Editing Godzilla vs. Biollante

{{Short description|1989 film by Kazuki Ōmori}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Godzilla vs. Biollante
| image          = Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster by [[Noriyoshi Ohrai]]
| native_name    = {{Infobox Japanese| katakana=ゴジラvsビオランテ| revhep=gojira vs biolante}}
| director       = [[Kazuki Ōmori]]
| producer       = [[Shōgo Tomiyama]]<br>[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]]
| screenplay     = Kazuki Ōmori
| story          = Shinichirō Kobayashi
| starring       = {{Plain list|<!-- Order based on billing block -->
* [[Kunihiko Mitamura]]
* [[Yoshiko Tanaka]]
* [[Masanobu Takashima]]
* [[Megumi Odaka]]
* [[Konaiji Toyota]]
* [[Tōru Minegishi (actor)|Toru Minegishi]]
* [[Yasuko Sawaguchi]]
* [[Toshiyuki Nagashima]]
* [[Yoshiko Kuga]]
* Ryunosuke Kaneda
* [[Kōji Takahashi]]
}}
| music          = [[Koichi Sugiyama]]
| cinematography = Yūdai Katō
| editing        = Michiko Ikeda
| studio         = [[Toho Pictures]]
| distributor    = [[Toho]]
| released       = {{Film date|1989|12|16}}
| runtime        = 104 minutes
| country        = Japan
| language       = Japanese<br/>English
| budget         = {{JPY|700 million}}<ref name="TVMag">{{cite book|title=Terebi Magajin Tokubetsu Henshū Tanjō 40 Shūnenkinen Gojira Taizenshū|trans-title=TV Magazine Special Edition 40th Anniversary of the Birth of Godzilla Complete Works|last=Iwabatake|first=Toshiaki|date=September 1, 1994|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|pages=76–77|isbn=4-06-178417-X}}</ref><br>({{USD|10.7 million|long=no}})<ref name="AR">{{Cite news |last=[[Associated Press]] |date=December 14, 1989 |title=Ready for Godzilla XVII? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/118449497/ |access-date=February 25, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |page=39 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |quote=<!--Referred to the film as Godzilla vs. Violante--> It cost $10.7 million, making it the most expensive Godzilla movie ever.}}</ref>
| gross          = {{JPY|1.04 billion}}<ref name="Nenda Ryuukou">{{cite web|url=https://nendai-ryuukou.com/article/089.html|title=List of Godzilla Movies|work=Nenda Ryuukou|accessdate=5 July 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{nihongo|'''''Godzilla vs. Biollante'''''|ゴジラvsビオランテ|Gojira tai Biorante}}{{efn|Alternatively known as '''''Godzilla vs. Violante'''''.<ref name="AR"/>}} is a 1989 Japanese ''[[kaiju]]'' film directed and written by [[Kazuki Ōmori]], with special effects by [[Kōichi Kawakita]]. Distributed by [[Toho]] and produced under their subsidiary [[Toho Studios|Toho Pictures]], it is the 17th film in the [[Godzilla (franchise)|''Godzilla'' franchise]], the second film in the franchise's [[Godzilla (franchise)#Heisei era (1984–1995)|Heisei period]], and a sequel to 1984's ''[[The Return of Godzilla]]''. The film stars <!-- Order based on billing block --> Kunihiko Mitamura, [[Yoshiko Tanaka]], [[Masanobu Takashima]], [[Megumi Odaka]], [[Tōru Minegishi (actor)|Toru Minegishi]], [[Yasuko Sawaguchi]], [[Toshiyuki Nagashima]], [[Yoshiko Kuga]], Ryunosuke Kaneda and [[Kōji Takahashi]]. This was Odaka's first appearance in the ''Godzilla'' franchise as [[Miki Saegusa]], and would reprise the role in every film for the remainder of the Heisei series.

In the film, corporations struggle for control over samples of [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]]'s cells, while the monster himself battles [[Biollante]], a monster born from a combination of Godzilla's cells, the cells of a plant, and the cells of a human. The idea originated from a public story-writing contest, and set a trend common to all Heisei era movies, in which Godzilla faces off against opponents capable of metamorphosing into new, progressively more powerful forms.<ref name="ryfle1998"/>

''Godzilla vs. Biollante'' was released theatrically in Japan on December 16, 1989. It received generally positive reviews who praised the storyline, visual effects, and Sugiyama's score, but was a disappointment at the Japanese box office due to competition with ''[[Back to the Future Part II]]''. It received a [[direct-to-video]] release in the United States on November 25, 1992, through [[HBO Video]].<ref>{{Cite book|editor=Koichi Kawakita|editor-link=Koichi Kawakita|script-title=ja:平成ゴジラパーフェクション|publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]]|series=DENGEKI HOBBY BOOKS|date=2012-02-01|page=147|language=ja|isbn=978-4048861199}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Toho Co., Ltd.|script-title=ja:東宝特撮映画大全集|publisher=villagebooks inc.|date=2012-09-28|page=227|language=ja|isbn=978-4864910132}}</ref>

It was followed by ''[[Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah]]'' which was released on December 14, 1991.

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words. -->
In the aftermath of [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]]'s attack on [[Tokyo]] and later imprisonment at [[Mount Mihara]],{{efn|As depicted in ''[[The Return of Godzilla]]'' (1984).}}<ref>Year given on the plaque of the Godzilla Memorial Lounge shown in the film</ref> Godzilla's cells are secretly delivered to the Saradia Institute of Technology and Science in Saradia, where they are to be merged with [[genetically modified plants]] in the hope of transforming Saradian deserts into fertile land and ending the country's economic dependence on [[oil well]]s. Dr. Genshiro Shiragami and his daughter, Erika, are enlisted to aid with the project, but a terrorist bombing destroys the institute's laboratory, ruining the cells and killing Erika.

Five years later, Shiragami has returned to Japan and merged some of Erika's cells with those of a [[rose]] in an attempt to preserve her soul. Meanwhile, scientist Kazuhito Kirishima and Lieutenant Goro Gondo of the [[Japan Self-Defense Forces|JSDF]] are using the Godzilla cells they collected to create "Anti-Nuclear Energy Bacteria" (ANEB), hoping it can serve as a weapon against Godzilla should it return. They attempt to recruit Shiragami to aid them, but are rebuffed.

International tensions increase over the Godzilla cells, as they are coveted by both the Saradia Institute of Technology and Science and the American rival Bio-Major organization. An [[Types of volcanic eruptions|eruption]] from Mount Mihara causes tremors across the area, including Shiragami's home, badly damaging the roses. Shiragami agrees to join the JSDF's effort and is given access to the Godzilla cells, which he secretly merges with one of the roses. A night later, Bio-Major and Saradian agents break into Shiragami's lab, but are attacked by a large plant-like monster, named "[[Biollante]]" by Shiragami, which later escapes to [[Lake Ashi]].

Bio-Major agents plant explosives around Mount Mihara and blackmail the [[National Diet]], warning the explosives will be detonated and thus free Godzilla if the cells are not handed over. Kirishima and Gondo attempt to trade, but Saradian agent SSS9 thwarts the attempt and escapes with the cells. The explosives are detonated, and Godzilla is released. Godzilla attempts to reach the nearest power plant to replenish his supply of nuclear energy, but Biollante calls out to Godzilla.

Godzilla arrives at the lake to engage Biollante in a vicious battle, and emerges as the victor. Godzilla then proceeds toward the power plant at [[Tsuruga]], but psychic [[Miki Saegusa]] uses her powers to divert Godzilla toward [[Osaka]] instead. The city is quickly evacuated before Godzilla makes landfall. A team led by Gondo meet Godzilla at the central district and fire rockets infused with the ANEB into its body, but Gondo is killed in the process, leaving Godzilla unharmed.

Kirishima recovers the cells and returns them to the JSDF. Shiragami theorizes that if Godzilla's body temperature is increased, the ANEB should work against it. The JSDF erects microwave-emitting plates during an artificial thunderstorm, hitting Godzilla with lightning and heating up its body temperature during a battle near the shores of [[Wakasa Bay]]. Godzilla is only moderately affected, but Biollante, having evolved into a more powerful form, arrives to engage Godzilla in battle once again.

After a long battle, Godzilla fires an atomic breath inside Biollante's mouth, mortally wounding Biollante. After Godzilla exhausted as the ANEB finally takes hold, dying Biollante splits apart into the spores which rise into the outer space, forming an image of Erika among the stars. As Shiragami watches the scene, he is shot by SSS9. Kirishima chases and briefly scuffles SSS9, who got killed by a plate activated by Sho Kuroki. Afterwards, Godzilla reawakens and returns to the ocean.

==Cast==
{{castlist|
* [[Kunihiko Mitamura]] as {{nihongo|Kazuhito Kirishima|桐島 一人| Kirishima Kazuhito}}
* [[Yoshiko Tanaka]] as {{nihongo|Asuka Okochi|大河内 明日香 | Okochi Asuka}}
* [[Masanobu Takashima]] as {{nihongo|Major Sho Kuroki|黒木 翔 | Kuroki Shō}}
* [[Megumi Odaka]] as {{nihongo|[[Miki Saegusa]]|三枝 未希 | Saegusa Miki}}
* [[Kōji Takahashi]] as {{nihongo|Dr. Genichiro Shiragami|白神 源壱郎| Shiragami Gen'ichirō}}
* [[Tōru Minegishi (actor)|Toru Minegishi]] as {{nihongo|Col. Goro Gondo|権藤 吾郎| Gondō Gorō}}
* [[Toshiyuki Nagashima]] as {{nihongo|Dir. Seiichi Yamamoto|山本 精一| Yamamoto Seiichi}}
* Ryunosuke Kaneda as {{nihongo|Makoto Okochi|大河内 誠| Okōchi Makoto}}
* Manjot Bedi as SSS9, Saradian agent
* [[Yoshiko Kuga]] as [[Chief Cabinet Secretary]] Keiko Owada
* [[Yasuko Sawaguchi]] as Erika Shiragami, daughter of Genichiro
* Kazuma Matsubara as Super X II coordinator
* Hirohisa Nakata as Defense Minister Minoru Koyama
* Koichi Ueda as General Hyodo
* [[Kōsuke Toyohara]] as Super X II controller
* Takashi Hunt as John Lee, Bio-Major spy
* Derrick Homes as Michael Low, Bio-Major spy
* [[Demon Kakka|Demon Kogure]] as himself
* Abdallah Helal as Saradian scientist
* Aydin Yamanlar as Saradian plant director
* [[Soleiman Mehdizadeh]] as Sirhan
* [[Haruko Sagara]] as TV reporter
* [[Yuki Saito (actress)|Yuki Saito]] as [[Japanese idol|Pop Singer]]
* Beth Blatt as Susan Horne
* [[Kazue Ikura]] as Airport PA
* [[Kenpachiro Satsuma]] as [[Godzilla (Heisei)|Godzilla]]
* Masashi Takegumi as [[Biollante]]
}}

==Production==
===Pre-production===
{{Quote box |quote=The original idea was to find something that could match Godzilla's power and terror if we were bringing back Godzilla. But simply letting the monsters fight each other had been done many times and, clearly, there was a limit to it. So in order to bring back Godzilla properly we had to create an opponent that can fight properly. If there was something equivalent to the terror of nuclear power it must be the bio-technology [with] which human beings would manipulate life, because it can be very dangerous if it goes the wrong way, ethically, I guess. That's where I found the connection, so the idea of a monster [that] was created by biotechnology was born. |source=—Shinichiro Kobayashi<ref name="makingofDVD">"Making of Godzilla vs. Biollante", Godzilla vs Biollante [DVD] Echo Bridge (2012)</ref> |bgcolor=#c6dbf7 |salign=right |width=40%}}

[[Tomoyuki Tanaka]] announced a sequel to ''[[The Return of Godzilla]]'' in 1985, but was skeptical of its possibilities, as the film had been of little financial benefit to [[Toho]], and the failure of ''[[King Kong Lives]]'' following year convinced him that audiences were not ready for a continuation of the ''Godzilla'' series. He relented after the success of ''[[Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film)|Little Shop of Horrors]]'', and proceeded to hold a public story-writing contest for a possible script.<ref name="kalat2010">Kalat, D. (2010), ''A Critical History and Filmography of Toho's Godzilla Series'', McFarland, p. 169-78, {{ISBN|978-0-7864-47-49-7}}</ref> In consideration of ''The Return of Godzilla'''s marginal success in Japan, Tanaka insisted that the story focus on a classic monster vs. monster theme.<ref name="ryfle1998">{{cite book |title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of the Big G |last=Ryfle |first=S. |year=1998 |publisher=Toronto: ECW Press |isbn=1550223488 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl/page/251 251–58] |url=https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl/page/251 }}</ref> Tanaka handed the five finalist entries to director [[Kazuki Ōmori]], despite the two's initially hostile relationship; the latter had previously held Tanaka responsible for the decline in the ''Godzilla'' series' quality during the 1970s. Ōmori chose the entry of dentist Shinichiro Kobayashi, who wrote his story with the hypothetical death of his daughter in mind.<ref name="kalat2010"/>

Kobayashi's submission was notable for its emphasis on dilemmas concerning biotechnology rather than nuclear energy, and revolved around a scientist grieving for his deceased daughter and attempting to keep her soul alive by merging her genes with those of a plant. The scientist's initial experiments would have resulted in the creation of a giant rat-like amphibian called Deutalios, which would have landed in Tokyo Bay and been killed by Godzilla. A female reporter investigating the scientist's activities would have suffered from psychic visions of plants with humanoid faces compelling her to infiltrate the scientist's laboratory. The scientist would have later confessed his intentions, and the finale would have had Godzilla battling a human-faced Biollante who defeats him by searing his flesh with acid.<ref name="ryfle19982">{{cite book |title=Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of the Big G |last=Ryfle |first=S. |year=1998 |publisher=Toronto: ECW Press |isbn=1550223488 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl/page/259 259–60] |url=https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl/page/259 }}</ref>

Ōmori proceeded to modify the story into a workable script over a period of three years, using his background as a biologist to create a plausible plot involving genetic engineering and botany.<ref name="kalat2010"/> In order to preserve the series' anti-nuclear message, he linked the creation of Biollante to the use of Godzilla cells, and replaced Kobayashi's journalist character with [[Miki Saegusa]].<ref name="ryfle1998"/> He openly admitted that directing a ''Godzilla'' film was secondary to his desire to make a [[James Bond]] movie, and thus added elements of the [[spy film]] genre into the plot.<ref name="kalat2010"/> Unlike the case with later, more committee-driven ''Godzilla'' films, Ōmori was given considerable leeway in writing and directing the film, which Toho staff later judged to have been an error resulting in a movie with a very narrow audience.<ref name="ryfle1998"/>

===Special effects===
[[File:GvB - behind scenes.jpg|thumb|Preparation of the Biollante model for the final battle scene. The model required 32 wires to operate.<ref name="kalat2010"/>]]
[[Koichi Kawakita]], who had previously worked for [[Tsuburaya Productions]], replaced [[Teruyoshi Nakano]] as head of the series' special effects unit after Toho became impressed at his work in ''[[Gunhed (film)|Gunhed]]''. Kawakita made use of ''Gunhed'''s special effects team Studio OX, and initially wanted to make Godzilla more animal-like, using crocodiles as references, but was berated by Tanaka, who declared Godzilla to be "a monster" rather than an animal. [[Kenpachiro Satsuma]] returned to portray Godzilla, hoping to improve his performance by making it less anthropomorphic than in previous films. Suitmaker Noboyuki Yasamaru created a Godzilla suit made specifically with Satsuma's measurements in mind, unlike the previous one which was initially built for another performer and caused Satsuma discomfort. The resulting 242 lb suit proved more comfortable than the last, having a lower center of gravity and more mobile legs. A second 176 lb suit was built for outdoor underwater scenes. The head's size was reduced, and the whites around the eyes removed. On the advice of story finalist Shinichiro Kobayashi, a double row of teeth was incorporated in the jaws. As with the previous film, animatronic models were used for close-up shots. These models were an improvement over the last, as they were made from the same molds used for the main costume, and included an articulated tongue and intricate eye motion. The suit's dorsal plates were filled with light bulbs for scenes in which Godzilla uses his atomic ray, thus lessening reliance on optical animation, though they electrocuted Satsuma the first time they were activated. Satsuma was also obliged to wear protective goggles when in the suit during scenes in which Godzilla battles the JSDF, as real explosives were used on set.<ref name="kalat2010"/> The film was mainly shot at the Toho lot, although some filming occued on location at the East Fuji Maneuver Area.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tohokingdom.com/movies/godzilla_vs_biollante.htm|title=Godzilla vs. Biollante
|publisher=TohoKingdom.com |access-date=October 22, 2020}}</ref>

Designing and building the Biollante props proved problematic, as traditional suitmation techniques made realizing the requested design of the creature's first form difficult, and the resulting cumbersome model for Biollante's final form was met with disbelief from the special effects team. Biollante's first form was performed by Masao Takegami, who sat within the model's trunk area on a platform just above water level. While the creature's head movements were simple to operate, its vines were controlled by an intricate array of overhead wires which proved difficult for Satsuma to react to during combat scenes as they offered no tension, thus warranting Satsuma to feign receiving blows from them, despite not being able to perceive them. Biollante's final form was even more difficult to operate, as its vine network took hours to rig up on set. Visibility in both the Godzilla and final form Biollante suits was poor, thus causing difficulties for Takegami in aiming the creature's head when firing sap, which permanently stained anything it landed on.<ref name="kalat2010"/>

While it was initially decided to incorporate [[stop motion animation]] into the film, the resulting sequences were scrapped, as Kawakita felt they failed to blend in with the live-action footage effectively. The film however became the first of its kind to use [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]], though its usage was limited to scenes involving computer generated schematics.<ref name="kalat2010"/> The original cut of the movie had the first battle culminating in Biollante's spores falling around the hills surrounding Lake Ashino and blooming into fields of flowers, though this was removed as the flowers were out of scale.<ref name="ryfle1998"/>

===Music===
Unlike the previous film, ''Godzilla vs. Biollante'' incorporates themes from [[Akira Ifukube]]'s original ''Godzilla'' theme, though the majority of the soundtrack was composed of original themes by [[Koichi Sugiyama]]. The score was orchestrated by conductor David Howell through the Kansai Philharmonic, though Howell himself had never viewed the movie, and thus was left to interpret what the scenes would consist of when conducting the orchestra.<ref name="kalat2010"/>

==English version==
After the film was released in Japan, Toho commissioned a Hong Kong company named Omni Productions to dub the film into English.<ref name="Ryfle1998">{{cite book|author=Steve Ryfle|title=Japan's Favorite Mon-star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G"|url=https://archive.org/details/japansfavoritemo0000ryfl|url-access=registration|year=1998|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55022-348-4}}</ref>

In early 1990, Toho entered discussions with Miramax to distribute the film. When talks broke off, Toho filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Federal Court, accusing Miramax of entering an oral agreement in June to pay Toho $500,000 to distribute the film. This lawsuit delayed the film's release for two years. An out of court settlement was reached with Miramax buying the rights to the film for an unreported figure. Miramax would have entertained thoughts of releasing the film in theaters, but in the end it was decided to release the film straight to home video instead. HBO released the film on VHS in 1992 and Laserdisc in 1993. Miramax utilized the uncut English international version of the film for this release.<ref name="ryfle1998"/>

==Release==
===Home media===
''Godzilla vs. Biollante'' was released on [[VHS]] by [[HBO Home Video]] on November 25, 1992.<ref name="vhsrelease">{{cite book|title=Amazon.com: Godzilla Vs Biollante [VHS]: Kunihiko Mitamura, Yoshiko Tanaka, Masanobu Takashima, Kōji Takahashi, Tōru Minegishi, Megumi Odaka, Toshiyuki Nagashima, Ryūnosuke Kaneda, Kazuma Matsubara, Yoshiko Kuga, Yasunori Yuge, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Katsuhiro Kato, Kazuki Ohmori, Michiko Ikeda, Shogo To|isbn=0783103107}}</ref> It was later relicensed by Miramax and released on [[Blu-ray]] and [[DVD]] by Echo Bridge on December 4, 2012.<ref name="blurayrelease">{{cite web|title=Godzilla vs. Biollante Blu-ray|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Godzilla-vs-Biollante-Blu-ray/24467/#Review|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="allmoviehomemedia">{{cite web|title=Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) - Kazuki Omori|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/godzilla-vs-biollante-v20094/releases|website=Allmovie.com|publisher=AllMovie|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref> It was released as a double feature and 8-disk movie pack on both Blu-ray and DVD with ''[[Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus]]'' (2009) by [[Echo Bridge Home Entertainment]] in 2013. It was last released by [[Lionsgate]] on Blu-ray and DVD on October 7, 2014.<ref name="allmoviehomemedia" /> On the latter two releases, the film is rated PG by the [[Motion Picture Association]] for "traditional Godzilla violence".<ref>https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0097444/parentalguide/certificates?ref_=tt_stry_pg - the information on Internet Movie Database is provided directly by the MPA as required by website policy</ref>

In 2021, Toho premiered a [[4K resolution|4K remaster]] of the film on the [[Nippon TV|Nippon Classic Movie Channel]], along with seven other Godzilla films also remastered in 4K. The film was [[2K resolution|downscaled to 2K]] for broadcast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nihon-eiga.com/osusume/godzilla4K_2021/|title=『ゴジラ』シリーズ 4Kデジタルリマスター 最恐画質 8ヶ月連続放送|language=Japanese|first=|last=|work=Nihon–eiga.com|date=|access-date=March 26, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=March 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326175658/https://www.nihon-eiga.com/osusume/godzilla4K_2021/}}</ref> [[The Criterion Collection]] is set to release the film on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray|4K]] and [[Blu-ray]] on March 18, 2025. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) |url=https://www.criterion.com/films/33023-godzilla-vs-biollante |access-date=December 13, 2024 |website=The Criterion Collection}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
In Japan, the film sold approximately 2 million tickets,{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} grossing {{JPY|1.04 billion}}.<ref name="Nenda Ryuukou">{{cite web|url=https://nendai-ryuukou.com/article/089.html|title=List of Godzilla Movies|work=Nenda Ryuukou|accessdate=5 July 2021}}</ref>

===Critical response===
''Godzilla vs. Biollante'' has received positive reviews, with praise for the story, music and visuals.
Ed Godziszewski of Monster Zero said the film is "by no means a classic" but felt that "for the first time in well over 20 years, a [Godzilla] script is presented with some fresh, original ideas and themes."<ref>[http://monsterzero.us/editorials/editorials.php?catID=&subCatID=3&contentID=85 Review - Ed Godziszewski] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624105135/http://www.monsterzero.us/editorials/editorials.php?catID=&subCatID=3&contentID=85 |date=2007-06-24 }}. ''[[Monster Zero]]''. June 10, 2002</ref> Joseph Savitski of Beyond Hollywood said the film's music is "a major detraction", but added that it's "not only one of the most imaginative films in the series, but also the most enjoyable to watch."<ref>[http://www.beyondhollywood.com/godzilla-vs-biollante-1989-movie-review/ Review - Joseph Savitski]. ''Beyond Hollywood''. August 2, 2004</ref> Japan Hero said, "[T]his is definitely a Godzilla movie not to be missed."<ref>[http://www.japanhero.com/kaiju/reviews/godzilla_vs_biollante.htm Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211143128/http://www.japanhero.com/kaiju/reviews/godzilla_vs_biollante.htm |date=2008-12-11 }}. ''Japan Hero''</ref>

In their scholarly book on [[kaiju]] cinema, ''Japan's Green Monsters'', Rhoads and McCorkle offer an ecocritical assessment of ''Godzilla vs. Biollante''. The scholars focus on the film's critique of genetic engineering and biotechnology years before the subject appeared in more popular Hollywood blockbusters like [[Steven Spielberg]]'s 1993 blockbuster ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]''. Rhoads and McCorkle counter prior reviews of the film and argue that ''Godzilla vs. Biollante'' possesses far deeper environmental messages than the obvious ones present on the film's surface.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Rhoads|first1= Sean |last2= McCorkle|first2= Brooke |date= 2018|title= Japan's Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema |publisher= McFarland|isbn= 978-1476663906}}</ref>

In July 2014, in a poll reported by the {{Interlanguage link|Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting Corporation|jp|日本映画放送}}, ''Godzilla vs. Biollante'' was selected as the best ''Godzilla'' film by a group of fans and judges.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting Corp.|title=THE BEST ゴジラ総選挙 詳細レポート!|work=総力特集・ゴジラ|publisher=Nihon Eiga Satellite Broadcasting Corp.|date=2014|url=http://www.nihon-eiga.com/osusume/the-best/result.html|access-date=2014-09-05|language=ja|archive-date=2014-08-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817140305/http://www.nihon-eiga.com/osusume/the-best/result.html }}</ref>

Composer [[Akira Ifukube]], who had refused to compose the film's score, stated on interview that he disliked the way [[Koichi Sugiyama]] had modernized his Godzilla theme, and defined the Saradia theme as "ridiculous", on account of it sounding more European than Middle Eastern.<ref>{{cite web|author=Milner, David | date=December 1992 | url=http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/ifukub.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123035119/http://www.davmil.org/www.kaijuconversations.com/ifukub.htm | archive-date=2015-01-23| title=Akira Ifukube Interview I |publisher=Kaiju Conversations |access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref>

On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], approval rating of 75% based on 12 reviews, with a [[average|rating average]] of 6.0/10."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godzilla_vs_biollante|title=Godzilla vs Biollante (1989)|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref>

===Awards===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Award
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! scope="col"| Result
|-
| 1990
| 44th [[Mainichi Film Concours]]
| [[Mainichi Film Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| [[Yoshiko Tanaka]] (shared with [[Black Rain (1989 Japanese film)|Black Rain]])
| {{won}}
|-
| 1991
| 14th Japan Academy Prize
| Newcomer of the Year
| [[Masanobu Takashima]]
| {{won}}
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
;Bibliography
* {{cite book |title=Japan's Green Monsters: Environmental Commentary in Kaiju Cinema |last=Rhoads & McCorkle |first=Sean & Brooke |year=2018 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781476663906 }}
*Anon (2015), ゴジラvsビオランテ コンプリーション [Godzilla vs. Biollante Completion], Hobby Japan, {{ISBN|978-4798611372}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*[https://archive.today/20130218172942/http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1989/dm002870.htm title=ゴジラvsビオランテ  ''Gojira tai Biorante'' (Japanese)] at [[Japanese Movie Database]]
*{{IMDb title|0097444}}
*{{Rotten-tomatoes|id=godzilla_vs_biollante|title=Godzilla vs. Biollante}}
*[[iarchive:makingofgvb1989|Watch two behind-the-scenes documentaries (Japanese with English subtitles)]]

{{Godzilla|state=expand}}
{{Kazuki Ōmori}}

[[Category:1989 films]]
[[Category:1980s Japanese-language films]]
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[[Category:1989 science fiction films]]
[[Category:Eco-terrorism in fiction]]
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[[Category:Films about telepathy]]
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[[Category:Films directed by Kazuki Ōmori]]
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[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:1980s Japanese films]]
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[[Category:1989 in Japanese cinema]]
[[Category:Films scored by Koichi Sugiyama]]
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