Talkback Thread #7: Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)

[Arbok]

I used to really love Ebirah, Horror of the Deep... and still do enjoy the island settings and the human cast is stellar, but has fallen a bit out of grace for me personally of late because I just can't help but see a monster besides Godzilla in the role (they really could have adapted it a bit more to fit the Godzilla character than they did).

Still, very enjoyable Godzilla film none the same.

[Rody]

^ Yeah, I notice now how sometimes Godzilla acts a little too much like you-know-who. I don't find it too distracting, though.

I probably watched this Godzilla movie more than any other when I was a kid, so it has the strongest nostalgia value for me. It's a really solid film, too.

[eabaker]

I wrote a rather lengthy reply to RabidGodzilla's post, but the threads were merged while I was writing, so when I hit Submit, I lost everything I'd done.

I don't think I have the energy to re-write it all right now. Basically, I said:

- Panned and scanned/poor quality bootleg experiences did its rich visuals no justice, so I didn't really appreciate it until the DVD came out

- Godzilla being used to fill in for Kong cast him in a role that didn't quite fit, which keeps it from being a classic Godzilla movie

- The engaging human story and colorful visuals still make it too much fun for the odd use of Godzilla to damage it too much

So, overall, I give it a mid-range ranking.

I said it a lot better the first time, with supporting points and stuff.

[RabidGodzilla]

Woops. Sorry. Thought I ran through things well. I'll be sure to check better next time!

[20th Century Boy]

This is a good movie. Really, it's a lot of fun to watch. The human characters were funny and interesting, while the monster scenes were original and unique. Who could forget the monster volleyball scene or the underwater battle? As an added bonus, we even get adult Mothra during the final act! I really don't understand the hate this movie gets, or at least used to get. Why does this have such a low score on IMDB? Why did Mystery Science Theater 3000 riff on this movie? I really don't get it; this movie was great.

[Rody]

If I am correct, MST3K did films that were - or were perceived to be - in the public domain at the time.

[Arbok]

As for MST3K...Maybe Toho just gave them the license and they were stuck with it. Wasn't all that great an episode.

Toho never gave them the license (they were pissed off when Key of Keys was turned into What's Up Tiger Lily, no way they would let MST3K make fun of a Godzilla film).

I believe MST3K bought the rights for Ebirah, Horror of the Deep from a company that claimed to own them... but the company actually didn't, and was falsely distributing them under the thought that they were public domain. Or at least that's the story I had heard.

[Terasawa]

The original US version of GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER has no copyright notice, which is why many distributors in the '80s assumed it was in the public domain. Best Brains (BBI) licensed SEA MONSTER from Film Ventures International (FVI), which also created brand new opening credits, complete with a new copyright notice. All of the films featured on MST3K that were licensed through FVI have new opening credits, so I don't think BBI licensed MEGALON through FVI.

For the MST3K Vol. 10 DVD release, GODZILLA VS. MEGALON was licensed through Krypton International Films. Rhino also licensed WOMEN OF THE PREHISTORIC PLANET from the same company for Vol. 9. Both of these volumes are now out of print because Krypton did not actually control the rights to either film.

[Tamura]

Extensive research on Film Ventures International:

http://forrestcrow.proboards.com/index. ... hread=6977

[Stevo_1985]

Could someone explain to me the tiff between godzilla and mothra at the end? It seemed as though they were communicating and then just got pissed at each other.

[Godzillian]

Could someone explain to me the tiff between godzilla and mothra at the end? It seemed as though they were communicating and then just got pissed at each other.

I think Mothra tried to tell Godzilla it was the larva from GTTH but Godzilla wouldn't listen since the last time he was face to face with an adult Mothra it attacked him. I guess Godzilla decided to get some payback since he may have not known it was the same mothra he fought with before.

[tymon]

If we're gonna give that much weight to Godzilla's intelligence, we would have to assume he's smart enough to know the original Mothra he battled is dead - cuz he, ya know, killed her.

But I doubt the filmmakers were thinking of any of this too much. Continuity became looser and looser throughout the sixties, and was eventually thrown out the window entirely until a semi-connection between GvsMG and TOMG in 74/75.

[Godzillian]

If we're gonna give that much weight to Godzilla's intelligence, we would have to assume he knows the original Mothra he battled is dead - cuz he, ya know, killed her.

But did he see her body? He may not have known she was dead. Not saying he is really dumb but he can make mistakes I'm sure

[tymon]

^Or he could have had a bad memory. I'm sure he suffered at least a few head injuries in all of those intense battles lol.

[Godzillian]

Either way Mothra really didn't want to fight Godzilla and I think this mothra consider Godzilla somewhat of a friend until he attacked Maybe Godzilla was a little punch drunk or still ready for a fight after he finished of Ebirah

[GodzillaFan1992]

Can you honestly believe on Amazon.com the DVD ITSELF is over 3,700 dollars.

Really......who'd pay that much money for one DVD? Heck who'd think (The person who came up with the price) anyone would pay that much for just one DVD?

[Stevo_1985]

I do agree he is fight first talk second. But he did communicate pretty well in GTTHM.

[ILL GREEN]

Godzilla probably just hate moths.

For one, animals have keen sense of smell so Godzilla obviously recognize the scent of the little worm that tied him up in silk and tripped him into the sea. You don't fool Godzilla in that butterfly get-up Mothra

[Godzillian]

Godzilla probably just hate moths.

For one, animals have keen sense of smell so Godzilla obviously recognize the scent of the little worm that tied him up in silk and tripped him into the sea. You don't fool Godzilla in that butterfly get-up Mothra

But would they have the same scent once a larva transforms to an adult? Maybe Godzilla smelt an adult Mothra and got mad after last time or maybe he was just holding a grudge he seemed to get along with the mothra larva that lived with him on Monster Island

[ILL GREEN]

Godzilla probably just hate moths.

For one, animals have keen sense of smell so Godzilla obviously recognize the scent of the little worm that tied him up in silk and tripped him into the sea. You don't fool Godzilla in that butterfly get-up Mothra

But would they have the same scent once a larva transforms to an adult? Maybe Godzilla smelt an adult Mothra and got mad after last time or maybe he was just holding a grudge he seemed to get along with the mothra larva that lived with him on Monster Island

I guess maybe it could be a mental telepathic thing if not by scent, they do seem to possess some type of psychic power. They were friends in GTTHM after MvG, but Godzilla is a loner and seeks domination, so most likely Mothra was getting too friendly.