For Godzilla's 20th anniversary, Japanese film company Toho reinvented the series once again. Mixing science fiction (with a rather obvious nod to the Planet of the Apes series), mythological fantasy, and secret-agent intrigue, this 1974 entry begins with the startling image of Godzilla doing battle with himself! Actually it's a towering robot juggernaut unleashed by black-blooded ape-men invaders from outer space. Disguised as the King of the Monsters, Mechagodzilla sets off on a rampage until the real Godzilla shows up; however, unable to handle the mechanized menace alone, Godzilla teams up with a new character, a mythological lion-god named Caesar. This "bionic-zilla" is almost as impressive as the Big G himself, a titanium-clad robot equipped with ray beams, flame throwers, and dozens of missiles. Godzilla sports a peacocklike display of silver dorsal fins and a mean new suit with a fierce head. Bad alien makeup and Godzilla's decidedly "friend of mankind" attitude, all mixed with the James Bond-inspired spy subplot, lends a cheery camp flair to the science fiction adventure. This one's followed by the direct sequel, Terror of Mechagodzilla. --Sean Axmaker