Talkback Thread #5: Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster(1964)

[Goji]

Really? Didn't know that. I trust that that is true, but where does that information originate from? Just curious.

[UltramanGoji]

Really? Didn't know that. I trust that that is true, but where does that information originate from? Just curious.

It can be found in the Ishiro Honda biography by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski.

[Goji]

Ah, okay. I read that a looong time ago, so that's probably why I don't remember. There's a lot of information to digest in that book.

[Godzillian]

Anyone else prefer the American cut? I feel like it's editing just moves the movie a little faster

[eabaker]

Anyone else prefer the American cut? I feel like it's editing just moves the movie a little faster

I definitely prefer the way that the American cut intersperses the human and monster action during the final confrontation; they feel totally separate in the Japanese cut.

[Terasawa]

I think the sequence of events in the American version is more logical than in the Japanese version, especially considering the introduction of Ghidorah.

[kamilleblu]

I think the American cut tightens the overall continuity and flow of the film. Plus including the monster roars during the gunfight is a vast improvement over the silence of the Japanese version of that same sequence. My only complaint is that the American editors completely butcher Godzilla's "attack" on the city. Obviously, Godzilla coming ashore twice is jarring. But the stock track and how much they cut up the scene is a travesty. Makes it feel like a generic attack. Ikufube's score worked perfectly with the editing and Rodan's flight sound effect in the Japanese cut. Somehow it exudes a unique sense of dread and Godzilla's frustration with Rodan is priceless. And Rodan silhouetted against the night sky is an awesome visual. It's not just one of my favorite sequences in the film, it's one of my favorite sequences in the entire series.

[GojiDog]

One of my favorite things about this movie is that I can be a jerk to Marvel fans.

"Marvel did the shared universe thing first!"

And then I can be like "ACTUALLY, Toho did it decades ago with their monsters. Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra were their three biggest mon-stars. Mothra Vs. Godzilla was their first crossover, and then Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster was like their Avengers".

And heck Toho weren't even the first ones to do it. The Universal Monsters of the 30s and 40s did it with Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman and then the House of Dracula and House of Frankenstein monster mashes.

And for a more recent example, lest we forget Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse with Jay and Silent Bob being the glue that held all those movies together.

For some reason it ticks off Marvel fans when I point this out. I don't know why it does (it doesn't really matter who did it first and Marvel owns the cinematic world right now, so whatever), but I like to needle them and troll them just a bit, lol.

[Maritonic]

If I had a dollar for every time someone brought up Marvel/MCU/DCU in a non-related thread I could afford every single X-Plus release.

[Rodan]

This is one of the very few films in the series where I really think I prefer the American cut. The original is a pretty lively film as it is, but the US version does a little scene-re-positioning to really bring it together.

[eabaker]

This is one of the very few films in the series where I really think I prefer the American cut. The original is a pretty lively film as it is, but the US version does a little scene-re-positioning to really bring it together.

I just re-watched the US cut on Saturday night. As I've mentioned in this thread previously, I definitely prefer the way that the final human fight sequence and the final kaiju fight sequence are intercut in that version. However, in some earlier parts of the movie the re-shuffling feels a little disjointed, and the altered music cues really don't do much for me.

[edgaguirus]

The scene editing of the American cut towards the end is a little neater than the original. However, I find both versions to be satisfactory.

[Jeff-Goldblum1]

Considering this movie has the monster line up for Legendary's King of The Monsters this movie was prime for a rewatch this weekend.

Such an awesome movie. I particularly like when it delves into the conversation between Mothra, Rodan and Godzilla most notably the line about Godzilla considering the humans to be the bullies. Just adds something to Godzilla and marks a part of the franchise where he became more of a character and not just a monster.

Even though the scene could be considered exposition there isn't many other ways to translate monster roars other than the faeries interpreting their language.

I noticed Godzilla cops it in the dick more twice in this movie. Once when Rosan drops him on the powerline and another when Ghidorah blasts him in the groin with his lightning. Ouch! That's probably the worst he ever had it.

[PitchBlackProgress]

Am I the only one who thought Shindo totally wanted to smash Selno towards the end?

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

Am I the only one who thought Shindo totally wanted to smash Selno at the end?

You're not alone.

[eabaker]

Am I the only one who thought Shindo totally wanted to smash Selno at the end?

You're not alone.

Weird. I always just figured he wanted to skreeonk her.

[KaijuCanuck]

Am I the only one who thought Shindo totally wanted to smash Selno at the end?

You're not alone.

Weird. I always just figured he wanted to skreeonk her.

You’re all wrong. He wanted to have sex with her.

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

You're not alone.

Weird. I always just figured he wanted to skreeonk her.

You’re all wrong. He wanted to have sex with her.

Well played, Canadian.

[PitchBlackProgress]

Just how far do you think Naoko would go for a scoop?

[Godzillian]

Just how far do you think Naoko would go for a scoop?

Not as far as you're implying with the prophet