Review of Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) by Todd S — 17 Nov 2004

So, Godzilla is 50 this year, and to celebrate Japanese state TV has a week of the Big Green One`s finest moments. This being my first introduction to the genre, I was pleasantly surprised, but I have to admit to giving up after an hour, the fight /wrestling scenes getting somewhat repetative for my taste.

However the innocent adoration of the little Japanese boy for his hero the lizard monster, the unexpected retro pleasure of the scene in a psycedelic nightclub, the Japanese dialogue (undubbed, without subtitles) and some genuinely slimy, unsettling special effects even after all these years made it far more entertaining than I anticipated.

The positive environmental message is a plus too. Most of the effects have sadly not stood the test of time, but you can see the director and his crew spending every care and yen available to bring their story to life as best they could.

If you still enjoy the original Thunderbirds then you will enjoy this...