DVD Review – Monster X – Toho Studios

By Michael Sullivan

I grew up watching Godzilla movies. Every Saturday in Los Angeles on KTTV and then KTLA,they would show “Creature Features” and whenever a Godzilla,Rodan or Gamera movie was on,so were the kids in my neighborhood. Moms used to love the fact they could always have their kids indoors for chores after the movie was over!

While Godzilla was recently laid to rest in Japan with “Godzilla:Final Wars”,Toho has decided to re-release the classic monster movies on DVD,completely remastered and showcasing both Japanese and US film versions. Sometimes when Toho did this,it changed the movie around 180 degrees (see “Godzilla” and “Godzilla vs. King Kong” for examples)

“Invasion of the Astro Monster” or as known here in the States as “Monster Zero” was released in 1965. The plot of having a alien race control Earth’s famed monsters was a tried and true plot device during this peroid. The aliens use futuristic mind powers to control Rodan and Godzilla along with their own monster,King Gidorah,a three headed dragon of considerable power.

As usual,the brave Japanese Army tries to stop these monsters with no chance in hell of doing so. Its left up to Earth’s science to free our heroes and once they do,the fight is really on…

Godzilla has been both “good guy” and “bad guy”,while many purist love Godzilla as an unstoppable force,most fans love him more when he is defending us from some terrible threat from space or from our own folly. “Monster Zero” is one the “friendly” Godzilla films where he tries to help Earth. The action is still very sharp while the special effects still require some serious imagination!

Special features on the DVD include subtitles,interviews,a art gallery and much more.

Highly recommended!