Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
- LSD Jellyfish
- Administrator
- Posts: 14548
- Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:57 pm
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
To reply to an earlier comment:
Yes, Godzilla vs Gigan and Godzilla vs Megalon have stock footage, but they still have tons of new footage. Yes we know Megalon isn’t really hiding in the bushes, but it’s actually easier to distract yourself then seeing Godzilla fight the giant condor again, and you still get tons of awesome footage of Megalon destroying the dam, and the big fight. Gigan’s destructiob scene is impressive etc...
GRA on the other hand is literally Minya and the kid commentating over past fights, which by the way are some of the lamest in the series. Both Gigan and Megalon also have more interesting plots, and while there’s stock footage it’s set in a new frame work.
Yes, Godzilla vs Gigan and Godzilla vs Megalon have stock footage, but they still have tons of new footage. Yes we know Megalon isn’t really hiding in the bushes, but it’s actually easier to distract yourself then seeing Godzilla fight the giant condor again, and you still get tons of awesome footage of Megalon destroying the dam, and the big fight. Gigan’s destructiob scene is impressive etc...
GRA on the other hand is literally Minya and the kid commentating over past fights, which by the way are some of the lamest in the series. Both Gigan and Megalon also have more interesting plots, and while there’s stock footage it’s set in a new frame work.
- Godzillian
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5789
- Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:36 pm
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
Not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Considering the movie is about a kid who likes Godzilla films, the stock footage isn't so bad especially with how films later in the Showa series use it so shamelessly and clumsily.
- KaijuCanuck
- Futurian
- Posts: 3451
- Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:12 pm
- Location: The Milky Way
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
Question: does this movie have a kid who weirdly has a made-up gibberish monster name, or a monster who weirdly has a regular human name?
- UltramanGoji
- Moderator
- Posts: 17756
- Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 11:40 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
Pretty sure it's indirectly implied that Ichiro names the monster after the kid.KaijuCanuck wrote:Question: does this movie have a kid who weirdly has a made-up gibberish monster name, or a monster who weirdly has a regular human name?
- KaijuCanuck
- Futurian
- Posts: 3451
- Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:12 pm
- Location: The Milky Way
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
That’s kinda funny when you think about it. It could be the equivalent in English of having a kaiju named ‘Frank’ or ‘Johnson’.UltramanGoji wrote:Pretty sure it's indirectly implied that Ichiro names the monster after the kid.KaijuCanuck wrote:Question: does this movie have a kid who weirdly has a made-up gibberish monster name, or a monster who weirdly has a regular human name?
- Terasawa
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
"Gabara" is a nickname Ichiro gives his bully (I'm not sure we're ever told why), it's not a real name.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.
- A list of known Toho export dubs (a colossal, perpetual work in progress)
- Kaiju and Tokusatsu Movies on The Sci-Fi Channel (1992 - 2010)
- Zarm
- E.S.P.Spy
- Posts: 4973
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:21 pm
- Location: USA, East Coast
- Contact:
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
So it's basically the equivalent of a kaiju being named 'jerk-face' or 'fart-breath.'
The grace of God is a greater gift than we can truly fathom; undeserved mercy is a kindness humbling in its sheer scope.KaijuCanuck wrote:It’s part of my secret plan to create a fifth column in the US, pre-emoting our glorious conquest and the creation of the Canadian Empire, upon which the sun will consistently set after less than eight hours of daylight.
The Zone Fighter campaign is complete, with all episodes subtitled! PM me if you need a link location.
Maranatha!
- LockBite
- JXSDF Technician
- Posts: 907
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 1:21 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
Visually, audibly, and morally the most repugnant G film ever created. You don’t need to be a psychiatrist to see the flaws in this film’s message. This isn’t about standing up to the bully and rising above as the better man. It’s about out-punching him and leading his band of ne’er-do-wells as the new alpha ape. Immediately after kaiju Gabera gets whuped, Ichiro starts teasing him, and we see the exact same thing happen with human Gabera. Then Ichiro starts down the same path as Gabera, bullying a blue-collar worker and running away. Had the ending been scored with a more ominous and creepy soundtrack, this could’ve been interpreted as a profound work of self-criticism on Ishirō Honda’s part regarding how children can misinterpret media.
I get that this isn’t the message they were trying to tell. Ichiro isn’t supposed to be this bully. Unfortunately, the film accidentally portrays him as such. This is without a doubt the worst Godzilla movie, but it’s more entertaining than Godzilla Raids Again.
I get that this isn’t the message they were trying to tell. Ichiro isn’t supposed to be this bully. Unfortunately, the film accidentally portrays him as such. This is without a doubt the worst Godzilla movie, but it’s more entertaining than Godzilla Raids Again.
- Maritonic
- Admin | Forum Manager
- Posts: 6680
- Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 6:26 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
LockBite wrote: This is without a doubt the worst Godzilla movie, but it’s more entertaining than Godzilla Raids Again.
How...uh.....
Any issues, please feel free to private message me or e-mail me at MaritonicTK@gmail.com.
Bruno says we're not supposed to hate.
MechaGoji Bro7503 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 3:24 pm Don't go to a friend's wedding, send him 100 copies of Gamera vs Zigra instead. Be a man.
- LockBite
- JXSDF Technician
- Posts: 907
- Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2017 1:21 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
An inferior film can still be more entertaining. The so bad it’s good principle.Maritonic wrote:LockBite wrote: This is without a doubt the worst Godzilla movie, but it’s more entertaining than Godzilla Raids Again.
How...uh.....
- Maritonic
- Admin | Forum Manager
- Posts: 6680
- Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 6:26 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
I guess I'll just never ever ever be able to understand this fandom's hatred for Godzilla Raids Again.LockBite wrote:An inferior film can still be more entertaining. The so bad it’s good principle.Maritonic wrote:LockBite wrote: This is without a doubt the worst Godzilla movie, but it’s more entertaining than Godzilla Raids Again.
How...uh.....
Any issues, please feel free to private message me or e-mail me at MaritonicTK@gmail.com.
Bruno says we're not supposed to hate.
MechaGoji Bro7503 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 3:24 pm Don't go to a friend's wedding, send him 100 copies of Gamera vs Zigra instead. Be a man.
- eabaker
- Administrator
- Posts: 13758
- Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 6:16 pm
- Location: Portland, OR
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
Ichiro does not lead the gang of children in bullying an adult at the end of the movie. The kids act out against a perceived authority figure (by - gasp! - honking a horn), which is pretty damned normal, healthy behavior.
People really seem to tie themselves in mental knots trying to analyze the ending of this movie and find some negative message in it, rather than just saying, "I didn't really care for it," and moving on.
People really seem to tie themselves in mental knots trying to analyze the ending of this movie and find some negative message in it, rather than just saying, "I didn't really care for it," and moving on.
Tokyo, a smoldering memorial to the unknown, an unknown which at this very moment still prevails and could at any time lash out with its terrible destruction anywhere else in the world.
- Zarm
- E.S.P.Spy
- Posts: 4973
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:21 pm
- Location: USA, East Coast
- Contact:
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
I'm gonna have to agree with Lockbite analysis here. Part of it stems out of a socio/political disagreement on what's healthy for kids in the first place (isn't it funny that conservatives tend to endorse obeying authority yet want to limit the ability of government to become one, while liberals tend to endorse resisting authority, yet want to give the government more power to be one over them? I just realized that while thinking out this post. And then you have the eventual fear- abuse of power/authority becoming tyranny, and again, the way each side thinks they'll avoid it (recognition based on morality/resist it all just in case) is kind of opposite to their treatment of free speech (protect it all just in case/oppose or accept it based on morality)? It's funny the more interactions here make me think through political dichotomies, the more I see each political side applying absolutely opposite principles to two different things in their belief systems...)
...And that's a whole lotta words without getting to All monsters Attack.
...So a part of it is a disagreement on the point of acting out against authority being a positive benefit; but even outside of that, look at what the act contextually represents- the same behavior that Ichiro was bullied for refusing earlier. He has become their leader, yes- and he is leading them in exactly what he was taking a principled stand against earlier. (Caused by a different methodology, but with the intent of bringing about the same result). He has become exactly like what was hateful, was portrayed as negative, just because he's been accepted as one of them.
Add to that, of course, the analysis from my own review about the consequences and psychological/situational state of each family member by the film's end (father in debt and trying to escape the city, now forced deeper into the hole financially to make up for his son's misdeeds as he promises to make restitution for the vandalism, with the implication that this may become the new status quo; mother horribly traumatized and living in paralyzing fear for her son's safety and unable to do anything about it except silently try to cope, alone; and Ichiro capitulating to join the system of anarchy and mischief, not only representing a moral compromise, but also a situational deterioration and potential to cause even greater grief and stress for his already-overburdened parents).
At best, I can be generous and call this a major critique of inner-city life of the era; a way of saying 'This is hopeless, it traps families and corrupts and destroys them, it leaves its mark on everyone and is hopeless and there's no way out; this is no way to live.' Which would be a pretty subversive criticism to encode into a kid's film, but at least it would be a redeeming feature. As it is, I think all these things are an unintentional side-effect of poorly-thought-out writing, much like the tonally-jarring 'heroic WMDs' of the Millennium era. (Although I do suspect some of the visual/aural ugliness LockBite mentions is an intended critique of big-city life; the lyric in the opening song does talk about how "Life is hard for us also," so I think there's a definite element of 'life in the city kinda sucks'- just not to a degree of accounting for the unintentional despair and existential hopelessness layered onto the family's situation by the ending).
But I really don't think this is tying into knots, or even reaching- just a reading of what's presented onscreen. Perhaps one from a slightly-different viewpoint of child psychology, but not one that in any way requires reading into more than what's presented onscreen.
...And that's a whole lotta words without getting to All monsters Attack.
...So a part of it is a disagreement on the point of acting out against authority being a positive benefit; but even outside of that, look at what the act contextually represents- the same behavior that Ichiro was bullied for refusing earlier. He has become their leader, yes- and he is leading them in exactly what he was taking a principled stand against earlier. (Caused by a different methodology, but with the intent of bringing about the same result). He has become exactly like what was hateful, was portrayed as negative, just because he's been accepted as one of them.
Add to that, of course, the analysis from my own review about the consequences and psychological/situational state of each family member by the film's end (father in debt and trying to escape the city, now forced deeper into the hole financially to make up for his son's misdeeds as he promises to make restitution for the vandalism, with the implication that this may become the new status quo; mother horribly traumatized and living in paralyzing fear for her son's safety and unable to do anything about it except silently try to cope, alone; and Ichiro capitulating to join the system of anarchy and mischief, not only representing a moral compromise, but also a situational deterioration and potential to cause even greater grief and stress for his already-overburdened parents).
At best, I can be generous and call this a major critique of inner-city life of the era; a way of saying 'This is hopeless, it traps families and corrupts and destroys them, it leaves its mark on everyone and is hopeless and there's no way out; this is no way to live.' Which would be a pretty subversive criticism to encode into a kid's film, but at least it would be a redeeming feature. As it is, I think all these things are an unintentional side-effect of poorly-thought-out writing, much like the tonally-jarring 'heroic WMDs' of the Millennium era. (Although I do suspect some of the visual/aural ugliness LockBite mentions is an intended critique of big-city life; the lyric in the opening song does talk about how "Life is hard for us also," so I think there's a definite element of 'life in the city kinda sucks'- just not to a degree of accounting for the unintentional despair and existential hopelessness layered onto the family's situation by the ending).
But I really don't think this is tying into knots, or even reaching- just a reading of what's presented onscreen. Perhaps one from a slightly-different viewpoint of child psychology, but not one that in any way requires reading into more than what's presented onscreen.
Last edited by Zarm on Fri Mar 23, 2018 12:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The grace of God is a greater gift than we can truly fathom; undeserved mercy is a kindness humbling in its sheer scope.KaijuCanuck wrote:It’s part of my secret plan to create a fifth column in the US, pre-emoting our glorious conquest and the creation of the Canadian Empire, upon which the sun will consistently set after less than eight hours of daylight.
The Zone Fighter campaign is complete, with all episodes subtitled! PM me if you need a link location.
Maranatha!
- Ivo-goji
- EDF Instructor
- Posts: 2818
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2016 8:54 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
^I can see how that ending would come off as problematic.
It's like Daniel winning the karate tournament only to run off and join Cobra Kai.
It's like Daniel winning the karate tournament only to run off and join Cobra Kai.
I know, right?Maritonic wrote:
I guess I'll just never ever ever be able to understand this fandom's hatred for Godzilla Raids Again.
Kaiju-King42 wrote: Welcome to Toho Kingdom, where every conceivable opinion, no matter how outlandish or unpopular, is a possibility among the population.
- Zarm
- E.S.P.Spy
- Posts: 4973
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2016 3:21 pm
- Location: USA, East Coast
- Contact:
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
Bad experience with the bannana oil- I mean, the dub? Count me three on this one.Ivo-goji wrote:I know, right?Maritonic wrote:
I guess I'll just never ever ever be able to understand this fandom's hatred for Godzilla Raids Again.
The grace of God is a greater gift than we can truly fathom; undeserved mercy is a kindness humbling in its sheer scope.KaijuCanuck wrote:It’s part of my secret plan to create a fifth column in the US, pre-emoting our glorious conquest and the creation of the Canadian Empire, upon which the sun will consistently set after less than eight hours of daylight.
The Zone Fighter campaign is complete, with all episodes subtitled! PM me if you need a link location.
Maranatha!
- Terasawa
- Xilien Halfling
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 10:06 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
I think the idea was supposed to be that Ichiro's bullies ended up respecting him for standing up for himself, but it's very awkward in the film. The paint can gag is also obviously there for one last bit of slapstick for the audience, but yeah, it makes Ichiro look like the bully.
I actually watched this last night and I was struck again by how good Honda's direction and staging in the climax is. Honda is kinda well known for avoiding violence in his films (unless you count monsters beating each other up), and the Ichiro/Gabara fight certainly follows that. (That would at least explain the odd still frame technique that's employed here.) But the climax in the abandoned warehouse has some shots that are actually startling for a Honda film, specifically when Sachio Sakai pulls a knife on Ichiro. Obviously he never ends up using it but the idea that he could makes it one of the most disturbing moments in any Honda fantasy film. The chase leading up to that moment is excellent as well, recalling the earlier shot of Gabara chasing Ichiro on Monster Island. I like the cuts back to sfx footage showing Ichiro defending himself using Minya's example.
I listened to Richard Pusateri's commentary track on the Classic Media DVD and I thought he had some good insights about Honda's direction too. Several times he notes a Kurosawa-esque transfer of action from narrative A to narrative B that just feel so natural that I'd never noticed them. For example, Ichiro sees a police car racing down the street. Cut to the interior of the car as the police deliver exposition about the robbers. Pusateri also mentions the recurring "down the hole" motif, from Ichiro on Monster Island to the robber falling through one in the warehouse.
So I don't think this is a stupid or incompetent film at all. On the contrary, I think it might be one of Honda's most artistic (at least in the drama, non-sfx, footage). It's just very unfortunate that Toho decided to build the monster set pieces around recycled footage. And the new monster stuff isn't a whole lot better either...
I actually watched this last night and I was struck again by how good Honda's direction and staging in the climax is. Honda is kinda well known for avoiding violence in his films (unless you count monsters beating each other up), and the Ichiro/Gabara fight certainly follows that. (That would at least explain the odd still frame technique that's employed here.) But the climax in the abandoned warehouse has some shots that are actually startling for a Honda film, specifically when Sachio Sakai pulls a knife on Ichiro. Obviously he never ends up using it but the idea that he could makes it one of the most disturbing moments in any Honda fantasy film. The chase leading up to that moment is excellent as well, recalling the earlier shot of Gabara chasing Ichiro on Monster Island. I like the cuts back to sfx footage showing Ichiro defending himself using Minya's example.
I listened to Richard Pusateri's commentary track on the Classic Media DVD and I thought he had some good insights about Honda's direction too. Several times he notes a Kurosawa-esque transfer of action from narrative A to narrative B that just feel so natural that I'd never noticed them. For example, Ichiro sees a police car racing down the street. Cut to the interior of the car as the police deliver exposition about the robbers. Pusateri also mentions the recurring "down the hole" motif, from Ichiro on Monster Island to the robber falling through one in the warehouse.
So I don't think this is a stupid or incompetent film at all. On the contrary, I think it might be one of Honda's most artistic (at least in the drama, non-sfx, footage). It's just very unfortunate that Toho decided to build the monster set pieces around recycled footage. And the new monster stuff isn't a whole lot better either...
Last edited by Terasawa on Fri Mar 23, 2018 5:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
寺沢. He/him/his, etc.
- A list of known Toho export dubs (a colossal, perpetual work in progress)
- Kaiju and Tokusatsu Movies on The Sci-Fi Channel (1992 - 2010)
-
- G-Grasper
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 6:16 pm
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
Does anybody else think the high pitched baby voice they gave Minilla in the original cut is actually more annoying than the Barney Rubble voice they gave him in the US cut?
White Male Genocide is necessary.
Kill all white men.
Kill all white men.
- Maritonic
- Admin | Forum Manager
- Posts: 6680
- Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2016 6:26 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
Annoying, maybe. Awkward and embarrassing as all hell? No. I prefer it any day.GojiDog wrote:Does anybody else think the high pitched baby voice they gave Minilla in the original cut is actually more annoying than the Barney Rubble voice they gave him in the US cut?
Any issues, please feel free to private message me or e-mail me at MaritonicTK@gmail.com.
Bruno says we're not supposed to hate.
MechaGoji Bro7503 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 31, 2023 3:24 pm Don't go to a friend's wedding, send him 100 copies of Gamera vs Zigra instead. Be a man.
- ThunderScore
- Monarch Researcher
- Posts: 301
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 9:13 am
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
I thought he sounded more like Quick Draw McGraw...
-
- G-Grasper
- Posts: 1223
- Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 6:16 pm
Re: Talkback Thread #10: All Monsters Attack (1969)
ThunderScore wrote:I thought he sounded more like Quick Draw McGraw...
Fair.
Oh God, now I'm picturing Minilla running around Ka'bong-ing Gabara with a guitar.
White Male Genocide is necessary.
Kill all white men.
Kill all white men.