This movie was the most profitable of the Godzilla series. He battles King Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World. The battle is like one between a wrestling match. The crunching and crushing of buildings are a work of special effects genius by Eiji Tsuburaya and Akira Ifukube gave a moving and super music score, introducing one of his familiar Godzilla themes that would be later heard in the many Godzilla movies that follow.
Ishiro Honda had solid and visionary direction and Shinichi Sekizawa gave a funny and lighthearted script. The two lead actresses in this movie, Mie Hama and Akiko Wakabayashi, also starred as the Bond Girls in the James Bond movie "You Only Live Twice." Mie Hama plays Fumiko who became King Kong's love-at-first-sight (you get the idea what happens when Kong sees her).
Overall, this is an awesome movie with memorable characters, exciting monster battles, a solid plot and rousing music. The downside is that I wished the costume used for Kong would be a bit more serviceable; the suit is pretty hideous. And, I wished there was a little more city-stomping action.
This American version of this movie is sold in stores in the USA. There are American inserts with American actors, which actually contributed to the storyline. But, many scenes from the original film are cut, as is most of Ifukube's score. I have both the Japanese and American versions. If you want the complete story with the original plot and music with no unnecessary inserts and stock music, stay with the Japanese versions with English subtitles (if you can find it sold somewhere).
Grade B+
Ishiro Honda had solid and visionary direction and Shinichi Sekizawa gave a funny and lighthearted script. The two lead actresses in this movie, Mie Hama and Akiko Wakabayashi, also starred as the Bond Girls in the James Bond movie "You Only Live Twice." Mie Hama plays Fumiko who became King Kong's love-at-first-sight (you get the idea what happens when Kong sees her).
Overall, this is an awesome movie with memorable characters, exciting monster battles, a solid plot and rousing music. The downside is that I wished the costume used for Kong would be a bit more serviceable; the suit is pretty hideous. And, I wished there was a little more city-stomping action.
This American version of this movie is sold in stores in the USA. There are American inserts with American actors, which actually contributed to the storyline. But, many scenes from the original film are cut, as is most of Ifukube's score. I have both the Japanese and American versions. If you want the complete story with the original plot and music with no unnecessary inserts and stock music, stay with the Japanese versions with English subtitles (if you can find it sold somewhere).
Grade B+