Weekly Movie Thread #42 - Mythos: The Hands of Fate

[Psycho Soldier]

It's pretty safe to call this one for Atragon now, so I guess I should look at passing the torch for next week. Is there anyone itching to conduct one of these polls? Any suggestions?

[Henry88]

[Psycho Soldier]

[metal_bryan]

[O.Supreme]

[Psycho Soldier]

[MekaGojira3k]

As far as Toho's more straightforward scifi adventures (Mysterians, Battle in Outer Space, Gorath) Atragon is probably my favorite. I think it's mostly the concept of the Mu and the titular vehicle that push it over the edge.


I really dig some of the shots of the Mu kingdom. I also dig the idea that they have incredibly high body temperatures. They utilize a great many methods to take back their kingdom (subs/those flying kamikaze things/Manda/Earthquake machines).


The Atragon...A Flying Submarine with a Drill than can shoot a freezing beam...let's all reflect upon that phrase as it is the key to why the vehicle is so great.


Manda, the reason I used to be really interested in this film makes a brief appearance before being electrocuted and frozen. Some of the puppet work looks great, sometimes not-so-much.

I must say, that while I dig this more than things like Gorath, Mysterians, Battle in Outer Space....I have to also say I don't really care for these sorts of Toho films. It always feels like they're lacking some spark to really engage me. Atragon comes close, but not close enough to the level of enjoyment I have for some of their Mutant films or Kaiju movies.

[Alpha OTS]

Maybe its just me, but Atragon's towards the bottom when it comes to the Toho tech/non-kaiju centered movies. I prefer Gorath, Mysterians, Battle in Outer Space and the like. Although it might just be this viewing of it too. I hadn't seen it in a long while, and tried a couple times this week to watch it, but watching this before going to bed probably wasn't a wise plan. I finished it proper today.

Its the pacing that kind of irks me. It's not until 45 minutes in until you see the titular submarine, and some time after that until it does anything interesting when the movie finally kicks into gear. Given the storyline about a Captain still in the fight of the last war being convinced he's needed in the new era not the old, I get that it takes a bit to set up the chess pieces so that when he does change his mind that its convincing.

But getting to things I like about the movie. First big like is that this movie is filled to the brim with Toho actors.


The cast of Atragon witness Jimmy's unceremonious decimation in Viewing Poll #43

I also like the Atragon theme song, which definitely stands out among the other Toho tech/non-kaiju flicks.

Manda was the primary reason I originally sought out this movie. He's ok. Some of his movement is great, some of it not so much. Although, shouldn't the ice stream gun leave giant linear icicles inbetween the Atragon and Manda after each shot?


Monster peeping seems to be contagious among kaiju!

Manda's ok, but definitely not a reason to watch. It is kind of funny how the Mu people are praying to Manda *after* he's been destroyed by the Atragon.

And the ugly.....the Mu Princess. Woof! That actress might be pretty underneath the garb, makeup, wig and constant scowling, but its hard to say. Her being immediately unlikable definitely helps the flick.

Good movie, but not my favorite among the Toho tech/non-kaiju flicks.