Godzilla vs. Megalon

Godzilla vs. Megalon (2023) is a short but stunning return to form for classic kaiju action, bringing a fresh look to an underrated villain while honoring the legacy of the original 1973 film. Directed by Takuya Uenishi and created for Godzilla Fest, this 10-minute short delivers an intense, visually striking showdown between Godzilla and Megalon.

The new design of Megalon is a highlight-sleek, intimidating, and a major upgrade from the campy original. The CGI blends smoothly with live-action elements, making the fight sequences feel grounded but thrilling. Godzilla himself is in top form, portrayed with power and purpose as he takes on the subterranean insectoid menace.

Even with the limited runtime, the pacing feels tight and the action is engaging from start to finish. There's a great balance of nostalgia and modern flair, and fans of the genre will appreciate the attention to detail and respect for the source material.

If there's any downside, it's that it leaves you wanting more. But as a tribute film, it absolutely delivers and shows just how effective short-form storytelling can be in the kaiju universe.

This is another cool Godzilla short film, here taking the villain of 1973's Godzilla vs. Megalon and giving him another chance to fight Godzilla 50 years later. It's comparable to Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex, but probably a little bit better and definitely more ambitious, mostly owing to the fact that it's longer and has some live-action elements, instead of just animation.

It's the kind of short that isn't going to appeal to anyone who's not a fan of classic Godzilla, but that's okay, because it's very likely to appeal to everyone who's watched and enjoyed at least a handful of films from Godzilla's Showa Era. I hope short films like this continue getting made, because they're a good way to showcase older monsters who otherwise aren't seen too often, and the fact they range from about 5 to 10 minutes in length means they never really run the risk of having filler, or even downtime.