Godzilla vs Ebirah Film Review: Cinephilia

Synopsis: After a fisherman goes missing, his younger brother is desperate to locate his lost sibling. He finds himself shipwrecked on Letchi Island which is under the rule of the terrorist organisation, Red Bamboo. When they witness an attempt by some slaves to escape which is thwarted by the giant sea monster, Ebirah, they hatch a plan: awake Godzilla from his slumber to destroy Ebirah and then use him to help them escape.

In terms of cinema you don’t get more cult than the Godzilla series. The mere thought of watching grown men rampaging around model cities in giant rubber suits sends many a cult movie fan into a frenzy. The series started in the mid-50s with Godzilla (1954), a film that showed a serious interest in the perils of nuclear war. As the series went on Godzilla became friendlier towards the human race as strange adversaries from outer space descended on our planet to destroy us. The likes of Megalon, Mothra and Ghidrah all pitched battle with the world’s favourite giant lizard as the series became more aimed at children than the discerning film aficionado. By the mid 70s Godzilla has become a mere shadow of his former self, a nadir that had been reached with Son of Godzilla (1967).

In Godzilla vs Ebirah, Godzilla faces the underwater menace known as Ebirah. Ebirah resembles a giant lobster and the fight scenes between the killer crustacean and the green lizard are fantastic. Add to that the grooviest dance sequence ever committed to celluloid and you’re onto a winner. A special mention must also be made of Masaru Sato’s fantastic score. Director Jun Fukuda went on to shoot Godzilla On Monster Island (1972), Godzilla Vs The Bionic Monster (aka Godzilla Vs The Cosmic Monster) (1974) and yes, unfortunately, Son of Godzilla. Here he handles the monster-fuelled mayhem with aplomb.

The Godzilla movies are obviously an acquired taste. If the thought of watching giant rubbery creatures rampaging through fake-looking sets sounds exciting then this is for you. If you want realism and big budget CGI extravaganza then look elsewhere. Despite the fact the monsters are obviously men in suits and the wires are constantly visible, the level of effects work is still amazing, whilst the sheer scale of the destruction that Godzilla causes in always impressive and probably goes some way to explain his lasting popularity. A guilty pleasure certainly but what it lacks in sophisticated effects it more than makes up for in wit, sometimes unintentional, and charm. A must-see for monster fans everywhere.

DVD Extras A poster gallery and theatrical trailer are bolstered by a selection of Madman trailers.

DVD available from: Madman

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