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Invasion Of The Astro Monsters(1965); Discuss the film here. (aka "Monster Zero")
Topic Started: Feb 10 2006, 05:54 PM (7,403 Views)
packmule
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In 1965 Toho released Invasion Of The Astro Monsters, aka to us fans in the West as "Monster Zero" or "Godzilla Vs Monster Zero". The story: while investigating a newly discovered planet called "Planet X", astronauts Fuji and Glen encounter a race of aliens who ask for the Earth's assistance in helping them rid themselves of Monster "Zero", King Ghidrah, whose presence forces the "Xians" to live below the surface. The aliens want to capture Godzilla and Rodan, transport them back to "X" and allow them to fight Ghidrah. The astronauts agree to help, and soon have the support of everyone back on Earth. In the meantime, the Xians use their transport vessels to secure Godzilla and Rodan, from which the two monsters are taken to "X". After Godzilla-Rodan Vs King Ghidrah I on "X's" surface the aliens real intent is revealed: Godzilla and Rodan(and KG) are to be used as weapons in their conquest of Earth! ---Post your thoughts and opinions of this great Showa classic here. :)
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Legionmaster
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:blink: Eh, kinda boring. The story seems like it should be good, but it is kind of lacking in the entertaining area to me. And Goji's dance may blind small children.
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Feb 11 2006, 04:44 AM
:blink: Eh, kinda boring. The story seems like it should be good, but it is kind of lacking in the entertaining area to me. And Goji's dance may blind small children.

I agree with you about the "dancing" scene-IMO it was preposterous. As a whole though the movie never bored me. The scene where Godzilla and Rodan are secured by the alien transports, from a lake and mountainside respectively, is stellar. My only gripe about this movie is that it should have had a darker tone, and I would have liked to have seen Nick Adams personally jack up the Xian commander(played by Yoshio Tsuchiya) tongue-1
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ControllerOfPlanetX
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I think this one's a real gem. It's not perfect, but any means, but it carries its own weight. The characters were rather colorful and just about everything that made the Showa movies good was there: Cool monsters, neat effects (especially the "retrieval" scene packmule mentioned), good score, and all that jazz. But back to the characters. Nick Adams is the bomb, and how can you not love the Controller? For those who haven't seen the original Japanese version, you're really missing out. Yoshio Tsuchiya's cold delivery beats the snot out of his dubbed voice, though I must say the English-speaking Controller was memorable in his own right. Good stuff.
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I have a book in which there is mention that Yoshio Tsuchiya pined openly to Toho to play the "Controller" in this movie, prior to it being filmed, which made sense to me after reading this, since, as was mentioned, his delivery of this character was so effective.
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On December 19, 1965 the Toho Motion Picture Company released The Great Monster War, also known by its' international title as Invasion Of The Astro-Monsters or various DVD titles such as Monster Zero and Godzilla Vs Monster Zero. The story: two astronauts from The World Space Authority, touching down in their rocket on a newly discovered planetary body, Planet X, are greeted by a race of aliens, the Xians. The Xians, it seems, are cursed to live beneath the planet's surface due to the frequent surface marauding of Monster Zero, aka King Ghidrah. The aliens ask to "borrow" Godzilla and Rodan from Earth, offering in exchange a "miracle drug" that will cure all forms of cancer. The truth of the matter eventually comes into play: the Xians are desperate for water, in short supply on their home planet, the "miracle drug" is non-existent, and the Xians really intend on using all three monsters, Godzilla, Rodan, and King Ghidrah, to conquer the Earth. -----This film is available on Region 2 DVD(Yesasia.com) and also on Region 1 DVD(from Simitar), though the latter may be much harder to find now, as Simitar is no longer in business. In my opinion, despite some flaws, a fun and highly entertaining classic from the Showa series of Godzilla movies. Post your opinions and critiques of this film here and anything related to it, including DVD info. As always all replies welcome. :)
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I really love this film, it's definitely got three of my favorite 'beasties' in Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidrah. :D Nick Adams and Akira Takarada are good in their roles as the astronauts and overall, it's one of those films that's easy on the eyes and enjoyable to pop in and watch, any time.
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packmule
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For Packmule-Thumbs up: 1. The Xian Leader-played to the hilt by Yoshio Tsuchiya, this guy is a despicable cretin, who I sure as hell wouldn't want dating my sister nonono -still, the proper villain for this movie 2. The Godzilla/Rodan "transport" scene-Godzilla and Rodan are removed from their current habitats, a lake and mountainside, respectively-this scene is stellar, one of my favorite Showa G film scenes of the entire series 3. Tetsuo, the bumbling but good-hearted inventor, played by Akira Kubo-I enjoyed seeing him morph from insecure, stammering techno nerd to world savior with his annoying, but ever-so-important invention, the compact noisemaker gadget called the Lady Guard. 4. The final kaiju battle-very well rendered-I especially liked how Rodan lifted up Godzilla and used G as a moving battering ram against King Ghidrah. 5. Nick Adams-it's business as usual for Mr. Adams, who has a great job(an astronaut), spends quality time with Kumi Mizuno, and also gets to jack up a few of the bad guys(Xians) before he and Tetsuo make their final escape ftom the alien's hideout. His acting performance is, as always, solid and consistent. -----------thumbs down: 1. The astronaut's uniforms for the return trip to Planet X(with G and Rodan)-canary yellow...are you kidding me? freak out 2. The Xian's IQ level as a whole-a bit low. The Xians seek out their only vulnerability, the sound made by the "Lady Guard" device, buying the design from Tetsuo, burning the blueprints to it, and even locking up the inventor. Too bad they forgot to pat the inventor down before locking him up. Result: Glen and Tetsuo escape, and let out the Xians little secret to the authorities. The XIANS=not the brightest of light bulbs eyebrow -------Overall: one of my favorite Showa Godzilla films. I own the Simitar DVD. It is currently for sale as a Region 4 DVD(via Madman Entertainment) or a Region 2 DVD, through Yesasia.com.
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I was gifted with the Region 4 DVD of this film, today and it's in widescreen and Japanese language with English subs.....so far, it looks excellent! Mr Green
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Classic Media is releasing a dual-language (Japanese/English) version to region 1 this year along with a host of other Godzilla films, including Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster, Godzilla vs the Thing, and many more. I'm looking forward to Monster Zero as I've heard the Controller's voice in the Japanese version is really unique.
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I will definitely pick up the Classic Media releases, if possible, I want to get the best versions available and with CM including Japanese/English versions, I want those releases, very much! Seems weird to see Nick Adams 'speaking' Japanese!
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KaijuFanatic
Jul 16 2006, 05:17 AM
I will definitely pick up the Classic Media releases, if possible, I want to get the best versions available and with CM including Japanese/English versions, I want those releases, very much! Seems weird to see Nick Adams 'speaking' Japanese!

If you think that's weird Kimi you should watch the Region 2(widescreen) DVD of The Green Slime(1968) to see actors like Robert Horton, Richard Jaeckel, and Luciana Paluzzi tongue and cheek "speaking" in Japanese. crazy
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:lol: That is always a hoot, to see actors/actresses we would normally see, say, speak English, to suddenly be speaking a foreign language. I get a kick when they show cartoons being translated into foreign languages, seeing Fred Flintstone without his very unique sound is something else!
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On of the DVDs I am looking to get this year is the Region 4 release of Invasion Of The Astro-Monsters(1965) from Australia's Madman Entertainment. No disrespect to the SIMITAR DVD I have but I would rather watch this film in subtitles. Same goes for Destroy All Monsters(1968), which is also available from "Madman" on Region 4 DVD. So far I have only bought the Reg 4 GKOTM/Gojira('56/'54) disc but it is very good. Kimi, you should check out Madman's site. They have a very good list of titles and their prices are not nearly as high as yesasia or CDJapan. :)
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Quote:
 
On of the DVDs I am looking to get this year is the Region 4 release of Invasion Of The Astro-Monsters(1965) from Australia's Madman Entertainment.


That's the DVD I just was gifted with a week or so ago and it is a very nice looking print. thumbs up
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KaijuFanatic
Jul 21 2006, 07:54 PM
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On of the DVDs I am looking to get this year is the Region 4 release of Invasion Of The Astro-Monsters(1965) from Australia's Madman Entertainment.


That's the DVD I just was gifted with a week or so ago and it is a very nice looking print. thumbs up

Oops, sorry. I did not see your earlier post about having this film. shocked smiley
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I have yet to see this and the original Ghidorah movie, i'd like to get them some time this year.
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King Joe
Jul 22 2006, 09:53 AM
I have yet to see this and the original Ghidorah movie, i'd like to get them some time this year.

Corey, the Classic Media Box set, which will include these two films, is going to be released on September 5th of this year. The box set will have a cost(estimated) in the $70-80 range. I can guarantee you you would like watching Ghidrah The Three-Headed Monster(1964) and Invasion Of The Astro-Monsters(1965) in their uncut, letterboxed formats. I hope you can save up the money to buy this box. If I buy nothing else this year I would be content as long as I get my hands on the Classic Media DVDs. thumbs up
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I'll have to get this classic from Amazon.com. Every time it comes on cable I always try to watch it. Godzilla blast dancing admin
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jimpickens
Dec 15 2006, 12:38 AM
I'll have to get this classic from Amazon.com. Every time it comes on cable I always try to watch it.

Invasion Of The Astro-Monsters(1965) is available on Region 3/NTSC DVD at eThaiCD.com for around $7.50. It is available on Region 4/PAL from Madman Entertainment-you would need a multi-region or region-free DVD player to play either of these discs. Godzilla Vs Monster Zero(1965), an OOP disc made by Simitar, which is out of business, is also floating around on the internet-it is the English-dubbed version of the original Japanese film. You might find this "Simitar" disc at eBay. Of course next year we can also look forward to Classic Media releasing this DVD, which will include both the original and "Americanized" versions. thumbs up
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Of course next year we can also look forward to Classic Media releasing this DVD, which will include both the original and "Americanized" versions.


I'm looking forward to this and I still think it's a nice idea to include both the original and 'Americanized' versions of the film. thumbs up
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Image-X Marks The Spot: the Planet X aliens, aka "The Xians", lead by their leader, in the center of this photo, and ably played by Yoshio Tsuchiya. The "Xians" are my favorite "aliens" in a "Godzilla movie. thumbs up
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Ro-Dan
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Yeah the Xians/Xilians are my favorite G-aliens too. Could they be considered the Klingons or the Baltans of the Godzilla saga? I know they've only made two appearances (Monster Zero and Final Wars) but they're just so memorable.
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Ro-Dan
Apr 2 2007, 10:28 PM
Yeah the Xians/Xilians are my favorite G-aliens too. Could they be considered the Klingons or the Baltans of the Godzilla saga? I know they've only made two appearances (Monster Zero and Final Wars) but they're just so memorable.

The costumes of the Xians in Invasion Of The Astro Monsters(1965) have always been a favorite of mine, especially their visors, worn across their eyes, which makes them appear, IMO, more cold and calculating, and more "alien".

I must be insane: I have the R3 of this film, letterboxed, in Japanese language, plus I have the SIMITAR disc entitled Godzilla vs Monster Zero, also letterboxed, in R1. With this latest CM disc coming out on 6/5 I'll end up with three friggin' versions of the movie...when does the insanity end Dan? I guess when I cut my debit card in half and throw away the pieces. tongue-1
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packmule
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Click the link to see a one minute video clip of some monster rampage from Invasion of The Astro Monsters(1965), courtesy of Fangoria.com and Classic Media:
http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=987197503
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I watched this film, this morning, again and I still find this to be among my faves. I did pop over to the American/English version to listen to some of the commentary and it was interesting to hear most involved weren't too hip on the idea of Godzilla doing that little jig. I don't believe it was explained whey the bit ended up in the film, when the director and so many others weren't for the idea, though.
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"KaijuFanatic"
 
I watched this film, this morning, again and I still find this to be among my faves
Same with me. thumbs up
"KaijuFanatic"
 
...and it was interesting to hear most involved weren't too hip on the idea of Godzilla doing that little jig
I certainly didn't like watching Godzilla do the "Jumping Shie" either-IMO it looked ridiculous and completely out of place in this film. I believe the "Jumping Shie" was a popular dance in Japan at the time(circa 1965).
"KaijuFanatic"
 
I don't believe it was explained whey the bit ended up in the film, when the director and so many others weren't for the idea, though
Here is an excerpt from Japan's Favorite Mon-Star-The Unauthorized Biography Of "The Big G", a book written by Steve Ryfle, that touches on this:

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Godzilla is also more fleet-footed in this film than before; in addition to the aforementioned dance(known as the "Godzilla" shie, and reportedly adopted from a character in a Japanese comic book character that was popular at the time...These silly monster mannerisms were introduced by (Eiji) Tsuburaya, whose power at the studio was at an all-time high, and who was increasingly conscious that the movies should appeal to small children, despite protests from his staff and colleagues. "When Tsuburuya-san talked about Godzilla doing the "Shie" pose, I was totally against it," said SFX cameraman Teisho Arikawa. "But Mr. Tsuburaya said "Never mind, it will make children happy.' I shot the scene real reluctantly. The actor in the Godzilla suit(Haruo Nakajima) didn't want to do it either...Mr. Tsuburaya had more lenient ideas about Godzilla's character, compared to our ideas. When we all saw the rough cut of the movie, people were snickering, saying 'How far will Godzilla go with stuff like this?' Even director (Inoshiro) Honda was snickering...Later on, fans told us that after the 'Shie' pose, Godzilla movies had changed in quality."


*This quote, of Teisho Arikawa, is taken from the book Godzilla Days.
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Here is an excerpt from Japan's Favorite Mon-Star-The Unauthorized Biography Of "The Big G", a book written by Steve Ryfle, that touches on this


Thanks for the info, Lee. thumbs up
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KaijuFanatic
Jun 17 2007, 10:14 PM
Thanks for the info, Lee.

:)

I have often debated, in my own mind, the use of humor in Godzilla films-certainly we saw a great deal of that in 1962's King Kong Vs Godzilla, which I forgive, more or less, because this film is considered by many to be a satire of sorts. I cannot forgive so easily the use of monster humor in films like Ghidrah The Three Headed Monster(1964) or Invasion Of The Astro Monsters(1965). Though I disapprove of it I do understand, and respect, Eiji Tsuburaya's decision to employ these humor elements(like the "jumping shie") as a means of making these monsters popular with children. No matter how much I dislike humor in these films I cannot find it in myself to find fault with a man trying to make movies more appealing to the little ones. I must be getting soft in my old age, eh Kimi? tongue-1
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I must be getting soft in my old age, eh Kimi?


lol3 I'd never use that word to describe you, Lee. ;) I do think we become more tolerant of decisions, as we...we....age, but soft and old, never! tongue-1
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