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Actors: Akira Takarada, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, the Itoh Sisters
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Godzilla vs. The Thing |
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This 1964 film was the fourth Japanese Godzilla feature, the second in color. Sakai, a reporter (Takarada), goes with his novice photographer Junko (Hoshi) to investigate a giant egg that washed ashore in a typhoon off Nagoya. Avaricious businessmen "purchase" the egg from the local fisherman who brought it ashore, build an "incubator" structure around it, and propose an amusement park. Mothra's miniature priestesses (the Itoh sisters, also known as The Peanuts) show up and beg the executives to return the egg to their island -- no dice. Suddenly Gojira rises up out of the radioactive soil near Nagoya and the army gives battle (assisted by the U.S. Navy, in some extra scenes shot expressly for the American market). The natives of Mothra Island (Beiru Island in the Japanese original) refuse to help in the fight against Gojira, but the (hilarious and tiresome) songs of the priestesses help bring the dying goddess Mothra on board. She manages to pull Gojira away from the egg, but dies from a blast of his atomic breath. Gojira heads off to Iwo Island (Nagoya is spared!) and threatens some schoolkids overlooked during an evacuation, but the egg hatches twin caterpillars who swim off to the island and -- in one of the funniest battles to the death on film -- encase the monster in silk. Gojira tumbles into the sea. Note how Junko dresses for action as a newspaper photographer in her Jackie Kennedy hat, and how the rock floor of Mothra Island sinks under the feet of the human characters, among many other laughs, intentional and otherwise. This would be the last of many movies in which Godzilla would play a villain who threatens civilization. His growing popularity, especially among children, would force a change in personality during his future screen appearances for some time.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Godzilla vs. The Thing |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 70%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Giant monster movie?
Yes
Kind of monster
- Giant Monster(s)
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- journalist
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium straight
Events of movie makes character more...
- happy
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Japanese
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Japanese
Main Adversary
Identity:
- dinosaur
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- fire/thunder/weather cntrl
- super strength
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average Intelligence
Physical condition
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th Century (1950-1970)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Water?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Tone of movie
- funny
Comedy or somewhat funny movie?
Yes
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- Japanese
Subtitles?
- No
Any profanity?
- None
Kinds of F/X
- exploding vehicles
- exploding bombs
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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