Monster star

He's big, he's bad, he's dangerous . . . and now he's stomping his way back to Hollywood.

14:46 30 November 2004

He's big, he's bad, he's dangerous . . . and now he's stomping his way back to Hollywood.

Godzilla, the Japanese mega-monster creation and icon of a thousand movies, TV programmes, advertising and merchandise campaigns, is returning to the US.

But instead of wreaking havoc on the streets of New York, the gigantic mega-beast will this time be receiving a star on Hollywood's famous Walk of Fame in honour of the creature's 50th birthday and the launch of his 28th feature film.

The green fire-breathing lizard is the 2,271st star to receive the prestigious accolade on Hollywood Boulevard.

The ceremony took place just before the US premiere of the fabled reptile's latest outing Godzilla: Final Wars at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

A human size model of the monster was joined by co-stars including Japanese pop star and actor Masahiro Matsuoka.

Hollywood's honorary mayor Johnny Grant said: "I do hereby proclaim this Godzilla Day in Hollywood.

"He's loose, he's wild, and I'm getting the hell out of here."