Some decent FX for the year it was made but also a lot of the models stood out pretty badly. I would say at least a pretty tame monster movie for an American or modern audience (take your pick). I understand the message they were trying to send and while it worked, I would say this was a let down for Japan's answer to KING KONG.
Made in 1954, just a scant nine years after the Japanese themselves were victims of nuclear weapons, the movie wasn't filmed with American audiences in mind. Since it was great film for its time, and since American audiences were eating up monster films then, extra scenes were filmed and added later of an American journalist (Raymond Burr) in the midst of Tokyo during Godzilla's visit.
Sure, the effects are cheesy - especially the monster itself (some guy prodding around in a rubber suit) but its still a wonderful film for its time.
