Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) Saturday Monster Movies

One of the classic sci-fi chestnuts is: if you could travel back in time, would you kill baby Hitler? This is than just a specific quandary. (And ultimately, the Hilter question is almost more about the unchangeability of time.) Instead, it goes to the heart of a metaphysical question. Where does evil begin? Or, Can babies be evil? Or, are we fated to our destinies?

With the fifth movie of the Heisei Era (and 20th overall), the Godzilla franchise broached this issue. (In addition to a bunch of other unfathomable questions like: Where did Baby Godzilla come from? Why have we not seen a female Godzilla? Etc.)

In the Heisei Era, Godzilla is a villain. It had tried to return to a more realistic, gritty version of the story, and a giant monster is hard to portray as a hero. Once Mothra entered the picture, however, an appeal to women and children was in view. So, enter Baby Godzilla. This movie continues to have Godzilla be a threat, and monster, and a villain. When he is allowed to retreat again with baby in tow, it is just a matter of time before we are going to see a more nuanced, sympathetic Godzilla.

So, the question is, now that we have a baby version of Godzilla, is there potential for good in him? Should we kill baby Godzilla before he can become a threat? How could a world produce such an evil threat and enable life to continue? With ethics and theodicy, you always come back to Hitler.