The Agony And The Ecstasy

The second half of the 1960s not only saw Godzilla continue his metamorphosis from a terrible monster into a (somewhat) heroic figure but a change of the film series itself from one that both younger and older viewers could enjoy to one meant purely as entertainment for children. It also saw the first shift away from the old triumvirate of Honda/Tsuburaya/Ifukube, as a new director would take the helm of the first two movies of the period and not only use the musical stylings of Masaru Sato (who had scored Godzilla Raids Again) but a tropical South Seas Island location for both of his Godzilla efforts. The second two would see the return of Honda in a last bid to recapture the glory years of Godzilla and a straight-up kiddie movie, respectively. Here now is

Godzilla MAYhem

Part III: The Late Sixties

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)

This is a fun movie. Director Jun Fukuda basically gives us a James Bond-style movie, with bank robbers cum anti-heroes, SPECTRE-style villains, enslaved islanders and nubile island girls – oh, along with a giant radioactive dinosaur and the title crustacean duking it out in the climax. If that doesn’t make you want to see this movie then I can’t do anything for you.

"Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance."

All you can eat.

I've always wondered what Godzilla looks like drunk....

Oh, yeah, this movie has Mothra in it -
because you can never get enough Mothra.

"In nomine Mothra, Lepidoptera Sancta, amen."

Wow, she looks pretty immaculate for someone with no access
to modern medicine or beauty products....

When it comes down to it, this is what you came to this movie to see.

Son of Godzilla (1967)

Here I have a bit of a conundrum. See, objectively I know that this one isn’t as good as the last and in fact feels really close to it superficially (island location, nubile island girl, giant bugs), and the titular spawn of the King of the Monsters makes me want to gag and throw something at my monitor… plus Godzilla himself looks really awful, with the worst Godzilla suit ever used on any of these films. But on the other hand this was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw and it’s still a sentimental favorite. Plus it’s not that bad, with good puppet work on the giant creepy-crawlies, a neat weather-experiment plot, genuine excitement, a scary giant spider (is there any other kind?) and an awesome score by Masaru Sato.

I've always wondered what Godzilla looks like stoned....

"Look, Dr. Thompson, that giant radioactive lizard looks baked."

Okay, it's ugly, but I can deal with-

KILL IT WITH FIRE!

Bugs!

This is about one frame away from turning into a domestic violence call.

Quiz time: what is more terrifying than giant bugs?

Destroy All Monsters (1968)

Godzilla fans love this one – I don’t think it’s that hot. Oh sure, it brings together all of the Toho movie monsters (thus the title) but the plot is a basic retread of Invasion of Astro-Monster (aliens control the giant monsters to take over the Earth!) with the same plot holes (*why* do the aliens need the monsters if they’re so advanced?), plus some new ones (why is Mothra confined to Monster Land? Did the Infant Islanders not want her as their goddess anymore? Where are her fairies?), but without the charm. It’s rather dull, actually, showing that Toho and Honda had basically run out of ideas by 1968. I like Ishiro Honda’s stuff but by the late Sixties he was spent creatively – he would have only one more burst of glory in the 1970s before retiring from directing (but we’ll get to that next time). This movie is watchable enough, I guess, but not spectacular – watch it to see the monster round-up but expect a minor let-down.

Okay, who's been microwaving cabbage in the break room again?

Hey, no copping a feel, buddy!

THAT'S how you destroy New York, Tri-Star!

It's the 1960s and it's not Star Trek, so all of the spaceships are
either flying saucers or rockets with butane lighters.

Poor Mothra's hanging in the back, feeling all dejected.

"Thank God.  We almost missed tonight's episode of Abarembo Shogun."

This is simultaneously the most hilarious and most awesome thing
I have ever seen in a Godzilla movie.

All Monsters Attack (1969)

This one is unfairly dumped on by Godzilla fans. What they fail to realize is that it’s a bona fide children’s film, and adults were never the target audience. Kudos to Ishiro Honda, I guess, for wanting to do something different after the previous movie, even if about half the movie is stock footage. But even that is forgivable – remember, in 1969 there was no home video and movies didn’t even come on TV that much, so the youngsters of the time period (especially those too young to have seen earlier Godzilla movies) probably relished the chance to see Godzilla’s Greatest Hits on the big screen. And the main human story, about Japanese latchkey kids and their domestic problems with their absent parents is relevant and touching, even if it gives kids a bad message in the end (impress the bullies by doing bad stuff so you can be popular!). The other interesting thing about All Monsters Attack is that it may be the only Godzilla film where Godzilla isn’t real – taking place in the “real world” as it were. In the end, it isn’t a great film or even a good one but a decent enough flick for young children… just remember to cut it some slack the next time you watch it. Even if you want to strangle that singer at the beginning.

Okay, what is it with the Japanese putting their kids in short-shorts?

...aaand, apparently Japan has Jewish people.

"So, like, who would win in a fight?  Lisa Gerrard or Elizabeth Fraser?"

Cue Ah-nold: "You are one ah-gly mathafuckah!"

Yeah, I know, kid.  If I were standing next to that I would have
that expression on my face too.

Do it again!  Do it again!

Japanese people in white-face!  Progress!

Well, that’s the end of the Sixties. Next time, things get really weird with the advent of the Seventies and the complete slide of the Godzilla film series into total bizarre, but fun garbage.