Part 2 of my Box Set Review (with spoiler alerts)Ghidorha, the Three Headed MonsterIt’s not as tight as the last movie. It tends to meander as it juggles several plot lines and characters. The appeal of the flick was that it was the
Avengers of its day. Toho’s greatest -Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan had all stared in solo flicks and now they were united against a new monster, the planet killer King Ghidorah! A gold hued, three headed dragon that many consider Zillas greatest foe.
Ghidorah has always been a cool looking monster, but some of the battles are getting repetitive (Rodan repeats the Mothra wind storm) and Godziila spends too much time throwing rocks instead of letting loose with his radioactive breath. Mothra is in larva form (guess the skies would get too crowded with all these flying creatures) and Rodan looks absurd and seems to be cast as comedic relief.
EDIT: After watching the American version I see I didn't give Rodan enough props. He does get in his licks in, in the battle with Ghidorah.This is where things really begin to get campy in Godzilla’s world, and the creatures are imbued with human qualities. Funniest scenes: Rodan drops Zilla -crotch first- on an electrical tower. Godzy and Rodan playing vollyball with a rock. Rodan and Godzilla laughing when each takes Mothra spray to the face. Ghidorah shoots Godzilla in the ass. And during the interpretation scene, in the US version the twins say… “Oh Godzilla, what terrible language”. My dad howled at that.
Extras include a look at FX wizard Eiji Tsuburaya and a commentary by David Kalat? NOOOOOOO! Holy Christ I’d hoped I’d never see that name again! This asshat blowhard did commentary on some Harry Langdon films I own. I hate Kalat, He uses his audio tracks as a bully pulpit (modern interpretation). And vocalizing in an OOT melodramatic, indignant fashion - bitch slaps anyone who dares disagree with him or express an idea different from his. Lord, did I miss Steve and Ed.
All told, this G-fan favorite doesn’t resonate as strongly with me. It’s not bad - perhaps coming after the wonderful “Mothra vs.” It couldn’t help but pale by comparison. Also, this is where the juvenile, camp elements bubble to the fore - and I simply don’t enjoy this facet or this phase in the monster’s Filmography. Buffoonery during monster fights is lame-o. (I’m the same way with James Bond. I hated the camp humor elements introduced during Roger Moore’s run)
Speaking of which, the film has a Bond girl in the cast. She plays the prophet. She is very alluring, even dressed like a man (MJ does Roy Orbison style purr/growl)
Invasion of the Astro Monster Monsters in space! The story is interesting, though the idea of aliens -who make us a great offer, only to have something more sinister in mind- is not new to sci-fi (see the Twilight Zone’s “To Serve Mankind”). Plus the tale is plagued by lapses in logic when scrutinized. (I know that seems a strange criticism, but the alien’s plan required jumping through a few needless hoops)
Ghidorah looks awesome, the way he flies around, shooting off bolts of lightning. Rodan gets a few moments to shine. – but in the fights we generally get more of that rock tossing, and as with the last flick, Ghidorah just flies off into the sky at the end (kind of a limp resolution). The camp stuff pops up in these battles: Godzilla dances a stupid jig and boxes. Also his suit as changed, his face is now frog-like with bigger rounder eyes that undercut his scariness.
The cast is solid and includes an American actor, Nick Adams, who I was familiar with from an Outer Limits episode.
Overall I had a decent time, it was nice, light entertainment.
Extras include a bio on producer Tomoyuki Tanaka and an audio commentary by Stuart Galbraith IV. He’s better than blowhard Kalat, but he’s not as engaged with the film as Steve and Ed were.
All Monsters Attack (aka, Godzilla’s Revenge)Ah crap, this one!
Even when I was a kid I disliked this thing. Even then it was too cutesy. Back in the day I thought it was a rip because of the clips from other Zilla flicks (Sea Monster and Son of Godzilla), and that the story wasn’t real, but part of the kid’s imagination (I know, none of its real…. but you know what I mean). And I didn’t like Minilla at all. (As I watched the film today I thought. “He sounds like a rusty spring and looks like Charles Barkley.”)
Disc includes a bio on director Ishiro Honda, as well as a weak commentary by Richard Pusateri, who seems to be attempting some poor riffing (he was only funny at the end) and is a “Godzilla’s Revenge” apologist. He tries his best to convince us that this is a good movie, and okay, I get it. It’s intended for the wee ones, and because of that, this might work better with the dub (because how many children can or would want to read their movie?), Regardless, while some kid shows can be fun for adults, others are a chore. All Monsters Attack is a bit of a chore.
On the plus: My odd -New Wave music brain- actually enjoys the screechy, irritating song in the Japanese cut. I bet that woman could shatter glass with that voice.
Terror of MechagodzillaThe box set leapfrogs into the 70s, and bypasses the first Mecha movie. Terror sees the franchise continuing to indulge in the space-folk angle. We get another kidnapped male lead for what, the 3rd movie in a row? And for good measure it throws in the clichéd ‘cackling mad scientist who will have his revenge on those who wronged him’ plot line – still, I was entertained and liked the cyborg angle and actress Tomoko Ai.
Mechagodzilla was a popular foe. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this one before but I do remember seeing pictures in monster mags, and being envious that the Japanese were getting to see this flick, while we in the States could only salivate and dream.
In addition to aliens and Robo-zillas, Godzilla has to contend with a new creature, Titanosaurus! Titan doesn’t have any strange powers, other than a fanning tail that can whip up a windstorm (though we’ve been there, done that, with Mothra and Rodan). I actually felt a little bad for the creature at the end. He was a benevolent dino, manipulated into doing wrong by humans.
Apart from Titan’s cackle and a scene where he lifts Godzilla by the mouth, this one was thankfully played a little straighter, with an eye towards appealing to adults in addition to kids. Perhaps this explains the inclusion of cyborg breasts (which didn’t make the US cut)? Now, before you fast forward to that scene, they aren’t Tomoko Ai’s real boobs, but are made up of plastic or fiberglass or something --- sorry guys. Lol.
Honda’s back in the director’s chair after a few years away from the series. I liked many of the camera angles and movements. Godzilla’s first appearance is great. You see a silhouette as light flashes behind, the camera closes in and the light reveals his face. It’s a scene that would do Batman proud.
This was the last of the Zilla flicks for this series. And the King of the Monsters walks off in the sea, victorious, as somber music plays - very classy way to go out.
Disc includes a look at the women of Godzilla and has an audio commentary from Keith Aiken and Bob Johnson
***
To sum it up: I’m generally happy with the purchase. There are nice extras – most (but not all) of the commentaries were solid. “Gojira” and “Mothra vs. Godzilla” are the gold standards here for me. Both are among the very best the series has to offer. “Godzilla Raids Again” was weak, but it provides a few highlights. “All Monsters Attack” I’ve never enjoyed, but I wont rip it too hard since it’s intended for the younglings – the other movies included in the set were entertaining.
The price was right, especially when considering that you can watch these films 3 times (Japanese & American versions, and U.S. again with commentary). It’s unfortunate that Godzilla vs. King Kong can’t get the same treatment (at this point) it’s a noticeable hole in Zilla’s formative years, but I understand that that’s the way the “rights monsters” roll sometimes. Maybe I’ll see it in Japanese one day.