G Watch: Mothra Vs. Godzilla (1964)

Watched:  03/12/2026

Format:  HBOmax

Viewing:  Unknown

Director:  Ishiro Honda

Ten years after the original stomping of Tokyo, Toho had produced only two more Godzilla movies, but in 1961 had introduced Mothra and all of the crazy mythology around our big, buggy friend.  

Worth nothing, one of the two sequels to the original Godzilla was King Kong vs. Godzilla and I would guess Toho looked at the big ol' Mothra puppet they still owned, knew that two monsters were better than one, and said "heck - we don't need to license the ape anymore.  We have... a moth!"  

I've seen this one a few times, but felt in the need for some old-school Showa-era action, and so put it on once more.  It's got a lot of things I dig.  

• Godzilla
• Mothra
• the Faeries
• Infant Island
• a snappy wardrobe for our female lead
• men with absolutely immaculate hair

It's also very suspicious of both venture capitalists and scrupulous businessmen.  And, conniving public officials with an eye for the camera.  The more things change.

When a giant egg shows up in a local bay, it's sold to an amusement park empresario who wants to make it the centerpiece of his newest park (he seems wholly unconcerned that eggs hatch, even four story eggs).  The Faeries arrive from Infant Island and recruit reporter Ichiro Sakai and his photographer sidekick Junko Nakanishi along with scientist Professor Miura to help them get the egg back from the evil businessmen.

In a scene I think is pretty cool, Godzilla emerges from the sand of a reclaimed beach, and starts his stomping across Tokyo, seemingly looking for the egg.  

Turns out Humanity needs the help of the people of Infant Island to convince Mothra to help out, but the island was just used for nuclear testing.

While, yes, this is a movie that ends with a battle between Godzilla and two giant moth larvae, it still has some interesting themes - from the ripples of destruction sewn by naked greed to man's wastefulness and arrogance.  Mothra, who has seen her island nuked by humans, who then stole her agg/ children - is STILL willing to step in and save humanity while the spirit of reckoning in the form of Godzilla is here to wipe the slate clean.

Also, you get treated to a very, very long version of the Mothra carol.