New Criterion Eclipse Set: WHEN HORROR CAME TO SHOCHIKU

[king_ghidorah]

[Gohi]

[gila-monster]

Just as I suspected. As soon as I make mention of it on a semi-public forum, my order ships. Can't wait to watch these with my friends.

[MouthForWar]

If we're talking about the most well made film in the bunch, it is FAR AND AWAY Goke.

I haven't watched Living Skeleton yet, but I can tell you right now that as fun and entertaining as X and Genocide are, they really aren't very good movies.

Goke, on the other hand, I think is a very well made survival horror film.

[JimPV]

Screw it - I cancelled my order at Barnes and Noble and ordered this from Amazon. It's only 4 bucks more. Got sick of waiting on the former.

I guess that's a good sign, it being unavailable and all. Means they're selling well. Amazon says my Godzilla vs. Biollante won't get to me until after Christmas. I can wait.

[Alpha OTS]

[lhb412]

[Alpha OTS]

[Alpha OTS]

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

[Alpha OTS]

[Mac]

[Cookie]

[king_ghidorah]

[jellydonut25]

[Mac]

[JimPV]

I must admit, I'm not crazy about any of the films in this set; all 4 of them are really nutty, nonsensical messes. The X from Outer Space is one of the nuttiest movies I've ever seen. I think the folks who made this didn't take it at all seriously, though it doesn't come off as tongue-in-cheek. I like to give all films, no matter what their quality, as much respect as possible. But this is impossible to take seriously on any level. And though Guilala is a fun looking monster, he never shuts up - every scene of his has him croaking his ridiculous "roar" non-stop!

Goke has some effective scenes, but is totally contrived (to say the least), and the end is a complete groaner. The line where the captain warns a passenger to not go outside the crashed plane because "it's dangerous out there!" - excuse me, what? How does he know that, and why would it be?

Watched Living Skeleton for the first time with some friends, and we couldn't believe what we'd seen when it was over. To think somebody sat down and actually committed this scenario to paper seems surreal. Likewise watched Genocide for the first time the other night and, though it might be the favorite of the set for me, that ain't saying much. I mean, the woman who is breeding killer insects to get back at "the world" for her family dying in a Nazi concentration camp... wha', huh? Strange, strange movies, and not in a particularly good way.

I like to think of myself as something of a completest when it comes to Japanese fantasy films, but these come perilously close to being unwatchable junk like Sayonara Jupiter or Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds. Now I know why Criterion didn't go the extra mile with full restorations and blu-ray releases for these. ACK!

[gila-monster]

I finally received my set (after a month of being in transit) and watched all four films. I have to agree with the majority that Goke is the best film out of the bunch. It is the most interesting and visually and thematically, and is relatively cohesive compared to the other three.

The Living Skeleton would probably be my second favourite. It had incredible atmosphere, very desolate, although the whole second half of the film threw me off. I think The Living Skeleton has my favourite score of the bunch.

The X from Outer Space is what I originally got the set for, and I'm not sure what to make of it. It was enjoyable, and the suit was great, but as previously stated once Guilala shows up it gets kind of slow. Really strange take on giant monsters.

I watched Genocide with some friends last night (along with Goke) and that was pure insanity. A really weird and crazy film, it really doesn't hold back. I'm going to have to rewatch it to get a better grasp on it, for the most part I enjoyed it.

I would say Goke and The Living Skeleton are my favourites of this set, Genocide is too crazy not to love, and ironically X is my least favourite of the set (although the costume itself is amazing in terms of creativity).

[Gwangi]

Finally bought this set not long ago. “The Living Skeletonâ€

[Psycho Soldier]

Scored this set for my birthday today, so I sat down tonight and watched two of the movies. First up was Genocide, which is definitely one of the stranger movies I've seen. For how coked-out and heavy-handed it was, I think of it as the flip-side of Smog Monster, albeit with nothing child-friendly or optimistic about it. It didn't seem particularly focused, with all the weird goings-on, but it's certainly a well-shot movie. It was a worthwhile curiosity to see. Not a favorite, but worth watching, and pretty memorable.

Then I dove into The Living Skeleton, which was more to my liking. It's basically Gothic horror - not too far off from a Mario Bava or Hammer horror flick - with some science fiction thrown in toward the end. I don't think that the aforementioned SF meshed well with what had gone before, but other than that, I thought the movie was solid. Its atmosphere is probably its greatest selling point; it's dark and shadowy and weird, especially in the scenes on board the ghost ship. You can't be 100% sure what's going to happen next.

I'm hoping to watch Goke and X from Outer Space over the weekend. I know what to expect from the latter, but since the former is a horror movie, I feel content not to know what transpires until I see it.

[canofhumdingers]

So my wife finally convinced me to sign up for Hulu plus since Netflix is lacking when it comes to current tv and we don't have cable.

Imagine my surprise to find the criterion versions of X From Outer Space and Goke in the movie section! I haven't checked on the other two films from the set, but those are the two I was considering buying the set for! Hulu also has a TON of other Criterion films available. I think I'm going to like this....

[Silver Kamen]

I really hope that Criterion does this to another few Tokusatsu films. Even though it's the Eclipse line, it's still great to have these (especially for the ultra-affordable price!). Hopefully they take a stab at Toei.

[Shin_Edda_Robo!!!!!]

I'm hoping they actually release something like The Toho Vampire Trilogy or the Jun Fukuda Ironfinger movies.

[Silver Kamen]

[StevenScrivello]