Destroy All Monsters-or Even Godzilla Had His Roger Moore Period...

 

That's the thing about periods during Toho Studios' prolific production, is that sheer demand created great supply in the giant monster epics turned out.  Naturally, monsters will be a draw for the kiddies and the studios, not being complete morons, will start aiming films more for a general audience.

The original Godzilla, released in the 1950s, is an anti-nuclear cautionary tale filmed in grim black and white.  It details the tale of a mutant dinosaur woken up by atomic detonations in Japan and subsequently goes to do what giant monsters do, that is, reduce the value of real estate with a quickness.  As time when on, the rationale for Godzilla's rampages took on additional dimensions besides a form of nuclear protest.  The idea for kaiju, these giant monsters, the ones native to Earth, took on almost an elemental nature.  They are creatures intended to either signal that the elements of Earth are out of balance, or are agents intended to restore the same.  Godzilla is one of these key balancers, even more is his flame throwing giant turtle cousin, Gamera, friend of all children.

Interesting thing, though, as time went on, Godzilla took on more of a "family friendly" image, as more and more kids and families made up Godzilla's audience.  From 1954's atomic powered rampaging engine of destruction, Godzilla gradually turned into a staunch hero, only there to occasionally give stupid, slow learning humans a smack.  He even had a "cute" son. 

Destroy All Monsters is pretty much a kaiju wrestlemania.  Several of the main recurring monsters in Tojo's stable have been relocated in a preserve called "Monsterland".  It is explained that the island is escape proof, having devices tailored to each individual beastie to keep them from exercising in wanderlust.  There is plenty of food, so that motivation isn't one for wandering, nor do they have a reason to try to eat each other.  So you have the unlikely scenario of Godzilla (and son), Rodan, Mothra, and others happily occupying this island under the watchful eyes of their leaders.

Until meddling aliens who look perfectly human show up.  Their plan is to create a perfect "scientific" society on Earth. So, to execute their plan, they intended to release all the inmates of Monsterland to wreck some cities to set the stage of their social engineering.

Yeah.

Don't analyze it too deeply.  It really is just what it is to throw all these monsters in one place to give them an excuse to knock heads.  WrestleMania, kaiju style.  That is really all it is.  Nothing deeper.

Though Tojo realized at points, like Eon and James Bond, as well as DC and Batman (Adam West), that making such a primal, elemental character too family friendly, too "safe", really isn't true to the character or really, not where you get the best stories.

So eventually, they bring back the danger, the risk.

But...it is what it is.  Destroy All Monsters.  For fans of kaiju, it doesn't completely suck.  For everyone else, it may be good for a laugh.