Review of Destroy All Monsters (1968) by Michael Y — 10 Aug 2010

Likeable by fans, weird for others. Those are words used a lot for Godzilla movies, and though I am an avid Godzilla fan, Destroy All Monsters lacks the originality.

The '60s and '70s were weird times for B-movies and Godzilla movies, and though some of them are pretty enjoyable, This movie was more or less made just to put every single monster Toho. Co had created so far into the same movie. The story is pretty much the same as most Godzilla movies around that time. Back then, B-movies focused on a lot of "outer space" movies involving aliens, so it was a given that this movie would go in the same direction too. Though Godzilla movies do have little things that are different pretty interesting, this movie doesn't even introduce a new monster. (Though it brings back the fan favourite, Ghidorah).

The technical side you ask? Well, when it comes to that, Godzilla movies always deliver. Awesome costumes, cheesy effects, lots of explosions, but one of the best things about Godzilla movies back in the day was the music composed by the talented Akira Ifukube. Godzilla movies really do have the best music in them.

I'm not that crazy about the rise of the children friendly Godzilla of the '60s and '70s, but that's what you get from the hippie, Cold War era. But there are a few that are really enjoyable, like Mothera vs. Godzilla and Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster. Things don't really pick up till the sweet sweet '90s.