YMMV / Terror of Mechagodzilla

• Awesome Music:
  • Series regular Akira Ifukube returns to compose the film 7 years after Destroy All Monsters ^note  Godzilla vs. Gigan was comprised of stock music from past Ifukube composed scores, thus isn’t considered an "original soundtrack" and delivers on a score that just screams "this is the end". The main title exemplifies this with a more heroic sounding Godzilla theme contrasted with the sound of a dark militaristic march.
  • Katsura’a Memories, a simplistic, yet tragic organ piece about the death and reconstruction of Dr. Mafune’s only child.
  • Katsura’s Death II, a slow, bitter piece that plays when Katsura kills herself, realizing she has Mechagodzilla’s remote built inside her.
  • The Appearance of Godzilla, which plays when Godzilla first appears in the movie, is probably the most triumphant the classic theme has ever sounded.
• Contested Sequel: Fans are split on which Showa era Mechagodzilla film was better. Fans of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla felt this entry’s change in tone from a lighthearted and fun espionage plot to dark and cynical take on missing identity brought the enjoyment factor down, some believing it took away what made the former film work to begin with. Fans who prefer this film, however, see it as an Even Better Sequel to the first Mechagodzilla film, believing the darker tone worked as a direct continuation and loved the overall themes reminiscent of the earlier Showa era films. About the only things both sides agree on is that, depending on which one you prefer, they’re both arguably the best Godzilla films that came out of the 1970’s.
• Ensemble Dark Horse: Titanosaurus has gotten a lot of love from the fandom for its unique design and tragic backstory. Alongside Gorosaurus and Varan, Titanosaurus is probably the most popular kaiju from the Showa series to not appear in any film since (especially because, unlike Gorosaurus and Varan, Titanosaurus has only appeared in a single film).
• Hilarious in Hindsight:
  • "Clair de Lune" can be heard in the background during a café scene involving Ichinose and Katsura. Now "Clair de Lune" is used in the trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019).
  • Godzilla, who is modeled after Tyrannosaurus, battles Titanosaurus, who greatly resembles Spinosaurus, a full 26 years before Jurassic Park III made Spinosaurus Versus T. rex a common trope.
  • Speaking of Spinosaurus, in 2020 it was determined that this dinosaur possessed an unusual paddle-like tail, suited to an aquatic lifestyle. Titanosaurus has a similar structure on its tail, decades before paleontology would support such a concept.
• Moment of Awesome: Godzilla's first appearance as he arrives to challenge Titanosaurus: While Titanosaurus is destroying the city on front of him, a figure in dark is shown rising up nearby. Cue Titanosaurus getting a blast from a familiar atomic breath, knocking the marine dinosaur flat on his back, followed by the Big G confronting the monster.
• Narm: Even by the standards of the Showa series, Katsura has the most over the top dramatic acting when she is in pain.
• Narm Charm: The film's final shot - Godzilla's wave as he heads back to sea. Cheesy? Oh, yeah. It would have been just another ending, seeing as how there are a number of unmade films and proposed treatments that would have seen the series continuing through the 1970's with a shorter hiatus, if any hiatus at all, but all this was not to be. Considering that it would be another 10 years until Toho made another Godzilla movie, the ending's a bit poignant.
• Vindicated by History: It has its flaws, as do all Godzilla movies to various levels. This film had the lowest box office attendance (putting the franchise on hiatus for a decade) but is well liked by many fans today, mainly due to Ensemble Dark Horse Titanosaurus, its darker themes, and the large amount of Scenery Gorn during the final act. It's generally considered a respectable sendoff and final entry for the Showa Era, albeit an unintentional one.
• Visual Effects of Awesome: Mechagodzilla and Titanosaurus’ rampage through Japan during the final act, which is often seen as some of the best effects work from the 70’s Godzilla films. From Titanosaurus’ tail shake that causes rubble to fly all over to the buildings blowing up by Mechagodzilla’s finger missiles and eye beams, it’s a visual treat to behold.