Customer Reviews

King Kong vs. Godzilla

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I am always amused when people say this is a terrible movie. I want to ask "What were you expecting? The title is `King Kong vs. Godzilla' not `King Lear.'" It is a movie with two guys in rubber suits or giant puppets tap dancing on a model Tokyo and beating the snot out of each other. There is no great philosophical debate going on. There is no look into the human soul for answers or guilt.

When I was a little kid there were lots of movies like this. If I was lucky I'd catch them on channel 9 in NYC on a Saturday afternoon, and this was always the best. This was the one that my brother and I would get most excited about.

The model Kong lacks the realism of the original RKO ape, yeah I know think about that phrase, and this Godzilla lacks the cinematic art and sadness of that monster's theatrical debut, but this film still has its moments. From here came a wide number of increasingly cheesy monster movies but this was its birth. And for plot and development this was the best of them.

It tries to be self consistent and for the most part it succeeds, though I will admit to laughing out loud when people are told to evacuate a bullet train because Godzilla is heading right for them. The conductor vainly says "Don't panic" and I want to say "What else is there to do?"

If you are looking for great acting, plots or heck even FX this is sooo not for you. However if you love this genre or like me, you have fond memories of the Japanese rubber suit movies, then this is a gem for your collection

Who can resist that title?! This is another very entertaining entry in the Godzilla series. This is the first Kong film produced by ToHo, but I think King Kong Escapes is a much funnier film. The Kong costumes are quite different in the two films with this Kong looking more evil and the other looking more cute. I'm sure the Rankin & bass influence in "Escapes" could be behind that.

This film has plenty of action and some great and hilarious fight scenes. The special effect and miniatures are also some of the better in most cases, but there are some goofy looking effects here and there.(i.e. the plastic wrap on the octopus to make it look wet whenever Kong is holding it.)

There are some inconsistencies in the folk lore of these two titans such as Godzilla and King Kong's size difference and Kong getting stronger with lightning, but who cares?.... this is a battle royal and it is a real hoot once we get to the big brawl!

I give this film 5 stars for its fun factor and because it is full of hysterical action sequences. If you're a fan of Godzilla and these types of films this is a real treat! My review is for the older release that was available in a two pack with King Kong Escapes. I don't know if the newer edition has added anything to warrant buying it as I can not find any info about it. This is usually not a good sign and I suspect it to be the same DVD with a new cover.

This older DVD has a very clean DVD transfer and it is in widescreen, but there are no extras at all, not even a trailer! Buy the two pack and enjoy these are both really funny films!

Save your money, Godzilla fans. This is a mediocre DVD effort by Universal. The print is a nice copy, and it looks good. That's the only positives I'll give it. I've been spoiled by the wonderful Toho Master Collection releases by Classic Media over the last few years. Those movies include both the original Japanese version and the American theatrical release, along with some interesting still galleries, trailers, and insightful commentaries.

This DVD only includes the American version, which is hugely disappointing. Even worse, this is a no-frills DVD. No special features, no expert commentary, no nothing. The menu is "Watch Movie" "Languages" and "Scene Selections". Nothing else. I pre-ordered this one on the hopes that perhaps it was mis-labeled at Amazon. Sadly, it isn't.

I would have gladly paid a few extra dollars for a decent DVD of this film which included all the aforementioned content. Only buy this one if you really, really want a nice looking DVD copy of the American version and nothing else.

GODZILLA VS KING KONG

The year was uh well em well I don't remember but when I was a little kid I remember turning on the TV one afternoon and to my surprise my favorite monster of all time Godzilla was about to come. He was going to do battle with everyone's favorite oversized ape King Kong and I could not have been happier, after all Godzilla was my all time favorite. Naturally Kong had no chance in my mind but I imagined that the battle would be legendary, as a kid I was not disappointed with the film until the ending. Of course I would learn later that a different version of the film, the original version of the film was out there. Of course either way I loved and still do love this film, in my eyes it will forever be a classic regardless of shortcomings on the filmmakers part. To this day when I watch this movie, either version, I still watch it like I was that little kid with awe in my eyes. I do own both versions this the American version on DVD and the original Japanese version on VHS, when I go through all my old VHS tapes I will probably review the original but for now this review will mainly be about this release. This was the third appearance in a film I believe for both monsters and it was the first time they were seen in color and in widescreen.

The film went through a lot of changes before the final product and even cut out the original guy that wanted to make this movie. From what I can gather a guy named Willis O'Brien who did animation on the original Kong film came up with an idea to do a new King Kong feature. His idea would involve a giant Frankenstein's monster going up against Kong, that got no were due to rights for the creature although it went threw name changes with the same concept. Around this time Willis comes into contact with a producer named John Beck who went on to produce the final product. After putting the script out there to studios around the world eventually a production company in Japan called Toho agreed to do the film. Except they wanted to do a Kong film that would pit their monster Godzilla against the famous ape, it was here that Willis was cut out due to Beck doing this behind his back while George Worthing Yates came in as a writer at this point. Once the cast, crew, and locations were ready [for both versions] they went to work.

The movie is really up until one point two completely different stories going on at the same time that come together pretty easily and for this type of film believably. The first is the Kong story that is told by the Japanese as a Mr. Tako played by Ichirô Arishima is upset with how everything is turning out with his TV show, so after hearing about Kong from a doctor he decided that the best thing to do is capture the beast and use him for publicity. So off are two of his employees named Sakurai and Kinsaburo to an island where the ape is supposed to be and they are greeted not so friendly like by the natives. The natives of the island it turns out worships Kong and are not happy with these people being here, until they bust out the radio and cigarettes to show the natives. At around the same time all of this is happening a U.S submarine is out in icy waters and comes across something it did not want to, a giant reptile named Godzilla. Of course Godzilla is off to Tokyo and in between Godzilla traveling and stomping right threw the Japanese military, we are back on the island were not only does King Kong appear but he actually gets into it with a giant octopus. After that little ordeal is complete he drinks some stuff and passes out to the soothing music of the natives, and so he is off captured by his publicity hungry captures.

It is some were around here that the two stories started to come together as a plan was hatched to let the monsters go at it by the U.N., things don't work out so well. As Godzilla destroys everything in his path terrorizing the local folk at every turn as were Kong is just making his way towards Godzilla. When these two giants first came together to clash I remember sitting there thinking "aww man this is going to be legendary", I was not disappointed as Godzilla gave it to Kong and literally had the King running away. It was right then and there I knew this film was a classic. Of course from that point it is all about Godzilla on the loose and Kong on the run [away from Godzilla], so the humans of the U.N. devise a plan that would put Kong back in the ring with Godzilla [how they got him there I will speak on later]. So the final battle is on and once again Godzilla is whopping up on "King" Kong {let it be known that if this was a different film I would be for Kong, but I will go against any one going up against Godzilla} with Kong getting in a shot or two once in a while but nothing that really hurts his opponent. At some point Kong tries some rolling maneuver to get past Godzilla and he knocks him self out after hitting his head on a bolder. Then a miracle happens, an electrical storm happens just long enough to shock Kong and give him the strength to continue, earlier the humans made it public knowledge that electricity was bad for Godzilla but good for Kong [yeah]. It helps for a moment and Kong actually gets in a few seconds of some nice ground and pound Ortiz style, but other then that he still takes more then he gives. Then they hit the water with Godzilla on top, and after a little bit Kong is seen in the distance leaving [in my opinion running again like earlier]. It is here that most of the controversy is talked about, but I assure you there are more differences and some odd things.

Before we get to that I must say that the writing by Bruce Howard and Paul Mason did a decent job with their English rewrite, and the new American director Thomas Montgomery seems to have changed things around a little for the additional scenes added to the American release. Over all for what it is they did good jobs but the original Japanese film is better in my opinion, director Ishirô Honda did a good job taking the series in a new direction as did writer Shinichi Sekizawa and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka. But this is the American version and for what it is it is good, loved it growing up as an adult I can now see the flaws but still. All of the actors did decent to good jobs in their respective roles for the most part but you can't always expect Oscar worthy performances all the time. They wanted to change a lot of the comedic aspects of the movie; I say they didn't do a good job because it is still funny in other ways. I have to say that the actors that played Sakurai and Kinsaburo were brilliant and make a wonderful comedic on screen team, there scenes on the island were Kong is worshipped are priceless.

Now on to the odd things I talked about earlier, Godzilla got changed around a little for this film since they wanted him to not look so scary. They chopped off his ears and gave him one less toe, also his fins, body, and head were modified to make him look more like a reptile. Another weird thing is that even though these two were never apparently heard of by these people as soon as they see them they know the creatures by name. Also when was it decided that King Kong could draw power from electricity; I guess that it was a convenience so they could come up with a way for him to even stand a chance. But put that all aside and think about this, how are these two even in the same league. Godzilla is way too big and powerful and awesome to even consider Kong a threat, really think about it. In the Kong films Kong was way bigger then the people of course but he was no were near taller then the buildings, in fact if memory serves me right he had to climb them to get to the top and is taken out by airplanes. Godzilla on the other hand was always taller then the buildings in his films and just knocked them all down, plus he ate plans for breakfast. With that said that brings us to the legendary duel endings, an American and Japanese take each. Depending on who you believe this is either true or false, pick one and go with it one or the other. In the original Japanese version after Kong is seen running away in the back ground we hear Godzilla roar as does Kong when "the end" appears. In the American version Kong is the only one heard roaring, what else could that mean. Some people say that this is just a myth and that in the Japanese version was just the two monsters doing a curtain call like final bow, but what does that mean for the American version only Kong is taking a final bow. I like to think that the myth is true and that John Beck wanted Kong to win, and that in the Japanese version Godzilla was the winner. Sure it is very possible that the Japanese filmmakers meant it as a final bow, but that means that Beck wanted American audiences to view Kong as the victor in his version any way. Still it makes more sense in the Japanese version hat Godzilla won, another thing you should think about.

1. Godzilla beats on Kong way more then Kong dishes out


2. Kong is energized by electricity and they fall in the ocean a little later, water and electricity don't mix well

3. When they fall into the ocean it is clearly seen that Godzilla is on top while Kong is on the bottom taking most of the fall.

3. Earlier when Kong realized that he could not defeat Godzilla he turns and runs, now if Godzilla was on top going into the water and was winning the majority of the fight it is more then logical to think Kong is seen fleeing the scene. Add in the end were we hear Godzilla roar and then Kong respond, they did the same thing in the first fight when Kong ran.

Now with all that out of the way I can still say that American version or not Godzilla is off the chains and I love this film to the this day, I know Godzilla won so I still watch it like I was a kid.

Things this movie has: Bad costumes, bad comedy, offensive stereotyping, silly story line, Godzilla, and King Kong. The last two almost make up for the rest of it. Yes, it's the match up every ten year old boy was waiting for Godzilla vs King Kong. Well, not really King Kong. A guy in a gorilla suit actually and a very bad one at that. All that this "King Kong" has in common with his American movie namesake is... well the name.

This movie is so bad it's good. Mid-way through the film Godzilla kicks King Kong's tail big time. So bad, in fact, that King Kong RUNS AWAY! Yes, really.

It's not over yet though. Both monsters stomp on Japan for a while until it's time for the rematch. Godzilla, again, makes short work of King Kong. Only King Kong comes back to life when he is STRUCK BY LIGHTENING! This turns him into Super King Kong or something of the sort and a real battle begins! This time it's more evenly matched and the final ultimate winner is... well you didn't think I'd actually tell you did you?

Don't buy this movie if:

1) You are looking for a love story.

2) Are looking for stunning special effects.

3) Think this is in any way on-par with the original Godzilla or King Kong movies.

DO buy this movie if:

1) You want to see Godzilla set stuff, including King Kong, on fire.

2) You want to see a giant monkey get struck by lightening.

3) You like to see big monsters in bad outfits stomping on toy buildings.

In other words... You want to buy this movie.

One of the all-time classic monster duels comes to DVD--a beautiful print presented in anamorphic widescreen. Unlike the recent Sony and Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock releases of Toho classics, which include the original Japanese versions, this Universal release offers only the American version produced by John Beck in 1963 (Universal owns the rights, which frees them from having to wrangle with Toho for licensing).

The Americanized version of King Kong vs. Godzilla is a travesty, but a fun one. The original Toho film took a clever tongue-in-cheek approach, which the American producers managed to decimate with heavy-handed editing and inserting new scenes featuring Michael Keith as a news reporter and Harry Holcombe as a scientist. To U.S. audiences, the Japanese actors come off as buffoons, whereas in the original, they're playing nudge-nudge, wink-wink with viewers--especially Ichiro Arishima as the irrepressible Mr. Tako. One of the most infuriating excisions from the original Japanese version is Akira Ifukube's alternately somber and rousing score; in its place is stock Universal library music, including the main title from The Creature From the Black Lagoon.

Fortunately, most of the monster scenes survive intact. Kong himself resembles a moth-eaten, Raggedy Ape doll, which might rightly insult fans of the original Kong, but most daikaiju aficionados accept it as part of the film's silly charm.

King Kong vs. Godzilla is half of a double-DVD release, the other half being the Toho/Rankin-Bass production King Kong Escapes. Highly recommended for its fine video presentation.

I love Godzilla. Let me state that again..I LOVE GODZILLA! I'm a fan of the entire series from "King of All Monsters" to "Final Wars". I own every film available on DVD, I own the video games, I own quite a few of the soundtracks on CD and I will be the first in line when "vs. Biollante", "vs. Megalon" and "1985" hit DVD and pay whatever is asked just so I can complete my collection. Yes, I can even sit through the Matthew Broderick travesty that bears the name "Godzilla".

That being said....

I'm not sure how anyone, fan or non-fan, can enjoy "King Kong vs. Godzilla"???? This film is so astonishingly awful, it veers way off of the "So Bad It's Good" track onto the simply horrible realm at about 20 minutes in. I love bad b-movies, I'll sit back and watch "Mesa of Lost Women" or "Eegah" all day long, but "Kong vs Godzilla" is mind numblingly awful. Where to begin....

1. King Kong does not look like "King Kong". This ratty ape suit looks like it's barely holding together, and the nightmarishly barely animated hand-puppet face used for close ups of the giant ape is grade school level F/X at best.

2. While having a strong plot isn't exactly key to a successful Godzilla film, Kong's storyline is so minimal as to not exist. Basically a company has found out these island berries can get you intoxicated, so they want to steal them. Unfortunately they happen to be King Kong's drink of choice as well. So basically the events of the film occur because some Japanese folks and King Kong both want to get high! Godzilla only gets involved because the worlds worst submarine captain doesn't understand that iceburgs don't simply float on top of the water, and that most of the ice is actually below the water's surface, thus ramming his nuclear sub into Godzilla's ice prison.

3. The UN / American footage. I don't know if watching the original Japanese version of this film would help much, but the American version with the narrator/UN report guy is amazingly dull. For some reason there is a space station shown, and some maps, a Japanese correspondant who doesn't know how to wear headphones....and everybody is watching the events unfold on a 10" color TV screen? The American scientist is awful as well, you have to love when he holds up a small gumball and states that it is the size of Godzilla's brain??? What???

4. The fight scenes are dull. If nothing else you can usually rely on Toho films to provide some decent monster fights in their films...not so much here. Sure Godzilla and Kong meet for a final showdown about 10 minutes before the film ends...but it's just bad...and worse there really isn't a conclusion.

Luckily, Godzilla would go on to much better things after this third entry in the series. I guess as a Godzilla fan I'm happy to have this disk in my collection, I can't imagine I'll pull it out very often (maybe in another 10 years or so?), but as a completist I had to own it.

This is the one most of us grew up on and have a great affection for. Godzilla looks good. King Kong looks terrible. But they both kick ass. There seems to be a misconception that the Japanese version is more sophisticated than this version. Trust me it isn't. It's different, but not better. In fact sometimes it plays off more comical than this version. The Japanese ending is not any different, other than Godzilla gets the closing roar. The ending is a matter of perspective. Kong swam away in victory because he's the hero and had Godzilla on the ropes before they fell into the water. Kong swam away in retreat because he couldn't stay underwater indefinitely like Godzilla can. What many people don't know is there is a third version. The Japanese print with english dubbing done by a different studio. That one is really hard to find.

I saw this when it came out and have never forgotten many of the images, which were great to my young mind and way before we expected perfect special effects. In particular, I loved the way Godzilla was found in the ice, how he burned the top floor of a submarine - those below saw the flames above - how KK stuffed a tree root into G's mouth or kicked a boudler into G's chest, the list goes on. Seeing this again violated the sanctity of memory, I admit, but it was still fun to have it in the background as I was doing other things around the house. My kids, of course, were either laughing at its stupidity or bored. This is one to kick back and marvel at the silliness of it all and remember our childhoods.

Recommended for nostalgia (geezer fare), but not for new viewers (kid fare).

This review is for the 2005 Universal DVD release of King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962).

King Kong vs. Godzilla is as fun as science fiction movies come from the 1960's gets! I purchased this item alongside of King Kong Escapes. To be quite fair, these are decent releases. As a Japanese monster enthusiast, I feel mixed feelings regarding this item. My main concern comes from the lack of additional features. This includes the Japanese version, Easter eggs, and a theatrical trailer.

From the graphic perspective, the box artwork looks really hasty. Given the context of the genre, there is a genuine feeling of camp appeal to the art in the sleeve. The illustrations on the back cover or so distorted and off-model, it's delightful!

The disc included a very fair release of the "American" version of the film featuring the delightfully cheesy uses of stock music, hasty editing from the original source material, and the addition of American actors narrarating! The picture looks clean, and the colors look healthy. Universal's release leaves much to be desired, but for a bare bones release, it's a nice deal! This really isn't my favorite movie, but I am satisfied with my buy. I would recommend purchasing this DVD if you're a fan of the source material.