Invasion of Astro-Monster

                         
Director: Ishiro Honda
Year: 1965
Rating: 7.5
Aka - Monster Zero

It is one thing when earth is attacked constantly by Kaiju, but aliens also invading? No, no, no. No stinking aliens please. They came once before in The Mysterians some eight years previously. They should have learned their lesson but it looks like they need another spanking. This is good fun with a nonsensically complicated plot that seems to serve no purpose other than bringing back Godzilla, Rodan and Ghidorah all in one place. Mothra must have felt insulted. In other words, a great plot! I really liked the look of this film, polished and sleek with great colors, neat looking space ships, the look of Planet X and the gadgets beneath the surface, Ghidorah practically shines with its golden wings, the flight through space was fab and my favorite was the space themed restaurant. It also has a great cast of actors who had been in previous Kaiju films and the inclusion of American actor Nick Adams or as he is credited Nikku Adamusu.



I don't know if Adams was popular in Japan due to his TV show The Rebel but before this one he starred in Frankenstein vs Baragon. More likely though he was chosen for the American market, but unlike some of the earlier add-ons of American stars in the American version, he is a front-liner in this one. In Frankenstein he co-starred with the sultry and beautiful Kumi Mizuno and he does as well in this one. They had an affair that lasted for a few years and according to some may have contributed to Adams death in 1968 at the age of 36. It was either a suicide or an overdose of drugs he was taking for an affliction. He is a welcome addition in this one and plays his role totally straight.



A new planet has been discovered that had been hiding behind Jupiter like the kid in the back of the class. They refer to it as Planet-X. Fuji (Akira Takarada) and Glenn (Adams) take off in a spaceship to go there as if it is a drive to the nearest hot spring. They are a good looking duo and the girls back home must have been putting up their posters on their bedroom walls. They land and plant both the Japanese and the American flags and look around. Turns out there are human-like creatures but with cool taste in clothes and décor underneath the ground. Their tight gray uniforms and narrow sunglasses would easily get them into chic private clubs in Los Angeles. They also look very Japanese.  They are impeccably polite and ask the humans for one small favor. Please look at the screen - and who should show up causing carnage but Ghidorah. We have tried everything we can to defeat him but are unable to - can we borrow Godzilla and Rodan to fight him? In return we will give you a cure for cancer.




Sure, why not. In the meantime Glenn has fallen for a hottie Miss Namikura (Kumi) who works in the toy business. And Fuji's sister Haruno (Keiko Sawai) has taken up with an inventor (Akira Kubo) who hasn't invented anything of note - but then to his shock a toy company - yes the same one - offers to buy this noise gadget that seems to have no purpose for a lot of yen. For children to annoy their parents? Well no as it turns out.  In fact, it saves earth. Godzilla and Rodan are whisked away in a space bubble and give Ghidorah a good kicking and then Godzilla does his infamous or lovable victory dance like a football player who has just scored in the end zone. A few red lights should have gone off - if they can do that to Godzilla and Rodan, why didn't they do it to Ghidorah - and why do Glenn and Fuji have to go back to Planet-X to get the cancer cure? Why didn't the aliens just bring it with them. And why do all their women look like Miss Namikura?  Just lucky I guess.



Remember in Star Trek Discovery when one of the Klingons says about humans - that the most dangerous words they can say is "We are the government and we are here to help you" - wait that was Reagan - no the words "We come in peace". The aliens have learned that trick well. They have in fact come for conquest and their weapons . . . mind control over Godzilla, Rodan and Ghidorah. The planet is doomed though I expect it will take some time for our boys to destroy the entire planet. That is a lot of planet. Unless, just unless  . . .. There is less monster destruction than some may like but what there is is done really well. Great mingling of models and real destruction.  And for the most part Godzilla is a secondary character without being given his usual great entrance to applause by the audience. We first see him getting sucked up out of the water and taken away. A little anti-climatic for our guy. It is the other stuff that make this film so enjoyable.