-heavy entrée of the Showa era. With Godzilla now being portrayed as a protector of earth, this film also features the similarly heroic Rodan, as well as the evil three-headed dragon King Ghidorah. While the three had similarly clashed in the previous film Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster, this movie has a more refined plot and better action. Two astronauts encounter a humanoid alien race who appear to welcome humanity, promising them the cure for cancer in exchange for Godzilla and Rodan. After our human characters discover these visitors may have ulterior motives for seizing Earth’s monsters, a spy-style thriller ensues as the aliens’ invasion commences. Invasion of Astro Monster is a much more sci-fi-leaning adventure, fitting in with the then-current interests of the franchise’s effects-master Eiji Tsuburaya. Tsuburaya had grown more fascinated by sci-fi and alien-invasion plots in the sixties, leading to his creation of his own sci-fi TV drama Ultraman a year later. This film is essentially the stylistic precursor, having Godzilla in space for the first time as well as balancing our traditional kaiju action with deceiving alien characters and some intense personal drama of our humans. This entrée is also responsible for Godzilla’s infamous celebratory jig after his first battle with Ghidorah, where our lovable lizard excitedly hops around in the air and makes it quite astounding he was a horrific sign of destruction a decade prior.
Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)
Another monster-clashing display, Terror of Mechagodzilla has a plot of corrupt science and disguised invaders. With a mad scientist using the seahorse-like Titanosaurus as his tool to annihilate mankind, a race of sinister aliens called the Simeon team with him to bring their Mechagodzilla invention back to life and conquer the planet together. In a similar vein to Astro-Monster, our protagonists must go on an infiltration mission to end the invasion and assist Godzilla in defeating the giants. However, personal conflicts and egos get in the way, leading to a series of explosive scenes and drama. While this film is technically a sequel to the previous year’s Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla, it is quite hilarious for how little it acknowledges its predecessor. So many characters are unable to recognise anything that occurred in the previous film it practically stands as its own story. A good story too, at that, as Terror of Mechagodzilla dons the spy thriller plot again while creatively dabbling in a bit of Frankenstein with our antagonists. Tsuburaya’s practical effects remain superb and the personalities of Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus remain entertaining and amusing for some classic kaiju brawling.
Godzilla vs Biollante (1989)
Of course, I could not pick five without at least one from the Heisei era. After Terror of Mechagodzilla, the franchise would go on a lengthy hiatus until Return of Godzilla in 1984. This revival by Koji Hashimoto, however, would be a slightly awkward reintroduction. With a back-to-basics plot but with a struggling military narrative, trying to get some Cold War messages in while still being a stripped-back monster-vs-humanity story, Return of Godzilla was a rather tiresome watch. The sequel, Godzilla vs Biollante, however, would be the exact push-back the franchise needed.
After a scientist’s daughter is tragically killed in an accident, he fuses her DNA with a rose to keep a part of her alive and close to him. However, while he also works on Godzilla cells to further understand the monster, two rivalling science organisations break into his lab to steal the cells for their research. After he fuses the Godzilla cells with the rose cells, a new creature of nature is born called Biollante. An action-charged adventure ensues as our protagonist, Shiragami, tries to develop countermeasures to the recently-reawakened Godzilla with the government while trying to cope with the trauma of his lost daughter being reawakened with Biollante’s birth. This film is quite notable for delving into the complex moralities of science with the new monster, especially considering the then-current scientific boom of cloning and cell transfer. The dramatic tension of the crossing sides are always at play and the final battle between the fully-evolved Biollante and Godzilla for the true force of nature is one of the franchise’s highlights. An excellent introduction to the Heisei era with a modernised Godzilla, great characterisation and a moving message of healing from trauma.
Godzilla vs Megalon (1973)
One of the most hilarious films I have ever seen in my life. I have absolutely no regrets of putting this here as opposed another more well-made entree like GMK and Godzilla vs Destroyah. The story follows an underground humanoid race called the Seatopians becoming agitated with earthquakes caused by human nuclear testing. To resolve this, they politely call for an ambassador meeting on the surface to bring their existence to attention and settle the matter with the president over a cup of tea. Wait sorry, wrong film, I meant to say they send their massive rhino beetle monster called Megalon to tear up the surface world and shoot bombs from his mouth at any miniature set building he can find. Possibly the equivalent of someone throwing a grenade through my window after I had my music up too loud but whatever floats their boat.
Who can save us now then? The military? No, only a couple of random inventors and their little brother who happen to have a colourful humanoid robot at their hands. The film then follows a group of Seatopian spies trying to infiltrate the misfits’ house and steal their robot, Jet Jaguar, whilst Megalon continues to suplex skyscrapers. After a few hilarious fight scenes and incredibly-convenient plot devices, Jet Jaguar is finally set to grow giant and fight Megalon. Godzilla then randomly steps from the sea to help him because Jaguar must have forgotten to pack batteries and gets almost instantly mopped. Godzilla vs Megalon is one of the most delightfully braindead movies I have seen. It has uncaringly-cheesy suitmation, including the iconic ‘Godzilla tail drop’, and a fun-loving energy to get anyone smiling with its simplicity. The plot of a light-hearted inventor using a giant robot to protect earth can essentially be seen as a loose adaptation of Tsuburaya’s Jumborg Ace series of the same year, which went by with much more credible results. Megalon, however, goes by as a stupidly enjoyable ride.
Thus concludes my recommendations. I hope you have found something that interests you and are ready to jump into the Godzilla franchise as it roars into another decade in its diamond legacy.