Talkback Thread #6: Invasion of the Astro Monster (1965)

[The Octopus]

That cartoon on the top right. If that was in a western publication it would be considered racist.

[LSD Jellyfish]

That cartoon on the top right. If that was in a western publication it would be considered racist.

Sunday Boys
(Title of the magazine, or maybe Boy’s Sunday?)

Anyways, that character in the top right is Iyami from Osomatsu-kun .



He’s the one that does the original pose.

Iyami is a strange character, but he’s also based off of Tony Tani, a rather strange Japanese comedian/performer from the early 1950’s:



I don’t think the original image or character you posted is intended to be racist or anything. Japan just has a lot of incredibly stylized art, and since it’s “Japanese” I don’t think Japanese artists/audiences are thinking “hey that looks like a western caricature of a Japanese/Asian person. There is definitely still a lot of racist caricatures in Japanese media though...

You can see more from the magazine you posted here:

[LockBite]

That cartoon on the top right. If that was in a western publication it would be considered racist.

Holy shit, Osomatsu and Godzilla, together at last!

[Gothicserpent]

I always thought it was weird that they didn't show Rodan flying out of the water as well. We can assume the one in DAM is the same Rodan, so he clearly survived. But its just a bit odd that he doesn't fly out as well.

[Voyager]

I believe that King Ghidorah looks better in this film than he did in GTTHM. I just wish they had him be more... gold. The longer necks look great though. I wish I could say the same for Godzilla and Rodan's designs.

[Jetty_Jags]

Honestly this is one of my favorite showa films. I think everything just clicks. The design/aesthetic is sleek and exactly what I'm looking for in a 60s sci-fi movie, the whole cast has some great chemistry, especially Nick Adams with Akira Takerada as well as Kumi Mizuno, and as always has a kicking soundtrack.

[edgaguirus]

The main theme is one of the best of the series.

[Terasawa]

I think the cue that opens the U.S. version is a better fit and sets a more appropriate mood.

[eabaker]

I prefer the Kaiju Daisenso March as the opening, largely because it juxtaposes so sharply with the tone/pace/style of the opening scenes. It gives a flavor of the action and energy to come later.

But, then, when don't I favor juxtaposition?

[Spuro]

I think the cue that opens the U.S. version is a better fit and sets a more appropriate mood.

I'll have to agree with this. Monster Zero may be one of the very few Godzilla films where I actually prefer the US cut.

[Tamura]

Honestly this is one of my favorite showa films. I think everything just clicks. The design/aesthetic is sleek and exactly what I'm looking for in a 60s sci-fi movie, the whole cast has some great chemistry, especially Nick Adams with Akira Takerada as well as Kumi Mizuno, and as always has a kicking soundtrack.

If you like this film for all those reasons you'll love The Killing Bottle.

[Jetty_Jags]

Honestly this is one of my favorite showa films. I think everything just clicks. The design/aesthetic is sleek and exactly what I'm looking for in a 60s sci-fi movie, the whole cast has some great chemistry, especially Nick Adams with Akira Takerada as well as Kumi Mizuno, and as always has a kicking soundtrack.

If you like this film for all those reasons you'll love The Killing Bottle.

Wow man, thanks! This looks right up my alley. I'll definitely have to check it out. Is there any place I can easily get it, I don't mean pirating, just I know foreign movies can sometimes be hard to get stateside.

[Terasawa]

Wow man, thanks! This looks right up my alley. I'll definitely have to check it out. Is there any place I can easily get it, I don't mean pirating, just I know foreign movies can sometimes be hard to get stateside.

That's the only option outside of an extremely rare early '80s Japanese VHS release for rental businesses.

[MaxRebo320]

That, or move to Japan and wait in vain for it to air on cable television again.

[Tamura]

sUpPoRrT oFfIcIaL rElEaSeS oNlY! Multinational corporations need the mahhhney and you (fans of Toho movies) don't need the unprofitable intellectual property!

[Omegazilla]

One of the things I really like about this one is that we got a monster fight on another planet and that still hasn't been done since.

[Jetty_Jags]

Yup, re-watched it last weekend, still one of my favorites, also finally planning on getting around to the killing bottle.

[edgaguirus]

One of the things I really like about this one is that we got a monster fight on another planet and that still hasn't been done since.

Only on Ultraman.

[eabaker]

One of the things I really like about this one is that we got a monster fight on another planet and that still hasn't been done since.

Only on Ultraman.

And Zone Fighter. Including one outer space fight with King Ghidorah.

[JAGzilla]

*Gamera and Guiron sit dejectedly on the sidelines, wondering why they've been forgotten*