Godzilla Vs Hedorah
by Yoshimitsu Banno
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Actor: Akira Yamauchi, Gara Takatori, Hiroyuki Kawase, Toshie Kimura, Toshio ShibaDirector: Yoshimitsu Banno
Brand: GODZILLA
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Japanese (Original Language); English (Original Language); English (Dubbed)
Format: Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 2.35:1
Running Time: 87 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-10-19
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
DVD Reviews of Godzilla Vs Hedorah
DVD Review: "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" Film and DVD Review
Summary: 4 Stars
The Movie:
After watching this movie for the first time in so many years, I can see why fans are so divided by it. It's either one of the best or one of the worst Godzilla films in fans' eyes. The style is so different that many people hate it, but its also the reason why many people love. In my opinion, it ranks as one of the best, and though Banno has a style far different from Honda, he sits close up to him as giving the series one of the most intruging films.
"Godzilla vs. Hedorah" is set in a time where pollution was a huge problem in Japan. Taking action in utilizing this inviormental problem in the movie, "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" becomes one of the darkest and effective message throwing Godzilla films since the original "Gojira". Hedorah is the embodiment of man's ignorance and carelessness, just like Godzilla was. In many scenes that can be considered graphic for the time, the movie shows us the death and carnage Hedorah causes. Some scenes could be considered more graphic than the hospital scene of the original "Gojira". News reports flash up throughout the film citing how many people have died by Hedorah's attacks, and the number simply keeps growing to shocking results. Cartoon segments and many effective media drenched, mob scenes of worried people break in the film. The symbolize the panic Hedorah has been causing and it works well as many G-Films in this era fail to do this. These segments truley are a testament to the director's approach.
Banno's style is utilized in a very bizzare, but 'artsy' way. Linking the carlessness of the youth (or hippies) as just as much of the problem: 'Sure they can preach we're messing up the world...but that's about it. Drinking and dancing is the only other thing they do.' And they decide to do this even to the point of death. (In a great scene, one of the characters has too much to drink and looks around to see everyone wearing fish masks. A testament to the youth's ignorance? A sign that they are all in a sense 'fish in a barrel' for Hedorah?)
Godzilla himself is characterized as an almost tragic hero with the excellent characterization of young Ken. Though Ken beleives (and acts like he knows) Godzilla is there to save them, who's really going to listen to a kid? This makes Ken one of the most well written children characters in the conventional Godzilla series. Most children in thes series seem to know everything and influence the adult characters to the highest degree. But Ken's words aren't taken seriously (despite the fact he's right) and the media still has a very bleak view on Godzilla himself. Meanwhile Godzilla is found angry at the pollution taking place in the world (specificly the ocean where he lives) and is angry at mankind for doing this to their own planet. In turn, Godzilla hates what Hedorah stands for. A glaring rivalry seemed to grow on screen between the monsters in a fabulous fashion. Many scenes before battle dragged out a long stare-down between them. Their battle wounds also show their spite for each other as Godzilla's left hand is deteriorated to a skeliton with skin hanging off it and his right eye becomes crusted by Hedorah's sludge. Meanwhile, not only does Godzilla take out Hedorah's right eye, but has a field day ripping the monster to pieces at the very end of the movie. The battle was quite savage and showed a very dark side of Godzilla movies' battles. Easily one of the most graphic battles in Godzilla, especially for the time this movie was made.
The characters aren't the best developed of the series, but better than many other movies as well. Like I said Ken is one of, if not the best child character of the series. Even in the recent "Godzilla x MechaGodzilla" we see children with too much influential power on adult characters and unrealistic wisdom beyond their years. This is not the case here. Ken is clearly a kid who thinks of Godzilla as a hero and loves to play with his toys. His words are mostly ignored and his courage isn't unrealistic. (Unlike a certian child putting desks together in "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.") His uncle is a bonified hippie/drinker that you really can't tell is an antagonist or protagonist, but intresting non-the-less. And Ken's mother and father show conflict in learning about Hedorah, struggling to live their own lives and yet worry about others. The main problem with the charactrs is that their not given much to do by the end of the film but watch the monsters fight-- much like Okawara's films ("Godzilla 2000", "Godzilla and Mothra: The battle for Earth") in which he wasn't sure what to do with his characters at times.
Needless to say, despite the movies heavy symbilism, very powerful message and refreshing style, its not without flaws. Hedorah's design is pretty goofy looking and the suit itself is poorly realized. But at times it can be considered creepy as well-- With those two huge red eyes randomly placed in the middle of walking sludge, you'll either look at him as a phantom-esque creature, or a carpet with red golf-balls . The editing is also a bit akward. In one scene Godzilla is trapped in a hole being swamped by sludge and the next time we see him, he's rolling down the side of Mt. Fuji with Hedorah. The most painful scene in this movie is the infamous flying scene in which Godzilla uses his ray to propel himself backwards in the air to stop an escaping Hedorah. Though the movie is very stylized, has a beautiful approach to it and is the darkest film since the original, this scene still manages to make it in to the final cut and is simply out of place. Admittedly though...it is kind of fun to watch.
The music can be both a complaint and a praise. Though Godzilla's theme can be considered kind of 'wonky' and embarrassing, it also has a noble sound to it at the end of the theme. It takes some getting use to but its not that bad. Hedorah's theme is very in place for the character though and fits the creepy killing machine's presence perfectly. Overall the 70s-esque music fit the style and ton of the film and is able to make the mood a bit more bizarre. It can be argued that it does and doesn't add to the dark atmosphere of the film, though I think it does.
Overall "Hedorah" proves to be one of the most different Godzilla movies. Creating a different style and approach to Godzilla it delivers realistic characters, a message that speaks loud and clear and some nifty effects shots here and there. (The best shot in the entire movie being the scene where Godzilla first appears and roars with a gorgeous sunrise behind him. Magnificent!) For some its Godzilla's worst. For me, I put it high up on "The Best" of list as a rather artistic looking film.
**** out of *****
Picture quality:
Astounding. The DVD picture quality makes this movie look like it was made yesterday. The night scenes are easier to see was well as you can make out much more of what's going on. The picture was so clear and the colors so vibrant, I felt like I could reach in and touch what was going on in this film.
***** out of *****
Sound:
Mono, but it didn't really bother me at all. The sound was still clear and the music was always booming through magnicantly.
**** out of *****
Extras:
We have the English dub and Japanese audio tracks, with the options of English and French subtitles. There's the Japanese Teaser to "Tokyo: S.O.S.", "Godzilla: Save the Earth" for PS2 and X-Box, previews to two animated features, The GINO Series on DVD and a movie parodying old, black and white horror films. (The title escapes me.)
The dubbing is what we've heard before from this movie and the subtitles are actually quite accurate. Some might seem like dubtitles, but there are several lines that are different from the dubbed version--- Which was probaly just well translated.
It's plenty for me to finally have the Japanese language released in America, but overall, very weak special features.
** out of *****
Overall:
A fantastic movie, a great release with beautiful picture quality and Japanese language and the only set back being lack of features. It's still a valuable collectors item JUST for the fact it has the original Japanese version on it. Go for it now!
**** out of *****
Description of Godzilla Vs Hedorah
No Description Available.Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 1-JAN-2007
Media Type: DVD
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