tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post6491881678313132743..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Guest Review: Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster (1971)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-80865002720237790112015-04-25T23:34:30.621-04:002015-04-25T23:34:30.621-04:00My mom took me to see this movie when I was 7 year...My mom took me to see this movie when I was 7 years old. It was one of the first movies I had ever seen in a theater (other than Disney stuff). I'd seen the original Raymond Burr version on the black-and-white TV and loved it and begged to go. <br /><br />She thought it was just a silly kids movie, but those flesh-eating scenes and deaths were really scary for a 7yro. She even apologized to me afterward. I was seriously freaked out, and didn't see another movie in a theater for years after that.Gideon7https://www.blogger.com/profile/16074350030838655428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-12348749762507962202015-04-23T00:39:13.281-04:002015-04-23T00:39:13.281-04:00If you want a pretty good environmental minded fil...If you want a pretty good environmental minded film, then <i>Nausica and the Valley of the Wind</i> is pretty good.<br /><br />As for the big-G vs. the smog monster, I haven't seen it since the late 70s. Even as a kid, I thought is was pretty bad.shawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-9368026159980612262015-04-21T16:47:45.482-04:002015-04-21T16:47:45.482-04:00Kit, this film fits into the school of film-making...Kit, this film fits into the school of film-making that spawned things like "The Room" and "Miami Connection." I don't if I'd say "so bad, it's good." I might go more for, (to paraphrase Rich Evans of RLM), "so bizarre, you just have to see it to believe it." <br /><br />Also, interesting fact I just found regarding director Banno: he assisted none other than Akira Kurosawa as assitant director on four films! -"Throne of Blood" (1957), "The Lower Depths" (1957), "The Hidden Fortress" (1958), and "The Bad Sleep Well" (1960). (BTW, all starring Toshiro Mifune.) <br />Sometimes, the magic just doesn't rub off from teacher to student.Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-34452588671907244592015-04-21T16:42:29.980-04:002015-04-21T16:42:29.980-04:00You're welcome, Andrew!
The recent movies hav...You're welcome, Andrew!<br /><br />The recent movies have some better scenes, but I suspect that's due to high production values. B-movies, as we knew them, are no longer around. It's either high budget or bust for major studios like Toho.<br />That being said, suitmation hasn't changed all that much and it still looks a lot like it did in the 60's. Plus, the dubbing is, well, Godzilla-style dubbing as always. I heavily recommend you check out the more recent films, though I personally recommend the "Alternate Reality Series" (1999- 2004) instead of the more hit-or-miss Heisei Series (1984- 1995).Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-37665562157404998452015-04-21T16:36:04.565-04:002015-04-21T16:36:04.565-04:00Anthony, it does have its charm. That's why we...Anthony, it does have its charm. That's why we keep talking about it.Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-11221601120746309712015-04-21T16:07:36.298-04:002015-04-21T16:07:36.298-04:00Rustbelt,
Would this movie fit the category of &q...Rustbelt,<br /><br />Would this movie fit the category of "So bad it's good?"Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-52579741697466313632015-04-21T14:58:59.034-04:002015-04-21T14:58:59.034-04:00Rustbelt, Thanks for the article! I'm a big f...Rustbelt, Thanks for the article! I'm a big fan of Godzilla and have seen many of the films, though I haven't seen many of the recent ones. I kind off like him in black and white or that old faded color. And yeah this one was not a favorite.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-31059289323334100222015-04-21T13:16:29.646-04:002015-04-21T13:16:29.646-04:00Here is the song, "Save the Earth." LINK...Here is the song, "Save the Earth." <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC1CGrVuGV8" rel="nofollow">LINK</a><br /><br /><b>Lyrics:</b><br />Animals, God's animals<br />Don't go away, don't go<br />Flowers, my flowers<br />Don't go away, don't go<br />The sea has cobalt, it's full of mercury<br />Too many fumes in our oxygen<br />All the smog now is choking you and me<br />Good Lord, where is it gonna end?<br />Got to get it back, someday<br />Got to get it back, and soon now<br />For tomorrow maybe you and me<br />We're movin', we're movin', movin' to the Moon now<br />It's up to us to make a choice<br />We know what it's worth to save the Earth<br />Come raise your voice<br />Save the Earth! (save the Earth)<br />Save the Earth! (save the Earth)<br />See the evil problem around us<br />Save the Earth! (save the Earth)<br />Save the Earth! (save the Earth)<br />And the Solution: stop pollution<br />Save the Earth! (save the Earth)<br />Save the Earth! (save the Earth)<br />Save the Earth!<br />And the Solution: to stop pollution<br />Save the Earth!<br />Save the Earth!<br />Save the Earth!Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-47227783010281605042015-04-21T05:15:10.511-04:002015-04-21T05:15:10.511-04:00I saw this movie as a kid. Best Godzilla movie ev...I saw this movie as a kid. Best Godzilla movie ever.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-22005812385247010072015-04-21T00:36:33.191-04:002015-04-21T00:36:33.191-04:00Kit, I think the sax is dragging to make us feel t...Kit, I think the sax is dragging to make us feel that we all live inside a yellow submarine and that we're all just as stoned as Hedorah on top of that smokestack.<br /><br />Or, maybe, the whole thing is just the longest Big-Lipped Alligator Moment of all time. (Yes, a bigger one than "We're Back!")Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-11506437103103957212015-04-21T00:31:56.657-04:002015-04-21T00:31:56.657-04:00Also, for some strange reason, that flying scene m...Also, for some strange reason, that flying scene makes me think of Nicholas Cage:<br /><br />"Uh, what's he flying over? Uh, a shark, or something?"<br /><br />It's easy to see why Tanaka thought this was the end of Godzilla!Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-68203906775881871352015-04-21T00:31:16.462-04:002015-04-21T00:31:16.462-04:00The cat lived because it was a cat and was therefo...The cat lived because it was a cat and was therefore behind the whole thing. (I have two cats)<br /><br />Rustbelt, the music… oh the music. What the hell is up with that slow dragging… saxophone, I think? Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-38331575402241383982015-04-21T00:26:45.742-04:002015-04-21T00:26:45.742-04:00Kit, WEIRD is the name of the game with this one. ...Kit, WEIRD is the name of the game with this one. Everything seems out of place. Humans dying en masse. Godzilla loses an eye while fighting. The bizarre cartoons. <br />And the music...it sounds like 'Power Rangers' meets 'Prince of Space!' Where's Godzilla maestro Akira Ifukube when you need him?Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-50556842494028971702015-04-21T00:22:44.714-04:002015-04-21T00:22:44.714-04:00Kit, that is another truly impressive trailer. I r...Kit, that is another truly impressive trailer. I remember reading your review last year. Trouble is, I'm always putting movies on my list to watch, but I never get around to them. <br />The imagery is just amazing...when you know how to use it. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLOyVEfi4-Q" rel="nofollow">Unlike this.</a> (And no, I'm sure how the cat lived. By the film's rules, it should be dead.)Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-3849754291609675912015-04-21T00:18:19.940-04:002015-04-21T00:18:19.940-04:00Anyway, on Smog Monster. I think I saw it as a kid...Anyway, on <i>Smog Monster</i>. I think I saw it as a kid. Very weird. I have heard about just how <i>weird</i> the movie is. <br /><br />I love the "Godzilla flies" scene. The kicker is the looks on the faces of the Japanese soldiers; even they seem to realize just how stupid and insane this scene is, "WTF?!"<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E284IfUyssc" rel="nofollow">LINK</a>Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-15330399036839708912015-04-21T00:11:09.929-04:002015-04-21T00:11:09.929-04:00Lump it another great movie of his, Spirited Away....Lump it another great movie of his, <i>Spirited Away</i>. Trailer: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk" rel="nofollow">LINK</a><br /><br />Which I reviewed: <a href="http://commentaramafilms.blogspot.com/2014/06/toon-arama-spirited-away-2003.html" rel="nofollow">LINK</a>Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-62937804659397101152015-04-21T00:06:49.349-04:002015-04-21T00:06:49.349-04:00Great trailer, Kit!
Yeah, I'll need to put th...Great trailer, Kit!<br /><br />Yeah, I'll need to put that on my "Must Watch' list. (I haven'r watched very much anime since my 'Inuyasha' days in college.) It'll be interesting to see how this film's theme and plot work against the preachiness of 'Smog Monster.'Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-30446478531297754102015-04-20T23:57:54.025-04:002015-04-20T23:57:54.025-04:00Here is the trailer:
LINK
It is an amazing movie...Here is the trailer: <br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OiMOHRDs14" rel="nofollow">LINK</a><br /><br />It is an amazing movie. I'll save the bulk of my argument for the review but the movie does seem to imply that true peace between civilization and nature is impossible because both seek to survive —which means conflict. And the nature creatures aren't peaceful hippies, they are quite brutal and nasty.<br /><br />And that is intentional. Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-15693718404890429102015-04-20T23:53:45.289-04:002015-04-20T23:53:45.289-04:00Kit, I haven't seen 'Mononoke.' So, un...Kit, I haven't seen 'Mononoke.' So, unfortunately, I can't say. <br /><br />However, it might involve keeping the environmental theme quiet and understated; kind of a secondary plotline that compliments the main one. This film just hits the theme over the audience's head again and again. <br /><br />And yeah, that might be a good idea for a future review! -"What makes and environmental movie work or fail?"Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-6183516476412894812015-04-20T23:34:41.188-04:002015-04-20T23:34:41.188-04:00Rustbelt,
So why does Mononoke work? And I think ...Rustbelt,<br /><br />So why does <i>Mononoke</i> work? And I think I just found a topic for a future review.Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-74888064037962855902015-04-20T23:25:39.776-04:002015-04-20T23:25:39.776-04:00Kit, after some thinking about other environmental...Kit, after some thinking about other environmental films- "The Jetsons Movie," "Ferngully," "Fire Down Below," etc.- I think the problem may be that we, as humans, don't like seeing ourselves being stereotypically portrayed as callous, uncaring villains. Two hours of hearing the filmmaker tell the audience that they are to blame for impending doom probably rubs movie-goers the wrong way.Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-450618057541509112015-04-20T23:19:21.293-04:002015-04-20T23:19:21.293-04:00Why is it that, aside from Princess Mononoke and a...Why is it that, aside from <i>Princess Mononoke</i> and a few other Miyazaki films, movies with environmental messages tend to suck?Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.com