Talkback Thread #13: Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)

[LSD Jellyfish]

I'm really curious to see how this one plays as the last in a six-movie theatrical marathon. I mean, I'm sure I'll still be totally into it (I'll also be pretty high, as I'm Lyfting to the theater and bringing many edibles), but how much of the crowd is gonna stick around through this?

I'll let you know (unless any of you are gonna be at the Egyptian on the 25th, in which case, let's meet up)!

I mean, Megalon is the type of film to enjoy under the influence, or with the initiated, so I wonder. I guess they chose it as the last, because its the one that takes the least energy to watch or appreciate.

[MikeSTZillak]

I mean, Megalon is the type of film to enjoy under the influence, or with the initiated

Or with these guys.

[Freebleeper]

Watch this with my mom yesterday and she kept asking me how does Godzilla know what Jet Jaguar was saying to him and don't get mr wrong my mom really loves these films so it's cool, but she was so confused at this scene but I guess it doesn't matter.

[Kinggoji1962]

I watched this movie and it was kino, I have no idea what all of you are thinking.

[LSD Jellyfish]

Watch this with my mom yesterday and she kept asking me how does Godzilla know what Jet Jaguar was saying to him and don't get mr wrong my mom really loves these films so it's cool, but she was so confused at this scene but I guess it doesn't matter.

You know, reading that made me realize how desensitized we are all to this.

[Ivo-goji]

I remember the Interregnum Years. 2004-2014. There wasn't much to watch out there. You needed a strong stomach to sit through The X From Outer Space and random Asylum movies.

[edgaguirus]

Off topic, I like the X From Outer Space. It can be amusing at times, and Guilala has a good design.

On topic, I don't think it matters how Godzilla understood the robot. To paraphrase a certain song, " tell yourself it's just a show, so sit back and relax."

[Zarm]

Oh, man. It's been a long time since I watched the dub. That kid's voice is scary.

[TitanoGoji16]

That kid's voice is scary.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! WHERE ARE THOSE PLACES?!! I'VE NEVER HEARD OF 'EM BEFORE!!"

Whatever do you mean?

[edgaguirus]

I had the chance to recently watch this after a really long time. It's a fun movie, despite all the obvious stock footage in it. It keeps a fast pace and has a jazzy music score.

[Missingno.]

^My sentiments are basically reflected in the above post. I literally just watched this one for the first time in four years, and only now do I see how much of a bizarre film it truly is. The plot is virtually nonexistent, and everything seems to just happen on a whim with little to no explanation given. Seatopian agents infiltrating a robotics lab for what appear to be multiple motives on behalf of their kingdom? Space Hunter M still on Earth after their defeat a year prior (or more, given it is 197X)? Jet Jaguar gaining his own will/sentience as well as size changing powers in the sense of duty, which are later lost after the threat is alleviated? On the flip side of that coin, those things that aren't explained happen to be the most interesting; and as pointed out earlier, could have been saved by just a few extra lines of dialogue.

Yet, aside from the fact that most of the elements of what would make an objectively well-constructed film absent, the movie still has this sort of charm to it that allows it to be an entertaining watch in spite of its glaring flaws. The overall atmosphere is totally 70's, and the final fight is just physical action that relies on no complex effects, just a dirty, up close and personal brawl between the monsters. I honestly didn't find myself bored during the course of watching it, which is something I can't say for other Godzilla films I once enjoyed, but now nearly struggle to get through.

[GojiDog]

One major difference that separates GVG and GVM: The Music.

Stock music from previous scores done by Akira Ifukube made that film feel a lot more epic than it really was. Then you watch GVM with this bouncy 70s score, and its like these two films aren't even from the same franchise, much less back to back entries.

[Godzillian]

One major difference that separates GVG and GVM: The Music.

Stock music from previous scores done by Akira Ifukube made that film feel a lot more epic than it really was. Then you watch GVM with this bouncy 70s score, and its like these two films aren't even from the same franchise, much less back to back entries.

GVM probably should've done stock music too to keep the budget low

[Stump Feet]

For the most part, I always liked Megalon’s score, I think it fit the movie very well.

[JAGzilla]

GvsM used a good bit of music from GvsH, didn't it? Haven't seen it in a few years.

[Stump Feet]

GvsM used a good bit of music from GvsH, didn't it? Haven't seen it in a few years.

Yes sir, about 2 or 3 that I remember at least

[Terasawa]

I'm 99.9% sure the Megalon score was newly recorded for that movie, but Manabe reused his Godzilla theme composition (but not the recording) from Hedorah.

Edit: The Perfect Collection booklet confirms the GvM score was entirely new. (The booklet for Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla in the same set mentions the films that stock cues were taken from.)

[Stump Feet]

I'm 99.9% sure the Megalon score was newly recorded for that movie, but Manabe reused his Godzilla theme composition (but not the recording) from Hedorah.

That’s gotta be it then because a few themes sound insanely similar, especially the bing boing theme

[GojiDog]

Both Godzilla Vs. Hedorah and Godzilla Vs. Megalon used the same Godzilla motif with the heroic and triumphant horns that almost sounds like a diesel truck horn being played repeatedly, lol.

But even with that similarity and the same composer, both films sound different and fit the tones of their respective films. GVH has creepier and more intense music to coincide with the horror elements in the film, and GVM is more lighthearted and silly throughout.

[Zarm]

And thank goodness that it was an original score, or we might have been deprived of the majesty that is the Jet Jaguar motif, and song!