Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (1965, aka Invasion of Astro-Monster, and others) is a sequel to the previously reviewed (if I may be so foolhardy) Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964), and is actually an improvement on the first. Planet X has suddenly appeared outside of the orbit of Jupiter, moderately dark and therefore not sighted before. A rocket is dispatched to investigate, and finds a humanoid population hiding from the monster Ghidorah, known to them as Monster Zero.
The astronauts are asked if the humanoids may borrow Godzilla and Rodan (monsters 1 & 2, respectively) in return for the formula of a super-medicine, and permission is given. Then the astronauts leap back into their spaceship to return home.
Dull as dirty water.
And as the ship lifts off, the leader of the humanoids … laughs evilly.
Ah… so there’s something to this story after all. In classic fashion, details emerge that had been obscured. An inventor in the traditional Japanese form of being disdained has his invention bought by a mysterious company, and then he himself is kidnapped; all the women on Planet X look alike; one of the astronaut’s girlfriend looks like the women of Planet X; and the ships of the humanoids are already at Earth, waiting to transport the monsters. Wait, isn’t that a plot hole?
So, Godzilla and Rodan go to Planet X, do a little butt-kicking, Godzilla dances a jig, and the medicine’s formula is delivered on a magnetic tape … which, when played, announces Earth is being annexed for colonial purposes, and if Earth does not cooperate then all three monsters, under humanoid control, will be loosed upon the Earthlings, who’ll be exterminated.
Hey, a plot!
So it’s still rubber suits and mediocre effects, and in all honesty interesting themes are scarce as hens’ teeth. Still, I was all set to either dump this, or at least fast-forward, until the evil laugh came. It was engaging, it promised mystery and deception – if not acting ability or even minimally acceptable dialog.
So …. if one January afternoon you find yourself staring numbly out at -20°, 30 mile winds, and heavy snowfall, and this is on the TV, you have two choices. Grab a shovel and start working on the driveway, or watch this.
It’ll all depend on your mood. And how many fingers you’ve lost to frostbite since the first of the year.
