ebiros2 This movie came a year after the debut movie for King Gidhra "Sandai Kaijyu Chikyu Saidai No Kessen", and takes another attempt at having multiple Earth monsters against the Gidhra.Astronauts Fuji (Akira Takarada) and Glenn (Nick Adams) are on their way to first exploration of Jupiter. On their way, they discover a new 13th satellite of Jupiter that gets named "Planet X". The two land on Planet X and discover that it's inhabited by people who are more advanced than Earth. The planet is also inhabited by what they call "Monster Zero aka King Gidhra". People of planet X request help of Earth monsters Godzilla and Rodan to exterminate King Gidhra, and in return they offer a cure for cancer. Fuji and Glenn return to Earth and report the incident, but the tape containing the message from Planet X turns out to be an invasion notice to people of Earth. Planet X uses Godzilla Rodan, and King Gidhra as weapons to destroy Earth. A novel solution to this problem comes from Fuji's sister Haruno (Keiko Sawai)'s fiancé Tetsuo (Akira Kubo). Due to this solution, Godzilla and Rodan, now free from Planet X's control battles King Gidhra (again).This movie titled "Kaijyu Daisensou" in Japan features 3/4 of the monsters that appeared in the previous Godzilla movie "Sandai Kaijyu Chikyu Saidai No Kessen" namely Godzilla, Rodan, and King Gidrah (minus Mothra), and is almost a sequel to that movie. King Gidhra that got booted out of Earth on the previous movie ends up on Planet X. Godzilla and Rodan decides to hibernate for a while, until Planet X guys comes to wake them up. Although such connections are not implied in this movie, the two movies connect seamlessly.Production wise, this one is a notch below that of the previous movie that's regarded as one of the best Godzilla movie from the '60s. The characters are not well fleshed out as they were in the previous movie which makes the story rather bland. The scene changes between Earth and Planet X's base is not handled well, and takes away from the plot of the movie. If they were able to handle the scene changes better, and exploit the characters a bit more, the story would have been a lot better.Addition of Nick Adams and Kumiko Mizuno also didn't add much to the story. They did much better on "Frankenstien vs Baragon" (Frankenstein Conquers the World).So the movie could have been better, but it's still a good middle of the road monster movie from good folks at Toho.

Michael_Elliott Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965) ** 1/2 (out of 4) A couple astronauts (one played by Nick Adams) travel to Planet X where they are shocked to find an alien race asking for their help. Apparently King Ghidorah is holding them hostage so they ask for the help of Godzilla and Rodan. The astronauts agree to help since the aliens promise to tell them the cure for cancer but sure enough there's a twist, which has all three monsters threatening to destroy Earth. This is a pretty fun film from start to finish, although I'd argue it runs about ten minutes too long. With some editing down of the talking scenes this here would have played much better but as it is the movie remains one of the better ones I've watched from the series. As with many others, the budget is obvious very, very low and this is clear in how many things look incredibly fake but this has a certain charm here because it all looks rather unique. The outer space sequences have a surreal nature to them and the aliens are somewhat enjoyable even though they look just like any other human except for the weird clothes. Adams is fun to watch in the film as is the supporting cast, which is something I haven't said too often while viewing these movies. The final battle sequences are a lot of fun with Godzilla getting to do some boxing and Rodan doing his thing. AKA: INVASION OF THE ASTRO MONSTER

gigan-92 The sequel to 1964's success, "Invasion of Astro-Monster" is the sixth film in the first series. This is the first ever Godzilla movie to involve aliens in the plot, something that would soon become common later on around the late 60s. With the same four fathers behind it, this film is one to remember. Akira Ifukbe delivers the Rodan and Godzilla themes with a fresh, eerie, twist that sounded great while Tsubaraya took the SFX to new heights. The Planet X set looked great and realistic on screen, as well as the Xian saucers and their teleportation beams. Shinchi Sekizawa provided a very good screen play, full of romance, clever ideas and originality but a few faults. The human characters are likable and in their own way add to records to the G-saga. First off, Nick Adams is the first ever American actor to star in a G-flick, with a major role (although a few Americans are in a deleted scene in "Mothra vs. Godzilla" The scene is still in the American cut). Also, this is the ONLY Godzilla movie in history to have on screen kissing, although it only last 1.45 seconds ( Adams and Kumi Mizuno). I for one find this quite odd because several future G-films would have love stories to a degree, but never do they share a kiss. Just wanted to point that out...anyways, many Toho stars make appearances, including Akira Takarada, Akira Kubo and Jun Tazaki. Yoshio Tsuchiya plays the 'Controller of Planet X'. I love how he does those gestures with his hands every time he says something and it looks extraterrestrial. Kumi Mizuno also makes her G-film debut, who looked surprisingly cute in those ridiculous Xian tights.King Ghidorah looks great as he did in the last film, and Rodan also returned, looking okay. However, this time a new Godzilla suit appeared. This suit doesn't look too bad and actually looks pretty cool. And believe it or not, the campiness is actually toned down from the last film ("Ghidrah: The Three Headed Monster"). Still, there's the odd Godzilla-shai and Godzilla thinking his Muhammad Ali. Despite this, the monster action is superbly great, especially on Planet X. Out of all the Showa films, this one has some of the best fights. Now where as you do have to wait a while, it's worth it in the end. The Planet X battle is defiantly top notch. The main reason I love the fights in this film is because their so energetic and full of personality. For one example, after the saucers have been destroyed, Godzilla recovers first and attacks Ghidrah while he's still down. I think it was a great character moment that showed how the two have become archenemies of sorts. Plus I like how Godzilla leaped at Ghidorah, actually tackling him down. Very cool. Rodan, however, has kind of Godzilla do most of the actual combat, but he still gets his moments.Along with all the cool fights, all the monsters get some nicely done city-smashing scenes. It's been nearly ten years since we've seen Rodan destroy and it feels good to see, in the words of G-expert Stuart Gulbraith IV on the commentary "that menace of old". Some of the destruction is "Rodan" stock-footage but it doesn't really bother me because not a whole lot is used. UNLIKE the messes created in 1972 and 1973. Godzilla and Ghidorah both do some delightful damage as well and there are some great shots. Oh yeah, Godzilla's heat ray looks great, if, though, a little too thin. But much better than his 'steam' breath in the last film.It's U.S. cut is respectful to the original, although Tetsuo (Akira Kubo) sounds too nerdy at times. Aso, some of the dubbing's lines are a bit cheesy. For example, Takarada's character: "The licking our first trucks have taken is something terrible. it isn't looking too hot." Terrible, I know, but overall it's better than how others were dubbed. Some have pointed out a weakness in the plot, specifically why did the Xians need to lie and trick the human characters into 'giving' them the monsters when they're already on Earth and could already control the monsters? To me, it's something you have to think about. Maybe, just maybe, the aliens were afraid if they just launched an all-out attack that Tetsuo would use his alarm system on them and wanted a more subtle approach. This is hinted at when they burn the plans for the device and when they imprisoned Tetsuo. Sekizawa should've explained it a little more. I just wanted to say that in the film's defense because other than this, and the Xian's weird shoes, the film was great. One thing there's no real way to defend is how in his monologue, the Controller 'confessed' to using magnetic waves to control the monsters. And thanks to this our heroes thought up the idea to use the A-Cycle Light Ray.He obviously didn't think Earth was smart enough to find a loop hole in his dastardly plans. But as the climax shoes, guess not. Still, all in all, "Invasion of Astro-Monster" is a very well done installment to the series.

jerekra Godzilla vs Monster Zero is one of the best Godzilla Films made. It features the return of King Ghidorah as well as the first outer space beings invading earth from another planet in a Godzilla Film.Two Astronauts, Glenn and Fuji, travel to planet X. They discover a race of people, Xians, who are constantly attacked by a monster they call Monster Zero, it actually is King Ghidorah. The Xians ask to borrow Rodan and Godzilla to use to defeat Ghidorah and in exchange they will give Earth a cure for all known diseases. Earth decides to do the deal, so the Xians take Rodan and Godzilla to Planet X where they dispatch of Ghidorah. However there is a turn in the deal when the Xians tell Earth that unless it surrenders they will use Godzilla, Rodan, and Ghidorah to destroy the Earth.THe human scenes in this film are great. Nick Adams stars and I always liked when he was in a film. He was great in this film as well as "Frankenstein vs Baragon".The plot works but there are some holes in it as well. For one, why would Earth believe that Planet X would have a cure for all of the known diseases on Earth? I think they were too gullible there.The plot in this one involves a threat from beings from outer space. The Xians are good villains, completely emotionless race that only wants to conquer. THey make a good threat and actually are a bigger threat than the monsters themselves in this film since they are the ones who put the monsters under their control and then set them loose on the city.Godzilla looks good in this film. THey slightly updated the suit they had previously used(the best one in the series), mainly the head and moving eyes. Godzilla gets in some good action, destroying much of Tokyo and battling King Ghidorah. Godzilla is not a complete good guy in this film, but when he is attacking Japan he is under Xian control. They do not make him out to be heroic from defeating King Ghidorah, he is just a monster capable of stopping Ghidorah who happens to be a bigger threat. So I love that Godzilla is not just a good guy in this film, he actually is more of a bad guy.Ghidorah reappears in this film. I think after "Ghidorah The Three Headed Monsters" fans were hoping to see him again and they definitely would. This film is a great follow up and in the beginning it is interesting how they talk about how Godzilla and Rodan were responsible for defeating Ghidorah back on Earth.(Love how the give Mothra no credit and also love how they do not use him in this film) Ghidorah is just a pawn though, the Xians are controlling him throughout the film, so he really is not being evil from his own decision making in this movie. Ghidorah is just doing what he is told, but he is destructive nonetheless. I never really understood if Ghidorah really was a threat to Planet X, or if the Xians always had control of him and only faked him being a threat. Either way he does attack Planet X anyways so I guess it does not matter.Rodan also reappears in this film. That is good because he is a good ally of Godzilla and a great monster in his own right. Rodan looks a lot better than he did in the previous film, "Ghidorah the Three Headed MOnster" but still does not look as good as he did in "Rodan". Rodan gets in lots of action here, they even use stock footage of Rodan. Rodan is a key contributor to the attack on Japan and helps Godzilla tremendously in the battles with Ghidorah.This is the first Godzilla film where Godzilla travels to another planet. Once there I suppose it is revealed that Godzilla has the ability to breathe when no oxygen is present. Another outstanding ability for an outstanding monster.THe monster fights are great in this film. However you really have to wait a while for the first fight and then you have to wait even longer for the final confrontation. They really do build up a lot of suspense and I think they send the message that the monsters are not the real bad guys who should be dealt with, the Xians are. Monster fights are short in this film, but memorable and that is more important, I have seen plenty of long and dragged out fights that do not hold a candle to the fights in this film. Godzilla vs Gigan comes to mind.So while the title in American "Godzilla vs Monster Zero" is somewhat odd since the whole point of the movie is not Godzilla fighting Monster Zero, the Japaneses title "Invasion of Astro Monsters" fits the film perfectly. Sometimes that happens when the American version changes titles.I have to admit though, the ending to this one is confusing. I mean, are we supposed to believe that Ghidorah defeated Rodan and Godzilla? Or is he just retreating? I don't know. I tend to think that he is retreating but there is no way to know for sure.SO this is a great film. Great human villains, Ghidorah returns, Godzilla travels through space, and there is plenty of destruction towards the end. A must see, so go see it.