TALKBACK #6: Invasion of Astro Monster

[MekaGojira3k]

[eabaker]

[MekaGojira3k]

[MouthForWar]

[MekaGojira3k]

[jellydonut25]

[eabaker]

[MouthForWar]

[jellydonut25]

[MouthForWar]

[eabaker]

[kiryugoji04]

[MouthForWar]

[kiryugoji04]

[jellydonut25]

[Russzilla]

This is probably the one Showa G movie with the most visible wires.

[MekaGojira3k]

[Russzilla]

[Dr Kain]

This movie is in a strange limbo for me, as my enjoyment of it always ends up depending on my mood, and this time was no different. As a whole, the movie is not bad, and it was some interesting pieces going for it. It was the first time aliens were fully done in the series, and while a little silly, they were done well. They felt like a credible threat and were an interest cast of characters. On the other hand, this is also where Godzilla just started to become a super hero over being a monster. It also does not help that the monsters only appear in maybe 15 minutes of the 94 minute run time, so on a monster movie level, this movie kind of fails.

Before I get into the bad I want to talk about what this movie does right, which is its cast of characters. Glenn and Fuji as an interesting duo as they constantly mock each other while working together, so it helps makes their friendship feel real. They aren’t just actors going through the motions of pretending to be friends. This is one of the best things this movie has going for it and they are extremely likable despite Fuji’s disdain towards his sister’s fiancé. As stated above, I also felt the X aliens worked quite well with the movie’s plot, so it definitely adds to it.

Unfortunately, not everything this movie is good. Once again, the monsters are in about 15% of the movie, which is not good when it is supposed to be a monster movie. I also am not a huge fan of the Godzilla costume used here. It isn’t bad by any means, but he looks a bit silly for his muscles seem to have been replaced by flab. However, the worst atrocity for the monster is that they give him his own freaking victory dance, which just looks embarrassing. I remember loving it as a child, but as an adult, it is just down right stupid. Rodan’s costume is fine, but I really wish they would have found a way to hide the clip that attaches the costume to the wire to hold it up, as it just looks ridiculous and pulls you out of the immersion of the movie. As for Ghidorah, he also looks fine, but like Rodan, you can clearly see the wires holding him up. Godzilla’s lack of terror aside, some of the movie seems to be reusing scenes from the previous movie during the battle at the tail end of the movie. Thankfully, it is hidden much better than some of the later movies in the series attempts and it does not take away from the end.

Overall, I do enjoy this movie, but like I said previously, my mood will sometimes determine how much. If I am in the mood to just see nothing but monsters duke it out, this is not the movie to watch. If I want to see a decent alien plot with likable characters, then this one is a good choice. The plot is predictable, as you know the aliens are going to betray the Earthlings, but I still give the movie a nice 6/10 stars.

[Russzilla]

^That's my only gripe with Monster Zero. It's a good 40 plus minutes before any sort of monster action starts. But then when it does starts, it's non-stop Godzilla, Rodan, and King Ghidrah action until the end. BTW, is it Ghidrah or Ghidorah???

[Psycho Soldier]

As a kid, I used to consider this movie one of my least favourites precisely because of the lack of kaiju action. But I've warmed up to considerably over time. The human characters are just interesting enough to tide me over until the action set pieces roll in. I'm ambivalent towards the ending, and the thing with the Xian women all looking alike seems a bit odd to me, but I don't have too many big complaints otherwise.

[Dr Kain]

[jellydonut25]

[Hybrid Gojira]

Some of the matte shots and angles used in this film, especially during Godzilla's rampage in the countryside, are really impressive.The scenes involving Goji's giant foot smashing through buildings was actually better done than most of the same type of shots in Godzilla 1985.

[MekaGojira3k]