Talkback: Gorath

[DannyBeane]

I've never seen Gorath and i feel ashamed.

[Silver Kamen]

[Russzilla]

[Silver Kamen]

[TylerPreston20]

I think this film was one of the better disaster films I have seen from Toho, though I haven't seen Submersion of Japan or Deathquake for that matter. The best one is still The Last War.

[LoneWolfandCub]

Another favorite of mine, especially with Kumi Mizuno at her best. Watching the US version is so different than the original Japanese version. But in both films, there are some goofs in terms of time. Plus I can see why the US distributor cut out the "helicopter song" from the original. It really wasn't needed.

However, leave it to the Japanese to not try to accept the obvious; build a giant rocket motor at the South Pole to move Earth out of orbit. I would have liked to see them move it back into proper orbit. When they push that button and that entire field of rocket motors comes on, it's a sight to see. It's great to see the future flying vehicle of The Science Patrol get a workout. But did the film really need a giant walrus? At least in the Japanese version, Gorath didn't make a "whirring" sound.

[Rodanex]

[DannyBeane]

[lhb412]

It's my favorite of the 'space movies' Honda and Tsuburaya did (Mysterians and Battle in Outer Space being the others).

[Benjamin Haines]

At long last, I have seen Gorath, and it was the original Japanese version subtitled in English. This movie freaking rocks!

I love how the story dives right into the future setting and the threat of the incoming Gorath. The all-star ensemble cast is what carries the film. Takashi Shimura! Akira Kubo! Yumi Shirakawa! Kumi Mizuno! Ken Uehara! Jun Tazaki! Akihiko Hirata! Kenji Sahara! Sachio Sakai! Hiroshi Tachikawa! Ikio Sawamura pops up as the cab driver! Saburo Iketani is the news anchor again!

The special effects are among Eiji Tsuburaya's best work. The sprawling miniature sets are just incredible and the close-up shots of Gorath look downright nightmarish. Kan Ishii's score really delivers too. As much as I love Akira Ifukube's work, I'm glad that Toho enlisted a variety of other composers.

Aside from the undercooked kaiju element, Gorath is a stellar Toho classic all-around. I think it's a lot better than Battle In Outer Space and it may even edge out The Mysterians for me.