Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster Blu-ray Movie Review

Godzilla, Japan's Environmental Protection Agency.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 5, 2014

Gojira first marauded through an epically miniature Tokyo in 1954’s Godzilla, quickly assuming the mantle of King of the Monsters when the film matriculated to American shores shortly thereafter. The evolution of this now iconic character is an interesting study in how an archetypal villain can morph rather unexpectedly into either an outright hero or at least a default protective force who might be the lesser of two (or more) evils. The original conception of Gojira (a fabricated “word” meant to evoke the monster’s supposed resemblance to both a gorilla and a whale, and, no, that isn’t a typo) was an obvious visual metaphor helping the Japanese to come to grips with the aftershocks of their own nuclear holocaust, and in fact in the most renowned of the creature’s origin stories, it’s nuclear activity itself which brings the beast (back) to life. In many of the Godzilla films, the titular being is able to emit its own nuclear smack down, courtesy of a radioactive blast it emanates from its immense mouth. If the original film was both figuratively and literally black and white, positing a destructive behemoth who had to be stopped at all costs, the franchise underwent a rather startling transformation through the years, with a “kinder, gentler” giant quasi-dinosaur emerging as a friend to humanity, or at least as less of an imminent threat. With the imminent release of a new theatrical Godzilla poised to stomp through cineplexes, a whole glut of older Godzilla entries are being released on Blu-ray, including three from Kraken Releasing (an imprint of anime specialist Section 23, which distributes Sentai Filmworks releases). These three come toward the end of Godzilla’s miraculous metamorphosis from nemesis to colleague, and each of them has a certain childlike innocence that seems to point toward the fact that these were crafted with children in mind. There are lessons to be learned about our stewardship of the Earth in all three of the films, in what might be seen as the most obvious throwback to the original formulation of one of the most recognizable rubber suits in the history of film.

Pollution, or at the very least Man’s inability not to muck up the planet he finds himself on, has always played an important part in the Godzilla canon, tracing back to the very first appearance of the beast. Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster is a 1971 Toho release that takes this central concept and transforms it into—what? A giant mop head with bloodshot eyes? The environmental subtext which has informed quite a few Godzilla outings is thrust into the limelight here in the guise of the titular Smog Monster, otherwise known as Hedorah, a pollution devouring heap of goop that is frankly not all that threatening looking despite its ability to also spew out toxic waste. The lack of inherent menace is especially obvious when Hedorah is “played” by a model marauding over Hot Wheels that are supposed to be stand-ins for actual cars.

Perhaps even more than Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, however, Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster introduces some unexpected elements into the Godzilla franchise, though in this case not specifically with regard to the character but more with regard to filmcraft itself. Director Yoshimitsu Banno seems to want to intentionally shake things up with elements like animated interstitials and a more aggressive approach toward the score. There’s a hallucinatory quality to this Godzilla outing that has at times made it the bastard stepchild of the franchise, at least for some fans.

In another kind of interesting move, Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster posits a young boy named Ken (Hiroyuki Kawase) as a central character. Ken is monster obsessed, but when he and his scientist father Dr. Toru Yano (Akira Yamauchi) have a too close encounter of the scarring kind with an enigmatic beast that appears out of the toxic ocean, Ken shifts his sights to Godzilla, who he feels certain can protect Japan from the increasingly malevolent and deadly actions of the ocean creature, now nicknamed Hedorah.

Hedorah turns out to be a highly adaptive creature, one who is able to shape shift to further its poisonous efforts. This provides the film its central dramatic impetus, as Dr. Yano attempts to come up with some kind of technology which will mortally afflict the beast. Underlying all of the conflict with Hedorah is the none too subtle subtext that Man's own idiocy with regard to pollution is evidently what spawned Hedorah in the first place. (In one of the film's funnier moments, armed forces which are requisitioned to battle Hedorah start arriving, many in trucks spewing immense amounts of exhaust.)

It’s kind of interesting to realize that Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster was just part of a worldwide concern about environmental issues that suddenly surfaced (or at least gained new momentum) in the early seventies, resulting in things like the United States forming the Environmental Protection Agency. In the film, no governmental bureaucracy is needed, of course, for Godzilla does in fact answer Ken’s prayer, showing up for a rather longish battle that fills about the last third of the film. Godzilla has a bit of an edge in this film that is at least a little unusual. The mutant beast seems particularly displeased with how things have gone from bad to worse on Earth, a kind of giant dinosaur version of the famous crying Native American in that Keep America Beautiful anti-littering advertising campaign, not so coincidentally also from 1971.

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

From the Toho masthead through the film's epic showdown, Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster's AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1, courtesy of Kraken Releasing, is a rather heavily grainy affair, especially when the film utilizes stock footage of things like smokestacks spewing immense amounts of soot and ash into the air. Even the sequences shot expressly for the film are markedly grainier than the 1966 Godzilla outing also released by Kraken, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster . The elements utilized for this transfer have the requisite scratches, flecks and specks dotting the premises, but overall things are in very good condition, with nicely saturated and accurate looking color and a generally quite sharp image. As is the custom in a lot of Godzilla films, some of the battles take place in mist or at night, and here those segments look very good.

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with the 1966 Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, Godzilla vs. th Smog Monster features lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono mixes in Japanese and English, and also like the earlier release, the Japanese tracks boasts slight but noticeably more forceful amplitude. These tracks are a bit fuller in the midrange than the ondes in Sea Monster, though there's still an evident narrowness in some of the sound effects, including some of the roars Godzilla emits. Dialogue is cleanly presented and there is no serious damage to report.

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Japanese Trailer (1080i; 2:09)

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster is one of the more outré offerings in the Godzilla canon, but there's also a kind of sweet quality to sections of the film, including the scenes with Ken and the wacky but kind of retro-cool animated moments. There's nothing even slightly subtle about the film's message, but that doesn't mean Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster doesn't provide the requisite rubber suited entertainment. Those with an abhorrence of heavy grain may find the visual presentation here occasionally bothersome, but Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster comes Recommended.