Jan 01 2009
Recommendation: Godzilla Vs. Gigan (aka Godzilla on Monster Island, 1972)
The early 1970s brought a series of Godzilla films that were modeled after superhero comics and television shows that were very popular at the time. After the strangest Godzilla film made up until that point, Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster (aka Godzilla Vs. Hedorah, 1971), was produced, Godzilla Vs. Gigan (1972) made its way to screens across the globe (with the exception of the US, which didn’t get the film until 1977, when it was released as Godzilla on Monster Island).
Godzilla and Anguirus (from Godzilla Raids Again, 1956, and Destroy All Monsters, 1968) must defend the Earth against King Ghidorah (of Ghidorah – The Three Headed Monster, 1964, and Monster Zero, 1965) and a cyborg monster, Gigan. Ghidorah and Gigan are being controlled by aliens who appear to be human. Underneath their disguise, they are highly-evolved cockroach-like creatures who want the Earth for its natural resources.
People who like certain films for their cutting-edge special effects should skip this movie and leave it for fans of kaiju eiga and the craft of physical special effects. Godzilla Vs. Gigan is not exactly the high-tech extravaganza that is Cloverfield (2008), but to some, that is a good thing.
The Columbia/TriStar DVD of Godzilla Vs. Gigan is the highest quality option to view the film, as it is mastered form a high definition transfer, presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, and enhanced for 16×9 televisions.
