King Kong vs. Godzilla
Directed by Ishiro Honda
Written by Shinichi Sekizawa
1962/Japan
Toho Company
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Mr.Tako: King Kong can’t make a monkey out of us![/box]
Wherever there is a giant ape, there must be some idiot who wants to make him a star. That he fights Godzilla is just the icing on the cake.
A pharmaceutical company has got its hands on some giant berries with potential as a tranquilizer. Â It can’t get any more because the natives of its New Guinea island home need all they have to appease their god, King Kong. Â The minute some promoters learn of this they must find the ape and bring it Tokyo.
Concurrently, Godzilla has awoken from the iceberg in which it was frozen and is making its way back to its homeland, i.e. Tokyo. Â The authorities prepare for catastrophe while the promoters try to prevent molestation of Kong. Â Unfortunately, the electric currents which repel Godzilla actually strengthen Kong. Â The only hope is that they will destroy each other. Havoc ensues.
This is 91 minutes of dopey fun. Â The promoters are some of the lamest comic relief ever. Â I Â smiled throughout but would not rank it in the top seven Japanese movies of all time.
Trailer
When I was about eight years old, I saw King Kong vs. Godzilla listed in TV Guide and I decided right then and there just from the title that it must be the best movie ever made!
In the many many decades since then, I’ve modified my opinion, but not that much, really.
Despite all the Kurosawa, Miyazaki, Mizoguchi, Uzo and Meiko Kaji films I’ve seen in the years since then, King vs. Godzilla is still on my Top Ten Japanese Films list.
I can’t imagine a better title to lure in an 8-year-old! While I’m at it. may I suggest you add Kobayashi to your Japanese directors list? I think Harakiri would absolutely blow you away. Let me know how you like it if you see it.
I love Harakiri! I watched it a second time just a few months ago. I don’t know if I’ve seen any other Kobayashi though.
Try Samurai Rebellion.
Is that Kobayashi? I’ve seen that one too! Great movie!
I suspect that maybe you have to see it 10 or 20 times over a fifty-year period to really see what a masterpiece of cinema it is!
Gee, I don’t think I have 50 years left in me!
Not with that attitude, little mister!