Rodan / War of The Gargantuas (DVD, 2008, 2-Disc Set)

I was really happy with my purchase. This DVD set enables you to watch either the dubbed English versions of Rodan and War of the Gargantuas or the original Japanese versions. My son loves the Gargantua movie, which is difficult to find in the DVD format. Excellent purchase!

RODAN and THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS are two of Toho's best giant monster films, and both were subjected to awkward and unnecessary Americanization jobs. With this welcome release, USA fans can now easily and cheaply make their comparisons, as Japanese and USA versions of both films are generously included.

This film so brought me back to my childhood. Saturday night with popcorn to watch one of the great Japanese monster movie. It was one of my favorite pass time with my Dad. This one is one of the classics! And you get two for the price of one! Excellent!

I wanted to see Gargantuas, actually ended up enjoying Rodan a wee bit more. Both movies are of the rubber monster costume variety. You can have a taste for these about the same way one could the old Universal monster movies (Wolfman, Frankenstein, Mummy, Dracula, etc.)

Get a good variety of either one rolling, they will satisfy a need.

Rodan actually gives hint to some comprehension and understanding of the results a giant monster emerging; there wouldn't be just one and there would be a connection on the food chain, with the previous giant bugs believed to be the major threat.

This has actually been covered in others of these movies.

Gargantua, on the other hand, seemed uncertain as to what it wanted. Clearly the green G was supposed to grab that jet overhead, resulting in a shot of terrified passengers in the plane seeing the large eyes outside the windows, but obviously there was no way the plane was going to be able to take off and have anyone survive, so the scene was scrapped.

Likewise, there just emerged no way for one of the Gs to survive, in this case, the brown one. Neither was overly likable. As the green G killed people, the brown G looked foolish defending him.

But there was obviously unintentional humor, with the green G spitting out the clothes after eating someone and the brown G's trouncing him with that tree.

Did enjoy the solo boat survivor at the beginning tho and was glad he survived.

Gargantua's downfall was stunning imagery such as the men on the boat trying to flee and the approach on the airport not filling the entire movie.

Even when Russ Tamblyn and the young miss with him were running thru the underground hallways, the sudden appearance of the giant foot thundering outside was suspenseful. There really was no need to root for one of the giants.

Both movies possessed the strongest aspect of these giant monster films, and that's not the monster itself, but the fleeing, terrified crowds (How about Gargantua's anglo singing lady?)

Pity the movie genre didn't capitalize on the next decade's upcoming disaster flicks and have passengers trapped on a ship or a train for nearly the entire flick while the giant monster roamed outside.

Still, Rodan and Gargantua both have their appeal.

I have always love watching the gargantuas ever since I was a little girl. those were the best looking monster, meaning they looked so real. The quality of the DVD could have been a little brighter, even after I turn mine up it's still a little dark.

And Rodan wasn't a big favorite of mine but has alwway been interesting.

I grew up with this kind of stuff and watching it again took me back to my childhood. It made me laugh so much that I made my younger sister watch it with me so she could be a part of my past, as we're 12 years apart. I look forward to finding and purchasing more old time dvd's like these, such as Godzilla and Giant Robot. Can't wait to jog my memory on the things hidden deep inside my childhood memory bank. AWESOME!