Talkback Thread #5: Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster(1964)

[Destroyer]

This film will always be special to me. It was my first ever Godzilla film, I still have the tape in the closet. I saw it last year again, and it still holds up great. I found the human plot engaging, with some good characters. I found the performances from the majority of the cast were solid. Ghidorah still looks amazing, considering this film is over forty years old, the suit holds up well. My favorite scene is when Mothra attempts to convince Godzilla and Rodan to team up. That scene always made me smile, wish there were more of those type of scenes in the latter films.

Monster Zero is held to a high standard cause not only was it a good Godzilla film, it succeeded in being a great science fiction story.

[Rody]

This is my favorite Godzilla film and the only one that can still keep me entertained.

The only one??

Monster Zero is held to a high standard cause not only was it a good Godzilla film, it succeeded in being a great science fiction story.

I'm confused. This thread is about Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster, not Invasion of Astro-Monster.

[Destroyer]

I'm confused. This thread is about Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster, not Invasion of Astro-Monster.

I noticed some others asking why Monster Zero is regarded highly, so I just wanted to quickly say why.

With that said, I wish there were more team ups like in Ghidorah.

[Goji]

It's no mystery why MONSTER ZERO is so well regarded; It's a damn good Godzilla movie.

So is GHIDORAH. It really comes down to personal preference. I can't say that one is really better than the other. It all depends on my mood.

[ebirahsmeg1]

It's no mystery why MONSTER ZERO is so well regarded; It's a damn good Godzilla movie.

So it GHIDORAH. It really comes down to personal preference. I can't say that one is really better than the other. It all depends on my mood.

Agreed....the same phenomenon has been happening over in the CT forums recently (i.e. turn a Ghidrah thread into a "Let's bash Ghidrah and say how much better GvsMonster Zero is!"), and I really don't get this mentality. I love both these films...they're far different from each other, but I wouldn't change a thing about either one of them. I happen to like Ghidrah slightly better than GvsMonster Zero, but I would never go into a Monster Zero and start a "Ghidrah is so much better" flame war. Debate is nice and all, but arguing over which is these two is better is like arguing apples and oranges....do folks really sit and think "I think *insert film* is better!" the whole time whenever they watch either one of these two films? Both GTTHM and Monster Zero stand on their own as classic, quintessential daikaiju films.

I've posted numerous times about this film on various different forums and boards, but I never get tired of singing its praises...this film is imo, the best damn Godzilla film ever. It was the high point of Toho's "Golden era" when it comes to the G series.

It also formed what I like to call the "Godzilla Rodan Mothra KG Trilogy", with GvsTheThing, GTTHM, and GvsMonster Zero all being nicely tied together without beating the audience over the head (ala the Heisei films).

In this film, you get:

• One of the best suits of the series, the Mosu-Goji suit, returning for duty.
• One of Ifukube's best soundtracks of the series.
• Rodan and Mothra
• Introduction of KG, who would become Godzilla's arch enemy and most powerful foe of the series. His fireball entrance is breathtaking.
• Godzilla's entrance adds an interesting twist with fleeing whales (or dolphins?) preceeding his first appearance. Definitely one of his most unique entrances.
• A mesmerizing "Mothra" song by the Peanuts.
• Great cast with several Toho/SFX-regulars.
• Akiko Wakabayashi. I know Kumi Mizumi gets all the glory (as she should), but Akiko Wakabayashi was smoking hot during this era.
• King Ghidorah's attack on Yokohama, and his attack on the small Village near Mt. Fuji, really highlights the true skill and craftsman ship of Tsuburaya's crew.
• The final battle is one of the best in the series, and the way they defeat KG is very clever and original.
• Monster Conversation ("Oh Godzilla, what terrible language!" This alone puts it near the top.)
• Oh yeah, did I mention that Akiko Wakabayashi is in this? No wonder EON chose her to be a Bond girl

.

Sure, the effects as a whole weren't quite as polished or smooth as GvstheThing, or even GvsMonster Zero, and the Godzilla/Rodan puppets were a little silly, but the spirit, fun, and epic scope more than trumps this. Also, some people forget that GTTHM was far more ambitious than GvstheThing SFX-wise, with more monsters (including numerous battle sequences between Godzilla and Rodan), and, up to that point, one of the most spectacular, but complex creations ever to operate, King Ghidorah.

I've never understood why some people bash the plot and editing...the plot was rather entertaining, energetic, moved at a great pace, and actually made the human characters interesting and compelling for a change....the human story elements have a spy/espionage flavor to it. This film also does an excellent job of showing how normal people's lives are impacted by the monsters' destruction, such as the villagers' dispair when their homes are destroyed by an avalanche of rocks during the final battle.

They (Toho) definitely don't make 'em like they used to...

[The H-Man]

I didn't go through all 9 pages so I don't know if it's been mentioned, but a great scene for me is when Godzilla offers Mothra the use of his tail to drag him along, a nod to the earlier film when one of the larva bit G's tail.

[HikizuruBeat]

I thought it was funny when Godzilla was chucking rocks at ghidorah.

[ebirahsmeg1]

Alright, here are some pics of everyone's favorite Venusian...er...Martian, Akiko Wakabayashi!











The trifecta...and I'm not talking about Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan. I'm talking Akiko Wakabayashi, Hama Mie, and Kumi Mizuno together.

[Legion1979]

Far more hotter than the skinny, Japanese schoolgirls I keep seeing in the "Sexy Women" thread that I feel dirty even thinking about considering how young they look.

[Tamura]

What movie or movies are those stills from?

[Goji]

Judging by their attire, it looks to be from the two films that were cannibalized by Woody Allen into WHAT'S UP, TIGER LILY.

[CTHimes]

If you look really close at the bottom still, you can make out the title "What's Up, Tiger Lily?" The still right above that one has (C) American International Pictures, 1966, which means it's also from TIGER LILY.

[ebirahsmeg1]

Far more hotter than the skinny, Japanese schoolgirls I keep seeing in the "Sexy Women" thread that I feel dirty even thinking about considering how young they look.

Agree 100%. As much as I love Japan, Japanese culture, and Japanese women, I CAN'T STAND the whole lolita (lolicon)/sailor moon/AKB48/"kawaii!"/school girl/maid cafe/etc subculture over here that is also extremely popular with some Western fans as well...don't get it at all and never will. I prefer real women who look like women, not so called "women" who look like anorexic young school girls.

Anyways...here are some cool photos I scanned from some books in my collection of GTTHM:

[HayesAJones]

Is it wrong that my firsts thoughts on this picture were that it looked like Godzilla's about to get it up the ass? 'Cause I'm pretty sure it is.

[Space Hunter M]

The expansiveness and amount of detail present in the Yokohama set is impressive.

[Goji]

The expansiveness and amount of detail present in the Yokohama set is impressive.

I concur, it's a beautiful set. I really wish we had been able to see more of it in the film.

Is it wrong that my firsts thoughts on this picture were that it looked like Godzilla's about to get it up the ass? 'Cause I'm pretty sure it is.

It doesn't look anything like that, actually. It is a little sad that this is the first thing you thought of. Getcho' mind outta the gutter.

[ebirahsmeg1]

Is it wrong that my firsts thoughts on this picture were that it looked like Godzilla's about to get it up the ass? 'Cause I'm pretty sure it is.

Considering your Avatar, I'm sure you'd know from first hand experience.

Anywho....that's all I'm saying on this...back on topic...

....Here are some more pics:

[Rody]

Obviously, I need to watch the Ghidorah films again -- I thought this scene was from Invasion of Astro-Monster.

[VamprisArachne]

^ Well I don't remember Rodan in the shot, but Godzilla was thrown into that bridge in Ghidorah

[leunames]

This is my favorite Godzilla film of al time. It's just FUN and each monster gets heralded throughout the film. I really couldnt care lessabout the criticsims in regards to the fx either. This film was released in the same year as godzilla vs mothra and to have four monsters in the movie, including the most difficult suit to operate in king ghidorah, in such quick turnaround time is a masterful feat.