SKREEONK's Fan Reviews! YOUR Opinions on Kaiju Classics!

[UnCanny Studios]

So here's the deal - You want to let the fandom know how you feel about a particular kaiju film, but dont feel like writing a @&#%!$ essay, right? You're in luck!

SKREEONK's fan submissions will serve as a compilation of fan opinions on individual Kaiju films. For example, if we chose to review Godzilla vs Hedorah first - everyone's opinions would be posted together on http://skreeonk.com under Godzilla vs Hedorah. That way, when someone in the fandom is curious about a certain film, they can see the opinions of other fans like themselves as well as traditional reviews! Sound good? I sure hope so!

Skreeonk.com is a budding collector's site that will be building over the next few months (hopefully with the help of you guys) and will be involved in all kinds of exciting stuff in the future! But this thread is not here for the website, it's here for you guys to tell us just what you think of some of your favorite kaiju films!

If you would like to post your opinion on a movie to be used at Skreeonk.com, please include your first name, or simply the name you would like to be called. Then tell us your opinion! It can be anywhere from one scentence to a couple of paragraphs! Its all about what you have to say about the film.


I would love to hear some ideas for what movie we should start off with. To stay in like with the forum's guidelines, let's stick to TOHO films in this thread.

[Space Hunter M]

So, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, huh?:

"The best film of the "Matsuri Era of Godzilla", so to speak, with 1975's Terror of Mechagodzilla coming in at a close second.
While the combination Banno's screwball direction and composer Manebe's bizarre, psychedelic soundtrack is often touted as a disgrace by some, these are the elements that make the flick' so exciting and new. Everything here is new in a literal sense as well (Save for Godzilla's slightly aging costume). The film does not try to be something it isn't. No obvious budgetary stock-footage or lifted Ifukube here."

-Space Hunter M

[Primevalgodzilla V2]

''A mediocre flick, armed with an intriguing antagonist, a beautifully powerful atmosphere, glorious visual effects and wonderful wackiness. Unfortunately, it is pulled down by boring, slow-paced battles, flat characters, a score that would make a mandragora envious, and in particular watching the final battle is akin to staring in the face of the most terrible of Lovecraftian entities with your eyes torn open akin to Danforth's last stare in At the Mountains of Madness, only prolonged in manner not eevn the nightmares of Cthulhu could envision.

Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives somewhat, and unlike most Godzilla's flicks it has ambition (many like to say that only the post-89 flicks lacked ambition, but honestly, the majority of the other Showa films probably took 15 minutes to cook up), style and great SFX. Not a great movie by any means, though.'

-Primevalgodzilla V2

[HayesAJones]

"This movie is simply bizarre, and I love it! Imagine if Captain Planet and Godzilla had a joint hallucination, and you have a rough idea of what this flick is like. Besides featuring one of the most interesting and deadly villains of the franchise, I think this film is worth watching for the over-the-top sequences alone, whether silly or strange. Besides, Godzilla flies. That's right, FLIES. That goofy, blaring music gets me every time!

However, be warned that the pro-environmental message is a bit heavy, and those with little tolerance for the nonsensical might want to shy away from this cinematic freakout."

- HayesAJones

[Irys X]

"Watching this movie is an experience that cannot really be described, but must be experienced. That's how freaking weird it is. And that's why it's so awesome too. It's definitely got the 70's feel down, complete with a psychadellic enemy made of sewage. This film is a load of fun, but must be seen to believed."

-Irys X

[UnCanny Studios]

Yes! Awesome - exactly what I was talking about. You guys are fantastic .

Now how about one that doesn't get discussed as much around here? I watched Frankenstein Conquers The World recently, and I would love to hear some opinions on that movie (Frankenstein vs Baragon).

Also, to kill two birds with one stone - I'd really like to get some opinions on GMK: Giant Monsters All Out Attack! Feel free to tell us what you think of one or the other, or both!

[Space Hunter M]

"A great, but extremely under appreciated and overlooked Toho fantasy film.
One might say that the process that went into the film's conception alone is as equally intriguing as the picture itself."

-Space Hunter M

EDIT: This is FCtW

[HayesAJones]

"GMK is one of my favorite films, Godzilla or otherwise. The suits look great (Godzilla's infamous 'potbelly' has never bothered me), the action sequences are excellent, and the score is just a treat. I love that each monster has a unique theme that plays during their big moments. The special effects are generally good, especially Godzilla's breath. The sense of momentum and flow that his trademark beam gives off is unmatched, and the build-up is great as well. Gotta love those gathering particles. But where this movie really stand out is the story. Unlike other flicks in the franchise, this film is much more fantasy than science-fiction. The mystic aspects and ghostly origin of the monsters are very refreshing. Godzilla was originally meant to represent the horrors of war. Now he's literally a war come back to life. Great stuff right there! This flick also has a lot of awesome scenes. Whenever I think of Godzilla, the hospital and mushroom cloud scene rear their heads rather quickly.

One of the best things about this movie is its balance. It's serious without being crushingly grim, but it's also fun without being overly silly. It's that blend of mindless entertainment and food for thought that makes this a film I can watch no matter what mood I'm in.

The other best part is the King himself. This flick features one of my favorite incarnations of the character. Savage, merciless, and cunning, this Goji's a force to be reckoned with. Whether armed forces of legendary guardian, nothing is spared from his wrath. The design is one of my favorites as well. That expressive face just screams "you're all gonna die". He's mean in spirit and in looks. (I dare anyone to call out that 'potbelly' to his face. Hm? No takers? I thought as much.)

The only negatives I find in this film is that the plot can be a bit hazy, and a few bad effects. Otherwise, pop it in and grab a seat!"

- HayesAJones

[Svitska Donkun]

Just throwing this out there, but Godzilla vs. Hedorah is the only film since Godzilla vs. Mothra where Godzilla went solo against the solo monster. The next time that would happen would be Godzilla vs. Biollante. I think that's another reason why I love the film so much. It's just Godzilla fighting the monster, mono-e-mono. no other monsters to focus on, just Godzilla and Hedorah, like any true "versus" film should be. That's not to say Godzilla vs. Gigan, Megalon, and Mechagodzilla are any less good, they just have inaccurate titles. You can argue Godzilla went solo against the Sea Monster, but then they had to throw Mothra in at the last minute. I don;t think she should've been in the picture. I think the natives should've been pre-existing on the island, and they build a boat to escape or something. Just throwing in Mothra is kind of weird, especially for kids who see the movie without any pre-existing knowledge on Mothra, Like a 6 year old Svitska. But back on Godzilla soloing Hedorah...It's just an interesting thought I find...

[omgitsgodzilla]

Sounds cool. I'll try formulating something tomorrow, I don't have time now.

[King Caesar]

Hey, Uncanny...just a question out of curiousity, will there be non-giant monster reviews or is strictly kaiju?

[Dust_pan]

Yeah, will there? I could contribute a 1-2 paragraph review on Sayonara Jupiter, among other films.

[Tyler]

Godzilla vs. Hedorah

"I've always dug Godzilla vs. Hedorah. It's kind of the perfect movie to bring Godzilla into the '70s. It's got everything the series has to offer, good and bad. There are moments of utter horror (people melting from Hedorah's toxic spray) to complete ridiculousness (Godzilla using his atomic breath to fly in the air). So it's not for everyone but at the same time there's something for everyone in it."

Frankenstein vs. Baragon

"This is my personal favourite non-Godzilla Toho giant monster film. There really isn't anything I don't like about it. I love the World War II opening, the emphasis on post-Hiroshima/Nagasaki life in Japan, and that a giant caveboy battles an underground dinosaur. Nick Adams and Kumi Mizuno make a cute couple too. There's just a pulp vibe to it that I can't resist."

GMK

"I don't care what people say, to me GMK is the best Godzilla film since the 1960s. This statement alone seems to prove the whole 'GMK is overrated' trend that's so popular now, but again I don't care. If you're looking for a well made contemporary Godzilla film this is it. There really isn't much more that I can say other than go watch it if you haven't."

- Tyler Beasley

[UnCanny Studios]

Hey, Uncanny...just a question out of curiousity, will there be non-giant monster reviews or is strictly kaiju?

Technically, "Kaiju" stands for 'strange beast' or 'japanese monster', so that encapsulates any monster/outcast from japanese lore. "DAIkaiju" means giant monster . So in short, non-giants are a-ok! Great question.

Yeah, will there? I could contribute a 1-2 paragraph review on Sayonara Jupiter, among other films.

That sounds excellent - any exposure we can offer to the lesser knowns of the fandom is a great idea by me!

Thanks to Tyler, Primevagodzilla, Iris X, and everyone else for some fantastic work. A lot of it is already up on the site, I've been busting my proverbial @$$ on this site today. Keep 'em coming! We've got a lot of love going for Frankenstein Conquers The World (FvsB) - so if anyone else has a review for that movie to help flesh out the page, that would be great!

You guys rock

[therealmccoy]

Mothra vs. Godzilla: Quite possibly the best entry of the Showa series of Godzilla films. This movie has one of the most sound and interesting stories of them all. The sense of urgency in this movie just sort of jumps out at you, and you become attached to the characters quite easily. Godzilla is the bad guy again, and his sinister new look capitalizes on that theme. He is depicted as an unstoppable force of nature with no motives to speak of. Mothra, on the contrary, is now a good guy, and her emotions are portrayed just as well as the humans. Mothra pitting herself against a seemingly over matched foe to protect her egg is sheer poetry, and the battle is on of the most creative in the series. The military involvement in this film is the best of the series, with the military coming up with several thought-out plans, instead of just showing up and firing away. The musical score, while repetitive at times, is again one of the best of this era. A solid four and-a-half stars, if not a perfect five.

[edgaguirus]

On GMK

This is one the best G flicks I've seen. It trades the usual sci fi elements for a more mystical approach, and this is used effectively. The monster suits are pleasing, with Godzilla's being the most interesting. By giving him white eyes, it creates the sense of an emotionless killer. The commander and his pseudo-journalist daughter make a good pair, and successfully carry the majority of the human interest here.

-Edgaguirus

[therealmccoy]

Godzilla vs. Hedorah: This movie is...different. It's still giant monsters beating each other up and destroying cities, but the style is wacky. The cartoons, the colorful cut scenes of illustrations, and the night-club scenes coupled with seventies-style music makes it different. Godzilla is entertaining to watch; his human-type movements are more illustrated than in previous films. Scratching his chin, cocking his head sideways in confusion, and challenging Hedorah to fight him. Hedorah is a very cool monster. It's not every day you get pile of sludge that turns into a monster. It's another movie that, provided you have an active imagination, you can get lost in and thoroughly enjoy. I'm not really sure how to rate this one critically, but for personal enjoyment I give it three and-a-half stars.

GMK: Not my favorite Godzilla movie, but not my least favorite either. The story isn't my cup of tea; Godzilla depicted as thousands of restless souls instead of a monster awakened by nuclear tests is a little different from what I was used to. The Guardian Beast story was okay; it was nice to see Baragon return, even though he did not last long. The special effects were astounding, and the monster suits were top-notch, and really captured the monsters' personalities. The score in the movie didn't faze me much, but it fit the grim tone of the movie. Critically, I give it four stars. Personally, I give it three and-a-half.

[King Caesar]

Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II: This movie rocked my socks off the first time I saw it. A unique and powerful theme by maestro Ifukube teamed up with well-coordinated fight scenes leads to one heck of a ride. Like any Godzilla movie though, it does fall short in some areas.

1) Acting and overall dialogue: As usual, the acting is at or slightly above par. No characters really stood out from the crowd (except Miki Saguesa and her Mickey Mouse ears). Acting seemed to be a problem that the Heisei series never seemed to master. The dialogue is laughable, such as lines like, "Wha--? Where the hell is that jackass?!" and, "Baby," (I counted the times the one woman said "Baby" and it topped out around eighteen. A ridiculously high amount if you ask me).
2) Rodan. Stiff, stiff stiff. That's the only way I can describe him through his time in the movie. His legs are basically two pegs that can't bend or do anything animal-like at all. His wings also were pretty cardboard cut-out as well. Other than that, he looks pretty great, with some spectacular detail in his close-up shots.

Closing thoughts? A great movie. Mechagodzilla may have crossed over to the military, but he is still one of the strongest monsters out there, and this movie proves it. The score is great, the special effects are good, and Baby Godzilla may be the cutest Kaiju in all of the series.

A hearty 3.5/5 to this Heisei flick.

[omgitsgodzilla]

On Gamera vs. Barugon:

This film was the BIG Gamera movie. Daikaiju Gamera was an experiment of sorts, with Daiei testing the waters to see if they could compete with Toho in the area of giant monster films. After it became a success, Daiei green-lit a big-budget sequel, which debuted in theaters about six months after the original. However, unlike Godzilla Raids Again (the first Godzilla sequel, also released about six months after the first film), this movie would become known as one of the highlights of the series.
Firstly, let's go over the plot: En route to Mars in the Z Plan capsule following the events of the first film, Gamera is freed by a meteorite that crashes into the rocket. He immediately returns to Earth, attacking a dam and feeding on the fires he starts. He then heads for the equator, drawn by a volcanic eruption. Meanwhile, three men go to a cave in New Guinea to find a huge opal. They find it, but one man is stung by a scorpion and dies. One of the remaining two men, Onodera, takes the opal and attempts to trap the third man, Keisuke, in the cave and leaves him for dead. Onodera gets on a ship back to Japan, while the locals rescue Keisuke from the cave, telling him that they must recover the opal, and that it is in fact not a jewel at all. Keisuke and Karen, a native girl, head back to Japan as well. On Onodera's ship, however, the opal is accidentally left exposed to an infrared light he's using to treat a case of athlete's foot he picked up in the jungle. It turns out to be an egg, from which an infant Barugon hatches. When the ship reaches Japan, Barugon escapes the ship and subsequently emerges from the water, fully grown and, oddly, bleeding. It attacks Kobe, freezing buildings and military forces with a mist emitted from its tongue. It also reveals a rainbow beam it fires from its back. This energy attracts Gamera, who tries to fight Barugon off, but is frozen along with much of Kobe. Karen tells the military some of Barugon's weaknesses, including water (the reason it was bleeding as it came from the sea) and an attraction to brilliant gems. They try several strategies to defeat Barugon, including a large diamond and reflecting the rainbow beam back at it, all of which ultimately fail. However, Gamera finally thaws out and returns to fight Barugon once again, winning this time by holding it underwater until it dies.
Overall, while longer than many kaiju eiga of its time, this film is very entertaining. The higher budget is apparent in nearly every aspect of the production, from the human drama to the special effects, which are probably the best in the Showa Gamera films. Barugon looks great, as does Gamera. This film introduces the gory element of the monster battles that would become a staple of the series' later installments. Overall, this movie is highly recommended to any kaiju fan. The acting, effects and story are all very well done and it's great entertainment for any fan of the genre.

[therealmccoy]

At the risk of getting a little off topic, I want to ask a question. I've done several reviews for this site; I don't know if any of you have read them or not, so I just wanted some feedback. I have the positive reaction from the site owner, but I wanted to ask you guys if you think my reviews are credible. One person's opinion means a lot to me, but to hear some feedback from others would be helpful as well; if I'm doing well, or if I need some work. So in between you guys' comments just let me know, and thanks.