Godzilla Vs Hedorah
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Movie Reviews of Godzilla Vs Hedorah
Movie Review: Godzilla Vs Hedorah DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
My son was looking for this movie and was very happy when I gave it to him for his birthday. Working with Amazon is a great way to shop.Movie Review: THE BEST GODZILLA MOVIE
Summary: 5 Stars
I HAVE SEEN GODZILLA VS HEDORAH AKA GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER MANY TIMES AND I THINK THAT I WAS AWESOME.Movie Review: "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" Film and DVD Review
Summary: 4 Stars
The Movie:
After watching this movie for the first time in so many years, I can see why fans are so divided by it. It's either one of the best or one of the worst Godzilla films in fans' eyes. The style is so different that many people hate it, but its also the reason why many people love. In my opinion, it ranks as one of the best, and though Banno has a style far different from Honda, he sits close up to him as giving the series one of the most intruging films.
"Godzilla vs. Hedorah" is set in a time where pollution was a huge problem in Japan. Taking action in utilizing this inviormental problem in the movie, "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" becomes one of the darkest and effective message throwing Godzilla films since the original "Gojira". Hedorah is the embodiment of man's ignorance and carelessness, just like Godzilla was. In many scenes that can be considered graphic for the time, the movie shows us the death and carnage Hedorah causes. Some scenes could be considered more graphic than the hospital scene of the original "Gojira". News reports flash up throughout the film citing how many people have died by Hedorah's attacks, and the number simply keeps growing to shocking results. Cartoon segments and many effective media drenched, mob scenes of worried people break in the film. The symbolize the panic Hedorah has been causing and it works well as many G-Films in this era fail to do this. These segments truley are a testament to the director's approach.
Banno's style is utilized in a very bizzare, but 'artsy' way. Linking the carlessness of the youth (or hippies) as just as much of the problem: 'Sure they can preach we're messing up the world...but that's about it. Drinking and dancing is the only other thing they do.' And they decide to do this even to the point of death. (In a great scene, one of the characters has too much to drink and looks around to see everyone wearing fish masks. A testament to the youth's ignorance? A sign that they are all in a sense 'fish in a barrel' for Hedorah?)
Godzilla himself is characterized as an almost tragic hero with the excellent characterization of young Ken. Though Ken beleives (and acts like he knows) Godzilla is there to save them, who's really going to listen to a kid? This makes Ken one of the most well written children characters in the conventional Godzilla series. Most children in thes series seem to know everything and influence the adult characters to the highest degree. But Ken's words aren't taken seriously (despite the fact he's right) and the media still has a very bleak view on Godzilla himself. Meanwhile Godzilla is found angry at the pollution taking place in the world (specificly the ocean where he lives) and is angry at mankind for doing this to their own planet. In turn, Godzilla hates what Hedorah stands for. A glaring rivalry seemed to grow on screen between the monsters in a fabulous fashion. Many scenes before battle dragged out a long stare-down between them. Their battle wounds also show their spite for each other as Godzilla's left hand is deteriorated to a skeliton with skin hanging off it and his right eye becomes crusted by Hedorah's sludge. Meanwhile, not only does Godzilla take out Hedorah's right eye, but has a field day ripping the monster to pieces at the very end of the movie. The battle was quite savage and showed a very dark side of Godzilla movies' battles. Easily one of the most graphic battles in Godzilla, especially for the time this movie was made.
The characters aren't the best developed of the series, but better than many other movies as well. Like I said Ken is one of, if not the best child character of the series. Even in the recent "Godzilla x MechaGodzilla" we see children with too much influential power on adult characters and unrealistic wisdom beyond their years. This is not the case here. Ken is clearly a kid who thinks of Godzilla as a hero and loves to play with his toys. His words are mostly ignored and his courage isn't unrealistic. (Unlike a certian child putting desks together in "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.") His uncle is a bonified hippie/drinker that you really can't tell is an antagonist or protagonist, but intresting non-the-less. And Ken's mother and father show conflict in learning about Hedorah, struggling to live their own lives and yet worry about others. The main problem with the charactrs is that their not given much to do by the end of the film but watch the monsters fight-- much like Okawara's films ("Godzilla 2000", "Godzilla and Mothra: The battle for Earth") in which he wasn't sure what to do with his characters at times.
Needless to say, despite the movies heavy symbilism, very powerful message and refreshing style, its not without flaws. Hedorah's design is pretty goofy looking and the suit itself is poorly realized. But at times it can be considered creepy as well-- With those two huge red eyes randomly placed in the middle of walking sludge, you'll either look at him as a phantom-esque creature, or a carpet with red golf-balls . The editing is also a bit akward. In one scene Godzilla is trapped in a hole being swamped by sludge and the next time we see him, he's rolling down the side of Mt. Fuji with Hedorah. The most painful scene in this movie is the infamous flying scene in which Godzilla uses his ray to propel himself backwards in the air to stop an escaping Hedorah. Though the movie is very stylized, has a beautiful approach to it and is the darkest film since the original, this scene still manages to make it in to the final cut and is simply out of place. Admittedly though...it is kind of fun to watch.
The music can be both a complaint and a praise. Though Godzilla's theme can be considered kind of 'wonky' and embarrassing, it also has a noble sound to it at the end of the theme. It takes some getting use to but its not that bad. Hedorah's theme is very in place for the character though and fits the creepy killing machine's presence perfectly. Overall the 70s-esque music fit the style and ton of the film and is able to make the mood a bit more bizarre. It can be argued that it does and doesn't add to the dark atmosphere of the film, though I think it does.
Overall "Hedorah" proves to be one of the most different Godzilla movies. Creating a different style and approach to Godzilla it delivers realistic characters, a message that speaks loud and clear and some nifty effects shots here and there. (The best shot in the entire movie being the scene where Godzilla first appears and roars with a gorgeous sunrise behind him. Magnificent!) For some its Godzilla's worst. For me, I put it high up on "The Best" of list as a rather artistic looking film.
**** out of *****
Picture quality:
Astounding. The DVD picture quality makes this movie look like it was made yesterday. The night scenes are easier to see was well as you can make out much more of what's going on. The picture was so clear and the colors so vibrant, I felt like I could reach in and touch what was going on in this film.
***** out of *****
Sound:
Mono, but it didn't really bother me at all. The sound was still clear and the music was always booming through magnicantly.
**** out of *****
Extras:
We have the English dub and Japanese audio tracks, with the options of English and French subtitles. There's the Japanese Teaser to "Tokyo: S.O.S.", "Godzilla: Save the Earth" for PS2 and X-Box, previews to two animated features, The GINO Series on DVD and a movie parodying old, black and white horror films. (The title escapes me.)
The dubbing is what we've heard before from this movie and the subtitles are actually quite accurate. Some might seem like dubtitles, but there are several lines that are different from the dubbed version--- Which was probaly just well translated.
It's plenty for me to finally have the Japanese language released in America, but overall, very weak special features.
** out of *****
Overall:
A fantastic movie, a great release with beautiful picture quality and Japanese language and the only set back being lack of features. It's still a valuable collectors item JUST for the fact it has the original Japanese version on it. Go for it now!
**** out of *****
Movie Review: In Many Ways, One Of The Very Best
Summary: 4 Stars
THIS is the Godzilla movie I had always wanted to get my hands on as a little kid. THIS is the one I always heard about, but could not find anywhere. THIS is the one that piqued my curiosity, due to all the controversy directed at it. And now, thanks to the powers that be at Sony, it is finally available again in the States . . . . . . . . on DVD, no less! And having finally seen it after all these years, I must say that GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH, though not one of the *best* G-films ever, is definitely among the better entries.
Director Yoshimitsu Banno was obviously trying to do something (VERY) different with the Big G, and for the most part he succeeds. On the surface, the film is about the effects of pollution, and how it may very well destroy us in the end. Rather than relying totally on the characters to get this across by talking (and it does become a bit heavy-handed whenever they try), the filmmakers rely on often haunting imagery. Visions of unclear objects floating in huge clumps of sewege in the middle of the ocean are used quite often (the sight of a mutilated human body is especially effective). As Hedorah flies around, he spews sulfuric gas, melting buildings and leaving a trail of bodies whose flesh have been dissolved and rotted down to the bone. Banno's techniques are disturbingly/beautifully brought to life by effects maestro Teruyoshi Nakano.
However, whatever Banno was trying to get across with the psycadellic imagery, short animated segments, and musical/dance numbers fails miserably. They're not thought-provoking, they don't enhance the atmosphere, they don't add to the anti-pollution message . . . . . they really serve no purpose. They're just distracting, and pretty jarring at times. I'd only count this complaint as a small nit-pick, if it didn't happen so often. But then, that's what the fast-forward button is for.
Now I come to the actual monsters. Effects-wise, here's where the film slightly falters again, mainly with Hedorah. When it moves on all fours, for instance, it moves too much like a dog rather than slithering as it should have. I was expecting a lot more, but I guess for the time it was the best they could do. Godzilla looks good, but one can kind of see that the suit is getting rather old. (Indeed, by the next film GODZILLA VS. GIGAN the suit would literally fall apart on screen!)
The battles in this movie do NOT disappoint!! Director Banno allows for plenty of stare-downs between the monsters, establishing a splendid rivalry and bitter hatred that one rarely feels between Godzilla and his foe(s). Once they actually duke it out, it is nothing short of spectacular! There's none of the crappy "beam-fighting" to be found in other 70s entries (a.k.a. Godzilla's "Dark Age"), or the boring "monsters-bumping-against-each-other" of the Heisei Era. When these kaiju get at it, they really get at it! The fights are brutal, with Godzilla being pummled, drowned in a pool of sludge, getting his skin melted off and his eye burnt shut, and Hedorah getting holes punched right through him! Hedorah is without a doubt the greatest and most powerful foe of the Showa Series (and maybe even ever), which makes for some of the best G-battles in history.
All in all, despite its flaws, GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH makes for superb kaiju-eiga entertainment. That said, this one is definitely not for the kiddies; previously mentioned imagery of death and decay will not sit well with very young children, and even left me (a high school student) surprised.
Here, I come to the DVD quality. Though I wouldn't call it stunning as other people have, this is definitely the best I have ever seen a classic G-film look and sound E-V-E-R. Picture is slightly soft in some shots, but there was no grain or scratches to be found. The color is muted and dull, but I don't count this as a fault; this was intentional and adds to the film's look. Don't expect this one to be bursting with bright colors. Audio-wise, it's fine, with everything coming off crisp and clear. As with all of these recent G-DVDs, extras extend as far as trailers for everything else BUT the actual film! Thanks to this, I wish these discs didn't cost so much a piece. But having these classics on DVD with such awesome presentation is definitely worth it.
Do not let this one pass up the chance to sit on your DVD shelf!
Movie Review: The strangest of all Godzilla films, but a great DVD!
Summary: 4 Stars
It's wonderful that American home video distributors have finally started taking Godzilla seriously and releasing excellent DVDs of the Big Guy's flicks. This DVD of the 1971 "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" (originally released in America as "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster") may not offer much in the way of extras, but it lets you see the film as you've never been able to: in a beautiful widescreen image (enhanced for 16:9 TVs) with the option to watch it in Japanese with English subtitles or dubbed into English. For older viewers, I definitely recommend watching it in Japanese; it will change your whole perspective on Godzilla and makes the film seem less cheap and campy. However, the English dub is a good feature to have for younger children, who will definitely want to watch the film as well.
Although watching "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" in Japanese will tone down the camp somewhat, this remains the weirdest, oddest, most mind-bogglingly bizarre of all Godzilla movies. In the 1970s the Japanese film industry entered a steep decline because of competition from television, and the Godzilla films suffered from severe budget cutbacks. One of the guiding fathers of the Godzilla films, special effects wizard Eiji Tsubaraya, died in 1969 and the effects work on the Godzilla films suffered an additional drop in quality. "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" therefore came at a time when the Godzilla films were changing, and not always for the better. A new director, Yoshimitsu Banno, helmed this film and purposely set out to make a completely new kind of Godzilla film: a weird mixture of serious environmental message, frightening horror sequences, rock 'n' roll party scenes, cartoon montages, kiddie antics, and surreal monster fights. This is one strange film! The shift between the often grisly horror sequences (Hedorah the Smog Monster does some nasty things to his human victims) to animated "bumper" sequences and Godzilla actually flying (!!!) will make you wonder if somebody put the reels out of sequence! For all these problems and the film's silliness, there's something endearing about this monster mash: compared to the next few films, which are so cheap and uninspired, "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" feels like a project that the people working on it actually cared about. The environmental slant also provides a real message, the first time since the original "Godzilla" (1954) that the series approached such a heated topic.
Godzilla steps into full superhero mode here. Hedorah (the name comes from the word 'hedoro' meaning 'sludge'), a monster born in the waters from humanity's pollution, rapidly mutates into a jelly-like giant that comes ashore in Japan and starts wreaking havoc and turning humans into skeletons. Godzilla answers the call to save humanity. But Hedorah is a fearsome foe, armed with laser eyes, poison gas, and toxic spit-balls! Godzilla won't have an easy time, but maybe the scientists and the military can lend a hand with their electrode device. In between scenes of monsters battling, you can hang out with Japanese teens at a disco and watch the psychadelic acid pattern show on the wall. Or just listen to the wah-wah-wah soundtrack music -- guaranteed to make you want to buy a lava lamp!
Yeah, this is a weird film. But it's a cult classic, and resembles no other Godzilla film. (Apparently series producer Tomoyuki Tanaka hated the final product and director Banno consequently never directed another film.)
Note about the English dub: Viewers who remember seeing this film on TV in the 1970s and '80s may notice that the English dub on this film is different than the one they remember. This is because there were two English soundtracks made for the film back in 1971. American International Pictures released the film as "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster" and did their own dub through Titra Sound in New York, composing cool English lyrics for the theme song, "Save the Earth." Toho studios made their own English dub in Hong Kong for use in other English-speaking territories. In the early 1990s, the rights to the picture in America returned to Toho, and the Toho dub has now replaced the American International one. This DVD therefore contains the Hong Kong dubbing job, and that means "Save the Earth" is now in Japanese instead of English. Fans of this classic camp song might be a bit disappointed!