TALKBACK #6: Invasion of Astro Monster

[kiryugoji04]

No one likes you, Jelly. Go away.

[klen7]

^ This.

[MekaGojira3k]

[lhb412]

I side with Jelly on this one. I love Ghidorah, but MZ beats it no contest.

[jellydonut25]

[DannyBeane]

[klen7]

I kinda thought JellyD was trolling, but now i'm concerned that he really ranks Astro Monster over Ghidrah...

[Jorzilla]

I like this mystery element of Ghidorah more than the pulp Sci-Fi of Monster Zero.

[lhb412]

What? What's going on? Ghidorah's a lot of fun, but Monster Zero is just a much stronger movie on all accounts! Even from just a technical standpoint it's a much tighter, more well-produced film. But let me list specifics:

-Sure, there's less kaiju action - but Godzilla and Rodan are transported through space and fight Ghidorah on a freakin' other planet! Godzilla in space, people!
-Kumi Mizuno as a sexy alien
-Yoshio Tsuchiya being crazy
-Nick Adams out-Shatnering Shatner
-Akira Kubo as a nerd
-Nick Adams and Akira Takarada being space-bros! SPACE-BROS!!!
-Aliens obsessed with their superiority in comparison with the human race but for some reason act like gangsters.
-The human race unites and save the day!
-Rodan picking up Godzilla and throwing him at Ghidorah
-Awesome '60s spaceships! Awesome '60s alien planet sets!
-Godzilla expressing joy through dance!

In conclusion: sexy crazy space-bros. Godzilla in space.

I rest my case.

[jellydonut25]

[H-Man]

Monster Zero is absolutely the better movie but I like Ghidrah just about as much.

[Psycho Soldier]

[Hybrid Gojira]

[MekaGojira3k]

It's not like Ghidrah is a bad film, it's just not as good as MZ.
As I kid I did say the opposite, I used to like Ghidrah more because it had more monsters and when I was 6 or 7 that was how I ranked these things, usually.

[klen7]

[Bannon]

Ghidrah is better precisely because Mothra turns Godzilla into a hero, by example, and it's a 3 on 1 against Ghidorah.

[DannyBeane]

[Dorkzilla]

Though I definitely prefer Ghidrah over this, I still can't deny how great it is.

Mothra vs Godzilla, Ghidrah, and Astro Monster are all excellent.

[Rodanex]

I definitely prefer Monster Zero over Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster.

[tbeasley]

There's a great pulpy sci-fi feel to this but I really do prefer Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster. I don't see the characters as fun or relatable. Nick Adams and Akira Takarada are both incredibly charming but they are almost proto-types from the much blander astronaut characters in Destroy All Monsters. I honestly prefer Akira Kubo as the nerdy inventor Tetsuo. The most iconic image from the film (aside from the fight on Planet X - and Godzilla's little jig) is Kumi Mizuno as the conflicted Miss Namikawa. The movie also has one of the best villains in the entire series - Yoshio Tsuchiya as the Xilien Controller. Next to the Mysterians these are probably my favorite Toho aliens.

The plot is a little flawed though, or least I'm misunderstanding something. If the aliens were already on earth, and had integrated with human society in a way, what was the point of brining attention to Planet X and asking for Godzilla and Rodan? So in that respect I have to give the upper hand to The Mysterians as far as alien invasion stories go. At least the Showa Xiliens work better than the Natarl from Battle in Outer Space.

[kiryugoji04]

Finally got around to rewatching this last night. It's still no Ghidrah but it WAS a ton of fun and it's jumped up several places in my rankings of the series.

Also, SPACE BROS 4 LYFE.

[jellydonut25]

[MekaGojira3k]

[kiryugoji04]

This film could never hope to compare to the masterpiece of storytelling that is Roman Holiday with Giant Monsters™.

[MekaGojira3k]