The War of the Gargantuas (1966)

[Tyler]

Often cited as one of Ishiro Honda's best monster films, lets discuss this Showa Frankenstein epic.

It's somewhat connected to Frankenstein vs. Baragon, but mostly stands on its own. I don't like it as much as the 'previous' film, but it is really good. I really like the idea of one monster being blamed for another's actions. It's the ultimate (monster) movie about sibling rivalry! Kumi Mizuno and Kenji Sahara are nice, but Russ Tamblyn just has this "get me the f*ck outta here" vibe throughtout the whole thing.

This movie also has some of the best kaiju acting from Haruo Nakajima as Gaira, the Green Gargantua and Yu Sekida as Sanda, the Brown Gargantua. I like that you can see their eyes. Maser tanks are also introduced and they're probably Toho's coolest anti-monster weapons.

War of the Gargantuas is a very popular monster film in the West, so what do you have to say about it?

[Hellspawn28]

Great movie, the characters where great and you where able to feel about both monsters is something you don't see that much in a gaint monster movie. Not to mention the action was great too, it been years since I watch it but I'm going from what I can remember.

[Living Corpse]

I really want to see this film. The clips I've seen make it seem like a lot of fun and I already saw Frankenstein vs Baragon.

[DaikaijuSokogeki!]

*awaits rotten eggs being tossed at him*

Honestly...I'm not a fan of this movie. Don't get me wrong, Sanda and Gaira's interaction is cinematic magic. That's pretty much all this movie has going for it, though. And their interaction doesn't even start until the last half-hour. Sure, Ifukube's music is alright, although the main theme is a bit too overpowering. The SPFX are also stellar, but Tsuburaya was doing better work at this time.

Frankly though, the human storyline is EXTREMELY uninteresting. The characters are dull and the acting is a step down from FCTW. I mean, the scenes between Tamblyn and Mizuno's characters during the climax grind the film to a total halt. I'm sure Honda did this on purpose to make the audience feel more invested with the kaiju storyline than the human one, but that's such a lame excuse for how much the humans drag the pacing of this film down.

Also, the sudden volcano eruption at the end of the film is a lame cop-out and reeks of lazy writing. It's as if the writers were forced to come up with an ending to make sure the flick was less than 100 minutes. Plus, I never want to hear "The Words Get Stuck in My Throat" EVER again. Dumb song, horrible songstress.

It's FAR from a terrible movie, but it's (IMO) far from Honda's best. It's certainly rewatchable, but not as rewarding as FCTW.

[Starfishman]

When I first saw this film as a kid, I was just awe of Sanda & Gaira, the music and the effects. But when I got older and saw the film for the first time in about 9 years (I bought the Classic Media DVD of the film in 2008) I thought it was average at best. The monster scenes were great but the interaction between the two Frankenstein esque monsters happens half way through the film. Akira Ifukube's score for this was alright and the effects were okay IMO. The 2nd worst aspect of the movie is Russ Tamblyn, I mean he had a look that said "Why am I in this movie?"Also he phoned in his acting and the worst part of this film is the god awful song! I wanted to kill myself when that song came on. Its an okay Kaiju film but not one of Ishiro Honda's best works IMO. Its not a horrible film by any means and it is good to watch once or twice but it is just okay for me.

[Godzilla 2000]

I really dont like this movie. The fighting was all well and good, but otherwise? It nearly put me to sleep. The movie was that boring. It just seemed to drag on and on and on.

[Godzilla 1995]

I really dont like this movie. The fighting was all well and good, but otherwise? It nearly put me to sleep. The movie was that boring. It just seemed to drag on and on and on.

It did drag at points, but I found it to be enjoyable. The fights were interesting but the romance subplot with the doc and Akami(or however you spell her name) was dull and the relationship between Sanda and forementioned girl was cheesy. They worked it better in Frankenstien conquers the world.

*Edit* I IS A DEMON!!!

[Ethan]

Awesome film is awesome film. I did like the Kumi Mizuno/Sanda connection, and Russ Tamblyn is of my liking (Twin Peaks baby) as well. A sad thing, the song "Feel in my Heart" gets too much hate, what's so wrong about a cheesy musical number?

[Hellspawn28]

Amazing how this movie earn a cult flowing. I mean the movie got its own spoof fight scene in "Crank 2" (2009). Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor admit that they are big fans of Honda works (They even said Ghost Rider: SOV is somewhat connected to the first GR movie, just like The War of the Gargantuas was to FCTW).

I remember them saying that they would love to do a big budget remake of the movie one day.

[edgaguirus]

I like this movie. Sanda and Gaira show much more character than most kaiju. In Sanda, we even see a monster that would rather make peace than war. The human subplot was not interesting, but the Japanese actors acted their parts well enough. I've always heard people talking about the too abrupt ending, but I feel it adds to the empathy; That the hero must die along side the evil to stop it.

[Goji]

The SPFX are also stellar, but Tsuburaya was doing better work at this time.

Really? Like what exactly?

Other than that, you're complaints are more than warranted. The film is far from perfect (just like any of these films).

As for me, the film is (obviously) one of my all time favorites, and my favorite of Toho's sci-fi/fantasy output outside of the Godzilla series, from this era. I agree with DaikaijuSoko that the acting is better in FCTW, Tamblyn's "performance" in WOTG really puts a damper on things.

[Guardian7]

I also found the human aspect of the story rather dull. It did tend to drag a bit during those scenes.

The movie opening is one of my all time favorite scenes.
The Daidako attack was a lot of fun and it looked full of menace.
Gaira's entrance into the film here is very cool, I loved battle with Daidako and especially his chasing the sailors through the water.
Creepiest scene in any Kaiju film is the one where the fishermen are pulling up their net and Gaira is looking up at them from that blurry underwater shifting scene. He looks terrifying.
Gaira was simply a sinister monster all around.
Sanda was fun. I enjoyed the other end of the coin thing with him.
It was very Yin & Yang with these two.
Intro of the Maser Cannons is of course a highlight! Not only that, the Masers seriously messed up Gaira which was a bit of fresh air.
I never really looked at the ending as rushed. But now that someone mentioned it. It does seem rather sudden.
Still it looked awesome!
Good film.
Great Kaiju.
Kinda poor human elements. Though the film more than makes up for that in other aspects.

[gojimantis]

I had a long interesting view on this film planned out, but the words got stuck in my throat.
haven't watched the dubbed version since i got the classic media dvd, it's just seems more coherent in the subtitled one. i saw FCTW long after this, and think that may be the better of the two, but this is just some good old monster movie fun.

[DaikaijuSokogeki!]

The SPFX are also stellar, but Tsuburaya was doing better work at this time.

Really? Like what exactly?

...Okay, I might've been nitpicking just to nitpick. Not exactly sure WHY I left that comment in now that I look back.

I had a long interesting view on this film planned out, but the words got stuck in my throat.

Boo...

[bananaoil]

Hi, Russ Tamblyn! Wanna replace Nick Adams? Wanna be in a Japanese giant monster movie? No? Okay, well, all we need you to do is read your lines, and everyone else will carry the movie. Oh, wait, lead actors are supposed to carry the show? Crap.

Everyone else is fine, but if your lead is only in it for the pay check, good luck having compelling character arcs.

[JVM]

Doesn't this movie already have like four threads?

[bananaoil]

Doesn't this movie already have like four threads?

It's that good!

[Hedorah]

For members who haven't seen it but have Netflix...

You can now watch War of the Gargantuas instantly via Netflix!

[JVM]

Doesn't this movie already have like four threads?

It's that good!

I should probably raise it on my movies to watch list then.

[gojimantis]

Doesn't this movie already have like four threads?

It's that good!

I should probably raise it on my movies to watch list then.

yeah, you should check it out soon.