Dir. Jun Fukuda
83 Minutes
Japan
1966
Starring: Akira Takarada, Kumi Mizuno, Chotaro Togin, Hideo Sunazuka, Toru Ibuki
**1/2/*****
First of an odd pair of Godzilla features directed by Jun Fukuda with a shift in focus to a mysterious island (apparently this film was initially crafted as a vehicle for King Kong, explaining Godzilla's penchant for throwing things at the villainous sea beast Ebirah). Though with an oddly convoluted narrative involving some teenagers who get trapped on the island inhabited by a terrorist organization named Red Bamboo that is struggling with the titular behemoth, the film putters about until they eventually discover Godzilla atrophied under some rocks and wake it up to aid them in their escape. The Ebirah design is terrific and the ultimate fight scene is a usual delight to watch, but without Honda the human "drama" meanders, and the commentary (about the dangers of allowing experiments with atomic devices) tacked on and relegated to a brief dialogue exchange as the teenagers watch the final destruction.
Viewed on May 11th, 2020
Part of the ongoing Godzilla Project, notes on selected films in the Godzilla franchise.