Customer Reviews

Mothra [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A giant moth flips its lid and attacks Japan. If Walt Disney ventured into the realm of Japanese sci-fi, this movie could have been the result. Chuckle-headed, camp humor is evident, but another wacky monster fest is not the director's real purpose. The emphasis is on a juvenile fantasy story that features "The Peanuts," petite female fairies. Tinkerbell's cousins. Twins, no less. (If this was a fantasy film of another kind, the mathematical possibilities would be endless). The Peanuts serve as high priestesses to Mothra, a primitive deity. Their haunting rendition of Mothra's theme song holds a special place in the Japanese sci-fi hall of fame. When ruthless men kidnap the girls, Mothra follows them to Japan. Mothra first appears as a giant caterpillar that scoots across the countryside like an electric train. The most thrilling part of this epic is the attack on Tokyo. In the midst of the fiery destruction, the caterpillar attaches itself to Tokyo Tower, and spins a huge cocoon. Atomic heat ray machines fail to destroy the cocoon, and a giant moth emerges. The wind from Mothra's flapping wings gives off typhoon type wind. Buildings crumble, fire rages, and vehicles whip around like toys. Of course, the cars and trucks really are toys, but don't get technical. The military fights back with tanks, rockets, and planes, but to no effect. Considering the lousy track record of the Japanese military in these monster epics, the government of Japan might want to re-think its military resources. The special effects reflect the limitations of the budget and the era. Don't expect computer-generated razzle-dazzle. Suspend disbelief and go with the flow. Good for kids under seven and hard core Japanese sci-fi fans. ;-)

This is a very interesting movie for all you Godzilla fans. Mothra is a little bit bigger in this movie (as opposed to Godzilla vs. Mothra), and it is a very enjoyable movie. The best thing about it is SP mode! Yes, the Toho movie distribution people finally decided that we would be allowed to view a movie in SP mode. Weird but true!

The original Mothra is an interesting movie. It relies on human drama much more than the average kaiju movie that I've seen, but still manages to keep up the monster action enough to keep your attention. Unfortunately, the monster action isn't very exciting. After smashing a dam and a building or two, the catapillar spins a cocoon around Tokyo tower, only to be "fried" by a new military weapon. But, after it hatches into a giant moth, the kaiju destruction really looks like nothing more than a hurricane documentary.

However, if you are a kaiju enthusiast like me, you'll love the movie for what it is and not so much what it has to offer in monster destruction. But, if your looking for a cheep monster flick, you may enjoy this, but you may not. This movie is really based on personal preference.

Mothra has always represented the divine side of monsters. Worshipped as a deity, it acts only from self-preservation and to protect its worshippers.

A giant egg is discovered on a little Japanese coastal town. The inhabitants build a sideshow around it, trying to capitalize on its oddity. Unknown to anyone, the egg belongs to Mothra. When its servants tries to recover the egg, they are imprisoned. THey summon Mothra who arrives at the same time at Godzilla. During the battle Mothra dies only to be replaced by its offspring, 2 caterpillars who spins a silken web to capture Godzilla.

Mothra represents the Japanese's love and fear of nature. The 90s remake is more technical but not better.

After a ship hits a reef and goes down near the atomic testing area, the worst is feared, but four surviving sailors are rescued, healthy and with no trace of radiation at all!

This leads to an expedition to Infant Island, part of East Biru, and it's led by the Rolithican, Clark Nelson, a slimy, unsavory character with his face twisted in a sneer. Japanese members of the expedition include Dr. Harada, the linguist and ethnologist Dr. Chujo, and a reporter named Vin Chun, nicknamed the Bulldog because he never lets go of a story. They discover a pair of foot-high grown girls and decide to leave them in peace. However, the greedy Nelson kidnaps them for his personal gain. This leads to Mothra awakened to rescue them. Despite entreaties by Chujo, Vin Chun, and his colleague Michi, Nelson refuses to let them go and puts them to work in The Secret Fairies Show, which plays to packed houses.

Compared to others in the Toho monsters canon, the production values are more topnotch than later entries, in regards to the brass band and the crowd seeing the expedition ship off, as well as the scenes of destruction. However, there are some shots where it's clear that some of the tanks are toys, as the soldiers on them are clearly plastic soldiers, and there is a scene when Nelson seizes the twins and it's clear he's holding dummies in his hand. The moth version of Mothra is a visual triumph, with its colourful markings. A pity that for the majority of the movie, we only see a dingy brown caterpillar smashing up Tokyo.

But the charm of this movie clearly go to the twin fairies, played by the Peanuts, those twin Japanese pop singers of the 1960's, Yumi and Emi Ito. They spend the majority of the movie chanting for Mothra, wearing kitschy costumes, and just overall being cute.

It's also clear that the Rolithicans are based on Americans. The syllables and stresses on them are identical, but the existence of New Kirk City confirms it. Another sobering thing is the Rolithican promising to help Japan, and it's with their atomic heat ray. Typical! Always with weapons and not diplomacy!

Two major actors come out here. One is Takashi Shimura, best known as the lead samurai in The Seven Samurai. He's the editor of Nitto Shimbun (Nitto Newspaper) here. The other is comedian Franky Sakai (Vin Chun), who later appeared in the Shogun miniseries. His personable smile, comical scenes, and spunky attitude makes him a standout character here.

I'm going by the American dubbing here, but the chubby Shinji, who is about twelve or thirteen, is Dr. Chujo's brother. Now, Chujo is a man in his early forties, more the age of Shinji's father, and he acts like Shinji's father in one scene. Dubbing goof?

One of the better Toho monster movies which is the debut of Mothra and the twin fairies. However, the moral of the avarice of one leading to widespread mayhem at the cost of innocent people puts this a notch above others in the series.

Pros of Mothra/Mosura:

*Different storyline from Rodan
*Same effects from TOHO
*A new monster

Cons:

*Geared for kids not adults
*Not as dark
*Mothra not as menacing as Godzilla

Another monster movie by Toho directed by Ishiro Honda. I've always found Mothra to be probably the weakest monster of the TOHO franchise. It's not menacing, it's powers are somewhat limited and it's slow.

Watching this I could tell it was geared more for a kids audience (the usual complaint given to some Godzilla movies). The storyline is altered to make Mothra the "good monster" which I think took away something from the message. Also I found it hilarious that despite the destruction Mothra unleashes everyone waves to the monster at the end!!!

Godzilla, Rodan, never got any such praise so why Mothra? Anyhow, Mothra's rage is brought his two protectors who are kidnapped as a sideshow act for some corrupt Japanese man named Nelson.

It is cool though to see Mothra's transformation from a giant caterpillar to his true form of a Moth. The natives who worship Mothra remind me of the natives who worshiped King Kong.

In the dubbed versions the girls are called "Ailenas" and they of course have the interesting power of communicating to Mothra. Of course like Rodan and to keep the series alive there is more than one Mothra.

For me while it does have the same TOHO formula as the other monster it doesn't quite leave the lasting impression as Godzilla or The War of the Gargantuas which is that intensity for the monster to kill. Likewise, as stated Mothra just doesn't come out as menacing as Godzilla, Rodan, King Ghidora etc. However,for the TOHO collector Mothra/Mosura is a must have. Word is there will be a two disc coming soon so it will be great for people who love these TOHO to see these movies on DVD.

The orginal Mothra is a great movie. It is a film that is different from most monster movies like Godzilla (1954) and Rodan (1956). The reason that it is different is because the title monster, is not out to destroy Tokyo for revenge. The only reason the creature destroys is because its small foot-tall maidens.

The film has great acting by some of the most recognizeable actors of Toho. The special effects for the film are, likewise, good as it was back in the 1960's. Mothra, both in her larva and imago form, is very well executed and well designed. From its patterns on its wings to her rampage in New Kirk City, the giant moth gives us a great show.

This movie is a must have for fans of Godzilla or Mothra. No G-Fan should be without this classic monster movie. So here is my addvice: buy the movie and enjoy! It's a shame that it is yet to be released onto DVD. But we may finally get it on DVD very soon.

Well basiclly this is Mothra the giant moth`s first appearence. Anyway, the story is that a giant catterpiller named Mothr rampages Tokyo to find two tiny twin fairies. When going on foot geets too hard, she turn into a giant moth and takes to the air. Why is there a giant plant in the movie? Who knows, who cares. Anyway I definetely recomend MOTHRA to Toho monster fans. I also recomend anyone who reads my review not to watch REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 2, which invlolves a hairy thing that poops out rings when he gets scared, acid spitting starfish, a silly Fairy Mothra and the goofy looking Garu-Garu 2.

That is correct don't bring your date, because they say that a Mothra is attracted by a flame. Maybe that is why those two pint-sized cuties got Mothra to go to Tokyo. Oh, all right it was telepathy. Mothra unlike some other monsters we know will worm her way into your heart. Anyway Tokyo is always trying to defend its self with military solutions. Some claim that Mothra was "Shot in Tohoscope" However they never came near her Tohoscope. Did anyone think of surrounding the island with giant mothballs?

Mothra meets the standard Japanese Sci-Fi formula of having the standard good guys and bad guys and dumb guys and an environmental theme.

Personally I thing Mothra was lucky that Rodan "Rodan - Dubbed in English ASIN: 6302658888"did not catch her in the larva state. You know what they say about the early bird.

Two things to keep in mind. This is not the last of Mothra and the soundtrack is for sale.

Mothra: The Best from 1961-1998 [IMPORT] [SOUNDTRACK] ASIN: B00000I47H

...which another viewer asked about was, I believe, Ghidrah: the Three-Headed Monster.