Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
I don't see what's the deal with Toho officially retitling movies, it's just a matter of nomenclature. Nobody is holding people at gunpoint with these titles, it's just a formality.
As to which names to use, you could say "Invasion of the Astro Monsters" is closer to "War of the Giant Monsters" than "Monster Zero". Additionally, I only use the title Godzilla's Revenge when I'm talking about an English dubbed film with funky music. All Monsters Attack! is a Japanese language film with a boy/girl singing at the beggining.
As to which names to use, you could say "Invasion of the Astro Monsters" is closer to "War of the Giant Monsters" than "Monster Zero". Additionally, I only use the title Godzilla's Revenge when I'm talking about an English dubbed film with funky music. All Monsters Attack! is a Japanese language film with a boy/girl singing at the beggining.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
Personally, I use "Gojira" to make sure no one confuses it with GODZILLA(1998).Tamura wrote:I think it's funny that some people refer to all the films by their international titles and then refer to GODZILLA as GOJIRA, which isn't the international title. Way to be consistent.
I don't know, the former two at least make some sense; Although I personally think "All Monsters Attack" would be even more appropriate for DESTROY ALL MONSTERS.Legion1979 wrote: I can't wait for one day in the future when titles like "Invasion of Astro Monster", "All Monsters Attack", "Godzilla and Mothra: Battle For Earth" and "Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla 2" no longer exist.
Because they're idiotic.
Grrrrar, rant over!
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
bump for Rody.
Mothra vs Godzilla> Gojira
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
Thank you very much, miguelnuva!
Well, as I mentioned in the Ghidorah thread, I watched both Ghidrah, the Three Headed Monster and Godzilla vs. Monster Zero yesterday. If I were to compare the two, I will say that Monster Zero is superior. The reason I say this is due to execution. The pacing is a bit slow, but steady, and manages to keep you interested in what will happen next. Although the plot contains multiple conveniences and a few large plot holes, they're fairly well concealed. I think this film was more focused on presenting a world than a story within the world, and it delivers on this. The special effects are top-notch; although Godzilla and Rodan don't look their best here, everything else looks terrific.
Monster Zero is a grand sci-fi adventure, perhaps with some political undertones. It seems a little more thought out than Ghidrah, and is presented much better. Even the dub is quite good (or at least sounds good; I have no idea how accurate it is). I'll give this movie 7/10.
Well, as I mentioned in the Ghidorah thread, I watched both Ghidrah, the Three Headed Monster and Godzilla vs. Monster Zero yesterday. If I were to compare the two, I will say that Monster Zero is superior. The reason I say this is due to execution. The pacing is a bit slow, but steady, and manages to keep you interested in what will happen next. Although the plot contains multiple conveniences and a few large plot holes, they're fairly well concealed. I think this film was more focused on presenting a world than a story within the world, and it delivers on this. The special effects are top-notch; although Godzilla and Rodan don't look their best here, everything else looks terrific.
Monster Zero is a grand sci-fi adventure, perhaps with some political undertones. It seems a little more thought out than Ghidrah, and is presented much better. Even the dub is quite good (or at least sounds good; I have no idea how accurate it is). I'll give this movie 7/10.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
Rodan looks better in this than he does in any of the other 60's films, even if he's got that "derp" look going on. It doesn't bother me personally. It only looks really silly in that close up of his face during the climax. The flying marionette is also fantastic, and one of the best ever for the character.
While It's not one of my personal favorite designs, but the Godzilla suit looks really good in this too.
While It's not one of my personal favorite designs, but the Godzilla suit looks really good in this too.
Last edited by Goji on Tue May 08, 2012 8:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
UltramanGoji wrote: Cranky because you got mad I implied GFW isn't a good movie aren't you
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I'll gladly eat crow if it doesn't turn out that way....but at this point it feels painfully obvious, as it has for months.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
This version of Rodan is starting to grow on me --- but it still pales in comparison to the original.
Daisenso-Goji, to me, looks like a "watered-down" version of Mosu-Goji. It's not a terrible suit, but I consider it one of weaker ones.
Fortunately, that doesn't effect the awesomeness of his screen time.
Daisenso-Goji, to me, looks like a "watered-down" version of Mosu-Goji. It's not a terrible suit, but I consider it one of weaker ones.
Fortunately, that doesn't effect the awesomeness of his screen time.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
I agree with all of the above. I think when seen in full profile, the suit looks really good. For instance, when Rodan wakes up on Planet X, he looks great! As goofy as it is, I love that close up during the climax. The look on his face is priceless.
UltramanGoji wrote: Cranky because you got mad I implied GFW isn't a good movie aren't you
Chrispy_G wrote:I'll say it one last time, Trump wins in a landslide.
I'll gladly eat crow if it doesn't turn out that way....but at this point it feels painfully obvious, as it has for months.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
I loved this movie. It is one of my favorite of the Showa films. I love the main two guys and Kumi Mizuno makes a great sexy alien temptress. Not to mention all the good monster action. Gotta love Godzillas little jig!
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- Zentenk
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
I may have to pick this up somewhere... I don't recall watching it, I thought I had all the movies!??! So this isn't a renamed movie?
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
Invasion of Astro Monster is also known as Godzilla vs Monster Zero or simply Monster Zero.Zentenk wrote:I may have to pick this up somewhere... I don't recall watching it, I thought I had all the movies!??! So this isn't a renamed movie?
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
Hmm yeah, I do have Monster Zero. The date is different though, it threw me off. Well, I ordered Invasion of Astro Monster off Amazon for cheap. Oh well...
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
Melting radar dish. MELTING. RADAR. DISH.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
^ That was quite the jerk move, wasn't it?
I would love to see how the effects crew pulled that off, by the way.
I would love to see how the effects crew pulled that off, by the way.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
^ the JERK jerk move was blowing up the P1...THAT THEY JUST BUILT THEMSELVES.
I would assume they did the radar dish in a manner similar to the melting electrical towers in Godzilla and Mothra vs Godzilla: Wax (or maybe just plastic in the case of Monster Zero) melted with hot stage lights off camera.
I would assume they did the radar dish in a manner similar to the melting electrical towers in Godzilla and Mothra vs Godzilla: Wax (or maybe just plastic in the case of Monster Zero) melted with hot stage lights off camera.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
I watched this one over the weekend. Having watched a number of the Showa flicks recently, I'm struck by how flat-out fun this one is. It has a nice balance between human and monster action, and the human story isn't boring at all. I attribute a lot of that to the portrayal of the Xilians, and Nick Adams. All the games with light and dark on Planet X add a wonderfully weird atmosphere. And except for a couple of the spaceflight scenes, the movie doesn't drag very much (unlike, for instance, the endless space/chase scenes in DAM).
The production values in Astro-Monster are better than the previous film - Ghidorah and Rodan look better than Ghidrah (although the Mosugoji suit is superior to the DaisensoGoji) and the Planet X set, while obviously scientifically dubious, still looks great. And it's genuinely a bit sad when the astronauts take off and leave the monsters behind (even if they were, y'know, immensely destructive).
That said, as an adult I do find it a bit difficult to suspend my disbelief regarding the Xilians' behavior. Why the deception? Why the ultimatum? Why not just unleash Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah upon the world?
I can make up a couple reasons. Maybe the Xilians needed to get Godzilla and Rodan on Planet X first to do whatever process they need to do to control them, and just swiping them out of the blue would would have given humanity notice and allowed them to prepare better for the attack; or maybe the Xilians knew they couldn't really conquer the planet with just three monsters and hoped the Earth wouldn't call their bluff. But both of those are just fan speculation. In the end it doesn't really matter - it's still an extremely fun movie - it's just funny to think about now.
As for the melting radar dish - I always assumed it was wax and was melted under lights on high-speed film.
The production values in Astro-Monster are better than the previous film - Ghidorah and Rodan look better than Ghidrah (although the Mosugoji suit is superior to the DaisensoGoji) and the Planet X set, while obviously scientifically dubious, still looks great. And it's genuinely a bit sad when the astronauts take off and leave the monsters behind (even if they were, y'know, immensely destructive).
That said, as an adult I do find it a bit difficult to suspend my disbelief regarding the Xilians' behavior. Why the deception? Why the ultimatum? Why not just unleash Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah upon the world?
I can make up a couple reasons. Maybe the Xilians needed to get Godzilla and Rodan on Planet X first to do whatever process they need to do to control them, and just swiping them out of the blue would would have given humanity notice and allowed them to prepare better for the attack; or maybe the Xilians knew they couldn't really conquer the planet with just three monsters and hoped the Earth wouldn't call their bluff. But both of those are just fan speculation. In the end it doesn't really matter - it's still an extremely fun movie - it's just funny to think about now.
As for the melting radar dish - I always assumed it was wax and was melted under lights on high-speed film.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
By far my favourite of the sixties films in the Showa era. Not only were the monster battle a blast but the plot was well thought out for its time. The cast was superb . Oh! and being anchored by a great score thanks to Akira Ifukube!
A huge kudos to Eiji Tsuburaya for pulling off those spectacular special effects ( especially with his masterpiece King Ghidorah )
A huge kudos to Eiji Tsuburaya for pulling off those spectacular special effects ( especially with his masterpiece King Ghidorah )
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
What an odd qualification...GIGAN05 wrote:the plot was well thought out for its time
Tokyo, a smoldering memorial to the unknown, an unknown which at this very moment still prevails and could at any time lash out with its terrible destruction anywhere else in the world.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
eabaker Wrote:
What an odd qualification...
What I meant by that was, the sixties was ablaze with alien invasion films and it is great that Ishiro Honda took a few more steps forward and explored more plot points for an alien race wanting world domination. The cure for cancer trick, and the tragic love story for examples.
So to me - that's what makes it so good during that time. Get what I am trying to say here?
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
I think so. It has good plotting relative to similar contemporary films.GIGAN05 wrote:eabaker Wrote:
What an odd qualification...
What I meant by that was, the sixties was ablaze with alien invasion films and it is great that Ishiro Honda took a few more steps forward and explored more plot points for an alien race wanting world domination. The cure for cancer trick, and the tragic love story for examples.
So to me - that's what makes it so good during that time. Get what I am trying to say here?
I'd say it also has good plotting relative to both earlier and more recent films of the same ilk. It just has good plotting period.
I guess it read like you were suggesting that film plotting in general has improved since the 60s.
Tokyo, a smoldering memorial to the unknown, an unknown which at this very moment still prevails and could at any time lash out with its terrible destruction anywhere else in the world.
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Re: Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)
eabaker Wrote:
I think so. It has good plotting relative to similar contemporary films.
I'd say it also has good plotting relative to both earlier and more recent films of the same ilk. It just has good plotting period.
I guess it read like you were suggesting that film plotting in general has improved since the 60s.
Yeah, my bad. Should of structured it better ( My autism does not help in that department AT ALL XD )
No way, because of the steps Honda took to make it stand out during that era is one of the reasons why it still an absolute classic today. I would NEVER hold its time period against it, not ever.
Gotta love Honda and his subplots .