Let's face it, "WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS" is the greatest Japanese monster movie OF ALL TIME!! Yeah the original "Godzilla King of the
Monsters" is probably the best , but it's also a pretty grim two hours. I do love the original Godzilla, but I gotta give my vote to
"GARGANTUA" Sanda and Gaira beaten the crap out of each other is amazing stuff. The fact that they can run through the city is scary as all hell.
No big lumbering monsters here, these guys are fast and agile. We also get to see the actors eyes in the makeup which only adds to the overall look of the
monsters. The film moves along at a great pace, we really care about the Brown one and the Green one is a great villain. Russ Tamblyn gives a very amusing
performance as Dr. Paul Stewart. I once had the honor of speaking to him on the phone and he said he ad libbed the line "Maybe they were on a bad LSD
trip." You gotta love this guy! He also ad libbed the line on the train when he's asked by his sexy assistant why he thinks Gargantua lives in the
ocean and he says with a very strait face, "Maybe he fell in love with a whale or something." And who could forget the world famous "KIP
HAMILTON" singing THE WORDS GET STUCK IN MY THROAT! This is the ultimate!!!
0 Kudo
"WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS" is the best Japanese Monster movie
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 Glen Manning |
"WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS" is the best Japanese Monster movie |
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(04/14/08 2:32 AM) |
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Kaijubait |
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(04/14/08 9:49 AM) |
I think it's alright as a movie, but I prefer my monsters to be as reptilian as possible. I'd even say I prefer FCTW to this just because of Baragon
(well, maybe not JUST because of that). So I'd say its good, but not quite as good as others seem to believe.
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CAPTAINCOMPANY |
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(04/14/08 1:33 PM) |
Hey Glen! While I may not agree with you that WOTG is the absolute "best Japanese Monster movie", I would argue right alongside of you that it is ONE
of the best (perhaps the best non-Godzilla film) The battles between Sanda and Gaira are definitely some of the better choreographed and realistic of the era,
and (likely due to the smaller scale) contain some of the best minature work that Tsubaraya and company ever devised. Also, there is a greater attention to the
cinematography (as evidenced by the moody/smokey setpieces) and a couple geniunely startling/frightening moments with Gaira.
Overall (at least from the Showa era), I would still have to give the nod to the original "Gojira" and "Mothra Vs. Godzilla" as the "best" of the lot. Bryan |
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Professor Von X |
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(04/14/08 1:35 PM) |
> the greatest Japanese monster movie OF ALL TIME!!
I know it's not Kaiju Eiga, but if you're just talking monster movies in general, I'd put Matango head and fungi above them all. Professor Von X |
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wilbursbrain |
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(04/14/08 3:02 PM) |
I saw this movie for the first time about 15 years ago during a TNT monster movie marathon and immediately fell in love with it. It early summer, so I always
make it a habit to watch it around that time of year (a la Thanksgiving Kong).
I wouldn't say it's my all time favorite, but ranks up there. Because the monsters have more of a human-like quality and the costumes were less constricting movement-wise, I found the special effects to be more believable. Especially the scene when you're looking into the water and see Gaira looking back up at you. I found that to be very convincing and pretty scary. |
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Hachigatsu |
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(04/14/08 6:16 PM) |
Honda never understood the popularity of this film, not one of his favorites; he felt that it really lacked "heart."
It's sad that most people have only experienced these films on television in pan & scan versions. Even watching widescreen format DVDs can't compare to seeing these films on the big screen. Believe me, the effects look far more impressive on a giant motion picture screen, the format these films were meant to be seen.
August Ragone
Author EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS Blog THE GOOD, THE BAD AND GODZILLA Organizer SHOCK IT TO ME! Classic Horror Film Festival |
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Glen Manning |
Dramatic moment in Gargantua | ||
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(04/14/08 7:57 PM) |
I would love to see "Gargantua" on the big screen. I am still waiting for the DVD! It would be great if Russ Tamblyn could be talked into doing an
audio track. Think of this, the moment where Sanda comes into view for the first time, (A bigger one! A Brown one!). He comes to the aid of his wounded
brother and walks him through the trees and then with a deep roar turns back to the armed soldiers and waves his arm in total defience, all while that
heartbreaking theme is playing. A really great dramatic moment. There is really only a handful of Japanese monster movie moments that can come close to
that. In a weird way Sanda always reminded me a bit of Clint Howard.
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evilskippy |
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(04/14/08 8:08 PM) |
One of my favorite Japanese flicks. Is the dvd ever going to come out?
"Some days its not worth the effort of chewing through the restraints".
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Hachigatsu |
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(04/14/08 9:38 PM) |
Yeah, but it takes time to put these things out. Checking the masters, translating and subtitling the Japanese version, then they have to produce the extras
and other special features. Cut them some slack, it's coming. I wouldn't be surprised if Russ is involved; he's a great guy and a good sport, and
we were lucky to have him for a screening of the film at "Godzillafest" in 2004.
Surprisingly, it was the first time he had seen the film, ever. Afterwards, he had nothing but good things to say about it, "That was actually pretty good... the special effects were really good for the time." He had such a good time, he asked if he could come back for another signing, and did. I had him back the next year for a screening of THE HAUNTING, and I saw him again last year when his daughter performed at a live music venue I work at. He's a great guy.
August Ragone
Author EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS Blog THE GOOD, THE BAD AND GODZILLA Organizer SHOCK IT TO ME! Classic Horror Film Festival |
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Spoiler II |
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(04/14/08 11:39 PM) |
I prefer GARGANTUAS over the majority of the GODZILLA series from the same time frame. The fact that it doesn't go with the standard GODZILLA / ANGURUS /
GOROSAURUS / BARAGON etc dinosaur model is what is most appealing. The Gargantua suits are well designed, the sibling rivalry undercurrent is interesting and
the unbridled and wild hand to hand combat style is my favorite of any Toho film,with the beasts putting on a brutal fighting clinic that would make Jumbo
Tsuruta envious.
Gaira is a tremendous screen monster, with his nauseous color scheme, running open wounds and mean streak wider than Bering Strait. While most Toho monsters seemed to injure humans during their lumbering travels, Gaira seems to get an actual malevolent enjoyment from causing misery. Aside from the much discussed lounge singer bit, the scene most people bring up when you mention the film is the great one where Sanda seems to be trying to help his fallen brother and ,upon seeing some of his handiwork, whups his ass with the nearest tree. Gairas unwholesomeness is perfectly countered by Kumi Mizuno's being incredibly easy on the eyeballs. My wife (then girlfriend) got me the Japanese DVD several years ago and despite the fact that its not subtitled at all (like it matters by now haha) its a fun package. You also get a behind the scenes looks at Toho's prop warehouse and a nice set of clips comparing the Japanese version with the US one. |
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Professor Von X |
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(04/15/08 8:11 AM) |
I have a beautiful widescreen DVD of this that I got from someone on this board. Pretty sure it's subtitled and it looks wonderful. I'm region-free, so
it must be from overseas somewhere. It's not a DVDr. Also have Rodan, Ghidrah, Gorath, Mothra and G vs. Megalon. Always pays to watch the Classified
section!
Professor Von X |
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JimPV |
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(04/15/08 3:14 PM) |
Professor Von X wrote: Huh, I'd be interested in knowing more about this. Could it possibly be legit? I've been enjoying the R2 disc (with English subs via
tokyomonsters.com) for years now, but it'd still be interesting to find out where this disc the Professor mentions came from.
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Hachigatsu |
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(04/15/08 3:19 PM) |
Some of the fans involved have his number, so I seriously doubt that they'd leave that stone unturned...
August Ragone
Author EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS Blog THE GOOD, THE BAD AND GODZILLA Organizer SHOCK IT TO ME! Classic Horror Film Festival |
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luisj40 |
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(04/15/08 3:38 PM) |
This was my favorite Japanese monster film growing up just love seeing the two Gargantuas battle it out.
Luis
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Professor Von X |
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(04/15/08 3:54 PM) |
Hey, Jim... it may have come from YOU! I know I did some sort of deal for something with you. I can't remember specifics, but it's R2 and I did get it,
along with others from someone here. SOMEONE had an extra copy or something. I'll try to look at it when I get home.
Professor Von X |
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JimPV |
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(04/15/08 4:55 PM) |
Professor Von X wrote: He, he - yeah, you might have gotten it from me. But if you did, it's a DVDr.
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tanaleaf |
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(04/15/08 5:25 PM) |
"In a weird way Sanda always reminded me a bit of Clint Howard."
Too funny! (And too true....) |
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Hachigatsu |
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(04/15/08 7:25 PM) |
LOL!
August Ragone
Author EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS Blog THE GOOD, THE BAD AND GODZILLA Organizer SHOCK IT TO ME! Classic Horror Film Festival |
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Spoiler II |
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(04/15/08 10:23 PM) |
Sanda was great in ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL as Eaglebauer. Who would ever think to look in a high school toilet stall for an escaped giant?
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tanaleaf |
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(04/16/08 12:14 AM) |
"This is 'Tranya'... I hope you like it." (Slurp.) "Ahhhhhh."
(Munch) (munch) (munch) "Ptoo--ie!" (Woman's dress spat out....) Now, izzat dramatic range, or whut? |
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Glen Manning |
Words get Stuck in my throat. | ||
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(04/16/08 2:58 AM) |
"If I had a hidden microphone inside of my heart, I would turn the power on. It would amplify my love for you , it's where I'll always love you
and YOU'D NEVER BE GONE!! But with just one look into your face, my mind starts to drift right into space, as the words get stuck in my throat!!
Kip Hamilton. "War of the Gargantuas". |
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