by tbeasley » Sat May 10, 2014 6:31 am
My Honda Godzilla marathon before the new movie continues with the US cut of King Kong vs. Godzilla. This is the only version of the film I've seen so whenever I do see the original I'm sure it'll be a jarring experience. Honestly I've never been big on this entry, I like the idea of Kong vs. Godzilla and I see how it influences later (and for me, better) films in the series but I imagine when I do see the original some things will still rub me the wrong way.
I think a lot of the Farou Island scenes are odd. Some are simply products of being made in the 1960s (dark skin paint for the natives, handing out cigarettes) but the treatment of animals real and fake has bothered me even as a kid. The poor lizard is swung around, thrown off a cliff and then shot. And then you have using a real octopus to bring a monster life, something I see as rather disappointing (and awful - don't get me started on slurpasaurs).
The train sequence involving Godzilla is a good one until Fumiko flops around like a dying salmon in a creek while Godzilla approaches, only to be rescued by her boyfriend. It's good to know women would be given better roles in further installments.
So that's about it. I do enjoy the movie, the final battle is very entertaining, I just don't find it as strong as other films in the 60s like Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah, Astro-Monster, etc. Or maybe I just need to see the Japanese version.
~ Tyler
Exterminate all rational thought.