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| Godzilla Vs Megalon(1973); Discuss the film here. | |
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| Topic Started: Mar 23 2006, 08:11 AM (1,459 Views) | |
| packmule | Mar 23 2006, 08:11 AM Post #1 |
Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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On March 17, 1973 the Toho Motion Picture Company released Gojira Tai Megaro, Godzilla Vs Megalon. The story: the undersea kingdom of Seatopia, damaged by underwater nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific ocean, responds by sending their guardian monster, Megalon, to the surface to exact revenge on mankind. Also, Seatopian agents steal a robot, Jet Jaguar, from a local inventor, using the automaton to steer Megalon around on the surface. The robot's inventor manages to regain control of the robot, sending it to retrieve Godzilla. A huge battle ensues upon Godzilla's arrival, as Jet Jaguar/Godzilla vs Megalon/Gigan(Gigan "borrowed" by the Seatopians from the Hunter Nebulan aliens). ---------Observations: widely considered the worst of all Godzilla films by fans and critics, this movie is, IMO, the nadir of the series. The use of stock footage is particularly heavy, due to the tight budget of the film, which was shot in about three weeks. High-speed filming is pared back, and the "quacking" Godzilla theme returns(first heard in G Vs Hedorah '71). There is an Alpha Video DVD of this film floating around out there, which is little better than the hour-long NBC special hosted by John Belushi in 1977. To the film's credit there are some very good visuals: the "dam" scene, where Megalon arrives at, and consequently plows through, the dam. Also, the lake "draining" out is a decent effect. This movie must be seen in it's uncut, letterbox form to be tolerated. That's my take. Post your thoughts and opinons on this film, and any related DVD, here. :) |
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| Ro-Dan | Mar 25 2006, 10:08 AM Post #2 |
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Well, I don't think this movie is any worse than Godzilla vs Space Godzilla. And, in my view, it's much more entertaining than the trippy Godzilla vs Hedorah. It was one of my favorites as a kid so it has nostalgic value. "It has right of way." Jet Jaguar was cool and we got to see a return performance from Gigan. Let's also not forget Godzilla's super cute puppy-dog face. |
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| packmule | Mar 25 2006, 11:11 PM Post #3 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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I believe the staff involved in making this film, and other G films with threadbare budgets, are all to be commended for turning out fun, entertaining movies, much as the staffs at Daiei did with the late 60's/early 70's Gamera films. IMO too many people are conditioned to recall this movie by the many butchered DVDs out there of this film, all pan'n scanned, with less than good prints and editing that renders the film=to the same celluloid garbage as that of the 1977 NBC special. A Region 1 DVD of this film in letterbox'd, uncut form would improve, I think, this film's overall popularity, maybe not by much, but somewhat. I believe it is going to be released on Region 4 at the Madman Entertainment site: Madman Entertainment |
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| china | Mar 26 2006, 12:49 AM Post #4 |
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Jun Fukada's talents are still showing. He is good at creating action scenes with people and he does it again here. Too bad the budget was obviously very small. But Fukada did the best with what he had and I can appreciate that! This is much more watchable than movies like Terror, Spacegodzilla and Final wars.... |
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| KaijuFanatic | Apr 9 2006, 12:56 PM Post #5 |
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I like some parts of this film very much, especiall with the appearance of Gigan. I own the horrid looking Alpha disc and would love to see a proper release of this film.....until then, I'll make the best of this print, but I've seen TV broadcasts that look better than this DVD. <_< |
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| packmule | Apr 9 2006, 11:42 PM Post #6 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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As can I. It is no secret among Godzilla fans that know about the man that his recollections of Godzilla films, especially the ones he directed, were never positive-partly because he was accustomed to directing other kinds of movies, and partly because he was under such strict budgetary constraints in getting these G films made. I believe, had I been in his shoes, I would have felt the same way. Being the good "company man" Mr. Fukuda plodded on, managing, with his staffs, to produce fun and entertaining movies. One can only imagine what kind of Godzilla film he and his staff might have produced were his budgets comparable to the early Showa G films of the early/mid 1960's. |
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| KexMex | Jul 18 2007, 06:32 AM Post #7 |
Transgendered transcultural transracial transspeciesist
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Non-hardcore fans are really unfair to Godzilla vs. Megalon. It is a very fun movie. I remember sitting excited when Jet Jaguar first grew, happily cheering him on. 'Course, that time I couldn't see the end of the movie for unrelated reasons. I got to do that later. It only got better. Megalon is a fun kaiju, with a little Ultraman-ish feel, and there's nothing wrong with that. Gigan is awesome as usual (Though aren't his claws a little weird this time?) and the two make a really fun tag team. They seem to have the same personality. Godzilla suit isn't one of my favorites, I'd have preferred an earlier one, but one can manage. |
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| packmule | Jul 18 2007, 06:30 PM Post #8 |
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I believe much of the harsh criticism of this movie is because of the 1977 sixty minute NBC TV special featuring this movie, hosted by John Belushi, this film butchered down to a one hour run time. Belushi, being a comedian by trade, added a sardonic and slapstick element to the broadcast, which made it difficult, if not impossible, for anyone watching this special to take this movie at all seriously. I also think that the "bargain bin" VHS and limited DVD releases of this movie by "el cheapo" video companies, the prints pan n scanned and horrendous to look at, has also damaged the reputation of this film, which was already made on a smaller budget and with a heavy infusion of stock footage(to save $ in making it). This film should be viewed in it's original aspect ratio of 2:35.1(widescreen) and uncut. Madman Entertainment, out of Australia, sells Godzilla vs Megalon on Region 4/PAL DVD in widescreen and uncut. You would need a code-free or multi-region DVD player to watch it. Agreed. What I liked about Godzilla Vs Megalon(1973): -the action sequences between the human characters -the battle scenes between the monsters and Jet Jaguar -Jet Jaguar's appearance -certain effects scenes: the lake draining out, Megalon's attack on the dam What I did not like: -the return of the "quacking" Godzilla theme(first heard in "Godzilla Vs Hedorah(1971)") -looking at Robert Dunham in his Seatopian "uniform" -the stock footage |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jul 19 2007, 10:14 AM Post #9 |
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Wow! I'm not sure I was ever aware of this NBC special, Lee.  I do think how a film fan sees a film for the first time does have a lot to do with forming their opinion and by that, I mean, the picture quality. I've never seen Godzilla vs Megalon in any form other than a poor VHS release and a poor DVD release. With a decent release, here in Region 1 land, this film could very well pick up a lot more fans. thumbs up |
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| packmule | Jul 19 2007, 06:31 PM Post #10 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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I didn't watch it when it aired. I remember my father trying to talk my mom into turning the station to NBC-she refused. Something else was on television that she wanted to watch. My mother usually had the final say on what was on our living room television on weeknights. thumbs down Click the link to see an excellent review of this 1973 Toho kaiju film, which does make reference to the 1977 NBC special. This review also makes mention of the fact that Godzilla vs Megalon is generally considered the most watched "Godzilla" film in the world because of the glut of bargain basement VHS and DVD media of the film in the retail marketplace. Given this fact it's understandable, to me anyway, why there would be such a negative opinion of Godzilla. Imagine if Mothra Vs Godzilla(1964), the CM re-release, became the world's most watched Godzilla film: I think the overall opinion of Godzilla worldwide would be considerably more positive.  The article link: http://www.filmthreat.com/index.php?section=features&Id=1074 |
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| josh TX | Jul 29 2007, 08:11 PM Post #11 |
Monsterland Hall Of Famer
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Most people who have seen this film can't get over Godzilla's "dropkick" scene and unfortunately this is how they remember him from then on. While it was a funny sight to see, I hate to think thats how people would come to think of him. It would be nice if all those people could be shown GMK, a great film IMO to refresh their view of Godzilla. |
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| packmule | Jul 29 2007, 09:13 PM Post #12 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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And while I hate to admit I think it's understandable, the scene you mention looking, IMO, ridiculous. Agreed. I think the overall perception of Godzilla after a viewing of this film would be much more positive.
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| gojiramatthew | Jul 30 2007, 06:38 AM Post #13 |
Fan Of The Evil Dead Trilogy
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IMO Godzilla vs Megalon is pretty entertaining and fun to watch and to me is not the worst Godzilla film. Megalon is a good foe and deserves to be in more then just one film, at least he appears in the Godzilla games. Gigan looks the same to me, which is good. Godzilla looks cute and does some nice fighting move(Pulling out the tree was fun) Jet jaguar is fine, he isnt a rip-off, I do like his growing ability. |
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| packmule | Jul 30 2007, 07:27 PM Post #14 |
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Site founder - Searching for Cropsy
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Which is why I would like to see this movie released on a quality Region 1 DVD so others might discover this for themselves as well. |
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| gojiramatthew | Jul 30 2007, 08:19 PM Post #15 |
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The Madman release of Godzilla vs Megalon is pretty good, the Japanese version made the film seem better. |
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