Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

by **Zack Metoyer** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 3:51 pm

I watched the U.S. version on VHS and I didn't notice what was so offensive about the Ainu. Either that's limited to the Japanese film or it's simply imperceptible to someone outside of Japanese culture.

Akira Ifukube was of Ainu descent himself, but he wasn't involved with this film.

by **kpa** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:18 pm

Years again theGM of Toho's LA office told me the US rights for HALF HUMAN had reverted to them and they were pulling the film from circulation. Toho's concern was that film would be reverse imported back to Japan.

The problem with the film is that it portrays the mountain people as violent, unintelligent, inbred, and abusive. .. somewhat like the stereotype of southerners in movies like DELIVERANCE.

Akira Ifukube was not of Ainu descent; he came from a long line of shinto priests from the Ube Shrine. Ifukube did discover the Ainu culture and music at a very early age when his family moved to Hokkaido.

by **king_ghidorah** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:17 pm

by **zekend01** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:34 pm

by **Dr Kain** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:48 am

by **ryuuseipro** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:25 am

by **Mac** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:54 pm

by **zekend01** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:28 pm

Guess I've been super-lucky to have a specialty movie/vid store close to me here in Louisville called "Wild n' Woolly Video". They have everything rare that you could possibly imagine, and I zhit you not.

Still, they just don't have the original 'Half Human'.

For real though, I was watching Heisei Godzilla movies before they were ever released over here. We're talking mid 90's. I'm sure these tapes were boots at first before the owner moved strictly to DVD, but the quality was GREAT for VHS, and they were packed with CRAZY extras. Everything!!!! Trailers, behind the scenes, even the scores in some cases (GRA and War of the Gargantuas come to mind). They had, and still have, it all.

by **H-Man** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:33 pm

The film isn't about the Ainu. The tribe itself is apparently similar enough to them for Toho to warrant banning it.

I've seen it ,and in this movie, the people are portrayed as being very backwards (abusive, primitive, poor hygiene), so I can see why Toho would be hesitant to release it.

Still would like to see a R1 of this someday, but I doubt we ever will.

by **Destroysall** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:51 pm

I too am interested in seeing this film.

I would always prefer seeing the Japanese version, I haven't seen this movie at all! If the Japanese version is 35 minutes longer than the US version, surely something really interesting has been taken out.

by **H-Man** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:37 pm

by **Mysterio** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:39 am

by **Xenorama** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:26 pm

by **jellydonut25** » Tue May 28, 2019 3:32 pm

I finally saw both versions of Half-Human.

I wish I could un-see them.

Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Half Human

Half Human

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