DVD REVIEWS: GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER

Author: Sean Kotz Source: Classic Media, Inc. Official site: Godzilla on DVD Godzilla fans have had a lot to be happy about over the last year. Short of a new film in the series, the next best thing is a quality DVD release and since September of 2006, beginning with an award-winning two disc set of GOJIRA, Classic Media has been delivering quality DVD releases. As a follow-up, in April of 2007, Classic Media unleashed GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN (Gojira no gyakushû, 1955) and MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA (Mosura tai Gojira, 1964) for an appreciative fan base in attractively packaged and well-designed editions. On June 5th, two more highly anticipated DVDs will arrive— GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964) and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (1965)—and they continue Classic Media’s recent trend of giving fans what they want. GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (San daikaijû: Chikyu saidai no kessen, 1964) and INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER (Kaijû daisenso, 1965) are both produced in the same basic format and fit nicely with the prior releases. Packaged in attractive thin book-style cardboard cases, both DVDs feature Japanese and English language versions with subtitles in English and similar special features including an image gallery with written commentary, poster gallery with written commentary, anamorphic widescreen presentations and original Japanese trailers for each. GHIDORAH also features a brief but interesting biography reel on special effects legend, Eiji Tsuburaya and an audio commentary track by David Kalat on the English version. Likewise, INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER offers a biography of producer Tomoyuki Tanaka and a commentary track by Stuart Galbraith IV. These films, while released separately, are produced with a unified vision and should be seen as part of a set ultimately. Below is a more detailed discussion of each film and its DVD, but for those simply interested in whether these DVDs are worth the money, the quick answer is, “Absolutely.” There are imperfections here and there, the available film stock for reproduction of the movies was limited, there could be more chapter selections and there are fewer special features than the GOJIRA release. However, in many ways these discs match Criterion Collection quality and they belong on the shelves of sci-fi fans of all sorts. Godzilla fans should be especially happy to see this pair.

GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER

As commentator David Kalat points out in his audio track, many fans have GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER as a kind of step away from serious sci-fi and more toward children’s entertainment. There is no doubt that the series takes its first step toward becoming feature length episodes of ULTRAMAN (or more aptly, ZONE FIGHTER) and Godzilla becomes a kinder, gentler kaiju. However, GHIDORAH is also a fascinating film if one has an eye toward culture, history and politics and this is reason enough to purchase the DVDs. In 1964, essentially a full generation after World War II ended, Japan was a nation in the midst of a conscious redemption and idealistic, officially pacifist transformation. The most important Japanese event of the decade, the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, was a showcase of rebirth, Japanese exports (especially electronics) were surging, and Japan absorbed itself in its role in the United Nations. Japan was in the midst of creating a new image of itself and much of the tension and triumph can be seen in this period of Toho kaiju films. Of course, the most important change marked by this film is the transformation of Godzilla from a villain to a defender of the earth. Only a few months before, Godzilla was a heartless force of destruction presented as a direct threat to children in MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA. However, in GHIDORAH, he is convinced by Mothra to protect the world. Furthermore, as a kind of extension of this, Godzilla (as well as Rodan) begin to develop personalities (conversing with Mothra in a kind of kaiju vernacular that the fairies translate). The hypnotic, indulgent fantasy world that Toho creates first in MOTHRA is in full flower here—a trait that kaiju retain throughout the 60s and 70s.

Another critical contribution of the movie is the invention of King Ghidorah himself, who takes over Godzilla’s villain role. Ghidorah is to this day beloved by most kaiju fans (despite the fact that he never wins) because he really ramps up the “wow” factor of these films. You cannot take your eyes off him as his flailing heads spew lightning bolts (or gravity beams perhaps) across the screen. Subsequently, Ghidorah went on to appear in nearly a dozen films for Toho in one form or another and one of the great pleasures of these DVDs is seeing the original appearance of Ghidorah for the first time. In short, it is difficult to imagine Toho’s monster fantasies without Ghidorah. Other significant trends are set by this film, making it important. The role of international espionage (a precursor to interstellar espionage of later films) is set in place and Toho will continue to use political plots and spy scenarios to keep its monster films interesting. Also, space aliens enter the Godzilla mythology in GHIDORAH, a mainstay of plot structure in many films to come, though the Martians are not menaces like later aliens. Additionally, as Kalat rightly points out, women take on new roles of independence and leadership in GHIDORAH, an example of film role models being more progressive than society. And finally, the idea of cooperation, among monsters and people, emerges as the primary solution to problems, a strategy that will help define Japan’s unique approach to science-fiction and fantasy for another decade. As for the DVD, itself, the greatest blessing is the comparable English and Japanese versions on one disc. Viewers can switch back and forth with relative ease, revealing details most American audiences would not necessarily know about without the two. For example, when Detective Shindo is assigned to protect Princess Salno in the Japanese original, we are told that she may be the target of a political assassination. The American version, however, includes the line that “Her country may go the other way,” meaning, of course, a shift toward communism, reflecting American political consciousness at the time. The DVD as a whole is very satisfying, though the commentary track may throw some viewers. Kalat approaches the task with demonstrative boyish enthusiasm, He’s also given to lengthy digressions and his best points may be lost on many viewers who see little connection between his comments about his own children, RKO’s KING KONG, and how Rodan compares to Don Knotts, and what is actually taking place on the screen. At one point, Kalat even decides to discuss KING KONG VS. GODZILLA for a while remarking, “I’ll digress to give you some quick high points here, you know... because I feel like it.” None-the-less, Kalat provides a number of valuable insights about writer Shinkichi Sekizawa, the role of women in Godzilla films, the dubbing debate, the distinctions between the two versions and Toho’s production company; however, viewers need to be prepared for Kalat’s vocal theatrics, personal digressions and seemingly random attention to the actual film to get the most from the track. The DVD also provides a brief history of special effects pioneer, Eiji Tsuburaya. Composed in the Ken Burns style of narration over pans, zoom ins and pull outs of production stills and photographs, the discussion is affectionate and insightful balancing history with personality. Edges of some of the stills will seem to wave a bit in pullouts, but it is a minor distraction and an enjoyable addition to the DVD, especially for people who know little about the man himself. Technical Information Retail Price: $19.93 Discs: 1 Region Code: 1 (North America) Color System: NTSC DVD Format: Single Sided & Dual Layered Video Ratio: 2.35:1 Main Feature Runtime: 92:58 mins (Japanese version), 84:46 mins (US version) Main Feature Chapter Stops: 12 Main Feature Audio Tracks: Japanese and English Main Feature Subtitles: English _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER

INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER will be more familiar to many Americans as MONSTER ZERO or GODZILLA VS. MONSTER ZERO and was released in Japan in 1965 under the title, KAIJU DAISENSO. This movie builds upon GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER as an immediate sequel, though it drops Mothra from the plot, thereby stepping away from some of the kawaii, or “cuteness,” brought to the franchise with the fairies and appearance of small children. In this addition to the series, Godzilla and Rodan are once again called upon to fight off King Ghidorah, but for a good part of the movie, they are under the influence of aggressive aliens, the Xians, and all three monsters threaten the world. There are lots of reasons to own this DVD, beginning with the film itself. The epic features space travel, debates about love versus efficiency, the beautifully hammy acting of Nick Adams and the exotic Kumi Mizuno, who essentially plays two roles in the same character. It also presents a kind of optimistic, mid-century futurism that sees Japan at the center of world affairs and at the top of the space race all in glorious Toho-Scope. Cold War era themes of the individual versus the community lie just below the surface in a film targeted at a young adult audience for whom these would be very relevant concerns. INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER is, in many ways, the height of the Godzilla franchise during the 1960s and, if you are in the mood for some analysis of all this, you can find more thoughts on the subject here.

Classic Media’s DVD of this film, like GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER, is a well-packaged, well-designed product with a photo gallery and poster gallery, both with on-screen written commentary and both English and Japanese versions of the film are provided with English subtitles. Those folks holding on to the old Simitar VHS pan and scan version of the film can finally throw it in the bin in exchange for this widescreen and comparatively clean print of the film. Also included in the DVD is a short mini-documentary on Tomoyuki Tanaka, which like other biography reels in the Classic Media Godzilla reissues are done in the Ken Burns style, with voiceovers and behind the scenes photos and stills. Most fans will probably be appreciative of this feature and long for more of the same on future releases. The audio commentary (found on the English version) is done by Stuart Galbraith IV, one of the seminal scholars of Godzilla film history. He has an even-toned style and his attention is largely focused on the actors and actresses, the development of Godzilla’s character, directorial decisions and the film’s place in Toho’s giant monster catalogue. Galbraith leaves a few significant moments of silence in the commentary and is inclined to list credits of nearly every player long past most people’s interest level, but also addresses details many fans will wonder about. For example, Galbraith reveals the origins and controversy surrounding Godzilla’s infamous Shie dance, the filming of spaceship P-1, and the mechanics of the monster costumes. He also addresses the film in context of Japan’s film industry in 1965, both historically and stylistically, as well as giving a few first hand and second hand stories about Nick Adams, Akira Takarada, and other featured actors. Like GHIDORAH, INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER is a worthwhile investment and will be an upgrade in quality for almost every fan. There are few things to complain about with either DVD, though for some reason, translators get a little careless with the subtitles in ASTRO-MONSTER during the scene where all four principle characters are in a restaurant discussing the role of love in a marriage. How “common belief” was mistyped and passed as “common breif” is hard to imagine, but it is a minor distraction. Also, in the pull outs from some of the biography stills, viewers will see waves around defined edges as the camera tries to maintain focus. The best available prints were used to create the film, but some, especially the MONSTER ZERO opening titles will look dirty. And don’t be surprised to see the strings more clearly. But, as Stuart Galbraith points out, these films were created for an audience that approaches the film with every intention of suspending disbelief. Finally, both DVDs offer a Special Thanks to several important figures in English language Godzilla scholarship which is an indicator of the commitment of Classic Media to please the core fans. In the INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER acknowledgements on the interior cover, CM has included a special thanks to Aaron Smith, the creator of the Monster Zero News site, a lifeline for kaiju fans since 1997. Sadly, Mr. Smith passed away almost exactly one year before the release of this DVD featuring the film title that inspired his wonderful website and he is remembered by fans who deeply appreciated his efforts to connect fans of Japanese sci-fi and fantasy films world wide. Technical Information Retail Price: $19.93 Discs: 1 Region Code: 1 (North America) Color System: NTSC DVD Format: Single Sided & Dual Layered Video Ratio: 2.35:1 Main Feature Runtime: 94:13 mins (Japanese version), 92:57 mins (US version) Main Feature Chapter Stops: 12 Main Feature Audio Tracks: Japanese and English Main Feature Subtitles: English _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ For more screen shots and information on these DVDs, please see the previous coverage here on SciFi Japan: