Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster? in Japanese Giants Forum

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Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster?

Author	Comment
Hachigatsu		#21	[-]
Jan 6 08 12:20 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Sam33 said: "August. I've finally finished reading MASTER OF MONSTERS all the way, every caption and word. Just a great job! Thanks for such a nice piece of scholarship and design." Thanks for the kind words, Sam! August Ragone Author EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS Blog THE GOOD, THE BAD AND GODZILLA Last Edited By: Hachigatsu Jan 6 08 12:22 PM. Edited 2 times.
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Jessenstein		#22	[-]
Jan 6 08 7:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I was surprised on a recent viewing too - I hadn't seen it in some time and found it rather refreshing, especially when taken in context with what was happening in the Showa era films to that point. Considering what would come AFTER Hedorah, I found Banno's odd, quirky choices to be rather fun and inventive. They date the film horribly, but in a fun kind of way. At least there was some experimentation going on here still, something that would be in scarce supply... well, for a looooong time. "Crazy am I...?"
thevaultofhorror		#23	[-]
Jan 9 08 6:38 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This was my favorite Godzilla film as a kid. Just so quirky and fun, and in my mind the first Godzilla movie where the big guy was an all-out superhero and defender of the earth. My other blogs: Lots of Pulp, Following the Equator: A Mark Twain Blog and Standard of the Day!
Hollywood Gothique		#24	[-]
Jan 11 08 5:59 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	This is not really a good movie, but I find it impossible to dismiss, for reasons mentioned by others: it's grim with a high body-count, during an era when the series was turning goofy and childish. What makes the film endlessly fascinating to me is the way these two elements uneasily co-exist: Godzilla is a big guy, and the main human character is a little kid who roots for him (for the conclusion, the film practically recreates the ending of SHANE!) It almost seems like a standard issue G-film from the time, until the kid sees some human victims melt into heaps of bloody bones right before his eyes - an effectively horrific image. And then, just when it seems like the film is avoiding goofiness, Godzilla flies! The result is a film you can't quite put your finger on: it's not one thing or the other but some inexplicable hybrid that must be seen to be believed. Cinefantastique Online: The Review of Horror, Fantasy, & Science Fiction Films
CAPTAINCOMPANY		#25	[-]
Jan 11 08 2:00 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hey Hollywood Gothique! Your "inexplicable hybrid" quote is actually a dead-on description for "Godzilla Vs the Smog Monster" It's the experimental quality of the film (i.e. the use of animation to bridge scenes), shocking outbursts of violence, Banno's quirky direction, and the "relevant" (admittedly dated) 70's plot devices (such as the psychedelic club sequence and the ecological storyline) that are its strong points (personally, it's my favorite Godzilla film of the 70's) Bryan
gfanikf		#26	[-]
Jan 11 08 2:23 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Plus Banno's hates hippies and finds them useless and hypocritical (it also pops up in Prophecies of Nostradamus aka Last Days of Planet Earth, which Banno had a hand in), which is nice. Actually people should see PON as its takes Smog Monster theme and concepts and goes even further. Smog Monster has always been a favorite of mine (no cartoons, no flying, no happy kids ). Heck, one time I created a version that attempts to make it less kiddie more in line with Banno's original idea before he and Nakano felt it was too harsh. Hmm I could upload it to youtube if anyone ever wanted to see it. "Inexplicable hybrid" is a great term for the film. It truly is the most unique Godzilla film ever made. I mean they even mention how people are dying in the thousands. Its insane. That image of the baby in the sludge has never left me. Its something I found disturbing as a kid and still do today. I never like seeing that scene then or now. HK AND CULT FILM NEWS Your source for all the latest Hong Kong and Cult Films DVD News and Reviews! I actually said he was da bomb but my main man Dennis didn't peep me right.- Tom "Big Daddy" Weaver.
WaverBoy		#27	[-]
Jan 11 08 3:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Some enterprising techie needs to take the Titra dub from the laser (or a DVD-R sourced from it) and lay it down on the beautiful video of the Sony DVD... Would it fit? Was anything cut or rearranged for the SMOG MONSTER version?
Hollywood Gothique		#28	[-]
Jan 11 08 6:58 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That image of the baby in the sludge has never left me. Wait, it's a kitty in the sludge, isn't it? I have fond memories of this Godzilla film because it was one of the few I got to see on the big screen. When it came on local TV years later and there was no gore, I figured it had been cut out. When I saw it again at a theatre in Little Tokyo (on a double bill with QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE, billed as "Godzilla and Gabor!"), and there was still no gore, I started to think I had imagined it all as a child. Of course, in truth, the film had been re-editing for Saturday matinee screenings. Years later, (1994, I think) Toho put out the "International" version of the film (restored gore, no AIP dubbing, opening song in Japanese), and there was the bloodshed I had remembered as a child, in the form of those bloody bones after the bodies melt away. Cinefantastique Online: The Review of Horror, Fantasy, & Science Fiction Films
David Schecter		#29	[-]
Jan 12 08 2:38 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	August -- excellent book. I enjoyed it immensely and appreciate the hard work you put into it. It is proudly sitting on my shelf next to MONSTERS ARE ATTACKING TOKYO, AGE OF THE GODS, and other essential kaiju-related books. Applause all around for a job well-done! David Schecter, Monstrous Movie Music
Hachigatsu		#30	[-]
Jan 12 08 4:19 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, David -- I am flattered! "Wait, it's a kitty in the sludge, isn't it?" The baby stuck in the sludge is part of one of the film's montage sequences. "Would it fit? Was anything cut or rearranged for the SMOG MONSTER version?" I don't recall anything major. Toho is well aware that the Titra dubs are superior, but are afraid that people will come out of the woodwork and sue them if they utilize them. If fact, I heard that someone associated with the CM DVDs went around and tried to get a couple of the voice actors to sign wavers... Just to let everyone know that this film was produced consciously as a "Kiddie Matinee Movie," the second after GODZILLA'S REVENGE, as well as the films that followed through TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA. These were not intended for general release, and conceived, written and produced to be part of a children's matinee package called the "Toho Champion Festival," which included cartoons and other short subjects (Ultraman and the like). Most Americans seem to judge this film on the same level as the earlier films which were made for the general audience. So, just take that into account next time you look at any of the '70s films. August Ragone Author EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS Blog THE GOOD, THE BAD AND GODZILLA
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P0TRZEBIE		#31	[-]
Jan 12 08 6:15 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	August says,,,, >>.......this film was produced consciously as a "Kiddie Matinee Movie," the second after GODZILLA'S REVENGE, as well as the films that followed through TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA. These were not intended for general release, and conceived, written and produced to be part of a children's matinee package....<< And that is what is even more amazing considering the films experimental nature and it's graphic content!!! The same goes for TERROR...A kiddie film... BTW August......Finished reading your book today!!! Incredible piece of work!! Loved it! Awesome accomplishment!! Big 10-4!! SALUTE! 1998-2008....GINO.... ten years of "what the HELL were they thinking"..... "With great power comes great rice....."
Hachigatsu		#32	[-]
Jan 12 08 7:49 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Glad you enjoyed it; but, you should have seen the material that had to be dropped because of space issues (I guess I can save them for another book!). August Ragone Author EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS Blog THE GOOD, THE BAD AND GODZILLA
Joseph Goodman	Dubs	#33	[-]
Jan 12 08 10:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've never really felt interest in the debate over which dub is superior for this film; there's really not a whole lot of dialogue to begin with, and one of the things that I like about this film are the maddening moments of relative quiet as the monsters face off in the last few reels of the film. I think that it adds to the tension. Plus, in a movie where the bad guy practically shits on the good guy, and laughs while doing it, are the finer points of dialogue delivery really important?
WaverBoy		#34	[-]
Jan 12 08 10:10 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hollywood Gothique wrote: That image of the baby in the sludge has never left me. Wait, it's a kitty in the sludge, isn't it? I have fond memories of this Godzilla film because it was one of the few I got to see on the big screen. When it came on local TV years later and there was no gore, I figured it had been cut out. When I saw it again at a theatre in Little Tokyo (on a double bill with QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE, billed as "Godzilla and Gabor!"), and there was still no gore, I started to think I had imagined it all as a child. Of course, in truth, the film had been re-editing for Saturday matinee screenings. Years later, (1994, I think) Toho put out the "International" version of the film (restored gore, no AIP dubbing, opening song in Japanese), and there was the bloodshed I had remembered as a child, in the form of those bloody bones after the bodies melt away. So there was gore cut out of the SMOG MONSTER version? I have the Hedorah DVD, but haven't watched the whole thing yet...the dub is SO bad, and I'm extremely attached to Save The Earth...
Hollywood Gothique		#35	[-]
Jan 13 08 2:04 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I believe that when GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER was originally released theatrically, it had the same amount of gruesome imagery as you now see in the "International" GODZILLA VS HEDORAH print. After the initial U.S. theatrical release (which I saw on a double bill with YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE), SMOG MONSTER was re-edited for kiddie matinees. This was the version that wound up on Ameircan television and at revival houses. I never rented the title on VHS or watched any other home video/laserdisc/dvd release under the SMOG MONSTER title, so I don't know whether a cut or uncut print was used. I just know I started seeing the restored version under the HEDORAH titles in the mid-1990s, on Sci-Fi Channel and at the theatre in L.A.'s Little Tokyo. Cinefantastique Online: The Review of Horror, Fantasy, & Science Fiction Films
AlfredLynch		#36	[-]
Jan 13 08 9:13 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I really liked Godzilla vs Hedorah, I grew up watching all these movies like many of you but I never saw this particular one. I bought it on DVD regardless. I found the one thing that throws this film completly off is the music. That Godzilla calssic music is missing. It would make this movie great and one of the best of it had that Feeling that is evoked form the regular Godzilla music.
GojiDavid		#37	[-]
Jan 18 08 2:25 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think sometimes fans forget how powerful Hedora really was in Godzilla vs. Hedora. The movie Godzilla vs. Hedora made me very aware of the pollution problem and I even made a science project about pulluition back in 1972 at school. The movie is not really that good but it had a very good message. IMO of all 5 of the American Godzilla 1970s movie posters I think Godzilla vs. the SmogMonster is by far the best looking one. But that song is really bad! David Nunez Gojira11354
Spoiler II		#38	[-]
Jan 22 08 4:40 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I remember seeing this on WWOR at my grandmothers and being jealous of the kid in the beginning with all the awesome Godzilla toys i had never seen in stores before. Surely one of the films Godzilla purists love to hate (with Megalon being #1 it seems),its a nice bizarre change from the series formulas of spy subplots,Dollar General Planet of the Apes invaders and human roaches out to conquer Earth. The hippy sequences i can deal with,the animated scenes are amusing and the widespread messy devastation Hedorah spreads is a nice bleak touch in comparison with all the lighter entries...and yes,Hedorahs eye were based on the female reproductive organ so that gives the film another weird barb. In a totally unnecessary sidenote,my boss at work is a huge Godzilla fan and the place is littered with Godzilla,Ultraman and Henshin cyborg toys.Hedorah is his favorite and he buys literally any new version that comes out. My wife has hooked him up with numerous expensive limited edition Japanese ones in myriad colors and sizes. Going to work is never boring,to say the least.
Hachigatsu		#39	[-]
Jan 22 08 5:36 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Nice. I've always had a special place in my heart for both HEDORAH and MEGALON, and I enjoy both films without shame. August Ragone Author EIJI TSUBURAYA: MASTER OF MONSTERS Blog THE GOOD, THE BAD AND GODZILLA
gfanikf		#40	[-]
Jan 22 08 6:11 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hachigatsu wrote: Nice. I've always had a special place in my heart for both HEDORAH and MEGALON, and I enjoy both films without shame. Same. Hell I had the WTC cover from Megalon for my cake for my 6th birthday party. HK AND CULT FILM NEWS Your source for all the latest Hong Kong and Cult Films DVD News and Reviews! I actually said he was da bomb but my main man Dennis didn't peep me right.- Tom "Big Daddy" Weaver.
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Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster?