MisterWhiplash
There are times when Godzilla vs the Sea Monster looks to be one of the more compelling and entertaining 'Zilla' movies from the 60's, this despite the fact that the big green guy doesn't show up until 55 minutes(!) into the proceedings. I think what I responded to most positively were two things, and one of these could have been something of a negative but it isn't: first is that it isn't about monsters fighting over a city, and it doesn't involve those aliens or other beings that popped up in the few entries before this one (i.e. Monster Zero), and would show up later again in things like Mecha-Godzilla.But the other thing, and this may be an aspect viewers won't fully appreciate amid the "B-movie" adventureness of it, is that Godzilla vs the Sea Monster is the first one in the series since, well, could it be the first one(?) that deals with the issue of nuclear energy. The enemies of the film are scientists from some rogue organization - are they affiliated with the government, or more of a Dr. Evil rogue thing, I'm still not sure, the story is only clear enough to get the main beats across that they're using an island to test out their ready-made disastrous weapons - and they make for good foils for our heroes, who make up stowaways and a thief and one guy on the look out for his brother, who is actually on Infant Island.Does it necessarily mean that director Jun Fukada and writer Senichi Sekizawa are out to make some profound *statement* about nuclear weapons and such? Maybe not. But I liked that finally we get the return of actual human beings - and sure, one of them has an eye-patch so that, you know, we know he's EVIL - and though they may be easily swayed away when, for example, trying to shine a spotlight at night on our main characters sneaking up to the nuclear weapon lab and they don't see anything despite the fairly bright lights Toho gives to even their night sets, they make for decent villains. The best? Also maybe not. But it is more about their story, how they're using and abusing the natives on the island as slaves, and that they don't know a literal sleeping giant is in their midst under some rocks.I forget how exactly Godzilla wound up there after the last entry, but no matter: using lighting (what is he, Frankenstein's monster? Actually, this was meant to be a Toho-produced Frankenstein movie, or a King Kong one, either makes sense), Godzilla is resurrected, and fights Ebirah, a giant crab monster. In a way the crab monster isn't even the real threat of the movie, despite that it attacks some people on a boat and fights Godzilla a couple of times. It's more about Godzilla being awoken to make trouble for the nuclear-testing villains, and they become his main targets. There's also a sub plot, kinda, sorta, where the natives on Infant Island keep doing their wondrous chants to Mothra, and it's only in the last ten minutes (barely) that she wakes up to join the fight... against Godzilla this time (?)I didn't like how they introduced Mothra here and spent so much time on the natives doing their prayer rituals. It was a lot of fun in the past, but here it seemed to be here more-so to take up some screen time. Of course it's always fun to see them at work, but by the time Mothra actually gets into action it's too little/too late sort of thing. And while Godzilla does get some fun screen time when he shows up, that also comes a little late into the movie which otherwise features this 'Sea Monster' of the title that is little more than a very slightly upgraded version of what Roger Corman cooked up in the 1957 quickie ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS. It's enjoyable to look at Ebirah. For a minute. And then he/she/it wears out its welcome.But there are things to recommend this movie for, even as it's not the strongest of the 60's movies. I liked the actors playing the stowaways on the boat with the thief who end up becoming the heroes of their own story, they had believable deliveries and made the characters interesting enough (far as a Toho Godzilla movie of the period allows), and I especially loved the music that plays during some of the fights - in particular, during one of those "oh, they're doing THIS again?" moments when planes come around to fire at Godzilla, surf-Rockabilly grooves come up and it makes it... well, is *good* the word I'm looking for? Actually, yes, it's better than good, it makes for some iconic moments as far as a movie that is squarely in its time in 1966 and the surf music makes it unique.If only the rest of the movie was that way. But problems and all, Fukuda made a mostly entertaining entry, with some changes (on an island, so the lack of usual stakes made it something else as an adventure-action spectacle), just with some issues that were hard to overlook. 6.5/10
Coventry
I can never quite figure out whether these old Japanse Godzilla movies are intended to be adventurous action movies or just plain comedy flicks… I do know two things for sure, though. Number one: the very first and original 1954 "Godzilla" is an unhinged monster- movie classic, and number two: whatever crazy Japanese scriptwriter comes up with scenarios like these must be addicted to some seriously good and mind-broadening drugs! How else would you explain the grotesque story lines, demented characters and nonsensical plot twists? Oh well, at least "Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster" guarantees old-fashioned fun and excitement and although I have yet to see the vast majority of Japanese Godzilla sequels, spin-offs, homages and whatnot, I'm already sure that this particular one will remain a personal favorite. Summarizing the plot will be quite a heavy duty, but I'll give it a shot anyways (even just because it's so much fun). A dedicated fisherman's son is looking for his brother who got lost at sea. So he steals a sailing yacht, because winning a boat during a dancing contest didn't work out, and he accidentally teams up with a two lowlifes and an actual thief. During a heavy thunderstorm, their yacht is destroyed by the giant lobster monster Ebirah, but they all four miraculous strand at an island. Their problems only just started, as this island is the base camp of a criminal organization named "Red Bamboo" and these naughty bastards use it to fabricate nuclear weapons. They also exploit slaves, kidnapped from a nearby island, in order to produce a yellow fluid that gives them control over Ebirah. In order to free the slaves and escape, our four heroes decide to awake the one and only Godzilla, whom they also happened to stumble upon on this darn island. This lovely creature-feature contains no less than three legendary monsters. Godzilla, of course, and then the downright awesome giant lobster/shrimp Ebirah and also the cool Mothra, although he only comes into – important – action during the very last sequences of the film. The dodge ball game between Godzilla and Shrimpie is definitely an amusing highlight, and so are Godzilla's battle with a giant condor-monster (where the hell did that suddenly come from) and his destructive rampage against a bunch of fighter planes and the Red Bamboo base camp. The building models are skillfully crafted, and it's a real hoot to witness them getting crushed underneath Godzilla's paws, just as it is a real hoot to see how the lobster-monster crushes supposedly large vessels and tank ships with this bare scissors. I never cease to be amazed at how impressive and professional the special effects of these Godzilla flicks are, even when filmed underwater, and especially considering these movies were made in the fifties, sixties and seventies. If you watch film dubbed in English, you will certainly also laugh hysterically with some of the voices (particularly the squeaky voice of one of the principal male characters).
bensonmum2
I never thought I would find a Godzilla movie where Godzilla was the weakest part of the film. In most these movies, the various scenes not involving Godzilla could generally be considered filler. They're there to pad out the film until Godzilla shows up and usually aren't very good. The filler in Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster isn't any better or worse than any of the other Godzilla movies (though I must admit to enjoying the James Bond vibe and the groovy dance party), but it's better than Godzilla's moments on the screen. The problem is that Big G doesn't get the chance to do much. This is Toho "on the cheap". The usual rampage through the city is gone. It was cheaper to have Godzilla destroy a mostly deserted island with only a small science/military facility than it was to build an entire city of miniatures. And the few miniatures to be found don't even looks up to snuff. When not trampling the cheap miniatures, Godzilla spends an inordinate amount of time just sitting. That right – sitting! And when he does finally do battle with the sea monster of the title, it's not much of a match. In no time at all, Godzilla rips off the overgrown lobster's claws and its over. Almost 90 minutes to see this non-event – what a waste!
