Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Overrated - I hate to say it, but Godzilla (1954) is by far the most overrated Godzilla film. Granted, its the origin of the entire Godzilla franchise, its dark, it has meaning, and is an amazing film. But, you just get the feeling that people mark it as their "favorite Godzilla film" almost out of habit. Ask anyone what their favorite Godzilla movie is, and their bound to start their reply with, "Well, aside from the original...".

Underrated - Godzilla Raids Again. It's rarely ever discussed, and when it is, there are many mixed feelings about it. I don't think it gets the credit it deserves.

Overrated: DAM. Craptastic.

Underrated: Good question. King Kong vs G, maybe.

Overrated - Monster Zero. While I do like the film quite a bit, many fans seem to place it up on the level of greats like Mothra vs Godzilla, and it's not quite as good. More than anything, Monster Zero has always smelled too much of cheapness to me. The monster fights are both way too short, and the insertion of stock footage into the city destruction scenes was pretty crazy, especially because of how badly they intermix. The stock footage from Rodan is grainy and hazy compared to the new footage, and the stock footage from Mothra features Newkirk Motors getting destroyed at one point. They honestly never say what city is being attacked in the climax of the film, but I really don't think it's supposed to be Newkirk City. If the film had more lavish destruction sequences (less stock footage especially) and bigger, longer monster fights it would have come off a bit better. Monster Zero just never attained the feeling that aliens are destroying the entire world with giant monsters. Just seemed too cheap and small fried for it's large ambitions. Many of it looks great, with interesting set and costume designs, and nice miniature military equipment, but it doesn't ever seem or feel like global destruction from an alien invasion to me. It's good Spaniard, but not that good.

Underrated - A tie for both Godzilla vs the Sea Monster and Son of Godzilla. These two "island" films, as they're sometimes called, are really quite well made, and have pretty exciting action. I liked the fresh change of pace that director Jun Fukuda brought, and the giant animal opponents for Godzilla (Ebirah, Kamacuras, Kumonga), while not a huge threat, are manipulated very well. The human story in both films is integrated well, and is interesting, fattened up with some interesting characters and some great acting. Akira Takarada was great against type as Yashi the bank robber in Sea Monster, and the usually comedic Tadao Takashima was really good as the stone cold and serious Dr. Kusumi in Son. Masaru Sato's scores are very fun for both films, and once again, also represented a nice change of pace. Of course, these films aren't without their flaws, for example, Godzilla doesn't look the best in either film (I think the Musuko-Goji costume from Son is the worst of the entire series), but they are usually dismissed as kiddy and cheapie films by a lot of fans it seems, when actually both are quite good in my opinion.

The showa series is a little trickier than the heisei and millenium series due to the drastic change in tones as the series progressed from the 50s to the 70s and spanned and much longer time span.

Overrated: As much as I loved this film, I'd have to say DAM. Despite the large # of kaiju, it didn't have quite the grand scale and awe as the recent GFW did. But still a personal favorite of mine....

Underrated: Ghidrah....just a flatout great, classic G film where it all seemed to come together. I think both GTTHM and GvstheThing sort of represented the peak of the showa series in general.

Overrated: King Kong Vs. Godzilla. Sure, I've never seen the Japanese version, but it's still boring and the battle feels like a cop-out at the end.

Underrated: Godzilla Vs. Gigan. Tons of people say it's crap and has too much stock footage. I think it's a fun movie and is aided by the stock footage and music, no matter what the critics say!

Overrated- GRA- Easily the worst showa movie, ever.

Underrated- I have no choice but to Say Gojira, Mosura tai Gojira, Monster Zero, seeing how they are being dubed as overrated. They are so highly praised because they deserve it, unlike that loathsome crapfest GRA, the SG of the showa series. Sea Monster and Son of Godzilla as well.