Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster

Starring: Yosuke Natsuki, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Akiko Wakabayashi, Emi Ito, Yumi Ito
Directed by: Ishiro Honda
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Foreign
1964

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Japan is once again under attack, this time from Ghidorah, a three headed monster from outer space. They also have to contend with Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra.

Review:

Tim: To watch the Godzilla movies, you really have to put yourself in a different place. These films came out in the 60s, in Japan, and to appreciate them, you have to put in a little effort. These are essentially people wearing rubber costumes, portraying giant monsters. It would be easy to dismiss all these films as awful trash. However, that would be a mistake. Yes, these films are completely ridiculous- but, you have to appreciate the subgenre, and try to compare apples to apples. These films will probably never be great, but they can certainly provide a good measure of entertainment.

While I haven't really loved any film in this franchise besides the original Gojira, there is something enjoyable about watching these bad movies. You don't have to think too much, and you get to sit back and watch giant monsters destroy Japan. I can understand why these films achieved a certain level of popularity.

After a number of films that seemed to get worse with each one, Mothra vs. Godzilla reversed that trend. I am happy to say that Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster is another solid film in the series. I actually enjoyed this movie more than many others, even though I knew I should probably have hated every moment. These films will never win awards, but I think they do present some guilty pleasure, and that's not all bad.

The reason I enjoyed this movie is because it is jam-packed with more than you'd ever imagine. We have the titular Ghidorah, a monster that comes to Earth via a meteor. You also have Martians, princesses, Godzilla, Mothra, and Rodan. I couldn't believe how many different points and characters were squeezed into this film. While it's all absurd, it somehow makes sense, too. I really liked the crazy, overflowing aspect of this film.

The reason we watch these movies is obviously to see the giant monsters battle each other. Here, we have the giant lizard Godzilla, a giant moth, a giant pterosaur, and a three headed monster with two tails. These four monsters have some pretty epic battles together, and this is very, very good. When I watch these scenes, I know there are people inside the costumes on a stage filled with miniature buildings, but all that drifts away as you get caught up in the battles. The fighting techniques are often absurd beyond belief, but they are still fun.

I also appreciated that this film spent some time telling some compelling human stories. This is important, too, and this film took the time to develop some entertaining characters. The subplot of the princess and the assassins on her trail was a bit far-fetched, but it added that much needed human element. Having the brother-sister team of a cop and a reporter was also a nice touch, and director Ishiro Honda wisely lets us identify with and start rooting for the humans. This was a big strength.

While I enjoyed this film, I am not immune to the complete silliness of the whole thing. This film featured one of the most ludicrous moments of the entire franchise, when Mothra actually engages in a pretty in-depth monster discussion with Rodan and Godzilla. It was at this point that I couldn't stop my eyes from rolling, and I realized I had to go all-in and just buy into the story if I was going to continue. I understand the importance of this event, especially for later films in the franchise, but it's also an example of why these movies will never be very good.

I know that I have hundreds of reasons to hate Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster. While I admit that this is not a good movie, it is actually a pretty solid entry in this franchise. It features four very different monsters engaged in an all-out war over Japan. That is silly, but it is cool, too. I didn't love this movie, but I didn't hate it, either. I can see why the Japanese were fans, and although I wish the film had been better made, I can't stop smiling when I think about the awesome ridiculousness of the whole thing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Gojira, Godzilla Raids Again, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan