See Prehistoric Monsters Crawl Out of the Hidden Depths of the Earth and Take Revenge Against the Living!

Starring: Tomonori Yazaki, Kenji Sahara, Machiko Naka, Hideyo Amamoto, Sachio Sakai, Kazuo Suzuki, Junichi Ito, Hidemi Ito

DML Rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ - average

"Godzilla says I have to learn to fight my own battles." - Minya (aka Minilla)

Why watch this? This is the only Toho Godzilla film targeted 100% to children.

Plot Summary: A lonely boy named Ichiro escapes the struggles of reality through dreams of Monster Island. On Monster Island, Ichiro befriends Godzilla's son, Minya, who also faces bullying, and together they learn to confront their fears and stand up for themselves. These lessons prove valuable when Ichiro is confronted with real-world challenges, including facing bullies and outsmarting bank robbers in a series of interconnected events.

Dad's Preview: This film is despised by many Godzilla fans. I am betting those critics did not see it when they were under the age of twelve. I did, and it will forever be one of my personal favorites. The director, Honda, also sited it as one he loved. A young, pudgy Japanese boy, Ichiro, dreams of flying to Monster Land, an island where Earth's monsters live. There is a sweetness to the boy's interactions with the big-eyed Minya. It is hokey, sure, but it is also very appropriate for young children. And like me, someone might relate to that pudgy little boy.    

Toho Co. Ltd.