Talkback Thread #12: Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

For the discussion of Toho produced and distributed films or shows released before 1980.
Post Reply
User avatar
RodanRedux
Monsterland Worker
Posts: 186
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2010 10:18 am
Location: Southern California

Re: Talkback Thread #12: Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

Post by RodanRedux »

I just got the dvd of this at the store last week (now that they finally got a shipment of Godzilla films). A really fun movie, not my favorite but it was entertaining. Gigan is awesome, what interesting an original kaiju design. The whole manga artist vs the cockroach aliens trying taking over the world story was great. Also my buddy Anguirus was in it.
-FINIS-

Sam
Yojimbo
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 1:34 pm
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: Talkback Thread #12: Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

Post by Sam »

RodanRedux wrote:I just got the dvd of this at the store last week (now that they finally got a shipment of Godzilla films). A really fun movie, not my favorite but it was entertaining. Gigan is awesome, what interesting an original kaiju design. The whole manga artist vs the cockroach aliens trying taking over the world story was great. Also my buddy Anguirus was in it.
I agree. I loved this movie as a kid, and probably still would now. The use of Ifukube's music, even if it is stock music, really adds something.

User avatar
Guardian7
Monarch Researcher
Posts: 252
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:29 am

Re: Talkback Thread #12: Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

Post by Guardian7 »

I don't know if anyone had already done this or not. but here is a pretty decent image of the flash from Gigan's forehead (I assume they were suppose to put an optic beam travel line in it originally - or at least that is what I have read).

Image

The frozen image looks pretty good. It does indeed look like something is going to happen from that spot on his forehead.

Cool pic that I am sure everyone will enjoy.

User avatar
Guardian7
Monarch Researcher
Posts: 252
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:29 am

Re: Talkback Thread #12: Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)

Post by Guardian7 »

Still would have been cool to see a beam of that intense lighting (such as in the pic) striking Godzilla (more than likely Anguirus!).
So based on the Movie poster... Is he suppose to fire a beam?
I know he never has (and GFWs showed him using what maybe was a tribute to this lost ability) which is too bad.

Great character. He did a lot in the time he was around and was probably for his period one of Godzilla's most consistent foes.

User avatar
Kubo
Sazer
Posts: 10796
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:33 pm
Location: Planet Risa
Contact:

Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Kubo »

Some people hate this movie!! With a fury passion. But I, like some, have considered this my favorite Godzilla movie ever.

Give your opinion on the movie and why you hate it or love it.
Giving myself brain damage wishing too hard upon a star.

Twitter: @Dawn_of_the_DED
If you follow me on there, shoot me a DM so I know you're from the forums.

JVM
Xilien Halfling
Posts: 5677
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 8:06 pm
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by JVM »

There's people who hate this movie?

It's a good film, it's just extremely silly is all
I used to be a lot more optimistic and outgoing, believe it or not. I used to actually be passionate about this stuff.

User avatar
Mini-Godzilla
JXSDF Technician
Posts: 993
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:55 pm

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Mini-Godzilla »

I love it because it's so charmingly terrible. Odd considering that Fukuda's entries are usually just unpleasant to watch...I guess it's because he was told to emulate Honda's style for this film. And oh, did he ever fail!
Godzilla says I should learn to fight my own battles!

User avatar
Kubo
Sazer
Posts: 10796
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:33 pm
Location: Planet Risa
Contact:

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Kubo »

Yeah it's one of those so bad it's good type situations. Theres too much stock footage in it though and that's the one thing that drags it down even lower...but I still love it!
Giving myself brain damage wishing too hard upon a star.

Twitter: @Dawn_of_the_DED
If you follow me on there, shoot me a DM so I know you're from the forums.

User avatar
Goji
Xilien Halfling
Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:37 pm

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Goji »

I've heard many complaints about Fukuda's film's...but "unpleasant to watch" is definitely a new one. I think the general consensus is probably quite the opposite, regardless of the quality of his films.

I have to agree though that GIGAN, specifically, is just one of those "it's so bad, it's good" movies. MEGALON is also in that category for me personally.
Last edited by Goji on Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
UltramanGoji wrote: Cranky because you got mad I implied GFW isn't a good movie aren't you
Chrispy_G wrote:I'll say it one last time, Trump wins in a landslide.
I'll gladly eat crow if it doesn't turn out that way....but at this point it feels painfully obvious, as it has for months.

User avatar
Gojira-Fan
Gotengo Officer
Posts: 1636
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 2:45 pm

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Gojira-Fan »

It's a medicore film that just reuses the same "aliens controlling monsters try to take over world" plot that was first used in Astro Monster. The special effects are bad and the fight is too reliant on stock footage of better special effect sequences that just reminds me that I am watching a Dark Age of Godzilla film.
And I don't like it.

User avatar
ZigraDude
Monarch Researcher
Posts: 260
Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2010 10:38 am

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by ZigraDude »

Godzilla vs. Gigan is a film that's "so bad, it's good." I personally enjoy the film for how silly it is. It also tries to bring back the classic Honda/Tsuburaya days of the 60's but ends up having a more comic-book feel to it (Which IMO doesn't hurt the film. It makes it stand out from other Godzilla films). This is my personal favorite scene(s) of the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJMDyWH_ZmE

HayesAJones
Keizer
Posts: 9200
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2010 8:19 pm

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by HayesAJones »

Same reason that SyFy Original Movies are still in business- the cheese factor.

User avatar
Mini-Godzilla
JXSDF Technician
Posts: 993
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:55 pm

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Mini-Godzilla »

Goji wrote:I've heard many complaints about Fukuda's film's...but "unpleasant to watch" is definitely a new one.
Oh, I've made no attempt to hide my contempt for that hack. I have no qualms whatsoever about calling him the worst director in the entire series. Godzilla vs. Gigan is his only contribution that I even watch anymore, and I do so merely to laugh at it for its consistent hokey incompetence (helped immeasurably by the hilarious dub job).
Godzilla says I should learn to fight my own battles!

User avatar
RodanRedux
Monsterland Worker
Posts: 186
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2010 10:18 am
Location: Southern California

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by RodanRedux »

I like this movie, not my favorite, but I do enjoy it. I think Gigan got a really good introduction in this movie. The stock footage doesn't get on my nerves at all.
-FINIS-

User avatar
Goji
Xilien Halfling
Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:37 pm

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Goji »

As much as I love all of Fukuda's Godzilla films, I can understand a bit where Mini G is coming from. Fukuda would definitely win no awards for his directing abilities (which may come off as sounding pretentious coming from me seeing as I'm clearly no film director, but the varying degree in quality when "comparing" his work to Honda's is easy to notice for anyone familiar with these kind of films). Personally, I think he's far from the worst director in the series because his films were actually entertaining, regardless of how "bad" they were. The same can't be said about most of the stuff from 92'-95', MEGAGUIRUS, or dare I say even GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN to some extent (Sorry Mini G, that is NOT meant to be a stab at you, I know it's a personal favorite of yours).

The guy's work was laughable compared to Honda's contributions to the genre, but at the end of the day, I still have fun watching his films, and that's really what it comes down to (We are talking about Godzilla films, after all, not classic Kurosawa :P )
UltramanGoji wrote: Cranky because you got mad I implied GFW isn't a good movie aren't you
Chrispy_G wrote:I'll say it one last time, Trump wins in a landslide.
I'll gladly eat crow if it doesn't turn out that way....but at this point it feels painfully obvious, as it has for months.

User avatar
Starfishman
Monarch Researcher
Posts: 269
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:16 pm
Location: New York, NY
Contact:

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Starfishman »

I hate this film.................JK I love it :D This film gets a ton of flack for the use of stock footage but to me thats part of the charm of this film. Its one of my favorite Godzilla films and the stock Akira Ifukube music is pretty good and though the acting left something and effects left something to be desired but the film was so damn goofy that I didn't care and also Gigan's design was pretty awesome and the monster battles in the film are pretty enteraining. This film as a whole is pretty damn entertaining if you just accept it for what it is. Just stating my opinion thats all 8-)

User avatar
Kubo
Sazer
Posts: 10796
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:33 pm
Location: Planet Risa
Contact:

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Kubo »

The soundtrack in this film is definitely the highlight. While, yes, it is stock, its almost a best-of Godzilla soundtrack. The movie theme during the credits is great, but the end credits suck because of the singing. The one theme before the space monsters arrive is the best soundtrack ever. The soundtrack kept this movie from sucking too much more (even though I love this movie) like in Godzilla Vs Megalon, where almost EVERYTHING sucks except for the Godzilla kick at the end, that's freaking epic
Giving myself brain damage wishing too hard upon a star.

Twitter: @Dawn_of_the_DED
If you follow me on there, shoot me a DM so I know you're from the forums.

User avatar
Goji
Xilien Halfling
Posts: 6476
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:37 pm

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Goji »

Indeed. It's like Akira Ifukube's greatest hits or something :lol: It's fantastic, and a lot of the themes actually fit the scenes they accompany quite well.
UltramanGoji wrote: Cranky because you got mad I implied GFW isn't a good movie aren't you
Chrispy_G wrote:I'll say it one last time, Trump wins in a landslide.
I'll gladly eat crow if it doesn't turn out that way....but at this point it feels painfully obvious, as it has for months.

User avatar
Mini-Godzilla
JXSDF Technician
Posts: 993
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:55 pm

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Mini-Godzilla »

Yes, Godzilla vs. Gigan's stock score is strangely effective.
Tyler wrote:I think if you were working with what Toho had in the '70s you'd have difficulty making a good movie too.
Well, I guess I'd agree if Godzilla vs. Hedorah and Terror of Mechagodzilla hadn't turned out so much more satisfying than any of Fukuda's films from the same era...but I find those two films to be overwhelmingly better in all aspects.

And as I've said ever since I joined Toho Kingdom: my opinions are my opinions, and I would never begrudge someone else a different opinion. Franchise discussions become boring when people insist on thinking the same way about everything, which is why I have no reservations about noting what I like and dislike and encourage others to follow suit.
Godzilla says I should learn to fight my own battles!

User avatar
Kubo
Sazer
Posts: 10796
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:33 pm
Location: Planet Risa
Contact:

Re: Godzilla Vs. Gigan : The Following

Post by Kubo »

@ Legion1979: even if they have crappy arguments, they either like or hate the movie and there isn't much you can do about it...
Giving myself brain damage wishing too hard upon a star.

Twitter: @Dawn_of_the_DED
If you follow me on there, shoot me a DM so I know you're from the forums.

Post Reply