© 2008 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title: Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla
Japanese Title: Gojira Tai Supesugojira
CD Label: Toho Music Corporation
CD Number: G-021
Music by: Takayuki Hattori
Number of tracks: Disc 1 - 30
Disc 2 - 37
Running time: Disc 1 - 65:53
Disc 2 - 73:30
Number of discs: 2
Year of release/manufacture: January 31, 2008
Year Movie Released in Japan: 1994
Year Movie Released in U.S.: 1999

REVIEW

May 06, 2008

Review courtesy of John M Emmons

The second soundtrack featured in the Godzilla Soundtrack Perfect Collection Set 5 is the penultimate Heisei movie, Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla composed by Takayuki Hattori.

For his first Godzilla score, Takayuki Hattori wrote a number of themes and motifs, most notably for the two adversaries in the main title: Godzilla and SpaceGodzilla. Godzilla's theme is filled with heroic brass and accompanying timpani. This theme seems almost more fitting for the army than a giant radioactive monster. SpaceGodzilla's theme, on the other hand, is a tense piece that is both threatening and foreboding.

One of the major problems with this score is Hattori's over-reliance on these themes and motifs. It sounds like every other track is a minor variation of a previously heard theme, such as the "Birth Island" or "Mischief "motifs.

This becomes even more evident when listening to the bonus CD, where variations of the same theme are placed in a row. It would have made it easier on the listener to spread out these themes, so it doesn't seem like you're listening to the same thing for ten minutes in a row.

Unfortunately, Hattori's score also has elements that remind me of other movies. "Birth Island" sounds like something straight out of one of John Barry's classic Bond scores. The opening notes of "Epilogue" remind me of a motif from Toto's Dune score. I'm not saying that Hattori purposely stole these themes, just that it's distracting when listening to the score.

Overall, Godzilla VS SpaceGodzilla is a nice listen, but nothing in it really stands out or sets it apart from all of the other Godzilla scores. Luckily, Hattori's second score, also included in this collection, is a vast improvement.

Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla
Track listing courtesy of Jolyon Yates

    Disc 1

  1. Toho Logo
  2. Main Title
  3. Birth Island
  4. Little Godzilla
  5. Birth Island II
  6. Planetary Investigation Ship Meets With Disaster
  7. Yuki's Theme
  8. Space Godzilla Approaches
  9. MOGERA ready to go
  10. Miki & Little
  11. Little Mischief
  12. Hyper Battle Area
  13. Miki & Godzilla I
  14. First Meeting
  15. Space Godzilla ~ Descent of the Destruction God
  16. Miki & Godzilla II
  17. Miki & Shinjo
  18. Couple on the Beach
  19. Space Godzilla ~ Descent of the Destruction God (+ version)
  20. Space Godzilla ~ Descent of the Destruction God (up tempo version)
  21. Telekenesis
  22. G Force Theme
  23. Godzilla Theme 1994
  24. Hyper Battle Area (slow version)
  25. Godzilla Theme 1994 (slow version)
  26. Space Godzilla, Crazy
  27. MOGERA Ready to Die
  28. Requiem
  29. Epilogue
  30. Echoes of Love

    DISC 2

    Revised Edition Unused Music + Original Version Unused Music

  1. Godzilla Theme (10/28 revision)
  2. Godzilla Theme (without snare)
  3. Space Godzilla Theme (10/28 revision)
  4. Space Godzilla (normal brass rising)
  5. Space Godzilla (C-start brass rising)
  6. Space Godzilla (C2 horn start)
  7. M1 2nd Half
  8. Space Godzilla Approaches
  9. Space Godzilla Psychic Power
  10. MOGERA Sortie
  11. Little Godzilla (alternative type)
  12. Birth Island 1
  13. Birth Island 1 (A only)
  14. Birth Island 2 (last extended)
  15. Birth Island 3
  16. M5
  17. M5 (crystal body)
  18. M8 (+ rising)
  19. Suspense (10/28 version)
  20. Yuki's Theme (no percussion)
  21. M52 (piano rising version)
  22. Edited + Misappropriated Music

  23. Toho Logo ~ Opening
  24. Main Title
  25. Fairy Mothra
  26. Groove It, Yourself
  27. Cosmos' Warning
  28. MOGERA 1st Sortie
  29. Godzilla Hits Land
  30. T Project Begins
  31. Asteroid Belt Space Battle
  32. Sacred Fountain
  33. Godzilla, To The Battle Area
  34. Crystal Body Attack
  35. Land MOGERA
  36. MOGERA Assembles
  37. Epilogue
  38. Ending ~ Echoes of Love