Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

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Godzillian
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by Godzillian »

GojiDog wrote:Destroy All Monsters does kind of have the "end of an era" feel to it.
That's cause it was meant too since it was. It's the last time Tohos dream team made a kaiju film together, it was when the Japanese movie system was going through massive upheaval, Kaiju films were becoming expensive to make. This was Tohos last hurrah and in their mind the possibly last kaiju film they'd make
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by TitanoGoji16 »

A thought I had while watching the movie the other day: Once it became obvious that the Baragon suit was useless and that both he and Varan would need to be completely redone, why didn't Toho just go back to using Ebirah and Maguma like they originally intended? Or Sanda or Kamacuras or whoever? Why stick to their guns with Baragon and Varan if they couldn't even use them?
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

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TitanoGoji16 wrote:A thought I had while watching the movie the other day: Once it became obvious that the Baragon suit was useless and that both he and Varan would need to be completely redone, why didn't Toho just go back to using Ebirah and Maguma like they originally intended? Or Sanda or Kamacuras or whoever? Why stick to their guns with Baragon and Varan if they couldn't even use them?
Kamacuras wire work probably stopped it from being in it as for the rest no idea. Varan ahs prob kept in as just having the puppet was an easy way to get an extra kaiju in. The others you mention are anyone's guess
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by Dr. Professor »

They probably just wanted Varan to be associated with a well made movie.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by Goji »

Ebirah and Gaira were probably starting to rot as a result of being water logged, and would have likely required a lot of restoration work to be 'screen useable'.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by Terasawa »

The Baragon and Varan parts are pretty small though, so they might not have wanted to replace them with other characters that would have necessitated using more stunt performers. Varan is portrayed solely by a prop. Ebirah, Gaira, Maguma, etc. would have been monster suits requiring already overworked actors. Keep in mind too that the actors were already outnumbered by the monsters that appeared on screen. Using more monster suits would have limited the other characters' parts.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by King of the Monsters »

Toho was content using the rotten Gaira suit for Go! Godman and Go! Greenman much later, but apparently didn't feel like going the extra mile to restore it for another film appearance back in 1968.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by LamangoKaijura »

King of the Monsters wrote:Toho was content using the rotten Gaira suit for Go! Godman and Go! Greenman much later, but apparently didn't feel like going the extra mile to restore it for another film appearance back in 1968.
That's when Tsuburaya wasn't involved with Toho at the time.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by King of the Monsters »

Godman and Greenman were also super low budget TV shows and not feature films.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by Grievous »

Well...this one is a Classic...no doubt about it.

Its amazing to think it was to be the last.

Good thing it wasn't.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by Ian_1954 »

I know much of the conversation has died down but I would like to contribute to the discussion. For me Destroy all Monsters was a rare team up that we didn't really see that often through out the entire series with basicly the exception of Final wars. The variety of abilities really made the end fight and even the destruction some of the best As a kid this was my favorite movie for that reason and also the fight scenes. Currently I enjoy it because of the straight forward plot that while simplistic seems similar to a Greek epic. The cold nature of the Kilaks make them seem at least to me more menacing. I just really enjoy this movie and still do.

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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by miguelnuva »

I still wish Toho would have done a true remake of this one off of this film where all the monsters are used and then fight King Ghidorah together.

I don't hate Final Wars but it is almost worth it if they would have just used all those suits and remade DAM.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

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Ian_1954 wrote:I know much of the conversation has died down but I would like to contribute to the discussion. For me Destroy all Monsters was a rare team up that we didn't really see that often through out the entire series with basicly the exception of Final wars. The variety of abilities really made the end fight and even the destruction some of the best As a kid this was my favorite movie for that reason and also the fight scenes. Currently I enjoy it because of the straight forward plot that while simplistic seems similar to a Greek epic. The cold nature of the Kilaks make them seem at least to me more menacing. I just really enjoy this movie and still do.
Welcome aboard, Young Farmer! Glad to see this movie getting some praise instead of the common flak these days. Also, bumping a film talkback thread is nothing to apologise for, since they regularly gather dust for years at a time. More discussion is best discussion.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by edgaguirus »

The attack on Tokyo is one of the best destruction scenes in the series. It's a visual feast with all of the projectiles and explosions going around.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

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JAGzilla wrote:Glad to see this movie getting some praise instead of the common flak these days.
This film gets flak?

Really?!
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by ArchdukeCaligula »

Grievous wrote:
JAGzilla wrote:Glad to see this movie getting some praise instead of the common flak these days.
This film gets flak?

Really?!
Most of the complaints is that there isn't enough focus on the monsters. Honestly though, the only scenes that slog the pacing of the movie is the scene explaining about finding the metal balls around the world and the slow parts of when the Moonlight SY-3 crew is on the moon searching for the monster controller device. Also that not all of the monsters get enough time to shine.
This movie is one of the best of the Showa era, though. Kickass score, army scenes, and of course monster footage.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by UltramanGoji »

ArchdukeCaligula wrote: Most of the complaints is that there isn't enough focus on the monsters.
Erm...no, the characters are pathetically unmemorable (Akira Kubo is not a good lead) and the pacing is extremely sloggish. It's pretty much saved by the fantastic effects sequences. It's not the worst of the Showa era but it certainly has no business being anywhere near the top.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by Dr. Professor »

UltramanGoji wrote:
ArchdukeCaligula wrote: Most of the complaints is that there isn't enough focus on the monsters.
Erm...no, the characters are pathetically unmemorable (Akira Kubo is not a good lead) and the pacing is extremely sloggish. It's pretty much saved by the fantastic effects sequences. It's not the worst of the Showa era but it certainly has no business being anywhere near the top.
I'm sure Akira Kubo could've been a good lead if the protagonist was well written. I wouldn't put it on him.
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

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ArchdukeCaligula wrote:Most of the complaints is that there isn't enough focus on the monsters.
Well...that's my complaint about Godzilla vs. Monster Zero...so I can understand that.
Its funny because I see Destroy All Monsters as Godzilla vs. Monster Zero "done right"
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Re: Talkback Thread #9: Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Post by JAGzilla »

Perfectly executed or not, it's a great concept. Yes, it's essentially the plot of Monster Zero but BIGGERER, but still. I'd love to see a proper, competent remake somewhere down the line.
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