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King Kong Vs Godzilla(1962); Discuss the film here.
Topic Started: Feb 9 2006, 09:15 PM (8,765 Views)
packmule
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In 1962 Godzilla made a return to the big screen after a seven year absence(from 1955) in Toho's first color and "scoped" Godzilla film, King Kong Vs Godzilla. I have observed a wide variety of opinions about this film. It did well at the box office, and remains the number one ticket-seller of all G films. My thumbs up: 1. the Godzilla suit(though I know some people don't like it)-he looks bulkier, good to throw his weight around more :lol: 2. Godzilla's attack on the Arctic base-a great scene 3. Tadao Takashima and Yu Fujiki vs their boss Mr Tako-hilarious(whether it was intended or not tongue-1 ) ---My thumbs down: 1. the Kong suit, IMO a truly miserable rendering of the giant gorilla 2. the general lack of "high-speed" filming(which is used to make the kaiju appear to move more slowly, as giants would) 3. elements of the final battle on Mt.Fuji, especially the brief "stop-motion" sequence -----Luckily this movie was recently released as a two-DVD pack along with "King Kong Escapes" in widescreen format by Universal ---Post your thoughts and opinions of this film here. :)
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Legionmaster
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Jeez, have not seen it in so long. Can't remeber much. *runs to buy DVD, then realized he has no cash*
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KaijuFanatic
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I love this film, consider it one of my 'comfort' films. The Kong suit is hilariously bad, but somehow, it works for me. :) There are a couple of scenes between Godzilla and Kong that look quite bad, but in the end, I really think this is one of those films that is too fun to ignore.
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I haven't seen it in a while, but it's OK. Gotta pick up the DVD.
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ControllerOfPlanetX
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It's great fun, though I can barely sit through the American version since seeing it in its original form. It's almost as much a comedy as it is a monster movie. Mr. Tako is one of my all-time favorite comic characters--Ichiro Arishima's performance in the Japanese version is priceless. True, there are a few cringeworthy bits, but overall, with the great fights, the score, the characters and what not, it's quite good.
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packmule
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ControllerOfPlanetX
Feb 10 2006, 07:01 PM
It's great fun, though I can barely sit through the American version since seeing it in its original form. It's almost as much a comedy as it is a monster movie. Mr. Tako is one of my all-time favorite comic characters--Ichiro Arishima's performance in the Japanese version is priceless. True, there are a few cringeworthy bits, but overall, with the great fights, the score, the characters and what not, it's quite good.

IMO one the major drawbacks to the Americanized, or "Beck" version of "King Kong Versus Godzilla"(referring to the man who bought the rights to release it in the U.S., Mr. John Beck), is the alternate soundtrack. Granted much of the Americanized version score is passable, with the exception of the "Creature From The Black Lagoon" score(I thought it was really out of place in this movie). Seeing the original, uncut Japanese version one also experiences the great music of the film. :)
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packmule
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After 1955's Godzilla Raids Again it would be seven years before Godzilla would appear on the big screen. On August 11, 1962 King Kong Vs. Godzilla was released by Toho, the first Godzilla film in color and in scope(widescreen). I will post some observations about this film later. I want to know what you think about it. Discuss the 1962 film here, as well as the "Americanized" version(released in the U.S. the following year in 1963), and anything related to either film, including the DVDs of both. All replies welcome. :)
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Ghost the Bat
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I just bougth the Universal 2-pack DVDs, and just watched King Kong vs. Godzilla for the first time and all I can say is wow, what a fun movie!

The plot moves along smooth enough, the main characters were funny and memorable, the Godzilla suit IMO was cool except for his arms seemed a little unporportional.

The only thing I dislike is that it felt like Godzilla and King Kong never really fought long, unless theres more fighting in the Japanese version.

4/5 Stars for me.
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Ghost the Bat
Mar 19 2006, 03:16 AM


The only thing I dislike is that it felt like Godzilla and King Kong never really fought long, unless theres more fighting in the Japanese version.


There isn't more, well, of any consequence. Most of the additional scenes in the 1962 original(Japanese) version are talking scenes, with a few exceptions where there are a few varying-angle shots of the two monsters fighting, and no more. The biggest difference between the two versions are the score and the presence of the American actors in the 1963 "Americanized" version. I have both versions on DVD and was also pleased that Universal released KK Vs Godzilla in letterbox. :)
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KaijuFanatic
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I love this film, it's kind of like a 'comfort' film to me...if I'm not feeling well or having a bad day, I stack this up with a few other comfort films and soon all seems right in my world.

King Kong certainly has his own unique look in this film, but that kind of adds to the charm of the film for me. I can even enjoy the additional 'Americanized' scenes in this film. I think this is just slightly ahead of, King Kong Escapes for me in the enjoyment department, but not by a whole lot.

I know it's always been said that there was an 'American' ending to the film and a 'Japanese' ending, where in the American version, King Kong was the victor and in the Japanese version, Godzilla walked away the winner, but I believe I read that was never the case.
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Mar 19 2006, 10:50 AM
I know it's always been said that there was an 'American' ending to the film and a 'Japanese' ending, where in the American version, King Kong was the victor and in the Japanese version, Godzilla walked away the winner, but I believe I read that was never the case.

In the Japanese version you still see Kong swim away, but you hear Godzilla roar at the end, signifying that he was still alive and well.

I wish they wouldn't of cut our Goji's roar in the American version of the film.
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KaijuFanatic
Mar 19 2006, 04:50 PM


I know it's always been said that there was an 'American' ending to the film and a 'Japanese' ending, where in the American version, King Kong was the victor and in the Japanese version, Godzilla walked away the winner, but I believe I read that was never the case.

There has been, and continues to be even now, content on various boards between forum members suggesting that there is a difference in the endings of the two films. Ghost The Bat has pointed out that Godzilla's roar can be heard in the Japanese(original) version, as Kong surfaces and swims away(Godzilla remaining below the surface in both versions)-and that there is no audible roar in the 1963 "American" release. For the record this is the only difference in the ending, and is such a minute detail as to justify perhaps limited reference, and most certainly not the wild and rambling arguments I have seen on what will remain unnamed boards. The audio of Godzilla's roar, absent in the American release, but present in the original, uncut version, is the only difference in the ending. Anything posted anywhere contrary to this is nonsense. nod
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jimpickens
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I bought this from Amazon in a two pack along with King Kong escapes I hope hollywood doesn't remake this classic you know as seeing what they did with Godzilla. wolf bane
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jimpickens
Dec 15 2006, 12:47 AM
I bought this from Amazon in a two pack along with King Kong escapes I hope hollywood doesn't remake this classic you know as seeing what they did with Godzilla. wolf bane

Thread drift: howdy Jim! How are you? :)

Topic: I have the same two-pack also. I was glad to see the American version(1963) in widescreen, because my only copy of this movie on DVD previously was the full-framed Good Times Video version. thumbs up

Like you I would prefer Hollywood not remake King Kong Vs Godzilla(1962), however I wouldn't mind Toho doing a remake of this classic. Chances of that happening are, at least going by the current consensus, nil, but I can always hope. Mr Green
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packmule
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There is going to be a biopic(made for TV movie) on Japanese television about longtime Toho actor Tadao Takashima, who starred in King Kong Vs Godzilla(1962), Atragon(1963), Frankenstein vs Baragon(1965), Son Of Godzilla(1967),
Godzilla Vs Mechagodzilla(1993) and many other films, regarding his struggles with clinical depression. Click the link for more info at Sci-Fi Japan: http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2007/05...ith-depression/

I was most pleased to see the family picture at the bottom of the page of this link: Mr. Takashima and the rest of his family look happy and appear to be doing very well. thumbs up

Tadao Takashima has always been one of my favorite Toho actors-I really enjoyed his performance in King Kong Vs Godzilla, playing off his co-stars Yu Fujiki and Ichiro Arashima. Best wishes to him and his family. :)
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packmule
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This has always been one of my favorite posters for King Kong Vs Godzilla(1962), which I enlarged and sharpened up into a makeshift wallpaper:

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I kind of wish Kong had looked more like he does in this poster than the way he actually looked in the 1962 film. freak out
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KaijuFanatic
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Oh, I do like this one, too. Thanks, Lee, you're giving me some great wallpapers to use. Mr Green
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KaijuFanatic
Jul 6 2007, 01:13 PM
Thanks, Lee, you're giving me some great wallpapers to use.

Here's one that is obviously related to this topic thread: Eiji Tsuburaya, Toho Special Effects maestro, in discussion with his two "stars", between takes of King Kong Vs Godzilla(1962):

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Quote:
 
Here's one that is obviously related to this topic thread


That's great! nod
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TheDreadedGodOfKaiju
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while I think KKvsG was a downgrade from GRA, its still enjoyable.

King Kong looks terrible and reminds me of a drunk, wish Toho designed him more like the 1933 design.

Godzilla looks nice and more dinosaur like, which is ok.

The fights are alright, but seem odd, I have accepted King Kong won the last round, but Godzilla won the first and knocked out KK in the second.
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"gojiramatthew"
 
King Kong looks terrible
Agreed. The suit looked atrocious.
"gojiramatthew"
 
... and reminds me of a drunk
very funny I think Kong was drunk(wasn't he?)-he polished off at least two of those huge containers of red berry juice.
"gojiramatthew"
 
... wish Toho designed him more like the 1933 design
I thought I read somewhere in one of my books that Eiji Tsuburaya wanted Kong to look less menacing to children, and that that sentiment influenced the final look of King Kong for this 1962 movie. You know, I didn't mind the suit with the regular sized limbs-it was the shots where King Kong had those ridiculously oversized arms that l thought really looked bad(recall the scene where Kong, having just been scorched by Godzilla's breath during their first encounter reaches up to scratch his head in confusion).

"gojiramatthew"
 
Godzilla looks nice and more dinosaur like, which is ok.
The Kinggoji suit is actually my favorite Godzilla suit-I especially like the alligator-like quality of the head and the prominent tail and bulky legs.

"gojiramatthew"
 
The fights are alright, but seem odd
Again, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, my only real complaint was the lack of high speed filming for many of the kaiju battle sequences, and I also wasn't fond of the brief "stop motion" sequence either. Otherwise, I liked the battle overall, especially when Kong and Godzilla both demolished the enormous castle before tumbling off the cliff into the sea.

Miscellaneous: I would love to see this film in a theater on a huge screen with stereo sound.

It'll probably never happen but I would also love to see Toho do a remake of this film. noddy
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TheDreadedGodOfKaiju
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Yes KK got drunk, thats why he reminds me of a drunk.
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gojiramatthew
Jul 29 2007, 09:15 PM
Yes KK got drunk, thats why he reminds me of a drunk.

very funny

I was particularly delighted when Universal released KK Vs Godzilla on DVD as a double feature(paired with KKE) in widescreen format. I have the Region 3 disc of King Kong Vs Godzilla(1962) as well-its in Japanese language, uncut, and in widescreen, but no English subtitles.
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TheDreadedGodOfKaiju
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I hope to get the Japanese version on DVD, but with No English subtitles and how much it costs seems pointless to me.

I have seen the Japanese version on youtube.
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gojiramatthew
Jul 30 2007, 07:21 PM
I hope to get the Japanese version on DVD, but with No English subtitles and how much it costs seems pointless to me.

http://www.ethaicd.com/show.php?pid=23566

I have this disc. I bought it from eThaiCD earlier this year. The print looks fine. It sells for $7.50 plus shipping. I paid for standard air freight and received my parcel in about three weeks. :)
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what dvd was that
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packmule
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batrus
Aug 30 2007, 09:12 AM
what dvd was that

batrus, click the below link to see the DVD I was talking about. The link: http://www.ethaicd.com/show.php?pid=23566
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TheDreadedGodOfKaiju
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Hey Packmule, In your opinion, would you say the battle is a draw. heyo
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gojiramatthew
Feb 6 2008, 02:41 AM
Hey Packmule, In your opinion, would you say the battle is a draw

I've asked myself this question many times, Matthew. Clearly in their first encounter Godzilla gets the better of King Kong, in part because Kong wasn't expecting an opponent who could spew a radioactive and very hot beam at him. Knowing that Kong might not otherwise have much of a chance against Godzila without some special power or ability, Toho decided to include, in the movie's storyline, Kong being able to draw considerable extra power from electricity while at the same time making Godzilla act as if he's "allergic" to it.
The second, and final encounter, between King Kong and Godzilla goes back and forth, obviously. I believe Kong would have lost the Mt. Fuji battle had he not been struck, and energized, by the lightning(from the electrical storm overhead). Godzilla had pounded Kong down with his tail and set afire the woods around a woozy Kong. The big ape looked down and out.
Re-energized by the lightning strikes, Kong proceeded to open up a serious can of whup ass on Godzilla, hurling Godzilla about by his tail, then getting atop Godzilla and pounding the daylights out of him. One of my favorite shots is the one, as the two monsters approach the huge castle, where Kong shoulder blocks Godzilla, knocking the giant dinosaur over backwards-this shows off, IMO, Kong's raw brute strength.
There has been great debate about the ending of this film regarding which monster "won". I believe Kong won because it was he who surfaced and not Godzilla. One could argue that Godzilla also swam away, albeit underwater and therefore the final battle was a draw. This is possible though IMO, regarding the "spirit" of this movie, I believe Toho's intent, with Kong surfacing(and Godzilla remaining unseen), was to suggest to those watching this movie that King Kong was the victor.
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TheDreadedGodOfKaiju
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Here's what I say.

Official winner: King Kong.

My opinion on the winner: Neither.
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