Garp
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Week 10: 'Invasion of Astro-Monster' [1965]
Is Godzilla in it? Yes.
Sub or Dub? Sub
Round Two: Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah! In Space!!
As conspiracy theorists everywhere already know, Planet X is discovered skulking on the dark side of Jupiter. A Japanese-American team of astronauts is sent to investigate, uncovering not only an advanced humanoid culture but also the latest hang-out of King Ghidorah, named 'Monster Zero' by the mathematically-inclined locals. The skinny-shades-wearing aliens offer a cure for cancer in exchange for Godzilla & Rodan, the only two beings in the galaxy known to be able to defeat 'Monster Zero'. Seems reasonable. But can the mono-chromatically-attired space accountants really be trusted?
'Invasion of Astro-Monster' (aka 'Godzilla vs Monster Zero' aka 'The Giant Monster War') is really a sci-fi film with some monsters thrown in. The space age model work is reminiscent of Gerry Anderson's 'Thunderbirds' - a plus in my book - and King Ghidorah is even more fantastic in both design and movement than previously seen. The story is still silly, but a notch lower than Ghidorah's first film. Nick Adams is the first non-Japanese lead I've been introduced to so far, and it was curious to hear him dubbed into Japanese in the version I watched. He played a 007 type, only shorter. Godzilla continues his decline with a ridiculous victory jig at one point, and Rodan has so little to do, I'm sure I saw some shots from previous Rodan outings.
As I watch more of these films, I'm struck by a few things. One is that kaiju universes are smaller even than Star Wars. Every main character is either someone's sibling or partner. Another is that giant monsters are drawn to bridges. They can't see one without wanting to fall on top of it.
I'm a sucker for cheesy sci films, so I was largely entertained on that level, but the kaiju element was underwhelming for me.
Is Godzilla in it? Yes.
Sub or Dub? Sub
Round Two: Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah! In Space!!
As conspiracy theorists everywhere already know, Planet X is discovered skulking on the dark side of Jupiter. A Japanese-American team of astronauts is sent to investigate, uncovering not only an advanced humanoid culture but also the latest hang-out of King Ghidorah, named 'Monster Zero' by the mathematically-inclined locals. The skinny-shades-wearing aliens offer a cure for cancer in exchange for Godzilla & Rodan, the only two beings in the galaxy known to be able to defeat 'Monster Zero'. Seems reasonable. But can the mono-chromatically-attired space accountants really be trusted?
'Invasion of Astro-Monster' (aka 'Godzilla vs Monster Zero' aka 'The Giant Monster War') is really a sci-fi film with some monsters thrown in. The space age model work is reminiscent of Gerry Anderson's 'Thunderbirds' - a plus in my book - and King Ghidorah is even more fantastic in both design and movement than previously seen. The story is still silly, but a notch lower than Ghidorah's first film. Nick Adams is the first non-Japanese lead I've been introduced to so far, and it was curious to hear him dubbed into Japanese in the version I watched. He played a 007 type, only shorter. Godzilla continues his decline with a ridiculous victory jig at one point, and Rodan has so little to do, I'm sure I saw some shots from previous Rodan outings.
As I watch more of these films, I'm struck by a few things. One is that kaiju universes are smaller even than Star Wars. Every main character is either someone's sibling or partner. Another is that giant monsters are drawn to bridges. They can't see one without wanting to fall on top of it.
I'm a sucker for cheesy sci films, so I was largely entertained on that level, but the kaiju element was underwhelming for me.