Weekly Kaiju Movie Viewing Thread #31 (12/9)

[Alpha OTS]

[metal_bryan]

[MekaGojira3k]

I'm alright with Gamera being the 2nd feature regardless of voting outcome.

[king_ghidorah]

[MekaGojira3k]

[Henry88]

[metal_bryan]

[MekaGojira3k]

[jellydonut25]

[Alpha OTS]

[MekaGojira3k]

[king_ghidorah]

[MekaGojira3k]

[king_ghidorah]

[MekaGojira3k]

[king_ghidorah]

[MekaGojira3k]

[Henry88]

[king_ghidorah]

[Henry88]

[MekaGojira3k]

[klen7]

[MekaGojira3k]

[MekaGojira3k]

So, I really adore this film. I love the opening here with just the long shots of the submarine moving about with Kong's roar and the music. It's great.


It doesn't hurt that the film has the adorable Linda Miller serving as Kong's human liaison. As far as human girlfriends go, Kong could do muuuuuchh worse.


Ah, Kong and Gorosaurus. It's a really cool fight, and I noticed something weird. There's a point at which the film pulls a Zack Snyder. The action is in typical slowed down Kaiju movement and then speeds up for an impact before slowing down again. Okay, not entirely Zack Snyder, but t was something I don't think I've noticed before. That said, I really really dig Gorosaurus. I didn't even see this until after Destroy All Monsters, but it wasn't as though I needed more reasons to love him.

I really prefer, and I think a number of people thought this was crazy, the 62 Kong. This one looks just a touch too goofy to me. I mean, it has more gorilla-like arms...but they look worse to me. The goofiness doesn't bother me as much as it used to because, after all, this is an adaptation of a cartoon. Kong's suit is easily the weakest link in this film.


If Linda Miller wasn't enough we have Mie Hamina Hamina Hamina. I really love the villains here and how Madam Piranha has her own goals, aspirations and that her alliance with Hu is pretty tenuous.

One thing I really appreciate is the history hinted at between Carl and Dr. Hu. I'd like some elaboration, really, but its fine as is, because it gives a greater sense of depth to the two characters. It's never explained what happened, but judging by most of Hu's behavior they had a falling out because Hu just kept stealing things people made/designed.


Mechani-Kong looks great, and I love that they found a way to homage the classic Kong ending without either it being a repeat (70s Kong just having Kong on a different tall building) or being a complete failure (Kong on the Diet Building in King Kong vs. Godzilla). The fight is pretty interesting and I love looking at the miniature of the tower.


Daaayummmn. What a satisfying villain death. This is easily my favorite Eisei Amamoto role. I really dig how the character is very clearly intelligent, but most of his villainy comes from manipulation of others, their ideas, their resources. I forgot how much blood he spat up.


All in all King Kong Escapes is handicapped a little more than some of my other non-Godzilla Toho favorites (The Human Vapour, Mothra, Frankenstein Conquers the World) but it's still fantastic.

I'd also like to mention some of the blue screen shots (rear screen projection?) in the film. Some are bad, but generally I found myself being pretty impressed and would dare say this was the pinnacle of that effect from the Showa era. Unless I'm overlooking something obvious.

I'll watch Gamera 2 tonight

[Henry88]

the sub on the dvd have him called dr who