Review: GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973)

My son and I are still watching movies from THIS list before the new Godzilla film opens in May.  (We've got some work to do if we're going to make it.)

Today's is Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973).

James goes first:

Well this was a funny one, because in one moment, Godzilla and a robot named Jet Jaguar were surrounded by a ring of fire and Gigan's expression when they fly away was amazing and hilarious.



 anyways, this movie got a record for funnest moment in the first era but it has a shrill Ewok kid. 

So, rating wise, i'll say 3.9087 out of 5 Atomic Breaths of Awesomeness!!!

My turn:

I feel like I've seen this one a hundred times, thanks to its use on Mystery Science Theater 3000.  It doesn't get better with repeated viewings, in case you're wondering. 

Keeping it simple, here's the plot: the undersea realm of Seatopia (see what they did there?) decides to unleash their beetle deity Megalon on mankind because they're pissed at all the nuclear testing.  An inventor has built a robot named Jet Jaguar and the Seatopians want to use it to control Megalon.  Jet is instead sent to Monster Island to retrieve Godzilla so he can fight off Megalon.  Oh, and Gigan shows up, too. 

Some may claim that this movie is aimed at kids, but my son's unnatural hatred for the screechy kid in this one would seem to be that theory's undoing.  It's goofy.  No question.  But there's enough of the "good" kind of goofy in it to prevent this film from falling into the same camp as the horrific Daigoro vs. Goliath. 

In reading up on it, I see that this movie was made in three weeks.  I can believe that.  There's hardly anyone in it at all.  Seriously, there's like six speaking roles.  In scenes where there should be people, someone said, "I guess everyone was evacuated."  Yeah, I guess so. 

Megalon may have his name in the title, but he's not the "star" of this film.  Let's talk about Jet Jaguar.  He's in here thanks to a contest won by a kid who wanted a robot man in the films.  And thanks to the Ultraman craze of the era, boom goes the dynamite. 

There's a great deal of weirdness here.  Jet Jaguar's self-programmed ability to change sizes.  His communication with Godzilla (and G's obvious understanding).  Megalon's hoppity-hoppity means of locomotion.  Godzilla's entry to the fighting area wherein he pumps himself up like an OG WWF champ.  The "slice and dice" motions of both Gigan and Megalon (I said, "slice and dice," aloud when I saw this, not unlike the Mutants from The Dark Knight Returns and now my son says it in the same creepy way).  The red grenade goobers that Megalon spits.  The unintentionally hilarious mannerisms of Gigan when Jet flies G out of the ring of fire.   

And, of course, how can anyone forget this: 

 

Yeah.  You can't beat that. 

Because of the way it was distributed, this movie did very well in the US.  In fact, it aired on NBC.  In primetime.  I have vague memories of this, watching it with my dad.  What I don't remember, though, is John Belushi hosting the premiere ... while wearing a Godzilla suit not unlike this one: 

 

Godzilla vs. Megalon ... Maybe I'm nostalgic.  2.5 out of five atomic breath blasts.

Here's a "best of" video of moments from MST3K:



Here's the trailer:



Next, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla.

(GIF by DestructionMode)