REBIRTH OF MOTHRA (1996)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *drama*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *cosmological,metaphysical*

The continued popularity of Mothra with Japanese audiences through the giant moth's appearances in Godzilla films spurred Toho Studios to make three films centered on the beneficent behemoth, largely if not completely independent of the Godzilla series.

One reviewer whose name I don't recall alleged that Toho sought to appeal more to female viewers with the series, but all three films seem centered on kids-- though of course the producers may have wanted the series to be appealing to any mama-sans escorting their munchkins to the theaters. The first REBIRTH isn't clear as to whether humans in this series have ever seen the Mothra phenomena before, but this is a small hurdle to leap over, since two kids, Taika and Wakaba, are largely the viewpoint characters.   

Centuries ago, an invading dragon-creature, Desghidorah ("Death Ghidorah," more or less) invades Earth, threatening the lives of the faery-people, the Elias. A primeval version of Mothra, the protector of the Elias, fights the invader and manages to imprison it beneath the eatth with a mystic seal binding the creature therein. I don't know if humans are around at the time of the battle, but in any case, the human race soon proliferates across the globe while the Elias remain hidden. In REBIRTH I we only see three, though it's not clear that they're the only ones in existence.

Construction workers dislodge the seal and one employee gives the odd object to his kids. This initiates Taika and Wakaba into the world of monster-battles, for the seal briefly possesses Wakaba, Damian-izing her so that she tosses her brother around with telekinesis. I think this may have brought about by Belvera, an evil fairy who hates humans and wants Desghidorah to ravage the earth. However, Belvera's two good sisters, Moll and Lori, seek to protect humanity, much like the two Shobijin sisters who often appeared in the "official Mothra" movies. Once Lori and Moll intervene, the two kids get to have a ringside seat to witness the evil monster's clash with the current Mothra. As is often the case, the older Mothra lays an egg from which its successor hatches, and after the older moth dies in battle the offspring succeeds in re-imprisoning the apocalyptic beast. However, Belvera escapes justice so that she can appear in the sequel.  

Though REBIRTH I is not outstanding, the cycle of death and life for the Mothra-monsters never quite loses its appeal, and that's why I give it a fair mythicity rating, There's a subplot about keeping the Earth clean that I didn't think quite fit the main story, but it's not overly preachy and the actors, adult and juvenile, sell the fantasy nicely.