TALKBACK #7: Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster

[jellydonut25]

[Dr Kain]

[jellydonut25]

Honestly, the only thing I'd change about the movie in regards to Godzilla's actions is the moment when he naps and tells Kumi Mizuno to be quiet. That's the only definitively "Kong-esque" moment to me.

I guess there's also the moment where he uses the rock to smash the electrical transformer instead of blasting it with his breath, but at this point, Godzilla used his breath SPARINGLY throughout the films, so I'm cool with him using other means.

Take out the Kumi Mizuno & Godzilla napping together stuff and I don't think there's much to complain about where Godzilla is concerned (action-wise).


As to WHY they changed out Kong and put in Godzilla, I feel like I've heard a reason before, but no longer remember it, so maybe someone around here does...

[eabaker]

[Jinzo Ningen]

I have a HUGE bias in favor of this particular entry in the series because, like many others here, it was my first exposure to Godzilla. I have to admit that, at the tender age of 6, I was totally blown away. In fact, I was so enamoured with the film that I drew like a 6 or 7 page picture book of the movie that I brought to my first grade class the following week for Show & Tell. (Sure wish my mom had kept that, dang it!) I remember that I didn't know how to spell "monster" so I abbeviated it to "MR" That the film debuted the same year that I did also makes it special for me.

Anyhow, this movie is just all kinds of awesome fun. I was instantly hooked because, for the first time, I saw a movie monster who had PERSONALITY. He wasn't just another rampaging whatsit like many of Harryhausen's early creature feature creatures (sorry, Ray). This big dinosaur guy could fight like nobody's business (whoa, he has dragon-ish breath! Cool!!) and was cool, but kind of grumpy, too! He had a name that all the human people knew, so he must've been important! And even though he didn't show up for like half the movie, it seemed they were always talking about him. The giant bug thingy had a real name, too, and was worshipped as some kind of god, which was pretty unique and cool. And I thought the human plot in itself was interesting enough to keep me glued to the set. No easy task for a hyperactive six year old. Try that with today's six year old kids! And lastly, being a Japanese film, it just had a different look & feel to it than any of the American monster movies I had watched up to that point.

It recall it getting a pretty typical blah rating in Leonard Maltin's Film Guide for years. But then someone must have re-watched it, because the next edition upped the rating by a couple of stars and actually gave it a freshly re-written plot description: "Particularly lively entry in the series with a colorful load of castaways shipwrecked on a mysterious tropical island, threated by evil miltary types. Meanwhile, Godzilla battles a stupendous shrimp. P.S. Mothra also shows up." or something along those lines.

Anyhow, so many decades later and having seen all of the other Showa, Heisei and Millenium movies, I still just love this little film to death because it was such a refreshing change of pace from the films that came before it. The setting is cool, the cast is fun and each member gets a chance to shine, and gosh, who didn't have a total crush on groovy Kumi Mizono??? Between her and Ultraman's Fuji, I was a smitten young lad, I tells ya!

Another thread here at MZ mentions new licensing for this movie?! I sure hope this gets the best HD transfer source materials AND it must have the AIP dub instead of, (or at the very least be included along with), Toho's international dub. If it's just the Toho-backed dub I'll probably pass, since I already have the Sony DVD. Without the AIP dub I cannot justify double-dipping, unless the picture is jaw-droppingly gorgeous or something, or it's only $5.

[Gman2887]

I watched this again tonight and was really taken by it. It's such a charming movie and the perfect change in direction after four of Honda's films. I feel like Honda had become a little overzealous, and maybe even over confident, with his military and political sequences that were becoming more obvious and laborious by the movie. Here there's no global threat. The world isn't looking. Politicians have no say in what they can't see. The only military to speak of is the Red Bamboo's minimal forces and the main characters are a bunch of kids led by a criminal.

Akira Takarada is probably the most fun to watch in this film. What an excellent send off for him from the Showa series. As much as I enjoy Fuji, from Monster Zero, Yoshimura is a more interesting character to get thrown in to this situation. He's not necessarily a bad person, his chosen "profession" has simply hardened him. When it came to the Red Bamboo his skills and intuition were enough to save him, Daiyo and the kids. The development isn't exactly fleeting, but it didn't need to be. He was simply a fresh persona to throw against the odds of monsters and mayhem. And Takarada's performance is so strong and energetic. You can tell he had a lot of fun playing this role.

I also really enjoyed Mothra's minimal role in this movie. Using her island's natives as slaves not only made the fight against the Red Bamboo personal, but made excellent use of the existing Godzilla mythos. It's probably one of the more inventive sub-plots in a Godzilla movie and ties up things very well leading into the "net."

The Golden Age of the daikaiju genre was still going strong in 1966 and Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster is a wonderful example of that. Fukuda deserves far more credit than some fans give him.

[kiryugoji04]

[briizilla]

[MouthForWar]

You can thank the new Kraken Blu-Ray for exposing this unwanted detail on Mothra. From now on, you will never unsee this.

[metal_bryan]

It can not be unseen.

[kiryugoji04]

[MekaGojira3k]

Oh...wow...

[jellydonut25]

I see Mothra...

[klen7]

Tsuburaya was a heavy smoker, so a cigarette behind Mothra's ear seems like an appropriate easter egg

[lhb412]

Hey, Mothra needs a little smoke now and then. It's not all rainbows and moonbeams for Mothra, things can get stressful!

[Gojilove]

Honestly, I love finding these little quirks. Brings more personality to something we all know is a prop.

[jellydonut25]

we can stop wondering why Mothra's always about to die and/or dying: she has emphysema and lung cancer.

[Psycho Soldier]

Talk about surreal. With these HD transfers they've been doing, I wonder what other weird things we'll end up finding in the series.

[kiryugoji04]

I dunno how many of you drop in on the over in the General board but I think you guys might like to see this shot from our most recent miniature shoot:





Naturally, I've been listening to this soundtrack a TON as I've prepped for this shoot over the past several days. I haven't had a chance to rewatch the film lately but I'm REALLY looking forward to my next viewing. Just considering it while working on this homage shot and playing the soundtrack has really given me a new found appreciation for it. It's just so colorful and unique and definitely among the best films in the series! My favorite aspect is the sense of continuity it has with the larger universe of the Showa series. The use of Mothra and Infant Island here is really pretty inspired.

[jellydonut25]

First, that claw is awesome.

Second, I rewatched this recently. I love it. The characters are great, the story is wonderful in its simplicity, and though some of the Godzilla acting like Kong stuff is really out of place for the character, I do like that he doesn't just spam his breath left and right. He throws rocks, he thinks things through...it's a fun touch. Also that fight with the planes is bar-none the best G vs. Jets fight in the series.

[Destroysall]

Just saw this film again recently and I must say I once again found my adoration for this film. Listening to the soundtrack alone right now and I must say, while Sato's take on Mothra's song is definitely a huge departure from Ifukube's concept, it does indeed have the power to stand on its own feet for this film solely, in my opinion. It makes me somewhat excited to hear rumors that if a sequel to Edwards' Godzilla is made that Mothra might be in it.

[CWSmith]

This is another childhood favorite of mine. Its one of the only Godzilla movies where the human plot is actually more interesting than the monsters in my opinion. It might sound like blasphemy, but this is my favorite Akira Takarada performance. He just brings a roguish charm to the bank robber that I love. The rest are great too. I have only 2 complaints about the film really. One, the INCREDIBLE luck that allows Ryota to magically float to Infant Island on a balloon is just ridiculous. So much so that I pretty much have to forget about it happening immediately after so I can stay invested. The second is the shoddy Godzilla suit, which looks especially bad in the Red Bamboo base attack scene. It sure doesn't erase the thrill when Godzilla makes the last second cannonball to escape the island explosion though.

[MekaGojira3k]

I think the main narrative in both this and Son of Godzilla are much more interesting than the monsters. This isn't my favorite Takarada performance (Monster Zero's Fuji), but nothing wrong with loving it.

[kiryugoji04]

Finally finished our pirate music video that features our Ebirah cameo!

[KingKaiju]

I just watched this movie last night, and you know what I realized? I REALLY dislike Ryota and his brother, Yata. They're SO annoying, uptight, and kind of obnoxious. They are the reason why this crew finds themselves in most of the problems that they run into. Damn annoying brothers...