DailySkew

Review: Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)

Along with Mothra vs Godzilla, this movie was Toho’s 10th anniversary celebration of Godzilla on the silver screen. Although this movie is known for its famous firsts in Godzilla’s continuity, it also happens to be one of its silliest.

Plot

This is a mind-numbing plot…

A princess from Selgina, becomes possessed by the spirit of a Venusian and escapes a plane just as it explodes in an assassination attempt. A meteorite falls from the sky containing the space beast King Ghidorah (first appearance), who destroyed Venus ages ago. Godzilla (5th appearance) and Rodan (2nd appearance) emerge from “hibernation” and attack Japan and each other. [Rodan had been buried in Mount Aso since the 1956 Toho movie. The Venusian says that the volcanic gases resurrected him. Godzilla was last seen falling over a cliff after Mothras beat him.]

Mothra larvae (3rd appearance), along with her twin mini fairies (3rd appearance) [the faries said on nationwide TV that the 2nd larvae from the last movie passed away, thus there is only one Mothra larvae now], convince Godzilla and Rodan to stop fighting each other and to team up to fight Ghidiroh who has awakened and is destroying Japan. [Mothra actually TALKS to Godzilla and Rodan during one of the most ridiculous and cheesy fight scenes ever. Godzilla and Rodan TALK back and initially refuse to help defend humanity. Godzilla gives his reason: Humans BULLY him, and attack him for no reason! That's what The Hulk says, too!]

The princess, who has been acting as a doomsday prophet after being taken over by a spirit from Venus, is being hunted by a group of assassins for the whole movie. When the only living assassin is about to kill the princess (she is helped by a policeman and his reporter sister (nice)- the stars of the movie), King Ghidorah crushes him. Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra drive King Ghidorah off thanks to the Mothra larvae’s SILK WEBS!! Yes, the Mothra larvae beat Godzilla with it in the last movie, AND she beat King Ghidorah with it in this one! Spider-Man would be proud!!! The princess goes back to her country (she no longer is a Venusian) and Godzilla and Rodan watch Mothra swim back to Infant Island with the twin faeries.

The Good

• Well, King Ghidorah is awesome- the ultimate Godzilla villain, and it seems as if all of the budget went into his suit. He is hyper-active and destructive- three breath attacks and flight!!
• The Mothra larvae (a puppet) really showed emotion by charging King Ghidorah by herself to motivate Rodan and Godzilla, who were arguing.
• The movie wasn’t a total loss. Anytime I see my little faeries again and see King Ghidorah decimate cities, I’m happy.

The Bad

• Well it starts off as a sci-fi serious 1960’s movie, albeit strange (UFO’s and paranormal talk), but then becomes a joke. Godzilla and Rodan’s special effects are laughable. Godzilla and Rodan actually dance and play catch with boulders during their fight (which based on Rodan’s 1st appearance should have been a main event). One again, Godzilla’s tail is grabbed. His breath attack looks like and was a spray can. (Damn.)
• The sub-plot of the princess who was taken over by someone from Venus was distracting, and her assassins were bumbling. Total time killer.
• In one of the most anti-climatic battles at the end, after the “good monsters” beat up on King Ghidorah, he just…. kinda flies away.
• Truly a dark age for Godzilla in this era (called Showa Era). I never knew how lame the idea to turn him good was, and how poorly executed it was.
• The music- cool theme as always, but it was totally repetitive, and the rearranging did nothing to help give some variety to the score.
• Godzilla’s worst performance to date- was this a kid’s movie?…and Rodan- who was seemingly fast and invincible in 1956- is……..a rubber chicken.
• If 4 monsters are tearing up the world, don’t you think the assassins would fear that more than their master? Well, if they don’t fear Godzilla, than neither should we.

Fun Facts

• This movie is often sited for having some famous firsts in the Godzilla universe: it’s the first appearance of King Ghidorah, Godzilla’s nemesis; the first movie where Godzilla turns good; the first appearance of 4 monsters in one movie; the first time an outer space plot device was used; and it featured the 1st dream fight and team-up of Godzilla and Rodan.
• So…Rodan’s back, huh? After I spent all that time in my Rodan review showing that there was no evidence that Godzilla existed on Rodan’s earth…here he is…or she…because there were TWO Rodans buried in Mount Aso, remember? And they both fell into lava and died. Why would gas bring one back to life and not the other one? What happened to his super-sonic flight? What earth is this?

Conclusion

Overrated by many because it is a turning point in for the 1960’s Godzilla, and gets referenced so much, it drops the ball at so many levels. The first half, Mothra, and entrances of the monsters are enjoyable, but the cheese and comedy once the action gets going is insane. Godzilla turns good, but is totally weak in this movie.

An actual trailer which shows most of the boring subplot!!! (Another famous first?)

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