Negadon: The Monster from Mars (2005) Review | Godzilla Island Archive

Note: This article was originally published in 2017 on Godzilla Island all views and a opinions may have since changed.

Plot:

Negadon takes place in a future where humanity has mastered space travel and begun terraforming other planets to make them habitable. During an expedition to Mars, an exploration crew discovers a massive boulder and brings it back to Earth. However, as their ship reenters the atmosphere, it suddenly explodes. The object they unearthed turns out not to be a boulder at all but an egg. From the wreckage, a giant monster known as Negadon emerges and begins a destructive rampage across Japan.

We learn through flashbacks that Professor Narasaki, who once worked on a giant robot called Miroku-2 designed for mining and construction, lost his daughter in an accident during its development. Stricken by grief, he abandoned his work and withdrew from society. But when Negadon appears, Narasaki finds a renewed sense of purpose and decides to pilot Miroku-2 in a desperate battle to save humanity.

Negadon wastes no time attacking the city, unleashing devastating energy beams that obliterate everything in sight. The military’s counterattack proves useless as the monster’s tendrils fire back with overwhelming power. Seeing the destruction, Narasaki launches Miroku-2 and confronts the beast in an epic fight. Realizing that Negadon cannot be defeated through conventional means, Narasaki drags the monster into space, drives Miroku-2’s drill through its eye, and detonates the reactor sacrificing himself to destroy Negadon once and for all.

My Thoughts

For a short film at only 27 minutes, Negadon: The Monster from Mars packs a surprising amount of action and emotion. The animation and CGI are impressive, especially considering its release year and budget. It’s clearly made with love for the kaiju genre, featuring nods to classics like Godzilla and The Mysterians. The ending even feels reminiscent of Pacific Rim’s finale makes you wonder if it took a little inspiration from this film.

While it’s more of a passion project than a mainstream release, Negadon stands out as a visually striking and heartfelt tribute to old-school tokusatsu. If you can find a copy for a reasonable price (under $10 feels fair), it’s absolutely worth adding to your kaiju collection.