The second Godzilla movie is a transitional entry in the series. Serious, but not as grim as “Godzilla, King of the Monsters,” we sight the first traces of the camp humor that became a trademark of Japanese sci-fi. It is one of the few movies of the series that does a “hand-off” from the previous flick. Dedicated fans will gaze Dr. Yamane from the first Godzilla film. In addition, Godzilla (also known as “Gigantis”) meets Angilus, the first of many bizarre enemies. In somber B/W photography, the epic of dueling monsters on the loose unfolds. This time it’s Osaka and not Tokyo, threatened with fiery destruction. As usual, the monsters invade populous areas, ruin buildings, and threaten civilization. As usual, weak military hardware has no attain. The English-dubbed dialogue is occasionally hilarious. The special effects and other production values are typical of Japanese sci-fi. This movie, virtually overlooked through the years, initially appeared in the USA as “Gigantis the Fire Monster.” It played on a double feature program relieve in 1959/1960 with “Teenagers From Outer Residence” (reviewed elsewhere in …) . Godzilla movies are an acquired taste that delight fans and repulse “normal” viewers. For aging baby-boomers, and other serious collectors of low-budget sci-fi, this movie is a recommended treat.
FILM HISTORY
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This film made in 1955 is the very first sequel made to the fresh “Gojira” aka “Godzilla, King of the Monsters” in its US release. The film was rushed into production in order to capitalize on the popularity of the first film. In the US it was apparently released by a different film company than the first film, so the title was changed such that the word “Godzilla” didn’t even appear in it! The US theatrical release title was “Gigantis the Fire Monster.” The film has been released in the US under other titles over the years, such as “The Return of Godzilla” and as “Godzilla Raids Again” when it was on VHS tape. The unusual Japanese title was apparently, “Gojira no gyakushû” or “Gojira Strikes Again” in English.
I am a tremendous Godzilla fan and have been since I was a microscopic child, and in all the years I watched these films on TV, in the theater, and on home video, I’ve never seen this film broadcast on television and I apparently missed it when it was available on VHS. I didn’t even know it existed until I saw it listed in Michael Weldon’s Psychotronic Film Guide years ago. It seems that the fact that this film was not released in the US by the same company that released the recent film has doomed this one to obscurity for an extremely long time. However, this set is now corrected with the release of the film to DVD.
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FILM SYNOPSIS, PRODUCTION TRIVIA, COMMENTS
As was stated in the novel Gojira, it does turn out that there are more of these terrifying creatures in the sea than objective the one Godzilla that was destroyed at the demolish of the first film. This film is more of a typical 1950s “monster rupture ‘em up” narrate than the novel film and less of a statement on nuclear terror. This sets the tone for many Godzilla pictures to reach. There were also some apparent changes to the Gojira costume for this film as well as to the focus of the myth. It also began the now long-standing tradition of matching Godzilla up with other monsters as Angiurus, sometimes called Anguilas, makes his debut in this film. He’s the monster that looks a bit like an ankylosaur with a touch of giant hedgehog.
This film is a fairly average entry in the Godzilla series with microscopic of the serious dramatic metaphors for and references to nuclear war so prevalent in the unusual Japanese version of the first film, but kaiju completists and monster movie fans will probably want to witness this film because it has been so rarely seen or available up until now. The Japanese version is coherent, fairly well-acted and delicious. The American version is so hilariously awful that it’s hugely tantalizing as unintentional comedy! The American version is filled with nonsensical dialogue that has nothing to do with the recent Japanese, it’s loaded with cheesy stock footage that does not appear in the current film and it’s voiced-over by a narrator (Keye Luke) that NEVER stops talking. Seriously, the American producer insisted on non-stop narration that never shuts up and insists on describing things that are clearly portrayed visually in the film. It’s objective abominable, but humorous abominable! The American version would have been a vast subject for Mystery Science Theater 3000. Be clear to listen to the commentary track on the American version after watching the film once without it. It’s informative and highly titillating.
DVD INFORMATION ON Dispute INCLUDING EXTRA FEATURES
This DVD contains both the novel 1955 Japanese version of the film as well as the 1959 American release dubbed in English. George Takei (Star Crawl) and Keye Luke (Charlie Chan, Gremlins) both supplied voices for the English version. The subtitles for the uncut Japanese version were newly produced for this release. Like the current beneficial 2-disc DVD release of the modern Gojira, this disc has commentary and featurettes by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski.
Note that the general release date for this DVD was originally supposed to be in November 2006, but it has been pushed encourage till spring 2007. This information comes directly from the godzillaondvd website, which is the official website of the producers of this DVD and the only station where the DVD can be purchased until general release.
I’m giving this release 3 stars for the movie and 5 stars for the grand DVD treatment for a final rating of 4 stars. Monster flick fans can celebrate now that “Godzilla Raids Again” raids again!
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