TALKBACK #11: Godzilla vs. Hedorah

[lhb412]

This isn't a perfect movie, but it is a film that's made better by the sheer inventiveness of a whole lot of little things: bizzare camera angles, splashes of vivid color amid the normal blues and grays of the film, animated sequences, ect.

Harou Nakajima really turns in a heck of a performance as Godzilla in this film. Freed by the campiness of this film he really gets to over-act... in a good way of course.

Was the teenage boy Ken's brother and the girl his girlfriend, or was she his sister and he her boyfriend, or - just what was everyone's relationship to each other?

[Legion]

I love this movie.

It was my favorite one as a kid, I went though a phase as a teenager (when the Heisei films were new) where I didn't like it all that much and rediscovered it a few years ago for the crazy little masterpiece that it is. It's really no wonder that Hedora has become a huge cult favorite in Japan.

There's a great scene at the very beginning when Ken first walks into the frame. Right behind him is Mout Fuji - looking great as always - but then the camera tracks around him so we see the city off in the distance, covered in a haze of pollution. It gives you a clear indication immediately of the world these characters live in.

[MekaGojira3k]

I was going to actually start by saying I love this movie, but Legion started that way......Holy Crap I love this movie. The only copy I had when I was younger was from a marathon Scifi had before GINO came out. It was just soo neat. I love the way Hedorah looks and acts and that strange monster call he has. This thing is in my top 5 Showa films and just general G-films.

It was also great to meet Banno at G-Fest a couple of years back. Got him to sign my DVD. It was so cool. Godzilla vs Hedorah is also one of the G-Films along with Monster Zero and vs. MechaG 74' that I just throw in randomly because it's just so perfect.

[walshiam]

Godzilla vs. Hedorah is not one of my faves but if we're talking Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster, it ranks as 2nd right behind GKOTM. Loved it when I saw it in a theater in 72 and love it even more now.

[Xenorama]

[jellydonut25]

I loathe this film (sorry to those of you who love it)

but I find the characters uninteresting, the story convoluted, and the action sequences dull

there's some redeeming aspects to this film but overall it just lacks any sort of focus

I also find the monster battles to be particularly lackluster...don't get me wrong, i actually love how godzilla and hedorah approach each other with some trepidation during their first battle, but then they continue to do so...leaves the battles without any real tenacity

I will say that there are SOME amazing sequences in the film, most notably hedorah getting high or eating or whatever off the smoke stacks, and the 'pit' scene is cool, except that i would have liked to have seen godzilla get out...

[INVINCIBLE HASTUR]

Love it.

This one can TRULY be called a Classic. Even though very, very different Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster ranks with some of Toho's best 60's Godzilla films.

[Tyler E. Martin]

I'm really kind of "meh" on this one, to be honest. There is certainly something to be appreciated in its inventiveness, and it definitely has its moments, but it seems rather dull to me as a whole.

One of the things I most appreciate about this one is Nakajima's aggressive (if cheesy) performance as Godzilla. As another poster already pointed out, the campy nature of the film gives him a lot of room to really bring out his "superhero" Godzilla. The overall dark tone of the picture lends itself well to the message, as does the creative camera work. I also like the various designs for Hedorah--very creepy and imaginative.

What really keeps this movie from working for me is the sense of "unevenness." You've got some cool stuff, mentioned above, and some lame stuff, such as the infamous flying scene, a musical score that goes from cool and atmospheric to a bizarre, drunken sort of vibe, and a message that is pounded out in a way that just doesn't strike me as effective.

Not that bad, but not that great in my book.

[king_ghidorah]

Hedorah is really the only reason I ever watch this film. Like others have said this films is a trippy, surreal expierience..but I like the film for what it is, but honestly the only two showa Godzilla movies I watch less are Megalon and Revenge, I just rarely feel the need to re watch this movie.

[Reaper G]

This was my first Godzilla movie, so I have a certain affection in that regard, but I really do love the against-the-grain feel of GvH. And yeah, this was Nakajima's best performance.

[lhb412]

[SciFi Geek]

I jam to Save the Earth whenever I have the chance to listen to it. The more reason to love this movie more! I love, I love the AIP dub and the International version of the film as well. Which leads me to ask what is the actual name of the song sung in the film.

[kent]

I didn't know what to make of this film the first time I saw it. It was so bizarre. I even laughed at the flying scene which, then, made me feel like I wasn't a true G-fan. For a while I didn't care much for it but have grown to love it more with time.

The music, in some areas, is appropriate, but I've always wondered how would Ifukube score this? I am inclined to believe that if he scored this film, the whole experience would be much better.

It's a fun Godzilla movie. Nothing too spectacular although I do like the fact that it did try to be different in some ways.

[skiddish]

This is definitely one of my favorites.
I saw this one at the theater in the 70's.

Hedorah is the scariest monster Toho has ever created. They out did themselves with that suit design.
Those big red eyes were really creepy. Especially the tadpole form as it plowed through the water. Coming at you.

Compared to the T.V. shows that aired back then. Like Isis, Shazzam, Wonderbug, Ultra Woman and Dyna girl,etc.
G vs. H really wasn't that much more psycaldelic than anything else created back at that time.
It was a pretty strange decade. But we thought things were just groovy.

[lhb412]

[G2KMaster]

[MekaGojira3k]

[Daimajin]

[kent]

I watched this movie for the first time in about a year yesterday and I believe I loved it more than I had over the years! That seems to be happening to me lately going back to Friday when I watched the '98 Godzilla film (I have loved that film so much I didn't think it could be possible to love it more already), Godzilla Vs. Hedorah yesterday, and, today, Godzilla Vs. Gigan (hope you're getting reading to do the Talkback for this film soon Ihb )

I even bought my first Hedorah figure earlier this afternoon on eBay! The movie is a whole lot of fun despite some of the obscure and goofy elements!

I don't know exactly what it is, but these films have gotten to be more fun in recent memory... I'm not complaining either.

[G2KMaster]

[kent]

I honestly have no clue as I can't tell from the box, but here is a pic of the item I bought...

[G2KMaster]

[kiryugoji04]

[G2KMaster]

[Garasharp K7]