Godzilla Vs Hedorah
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Movie Reviews of Godzilla Vs Hedorah
Movie Review: Godzilla vs Hedorah: A Message About the Environment?
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm a Godzilla movie fan (only the old cheesy ones 1960s-1980s) because I used to watch them around the holidays growing up. Recently I decided to start a small collection of favorites and this was one of them. Believe me, there is no shortage on weirdness in this one! Starting with animated cartoons of Hedorah sprinkled throughout the movie to unusual sound editing and strange 1970's trippy disco scenes, Godzilla vs Hedorah hits high on the strangeness scale!
All sillliness aside, an interesting aspect to Godzilla vs Hedorah is how the movie attempts to raise environmental awareness regarding global pollution. The cheesiest way possible, but nevertheless it drives a good point home. The movie's solution was through a monster named Hedorah who goes around Japan finding sources of pollution and literally gobbles it up. Unfortunately through the process of traveling from city to city, Hedorah emits a noxious gas crippling or killing all people in its path. Naturally, Godzilla is there to save the people of Japan from dying horrible deaths!!!
Why 4 stars?:
Although I was impressed by the eco-awareness of the movie, I gave Godzilla vs Hedorah 4 out of 5 stars because I was disappointed at the sound editing. During scenes where Godzilla destroys buildings it seems like you are watching a silent movie! Not a single sound is present-- not even background music, it's like your TV is on mute. Times when background music is present, it seems very out of place. Example: Disco music playing while Godzilla is looking for (and going to fight) Hedorah.
Bottom Line:
I'd recommend it for its cheap price and crazy hijinx. It's a good buy (and great laugh) for anyone who likes the old-style Godzilla movies.
Movie Review: Hedorah, the Smog Monster
Summary: 4 Stars
A gigantic, tadpole-like creature appears in polluted Japanese coastal waters, and Dr. Yano, a biologist, ventures underwater to investigate the horror. His encounter with the monster proves nearly fatal, for the creature burns him with an emission of concentrated sulfuric acid. Soon, Hedorah, as the thing is called, metamorphoses into a gigantic amphibian that consumes the very pollution emitted by Japanese factories. Godzilla arrives and engages the monster in battle, but is unable to destroy this creature composed of living sludge. Undergoing even further transformation, Hedorah takes to the air, spraying deadly sulfuric acid in its wake. Godzilla and the military quickly find themselves in a violent, all-out battle to prevent the total destruction of Japan.
Frequently ranking as one of the most bizarre motion pictures ever made, Godzilla vs. Hedorah (a.k.a. Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster) is an anomaly in the series, its story unapologetically "socially relevant," its style nothing less than experimental. Moments of exceptionally brutal violence are interspersed with bizarre humor, cartoon animation, and psychedelic hallucination sequences. Plus there's Godzilla.
The anti-pollution message in Godzilla vs. Hedorah comes across like a flashing neon sign, but the smog monster itself is one of Toho's most fascinating creations. Despite its undeniable air of silliness, the movie features a grimmer, darker undertone than in any since the original 1954 Godzilla. Like the rest of the Sony Godzilla 50th Anniversary releases, the DVD offers a beautiful, widescreen print of the original Japanese version with English subtitles.
Movie Review: One of the BEST, but come on Sony release the AIP cut!!
Summary: 4 Stars
As much as some G-fans may call this the worst G-film ever, it is really one of the best. The film has absolutely no stock footage in it at all like other G flicks have. Ya, the part where Godzilla flies does kinda ruin it a bit but the film up until then is awesome, very good kaiju action, decent actors, funky music, and a little bit of horror. Most people don't know but this film was the only Godzilla flick that was put on rental shelves as a horror flick not a sci-fi flick for good reason. For small children(under 8) this is not a film they need to be seeing even though I saw it when I was 4.
Video: crisp remastered widescreen, absolutely fantastic.
Audio: wasn't able to test the 5.1 since I don't have a 5.1 system but the regular audio sounded pretty darn good.
Dubbing: Ok, my only problem with this version. Some reviewers either haven't seen the AIP cut or don't think there is a difference. There IS! This DVD has the horrible Toho International dubbing which at this time their dubbing was just bad, in later films they start doing a better job but here it's just horrid. The AIP cut sounds so much better, the voices fit much better and the "Save the Earth" song is translated! "True" kaiju fans will say just use the Japanese audio track, but I grew up on the AIP cut, and to have it ommitted and potentially cast into oblivion is just wrong.
Sony, please, please, please release the AIP cut with the remastered widescreen video!!!
Movie Review: The most offbeat Godzilla movie
Summary: 4 Stars
Another wild and crazy Godzilla in the 1970s movies, Godzilla fighting the Smog Monster aka Hedorah one of the most popular G villains. This movie was controversial for its time due to it containing ZERO % of a traditional Godzilla movie. No classic actors, just young hippie type actors. Even the music wasn't the classical Godzilla music we heard in the 1960s. The director never did another G film. The effects in this movie are ok to good for the most part, particularly the flying Hedorah and the explosions and what happens when he flies overhead. Hedorah is a very cool monster. With all his looks & different stages/forms he makes as it grows are pretty cool.
This DVD contains the INTL English language version - a different English dubbed soundtrack - only the VHS tape still has the AIP dubbing, which to me is way better...hopefully that version will get a DVD release as well,but after talking with someone who is a G 'expert', it doesn't seem like. If you own the VHS tape of Godzilla vs the Smog Monster keep it. This is the movie with the song Save the Earth (sung in Japanese in this INTL dubbing) This also contains the alternate ending with the words "Will there be Another" and another Hedorah head popping up in a still shot.A little more ominous. Don't throw garbage into water & don't pollute ?
Movie Review: Campy Godzilla FUN.
Summary: 4 Stars
Yes, this movie is silly and perhaps aimed at a younger audience than some Godzilla movies, but it is still quite watchable 28 years later in 2010 and it has a solid plot. Ok, so Godzilla flies in this movie by using the fire coming from his mouth as a thruster. Ok, so he flies. So what if it is silly. Godzilla is a silly monster to begin with. All in all I think the film stands up well. Yes, it is a bit boring but it is a Godzilla movie. Personally I marvel at what the creators of the movie were able to create with what they had back then. Yes, I can tell when I see a model ship or toy trucks and so on but one has to put stuff like that aside and go with the story. The special effects are quite good for the genre and for the time. I bought this movie on vhs for one dollar at the thrift store. I know I got my money's worth. I also bought "Son of Godzilla" and another Godzilla movie with a three headed monster. It's all good campy fun. I also love how bouncy the Gozilla outfit is. What is that suit made of, rubber? All in all the film is pretty fun. I also liked the Smog Monster/Hedora. My vhs copy says "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster." I like calling the monster the "Smog Monster" over "Hedora."