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Godzilla Vs Gigan 1972 Director: Jun Fukuda Number of Items: 1 Format: Color, Widescreen, Dolby Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Running Time: 89 minutes Studio: Columbia Tristar Hom Region Code: 99 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2004-10-19 Buy from Amazon |
 "Gigan's debut is okay entry in Godzilla canon"Back when I was younger, whenever I saw some Oriental people speaking in badly-dubbed English, odds were it was a Godzilla movie or a kung-fu movie. If it was the former, I was in luck. Well, Godzilla vs. Gigan was one of the first movies I saw that introduced me to the world of Toho Studio's monsters. OK, the story. Genko is a cartoonist trying to find a job with the aid of his female agent. He finally finds something at the Construction Committee for the Children Fund, a non-profit org. dedicated to peace who are making an amusement park and even conducts operations from a Godzilla tower. Genko is kind of creative in his monsters, but a description that he is "stupid but at the same time cunning" is kind of apropos. That assessment comes from Fumio Sudo, the very young chairman of the Children Fund who does coordinate geometry for kicks. His underling and Genko's immediate superior, a bespectacled reptilian-looking guy with thin mustache named Kubota. Things take an interesting twist when Genko acquires a tape whose loss causes great consternation to the chairman and Kubota. He then falls in with Machiko and Shosaku, who are a motley pair. Machiko's a hottie nice in a fetching mini while Shosaku, with his long hair and headband, is a friendly but goofy-looking guy still wearing 60's fashion clothes. Machiko's brother was working at the fund but has vanished. How's this for a twist? Our heroes learn that Kubota and Genko were killed in an accident a year ago! This is at least the fourth time Ghidrah (King Ghidorah), the three-headed golden dragon, has been the heavy, and I wonder if he's gotten tired of getting pounded by Big G. As for the gold and dark green Gigan, he is well-realized, with that buzzsaw belly of his doing quite some physical harm to Big G--see the blood gush from his arm at one point. His appearance is reason enough to see this movie and yes, he is as destructive as Ghidrah. He's clearly based after an eagle, with the shape of his head and beak, and three wings. And I wonder when Toho Studios caught on that Angillus is one of the most useless monsters to have on your side. I mean, he's like a spiky, long-snouted armadillo with no special skills, lasers,... agh! A few other things: Genko's monsters. The name Shukra, the monster of homework, is a corruption of shikudai, which is the Japanese word for homework. As for Mamagon, the monster of strict mothers, there is a humorous moment, as the drawing has a stark resemblance to someone else in the movie. The intro after the titles are done show frames of Genko's animation, and also serves to remind the viewer that these movies are the cinematic equivalent of comic books, which kinda fits. Also, Godzilla actually talks in this movie, which is unintentionally hilarious. Finally, this was originally called Godzilla on Monster Island, which is ridiculous, since the action takes place in Japan. This new title is more apropos. Godzilla movies relied on some unexplained mystery, with two or three people caught up in some intrigue, and then Godzilla would appear, with or without one of his buddies, and fight the villainous monster. This entry follows that formula, and the initial three-in-a-team motif. And yes, there are the usual toy tanks and planes being destroyed by the bad monsters. If one takes these movies within the context of the Godzilla canon, cool, as the good guys here are goofy but fun to watch, although this is a notch below Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla. 3.5, rounded to 4.  "A Great Flick! <-----What you going to do about it?"I LOVE this flick! I know even most real big G Fans say this is a disgrace so the whole Godzilla saga - but folks, i LOVE this film and i AM a real big G fan (some say obsessed). This is the first Godzilla film i have ever seen, It features Godzilla (of course, any film with him is great), Angirius (my favorite of Godzilla's allies) and !Gigan! (My favorite Godzilla villian - with Mecha-Godzilla). So what if there is so much stock footage (I was bewildered why i saw Larva Mothra just laying around while Godzilla and Ghidrah were dukin' it out before i knew what stock footage was) and who cares if the invaders arent the best actors - the action between Gigan, Godzilla, Angirus and Ghidrah is AWEOSOME! Why wouldent you like this flick - O.K Godzilla vs Gigan haters look at this - Godzilla ----GOOD Gigan -----GOOD Ghidrah ---GOOD Angirus ---GOOD Hot Japaneese Chick that kicks cockraoch buttocks ----GOOD Japaneese Hippie that threatens people with corn ---GOOD Gigan kicks major Tokyo butt ---Good GODZILLA AND ANGIRUS WIN ----GOOD Have a made my point yet? All in All, i am sure obsessed G fans will like this one, and people who are starting to get into the whole godzilla legacy, but thoose narrow minded people who only want TOP NOTCH EFFECTS, Brando ACTING and that $hit - stay away at all costs. "Godzilla Vs. Gigan Review!"I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Godzilla movies. As a kid, there was nothing I enjoyed more than sitting home on a Saturday afternoon and watching the big Green guy take on some giant monster in the streets of Japan. I never really picked up on the fact that the monsters were just people in rubber suits, that the actors were dubbed, or that the movies were considered "cheesy" by many fans' standards. I didn't pick up on these things because I really didn't care. To me, these were the greatest movies on the planet and even the greatest most well thought-up scrutiny would not change my mind. That being said, "Godzilla Vs. Gigan" or "Godzilla On Monster Island" as it is known as when aired on TV, was a big favorite. Not as good as the all-out battle royal that was "Destroy All Monsters" but still a tremendous film. Sure, the characters are Japanesse hippies and evil cockroaches disguised as humans in an attempt to take over the world but what the hell are you expectng? IT'S GODZILLA! In hindsight, the talking monsters were a bit much but even now, almost twenty years since I first saw it, I still could pop it in my VCR and enjoy it. This time around, Godzilla and the giant spiny Aguilas are out to stop a giant robot bird called Gigan and Big G's always infamous rival, King Ghidorah, the three-headed space dragon that shoots out lightning. Some of the monster battle scenes are recycled from "Ghidrah" and "Destroy All Monsters" but what it takes, it also gives back as "Godzilla Vs. Megalon" does some borrowing of its own from this film. Godzilla movies are great because they are good, brainless fun. Anyone can enjoy them. Common sense would dictate that anyone looking for a real serious motion picture is not gonna wanna pick up an old Japanesse monster movie from the 60's and if you were expecting such then shame on you. This will more than likely appeal to the same people who enjoy the old WWF wrestling matches from the 80's. So those in the mood for something a little silly, dim them lights and throw on a little "Godzilla Vs. Gigan". I insist.  "Could have, should have"This movie could have been one of the better Godzilla movies. The plot, though well used, is good enough. Aliens (intelligent cockroaches) use Gigan and the great King Ghidra in an attempt to take over earth. The monster battle is top notch. The thing that keeps this movie from a 4 or perhaps 5 star rating is Godzilla talking. I expect, in fact relish the cheese in Godzilla movies but this was too much. Im not sure if it was Japanese or the English dubbing but whoever was responsible, it is a shame because as i said, it could have and should have been a good chapter in the ongoing saga of Godzilla. "This (in my opinion) is the best godzilla movie"I really liked this movie even though the aliens were really lame. I always liked those 2 on 2 monster movie. I also liked Gigan a lot, and I LOVE Ghidorah! (he is my favorite monster after all) I liked all the fighting scenes, heck I even enjoyed the weird hippy guy who threantens people with corn. I think this movie is a MUST SEE! |
