Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975)

With the upcoming Blu-ray release of the latest incarnation of Godzilla, I thought it only fitting to bring "The King of the Monsters" into the Schlock Vault.

I could have gone for easy prey by selecting "Godzilla's Revenge" and its awesomely awful Minya, the son of Godzilla. Instead, I opted for the final Godzilla flick of the Showa era and the last for director Ishiro Honda, who helmed four previous Godzilla films, including the monster's debut in 1954.

"Terror of Mechagodzilla" is the follow-up to "Godzilla Versus Mechagodzilla" the year prior. What makes this film special is that the screenplay was handpicked from a contest the studio held less than six months after the previous film's release.

Following 10 minutes of narration to bring us up to speed between the two films, we pick up the action with Interpol agents searching for the remains of Mechagodzilla out at sea. Finding not a trace of the alien robot, the sub is attacked by a dinosaur-like creature called Titanosaurus and all are lost.

Marine biologist Akira Ichinose (Katsuhiko Sasaki) sets out to find out all about Titanosaurus, which leads to exiled scientist Shinzo Mafune (Akihiko Hirata), who originally discovered the creature. However, once Ichinose and Interpol agent Jiro Murakoshi (Katsumasa Uchida) make their way to the scientist's home, Mafune's daughter, Katsura (Tomoko Ai), informs them her father is dead and all his research destroyed.

In reality, the scientist is working with an alien race hellbent on Earth's destruction. They've recovered the original Mechagodzilla, given it a 2.0 upgrade and, along with Titanosaurus, want to unleash the beasts on the city.

Along the way, we learn Katsura herself is part cyborg, with a debt to the aliens who helped save her. She sabotages the weapon that's the military's best hope against Titanosaurus, but still that's not enough for Ichinose to turn his back on the woman — whom he comes to love.

Much like the 2014 version of "Godzilla," most of the fighting between the beasts doesn't come until the final 20 minutes of the movie — at which point we're in dire need of something to make this flick somewhat salvageable.

And Godzilla doesn't disappoint.

Facing off against Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus (those names will haunt my dreams tonight), Godzilla is the original badass he's always been. In true Tokyo throwdown fashion, Godzilla comes to the aid of the Japanese citizens and drops a beating on the duo.

It's not a walk in the park for the big guy, though. He's burnt, zapped and buried alive, and yet the reptilian rabble rouser (sure, we don't know what he's saying, but it sure pisses off the other two monsters) still finds a way to save the day.

Not lost in Godzilla's triumph is the bizarre love story of Ichinose and his bionic cutie. I'm all good with Stephen Stills' idea of "If you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one you're with," but robot love is a little too far out there for me.

Still, it provides one of the best lines of the movie. With her arm ripped open revealing her robotic inner workings, Ichinose stares lovingly in her eyes and declares "Even if you're a cyborg, I still love you."

The love affair is short-lived, as Katsura takes herself out after revealing Mechagodzilla will live as long as she's alive. So the lesson learned here, kids? Robot love will never last no matter how pretty she...it...whatever is — never mind.

"Terror of Mechagodzilla" wasn't warmly welcomed at the box office, but it's one heck of a fun watch. Mechagodzilla's entry to the battlefield is awesome. The exciting fast-paced music doesn't quite match the lumbering slow glide through the sky Mechagodzilla exhibits as he joins up with Titanosaurus.

Plus, we're treated to the same rubbery costumes, Matchbox cars lining streets inhabited by buildings made of plywood and fake shrubberies. How can you not love something like that?

"Terror of Mechagodzilla" isn't the best of the early Godzilla films, but it signals an end of an era and a return to what made Godzilla so much fun to watch. Despite a silly storyline, we get to see Godzilla do what he does best. He emerges from the sea, throws a beatdown on his rivals and fades off into the sunset until the next time the people need him in true Clint Eastwood fashion.

It's Godzilla's badassery that makes "Terror of Mechagodzilla" a bonafide Schlock Vault must-see.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDvukErD-ic&w=514&h=315]