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19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
By Any Other Name..., April 7, 2007
INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER, is by any other name MONSTER ZERO, or GODZILLA VS MONSTER ZERO. INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER is the "International title" that Toho gave to KAIJU DAISENSO, released in 1965. It was then acquired for release via AIP and Henry G. Saperstein(the producer)in 1966, and he parted ways with AIP and set out for his own distribution. That didn't happen until 1970 from Maron Films, a small indie release company and it was re-titled MONSTER ZERO and double-billed in roadshow fashion with WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and did brisk business from late summer to Fall at drive-ins and theaters at the time. The film stars Nick Adams and was released in the US, two years after his untimely and unfortunate death. Still, MONSTER ZERO/INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER remains one of the best ever of the Toho Godzilla sequels, the last one where all the major talents at Toho were in play to make a knockout film that flies along at a good clip. It has everything-alien invasion, monsters, and a love story. Interestingly, the monster side of things actually takes a back seat to a fairly engaging human story(there are only really 10 or 12 minutes of new monster footage). The FX work is perhaps Eiji Tsuburaya's best as is the score by Akira Ifukube. This version is exactly the same as MONSTER ZERO-same title sequence, however a new title card for INVASION is seen. All the dubbing was the same, and in fact the film has three minutes of footage not seen in the US version. One is the alien Controller saying something in his native language as the earth ship leaves, another is a pretty nifty FX shot looking up at Godzilla and Rodan being transported through the atmosphere by the Xian saucers, and still another shot has what appears to be an un-processed(sound) shot of Akira Takarada saying something like "I've got a bad feeling about this" in Japanese, to Nick Adams who responds in English "Talk to me about it pal". Terrific film in any language!!
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
ONE MOUTH, TWO VOICES & THREE HEADS, June 8, 2007
Classic Media has to be applauded for the effort not only given to presenting the best versions of INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER possible (and they truly are some of best I've seen in a long, long while), but also the work that went into the case design. The box is striking, the artwork clever, clear, nostaligc and retro-future at all the same time. It's an attractive and eye catching design that demands (and gets) a second look. My copy has been picked up, picked over, and pick-pocketed a few times off my shelf already and throughly enjoyed.
But, having said that, I must admit that INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER is one of my least favorite GODZILLA films, yet one of my all time favorite TOHO movies. Truth be told, Godzilla here is at best a supporting player in a much larger and more complex story that could have done away with Godzilla and company and still have been just as compelling. Much like THE FIFTH ELEMENT fashion and design triumph over story and plot. This is one good looking movie. From the sets (wide open, with some of the most creative future computer and advanced table top technology), to the costumes (the aliens not only sport the expected antenna atop the head, but tight pants, trim sunglasses, and high useless collars), to the spaceships (which look exactly like spaceships should look), it's all here, and it's all a lot of fun.
It is something of a minor disappointment that Godzilla has been pushed to the margins here and used simply for effect than being the engine that drives the story. Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah do loom large on the stunning minature sets on both PLANET X and Earth, and their battles are worth the long delay between the first and the last, but it does leave you wanting more. But, this does not stop INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER being a true gem.
The prints are the best possible and the extras are well done... although the commentary by Stuart Galbraith IV, while informative, fact filled and trivia stuffed is delivered in such a slow and measured way, that it sounds and feels like he's in fear of tripping over his own words if he talks too fast. Be prepared to feel like a five year old at some points when he wants to to Understand. Clearly. What. He. Is. Saying. To. You. So. You. Had. Better. Listen. While strange, it is a trip, and you will learn a thing or two.
Classic Media has done a great service to not only the fans of Godzilla, but to all those fans still to come. These DVD releases, like King Ghidorah, manages to wear three crowns and wear them well... they are entertaining, history and art all rolled into one.
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36 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GODZILLA Episode 6: GODZILLA vs. MONSTER ZERO, March 22, 2007
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE GODZILLA MOVIE "MONSTER ZERO". INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER is its absurd and nonsensical international title. It is a U.S./ Japan co-production. The movie was released in Japan in 1965 as GREAT MONSTER WAR. It was released internationally as INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER. In 1970 it was released
in America as MONSTER ZERO on a double bill with WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS. It continued to play on television
as MONSTER ZERO until it was replaced on TV and on VHS in the late 1980s by a version titled GODZILLA VS.
MONSTER ZERO.
INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER is unusual in that , though it is basically a sequel to the previous film GHIDORAH THE THREE HEADED MONSTER it takes place in the year 196X:Suggesting it is the future.
The year was changed to 198X for the Champion Festival in the seventies. Most previous video
releases of Invasion of Astro-Monster said 198x at the beginning, causing great confusion.
Here is a list of all the original classic GODZILLA films, it consists of three segments:
Segment 1:
#1 GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS #2 GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN
Segment 2:
#3 KING KONG VS. GODZILLA #4 MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA #5 GHIDORAH: THE THREE HEADED MONSTER
#6 INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER #7 GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER #8 SON OF GODZILLA
#9 DESTROY ALL MONSTERS #10 GODZILLA'S REVENGE
Segment 3
#11 GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH #12 GODZILLA VS. GIGAN #13 GODZILLA VS. MEGALON
#14 GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA #15 TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA
This is a list of the second series:
#16 GODZILLA 1985 #17 GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE #18 GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH
#19 GODZILLA & MOTHRA: THE BATTLE FOR EARTH #20 GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II
#21 GODZILLA VS. SPACE GODZILLA #22 GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH
This is the third series:
#23 GODZILLA (1998) #24 GODZILLA 2000 # 25 GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRAS
#26 GODZILLA, MOTHRA & KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK
#27 GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA #28 GODZILLA: TOKYO S.O.S. #29 GODZILLA: FINAL WARS
This is the first GAMERA series:
#1 GAMMERA THE INVINCIBLE #2 WAR OF THE MONSTERS #3 RETURN OF THE GIANT MONSTERS
#4 DESTROY ALL PLANETS #5 ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS #6 GAMERA VS. MONSTER X
#7 GAMERA VS. ZIGRA #8 GAMERA: SUPER MONSTER
The second GAMERA series:
#9 GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE #10 GAMERA: ATTACK OF LEGION
#11 GAMERA: REVENGE OF IRIS
The third series:
#12 GAMERA: THE BRAVE
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