Godzilla Saturday Night

While it was a busy day with my daughter's birthday party, I was able to get in a few Godzilla movies just the same. Godzilla vs. Megalon [1973;ゴジラ対メガロ Gojira tai Megaro] has Atlantis-like Seatopia near The Easter Islands pissed off about nuclear testing, sending cybernetic bug-monster with drill-like arms and a star-shaped laser-firing antenna, Megalon--and soon thereafter Gigan, with it's fish-hook arms, is summoned to engage in battle for the undersea community dressed in togas and bandannas, altered to make them a bit more 70s futuristic--to unleash some destruction on those above ground causing them grief. Agents on the ground target inventor, Goro, his little nephew, Roku, and racecar driving buddy, Hiroshi, for the robot they name Jet Jaguar (clearly designed as an Ultraman superhero). Jet Jaguar, it seems, can guide Megalon where is needed to destroy designated targets by the Seatopian military leaders. I saw this on MST3K as a teenager and remember it fondly as camp. It just can't be compared to even the 60s off-shoots from Gojira. There are some fun fights and car chases, particularly one that drives down a mountain, where Hiroshi goes from pursuer to pursued. Kotaro Tomita is so committed to the Seatopian cause in retrieving Jet Jaguar and systems guiding it he'll knee punch and kick Roku! But Jet Jaguar and Godzilla teaming up and shaking hands even (?!?!) is surreal and hilarious. It even dissolves into martial arts and pro wrestling as the stunt men in the rubber suits strike fight poses (!) and use fisticuffs and foot stomps. The Godzilla dropkick, with the King of Monsters even backing up to do another one because he seemed to be having fun (!), just can't be topped. It is so outrageous yet fits so significantly within this over-the-top entry. Godzilla even helps Jet up when he's subdued, as the two become quite the tag team in Kaiju combat. The humans are very much of significance in the first half but bare little importance in the second when Godzilla emerges and Jet increases its size. Clearly and decisively a reward to the Japanese youth as Godzilla bares little resemblance to the Tokyo terror of a decade previous. ** [*** in regards to entertainment value]

I believe I’ve only seen this as Monster Zero and not in the form of “Invasion of the Astro-Monster” [1965; (怪獣大戦争 Kaijū Daisensō]. The dubbing for the Japanese actors is atrocious. Tetsuo, the inventor whose “sound siren” patent is destroyed by one of the agents of the Planet X “robot alien race” (the race on Planet X have their emotions controlled by “the great computer” on their home world!) has especially terrible dubbing. He’s in love with the sister of an astronaut, Kazuo Fuji. He goes to the office where his invention is to be purchased, is duped, and through his snooping is caught by X-species spies and thrown into a jail cell.

“For you I have found my love beyond all computation”

There was an additional romance between Adams and a female member of the X-species, sent to Earth as a spy. She fell in love with him, all the while, concealing her secret on the mission to colonize Earth. She sacrifices herself but not before sneaking a note in Adams’ pocket which identifies Tetsuo’s alarm as a means for counteracting the X-species’ computers and controlling mechanisms. Adams’ Glenn and Testuo together join forces, using a device that functions as a smaller-scale alarm he uses to break from the cell holding them. So this convenient invention can be used at small and large frequencies to cause harm towards not only the species but their devices and various mechanisms.

The Planet X invaders use “magnetic waves” to control Godzilla and Rodan, initially taken by them as “help against their own invader, King Ghidorah”, or so the Planet Earth was led to believe. Eventually after a trip (which was a hell of a lot of work considering they would be brought right back) to Planet X when the X-species “bubble them” for safe travel (encasing them in a protective shield so that space wouldn’t harm them), with astronauts Glenn and Fuji (Nick Adams and Akira Takarada) tagging along for the ride. Yes, the X-species return Godzilla and Rodan (accompanied by King Ghidorah, to boot!) are returned to Earth to destroy cities, land, properties, vehicles, and the military once again. The X-species allow the people of Earth to accept colonization and be ruled and if they resist utter destruction is the retaliation. Thankfully Tetsuo’s siren/alarm carries with it a walloping effect that debilitates the X-species as a harsh, loud sound causes them great harm… I swear Godzilla actually “puts up his dukes” and does some Ali with his feet, shuffling them in a boxer’s competitive pose! I laughed aloud at that. It is all just too damn entertaining even if it looks so absolutely ridiculous. Toho iconic director, Ishirō Honda is sometimes at the mercy of the studio and handlers/effects artists when it comes to what Godzilla looks like and acts. Like the previous film I watched, Godzilla vs. Megalon, lots of models get lit up and demolished, and I think it becomes quite apparent that the same footage from previous entries are reused to save some coin. Nick Adams was, at this point, just taking whatever movie projects were offered. He might be a bit smaller in stature, but there is just something about him that does read star even as this is far from his Rebel Without a Cause days. I don’t think he embarrasses himself but the dialogue sure is rough for the ears sometimes. I really enjoy the rocketships of this era, even as they are very much considered passé, their designs appeal to me, particularly my love for NASA and such. The “P-1” design Nick and Akira’s ship to Planet X (hidden behind Jupiter, amazingly enough!), of its era, certainly was easy on my eyes. I’m just a sci-fi fanboy of this particular era. The saucers soon discovered to be occupied by the X-species on Earth are also quite of that era’s design. I think these sci-fi effects are probably the reason the footage of the monsters attacking the city and model military vehicles/structures were reused. The return counterattack by human scientists and military, led by Fuji, Glenn, and Tetsuo, using the alarm through radiowaves across the world and satellites directly affect the spacecraft and controls of the X-species. They actually implode themselves in order not to surrender or return to their planet! ** [*** if just because of entertainment value and Big G's reaction to being blasted in the face...]

Now Son of Godzilla [1967怪獣島の決戦　ゴジラの息子 Kaijū-tō no Kessen Gojira no Musuko] just was the icing on the cake of this evening of wacky Kaiju entries, introducing Minila to us. Clumsy, harmless-looking, small in stature when compared to Papa, Minila looks like a bed toy for kids needing comfort while they fall to sleep. This was a lot of fun, I will immediately so readily admit. On an island where scientists, a nosy investigative reporter looking for a big story, and jungle beauty (daughter of an archeologist who stayed behind, dying and leaving her all alone) all inhabit are giant mantis creatures, pecking excitedly at an egg soon to release Minila from it, bringing Godzilla to where he is. Minila sends a telepathic signal that disrupts readings and a weather balloon device sent up to alter atmospheric patterns as experiments are underway to help cultivate areas on the planet for food purposes to feed a growing population. The balloon malfunctioning due to Minila's telepathic interference is the reason weather goes critical sending down bad storms and flooding. And thus mutated mantis creatures start attacking the weather compound, leaving them no choice but to flee to the jungle girl's cavernous dwelling.  Minila trains with his dad while the scientists work on improving their experiments. And the reporter and jungle girl flirt and romance. Pebbles bop Minila on the head, a mantis claps its claws in celebration, and Godzilla shows up to send it flying away in cowardice. Then comes the giant spider with it's monstrous silk webbing. Godzilla even body slams a mantis to give it a reason why he's the boss. This is a definite giant monster movie. I like that it is away from Tokyo. The B-unit for Toho did this one and credit to them for going all out. Godzilla teaching Minila the gist of Kaiju combat, its innocent features, and the jungle girl communicating with the tyke are surreal highlights. Obviously the weather experiments will come into effect at the end or such emphasis on them wouldn't be ***