This was one of my child-hood favorites. It's Jun Fukuda's first chance to direct and he actually did an okay job. Masuro Sato scored the film and while its intention was to provide something new to the series, it was too "Hawaii-Five-o" for me. Several Toho stars are in this flick, among them Kumi Mizuno, who looked finer than ever! Akihiko Hirata and Jun Tazki both played bad guy roles as commanders of the secret terrorist organization the Red Bamboo. Akira Takarada was a bank robber who later decides to "go straight from now on." All had interesting roles and like the human characters and the story is a fun one at best. Most of the SFX look good, all EXCEPT for the low budget Godzilla suit. And this time no stock footage at all is used, yeahhhh!! Starting from when Godzilla attacks the Red Bamboo base, the suit looks like straight up *&^%! Excuse me, but I could've said worse. You can see damage from the pyrotechnic explosions from "Invasion of Astro-Monster" and the face is repulsive. The shoulders are a real pity and the overall posture and baggy look of the suit, plus the pants- like legs, create the worst suit of the Showa era. The story was actually intended for Kong after the success of "King Kong vs. Godzilla" back in 1962. This explains why Godzilla is revived by lightning and attracted to Dayo (Kumi Mizuno). He doesn't pick her up and climb onto the nearest tall building, but he does fight some jets. Of course, he massacres them, one of my favorite scenes in the film.
There are two major things, besides the music, that really bring this film down: Ebirah and the Giant Condor. A giant shrimp and a giant bird. This was a very pathetic sense of creativity on Sekizawa's part. Let's do better in the future (he only does to a degree). None the less, the giant lobster looked good in the Toho pool and his duels with Godzilla were entertaining. The best part is Godzilla ripping off his claws obviously. The music really doesn't match the film here ( or anywhere for that matter) And how I wish so dearly Ifukbe had scored it! The Giant Condor is just an annoying pigeon that gets fried pretty quick, nothing much to talk about. Mothra manages to star in the film and when Godzilla attacks her it shows he still isn't a hero quite yet. Plus there we're no low blows, but Godzilla kind of 'dancing', and some brief boulder volleyball. Damn,...
I couldn't enjoy the destruction of the Red Bamboo base because Godzilla was so damn hideous and yeah that pretty much sums up this movie. From here, not including 1971 and'68, the series will go lower and lower till its reprisal in 1975. Although I can't judge "Son of Godzilla" because it's the only one in the original series I have yet to see. It's a rehash of this film; Godzilla on an island with slightly better monsters but Minilla arrives . Oh, *&^% I can only assume I might be a wee bit disappointed...
There are two major things, besides the music, that really bring this film down: Ebirah and the Giant Condor. A giant shrimp and a giant bird. This was a very pathetic sense of creativity on Sekizawa's part. Let's do better in the future (he only does to a degree). None the less, the giant lobster looked good in the Toho pool and his duels with Godzilla were entertaining. The best part is Godzilla ripping off his claws obviously. The music really doesn't match the film here ( or anywhere for that matter) And how I wish so dearly Ifukbe had scored it! The Giant Condor is just an annoying pigeon that gets fried pretty quick, nothing much to talk about. Mothra manages to star in the film and when Godzilla attacks her it shows he still isn't a hero quite yet. Plus there we're no low blows, but Godzilla kind of 'dancing', and some brief boulder volleyball. Damn,...
I couldn't enjoy the destruction of the Red Bamboo base because Godzilla was so damn hideous and yeah that pretty much sums up this movie. From here, not including 1971 and'68, the series will go lower and lower till its reprisal in 1975. Although I can't judge "Son of Godzilla" because it's the only one in the original series I have yet to see. It's a rehash of this film; Godzilla on an island with slightly better monsters but Minilla arrives . Oh, *&^% I can only assume I might be a wee bit disappointed...