Monster Island News
| Welcome to M o n s t e r l a n d F o r u m s! We are a growing, casual and friendly online community of movie fans who like to talk about giant monsters, horror and sci-fi in cinema, on television and on DVD. There are forums for sports, casual chat and video games as well. For those of you who like making art, writing stories and creating videos, our community includes a forum for these submissions as well. Check out our main index page and other board forums! Anyone is welcome to join our community! M o n s t e r l a n d F o r u m s was created on January 29, 2006 for the purpose of giving fans of giant monster films and other sci-fi/horror movies a friendly online meeting place to discuss all of their favorite films and other things of interest. -Lee "Packmule" Merritt Site founder |
| Invasion Of The Astro Monsters(1965); Discuss the film here. | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Feb 10 2006, 07:54 PM (1,542 Views) | |
| packmule | Feb 10 2006, 07:54 PM Post #1 |
Site founder
  ![]](http://209.85.117.197/static/1/pip_r.png)
|
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. :) |
 Packmule's Pen Humongous(1982) Grizzly(1976) | |
 |
 
|
| Legionmaster | Feb 11 2006, 12:44 AM Post #2 |
Monsterland Associate
|
: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. |
| |
|
|
|
| packmule | Feb 11 2006, 11:26 PM Post #3 |
|
Site founder
|
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) 
|
|
Packmule's Pen Humongous(1982) Grizzly(1976) | |
|
|
|
| ControllerOfPlanetX | Feb 12 2006, 01:01 AM Post #4 |
Monsterland Associate
|
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. |
 Tyler's Thicket of Whatever Comes to Mind | |
|
|
|
| packmule | Feb 12 2006, 01:10 AM Post #5 |
|
Site founder
|
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. |
|
Packmule's Pen Humongous(1982) Grizzly(1976) | |
|
|
|
| packmule | Mar 20 2006, 06:48 AM Post #6 |
|
Site founder
|
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. :) |
|
Packmule's Pen Humongous(1982) Grizzly(1976) | |
|
|
|
| KaijuFanatic | Mar 20 2006, 06:36 PM Post #7 |
DVD Fanatic
|
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. |
| Hers, Mine & Our DVDs | |
|
|
|
| packmule | Mar 22 2006, 11:46 PM Post #8 |
|
Site founder
|
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?  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.
|
|
Packmule's Pen Humongous(1982) Grizzly(1976) | |
|
|
|
| KaijuFanatic | Jul 14 2006, 08:46 PM Post #9 |
|
DVD Fanatic
|
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 |
| Hers, Mine & Our DVDs | |
|
|
|
| Ro-Dan | Jul 15 2006, 01:06 PM Post #10 |
Administrator
|
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. |
 Follow me on Twitter! Be my friend on Facebook! | |
|
|
|
| KaijuFanatic | Jul 16 2006, 06:17 AM Post #11 |
|
DVD Fanatic
|
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! |
| Hers, Mine & Our DVDs | |
|
|
|
| packmule | Jul 19 2006, 08:26 PM Post #12 |
|
Site founder
|
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 |
|
Packmule's Pen Humongous(1982) Grizzly(1976) | |
|
|
|
| KaijuFanatic | Jul 20 2006, 06:55 PM Post #13 |
|
DVD Fanatic
|
: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! |
| Hers, Mine & Our DVDs | |
|
|
|
| packmule | Jul 21 2006, 07:08 AM Post #14 |
|
Site founder
|
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. :) |
|
Packmule's Pen Humongous(1982) Grizzly(1976) | |
|
|
|
| KaijuFanatic | Jul 21 2006, 08:54 PM Post #15 |
|
DVD Fanatic
|
That's the DVD I just was gifted with a week or so ago and it is a very nice looking print. thumbs up |
| Hers, Mine & Our DVDs | |
|
|
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Showa Godzilla Films 1954-1975 · Next Topic » |
3:36 PM Nov 8
