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This is a surreal experience and the strangest Godzilla film I've seen... I laughed so hard at this film out of pure enjoyment rather than mockery.

It serves as a warning to children (and, of course, everyone who watches it) of the dangers of long-term pollution. There are amazing scenes highlighting environmental problems that are served in a variety of creative ways.

Godzilla is hilarious in this film.

Do not make the same mistake I did and watch the film with the brightness on half, I actually watched it the first time thinking you weren't supposed to see anything in the night time scenes... turned the brightness up and realised!

Okay, so.... Godzilla vs Hedorah! It's been said that this is a Godzilla movie you either love or hate, so it's either a 10 or a 0. For me personally, this movie is a 5; right smack dab in the middle! It's not a shining gem or a smouldering turd, it's just kinda "eh" *gesture where you shake your hand with all the fingers flat out*

So, the premise; rampant water and air pollution has spawned Hedorah, a sentient monster made of pollution that is like a mix of the Blob and a garbage dump! Hedorah is able to melt people to bones! The only hope for humanity, as always, is GODZILLAAAAA~!!!!

Hedorah is a notable monster as he is the last monster of the Showa era that is acting on his own will, he isn't obeying anyone or under mind control, unlike Ghidorah, Gigan, Megalon, Mechagodzilla, and Titanosaurus of the succeeding Showa films.

This movie is different; there's bizarre animation, trippy montages, and drug innuendos a-plenty!!! Now, the animation shown isn't anime, it's just some bizarre animation straight out of Uncanny Valley. Hedorah is shown sucking on a smokestack from a factory and exhaling the smoke before showing his bloodshot eyes, a blatant reference to taking a bong hit.

As someone who has taken a few bong hits before, I found this to be a clever little thing. The drug innuendos can be excused because this movie was made in 1971; weed culture was still in it's very huge first run!

There are two or three POV shots from Hedorah's perspective.

Also, no review of Godzilla vs Hedorah would be complete without mentioning the bizarre scene where Godzilla FLIES. This was a total WTF moment.

All in all, if you watch this movie with a sober mind like I did, you'll either hate it or it'll just be "eh". If you watch it after smoking some weed or ingesting an edible, it'll be the best damn Godzilla movie you've ever seen!

"Godzilla vs. Hedorah" is probably my favorite Godzilla from the 1970s (the others being the one with Gigan in them, he RULES TOO!). There sure is alot going on in this crazy movie.

There are:

ACID TRIPS! Strange anime sequences! Really upbeat soundtrack and theme song (KAAAAAAAAISEN!)! Kids in hot pants! Ecology made fun! Haiku! Nightclubs! Hippies galore! Godzilla flying! Hedorah, the strange looking beast of Smog!

This film has everything a B-movie enthuaist wants!

Even though a lot of people hated Hedorah, but I don't. He is one of the most interesting looking and powerful foes in Godzilla's old days. He pretty much hacks up on Godzilla a lot, changes shape at will, plus, it FARTS out acid!

Anyways, watch "Godzilla vs. Hedorah"! You'll have a B-movie blast!

When the Godzilla series entered the 1970s, a retro and hippie feeling could be seen in this movie. This film starts off with a singer, played by Keiko Mari, singing a song titled "Save the Earth." Like 1964's Godzilla vs. Mothra, this film delivers a message of environmental danger. The story's about heavy pollution problems occurring in Japan. When an alien spore from outer space enters Earth and lands on a pile of toxic waste in the sea, a towering monster of sludge, crap, smog, and goo attacks Japan. This is the first Godzilla (Gojira) film in many years that depicts numerous human casualties. Scenes of humans deforming are a gruesome sight and echo elements in the original Gojira film. Like a viewer said, the fish tank scene is a similar scene of the fish tank in the original Gojira film.

The central character in this movie is a boy, played by Hiroyuki Kawase, who idolizes Godzilla. Godzilla, by this time, is portrayed as a "defender of Earth," rather than a destructive force. Mostly, there are no hints of fears from the people upon Godzilla's appearances. The line "Get'em Godzilla!" is a real charmer, making the monster look more and more like a hero and defender of Japan.

Yoshimitsu Banno did a good job directing and assembling the cast out, staging them in places like nightclubs, hills and amusement parks. The retro feel could be seen in the nightclub scene, where the singer sings the title song as blobs of retro paint move in a movie screen behind her. Also, the scene of the teenagers "celebrating" on a hill like a woodstock is also a retro feel.

Takeshi Kimura gave us a dark and scientific story, but some lighthearted scenes can be seen, like the scene where Godzilla flies (I think this is the only time we see Godzilla fly). Teruyoshi Nakano's special effects were believable; plenty of monster battles, albeit slow in some parts. Some of the problems I have with the monster battles is the part where Godzilla and Hedorah virtually move towards each other, staring at each other for several minutes. The movie's cinematography lacks a little spirit and color, making this movie look a little dull, and the overall momentum of the film was a little slow. And, this film lacks an effective music score. The music is not really harmonic or melodic and lacks charm to it. Riichiro Manabe composed a theme for Godzilla-a theme played by overblown trumpets. Though somewhat wacky, this theme sounds heroic for Godzilla.

Overall, a somewhat slow but an interesting Godzilla movie, returning you to the darker and more serious themes of the series.

Grade C+

Godzilla vs Hedora (AKA The Smog Monster) is less slick than many of the later productions. It is also somewhat less serious, and features a Godzilla who is more mythic than consistent with his earlier and later portrayals. The Godzilla in this film is a force of nature in more than just a figurative sense. She is also highly intelligent and a defender of the earth and, to some extent, its people.

Even from the title, its easy enough to figure out what this film is about. Tadpoles mutate because of the mutagenic properties of pollution in Tokyo Bay (interestingly, this somewhat silly idea is far less absurd than most of the latter pseudoscience used in Godzilla scripts - almost as bad as Star Trek Voyager sometimes was). The mutant tadpoles fuse at the cellular level and grow into a giant tadpole which then mutates three or four times, spewing out its own toxic pollutants, first as terrestrial and eventually as air pollution. The visuals are good, but the special effects are admittedly below even Toho's usual standards.

Created in the early 1970s, this film is metaphorical and symbolic, although it is still, at heart, a Godzilla film. Hedora is an unsubtle metaphor for the ecological state of the world, and is, in that sense, a monster of our own making. Godzilla is an embodiment of nature, and is to be viewed as a positive force for all life on earth. These symbols are particularly apparent in the use of cartoons as transitional devices from one plot point to another.

Godzilla Vs Hedora walks a very thin line between giant-monster violence and a kid-oriented film. As somebody who has since his early teens, been interested in the environment and as somebody who always liked Japanese Monster films, I developed a sentimental attachment to this film very early on. In fact, this is my all-time favorite Godzilla film, and more than any other film, it is the reason why I consider myself a fan of the big green lizard. This is the film which establishes Godzilla as an environmentalist and a friend to young people - his two best roles.

I've loved Godzilla for as long as I can remember, but "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" (or "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster", the original U.S. release title) has always been my least favorite - until the last time I saw it.

The 70's produced the worst of the Godzilla flicks - a series of dark, hokey, and dull films which ultimately caused the end of the Godzilla film line (until the beginning of a new series in 1984). Executive producer Tomoyuki Tanaka was in the hospital for much of the time while the film was being made, so he didn't see the different direction which "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" took. For the first time since 1964, the film had a strong social message: stop the pollution! A series of grim, grungy images show the pollution which is seeping into the air and the sea. From it rises Hedorah, the smog monster, intent on gobbling down the world's smog and pollution whilst killing off Earth's people. Bullets go through it, knives do nothing to it. Who will stop this "demon of drudge"? Why, Godzilla, of course! Yoshimitsu Banno pointed the series in a different direction (which enraged producer Tanaka upon his release from the hospital), inserting funky tunes, a scene in a revolting dance club, and entirely unnecessary animations. Then there's the creepy-looking Hedorah, which actually becomes quite scary when you see it's glowing eyes in the dark gray night sky, while the eerie bass guitar plays quietly amongst the soundtrack's instruments. This is certainly the weirdest, creepiest Godzilla flick of 'em all.

A sequel to this film was planned, hence the "And yet another one?" title at the end of the film. In it, Godzilla would travel to Africa and battle another smog monster. But the project was shelved when Tomoyuki Tanaka banned director Banno from ever coming near a Godzilla film again, claiming that Banno had ruined the series. I can't really say that I'm sorry for that decision.

"Godzilla vs. Hedorah" is one of the most unique of the Godzilla films, and because of that, it's one of my favorites. It's a weird, creepy film, that becomes much more fun (and funny) when you watch it with the terrible English dubbing.

This psychedelic Goji entry features a very formidable opponent in Hedorah and some very memorable trippy imagery. It has an environmental message and is truly unlike any Goji film.

Hedorah has a certain special aura about it, very memorable moments and a great soundtrack that makes this one of the Showa era's finest.

8 Smog Clouds out of 10!

Following the child-focused "All Monsters Attack" (1969), Godzilla returns as an ally of man in the battle against pollution, as personified (kaijufied?) by Hedorah (the Smog Monster)*. There are a number of stylistic changes from previous movies in the franchise, including James Bond-like opening credits, surreal psychedelic interludes (the fish-headed people at the 'go-go' club are memorable) and a number of odd animated inserts reminiscent of early 70's public service cartoons. The musical score, much of which sounds like background music for slapstick comedy or uplifting marches similar to the grating (but catchy) Gamera theme, is horrible. The franchise is still targeting younger audiences, so the central human character is a little kid (Ken Yano, played by Hiroyuki Kawase) who, among other things, comes up with the name for the new monster (Hedorah) as well as a method to destroy it. He also seems to have a psychic bond with Godzilla, and the last scenes of the film are straight out of "Shane" (1953, except that Shane is now a giant mutated dinosaur). Despite being a child-oriented film, "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" is much grimmer than any of the previous sequels, with human body counts after the monsters clash, on-camera 'deaths' of individuals (such as the gamblers or the driver of the truck crushed by Hedorah), and most jarringly, the 'melting' of people exposed to Hedorah's noxious exhalent (Ken encounters the gruesome partially-dissolved bodies of a number of these victims). Hedorah itself is so improbable looking that it might as well be accepted as a metaphor rather than a monster, but the titular fights are pretty good. The anthropomorphisation of Godzilla, who now constantly uses human-like gestures (almost rolling his eyes at mankind's ineffectual attempts to stop Hedorah), continues (although one delirious surprise in the film is the revelation that Godzilla can fly (!), a ridiculous-looking skill that would have come in handy in previous outings). All in all, "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" (the eleventh film in the franchise) while not a great kaiju film, is eccentric, imaginative and entertaining: a deviation from the downward slide that leads to the next two entries in the series (the woeful "G. vs Gigan" and "G. vs Megalon"). (*these comments pertain to an English subtitled version of the film).

As the 1970s began, Godzilla started to turn into a much more campier, hipper if you will, Japanese institution. There is no evidence of that more striking than Godzilla Vs. the Smog Monster(Hedorah) with its cartoonish sedge-ways and psychedelic dance numbers, etc... I loved this film as a child. I remembered some scenes very well: a young boy on a rock calling, "Papa, Papa" and the scene with an oil/sludge covered cat amidst garbage and waste. The environmental issues were lost on my young brain, but having had a chance to see the film somewhat recently I have seen the obvious nature/message inherent in the film. And having seen the film again, I find that I like the film a lot less than I did as a child. Its magic didn't hold up for me, and I started to ask myself why? What could make the difference? Well, the story really is quite transparent as a young boy and his family(father a scientist)discover a new creature in the ocean that when dried turns to a cakey dust that when introduced to water again - creates new life. The scientist also learns that this new organism that feeds on waste has the ability to grow rapidly. Soon it grows to monster proportion as a giant black thing with glowing red eyes, destroying much of Tokyo and Japan, waiting to fight with Godzilla. While this film does indeed have some nicely shot, effective scenes, the story and the pacing just seem a bit strained. Hedorah is a pretty neat looking creature, and some of his fights with the big lizard are very rewarding. The film; however, doesn't have the sense of seriousness(if you can believe this?) that the earlier Godzilla films had. While ostensibly teaching about the evils of pollution and misusing the environment, Godzilla Vs, the Smog Monster is really nothing more than a very campy film of the big old green guy and a big pile of sludge.

Anyone who says that Godzilla movies are nothing more than men in rubber monster suits, wrestling and destroying scale models of Tokyo... has not seen this film! When I first saw it, I was like 5 or 6 years old and it scared the beejeezus out of me! I agree with another reviewer, definitely not a "G" rating. What makes this a rare and exceptional Godzilla movie is the not-so subtext. Pollution was a big concern in the late sixties and early seventies, and this film has the most powerful images of anti-pollution propaganda that I have seen in any film! Add to this, a bizarre mix of dancing disco hippie chicks singing "Save the Earth", with real images of the horrendous pollution in Japan and things like spontaneous animated clips...and you have THE most unique of the Godzilla films ever made! But don't worry! There is plenty of all-monster-wrestling!! You either like Godzilla movies, or you don't. If you don't like the franchise, avoid this like the plague. If you are a huge fan of the big "G", like I am, this is the most interesting variation on the standard zilla plot. And a refreshing, bizarre and disturbing mix of imagery!! I gave it a 10 of 10 because it is my favorite of all the Godzilla movies.

What makes this movie so entertaining is how great of a villain that Hedorah is. He transformers multiple times throughout the movie and always seems to be constant threat against Godzilla until the very end.

The only bad thing I could possibly say about this movie is that the plot is a little cliche. Hedorah was created by Earth's pollution so we are beaten fairly heavily with the "Don't Pollute" message throughout the film. Other than that, It's incredibly entertaining and Hedorah is makes it a must see IMO.

Something spooky is happening on the Japanese coast; pollution is killing the fish in the ocean, but it also gives life to a monstrous mutated fish-monster. A professor and his genius kid watch it's destructions on TV, and the kid remarks: "- Oh, that was a tadpole-monster." Japan and the entire world is soon threatened by the unearthly Creature, who's named Hedorah by the Professors kid.

At the same time a funky teenage assistant of the professor gets drunk at an absurdly psychadellic disco and has visions of all the party-people being mutated fish. Hedorah inhales polluted smoke from factory- chimneys and seem to get high, the kid is psychic and has visions of Godzilla coming to save the world, and the Professor is attacked by the Hedorah underwater and his face gets malformed. Godzilla and the "Smog Monster" (as it is sometimes referred to as) start fighting only 25 minutes into the movie. The Hedorah mutates from ocean- dweller, to reptile to flying creature, and experts conclude that "He" is probably from a distant Nebula in outer space. Scenes of havoc and the Professor's family is intercut with cartoon- style sequences with strong enviromental messages.

One scene has the Hedorah flying over a group of people working out, and they turn blue-faced and ultimately into gushy skeletons. A man at a construction site screams out (extremely) loud, and then falls to his death. Hedorah has the ability to corrode metal, and people on TV quarrel intensely on the fate of the planet. The Professors assistant knows the end is near, and has a hippie-styled party on top of a mountain; "- Let's have fun as we die!!" The party is interrupted by the space/pollution freak, and most of the kids are melted by its poisonous vomit/droppings when they try to set it on fire.

The Professor's kid has found the solution to defeat the grotesque beast: "- Dry it - it's only sludge!", and with the aid of the friendly Godzilla it finally works. Some scenes, as well as the sounds the Hedorah makes are beyond description; like the scene were it's covering Godzilla with its tons of toxic puke, and at the same time "laughing" diabolically. There are weird crosscutting throughout, the kid yells "Papa" alot and the groovy rock score helps to its remarkably insane mood. The PG- rating should be reconsidered. This one is too dark and demented in so many ways, I don't think a ten year- old should watch it. It's mad nightmarish, art-cinematic style could cause damage.

A TV- reporter calls the Hedorah "a freak organizm" - much like this movie itself.

When Dr. Yano (Akira Yamanouchi) investigates a strange tadpole like creature found near the coast, he and his son are soon attacked by a larger version of it that comes to be known as Hedorah. Hedorah is an alien monster who has fed off the various pollutants of the air and sea and is growing at an exponential rate with Godzilla soon appearing to fight against the creature.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah (aka Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster) is a 1971 kaiju film and the eleventh installment in the Godzilla franchise. Inspired by growing concerns of Japan's issues with pollution at the time, the film marked the feature debut of Yoshimitsu Banno who opted to make the film with an environmental bent. Working with Treuyoshi Nakano on the special effects, the two attempted to make a film as ambitious as the reduced budget and tight filming schedule would allow as Godzilla movies continually saw themselves moving to lower tiers among Toho's production schedule. While Banno sought to make a children's film with environmental messaging, Nakano sought to make something with the impact of the 1954 Godzilla with the two often compromising where needed. Critical reception at the time was very mixed with some offering praise to the film for adding some weight back to the series after All Monsters Attack/Godzilla's Revenge, while others responded negatively with some claiming it one of the worst films in the series and even series producer Tomoyuki Tanaka would accuse Banno of having killed the series. At its core Godzilla vs. Hedorah is very experimental in its approach to the Godzilla formula and like any experiment there's some success and there's some failure.

Despite the movie prominently featuring a child character, in this case Ken Yano played by Hiroyuki Kawase, the movie mostly avoids the pitfalls that befall this character type such as those seen in the Gamera movies. The characters aren't given the greatest amount of depth but for what their place in the story is, they do it well enough. Conceptually speaking Hedorah has a good design being a shapeshifting mound of sludge who feeds on pollution and excretes poison and the movie offers some pretty horrific imagery (at least by the standards of this kind of movie) that even if you don't like this movie you at least have to give it credit for "going there". This is however where the problems arise because it feels like the movie's going in two directions trying to be a serious cautionary tale about the effects of environmental pollution but also trying to cater to that lighthearted sense of "fun" from entries like Destroy All Monsters. The Kaiju battles feel a lot slower this time around and often play towards emphasizing the collateral damage of Hedorah's sludge than the impact or choreography of the monsters, and the Kaiju battles often go on way longer than you want them to with numerous false stops only for the battle to keep going. The movie also takes a very "arm's length" approach to pollution with the primary focus being on the evil of the pollution itself rather than discussing the sources or human indifference that lead to it being there in the first place so it feels like it's only addressing half the issue.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah is the kind of movie I wish I liked more than I actually did. Despite working with the ever decreasing budgets that dogged this era of the franchise you can tell there was some desire for ambition and experimentation with the film even if it doesn't quite pay off. Definitely worth a viewing if only for curiosity's sake in some bold moves for this entry, but no guarantee they'll work for you.

This was the attempt of the Godzilla franchise to do a movie with an environmentally friendly message. For the most part, these messages don't go over too well as many people find them too sappy and clichéd. This movie itself is okay, mostly because it has a lot of strengths and weaknesses. For example, I actually did kind of get the feel of the original 1954 film when it talked about all the dead people. This film was apparently rated G. Wow, cities being destroyed in a G-rated film. Nowadays, given the exact same content, this would undoubtedly be rated PG-13. Anyway, the effects are pretty good.

The main weakness of the film comes in the final battle. Godzilla actually uses his radioactive breath to float. They would later reuse this sort of thing in "Godzilla Vs. Megalon", a far sillier film with a far sillier way of doing it. The humans build a machine to weaken Hedorah and while I do like the idea of them helping to defeat the monster, it does seem off place. I think it's at this point we can safely say that Godzilla became a good guy. It was first really established in "Ghidorah The Three Headed Monster". **1/2

Just dont watch it if you can handle Godzilla flying through the air or environmental messages, a solid 5/10

This film has a really post modern feel to it. It begins with a song in Japanese called Save the Earth that (like The Lost Continent song) you won't stop singing (Kaishan! Kaishan! Kaishan!). The opening credits mix in shots of a girl singing the song with shots of a sludge clogged Tokyo harbor. Things get stranger from here. It opens with an annoying kid and his dad going swimming. The kid's father's face is disfigured and the kid gets his hand burned off by a smog monster named Hedorah who spits acid balls and inhales the fumes off smokestalks. Things get even stranger from there. Theres a Save the Earth concert or something with this girl in spandex with stuff painting on singing, this lava lamp like thing on the wall (definitely hippies) and this teenager who gets drunk and starts halucinating and sees everyone with fish masks on (when I saw this the first time when I was six, couldn't get why everyone started wearing fish masks and why the teen seemed so disturbed about it) until Hedorah suddenly attacks after sucking up fumes. Well Godzilla comes and saves everybody and they start fighting really bizarrely (similar to the Saturday night wrestling scenes from King Kong vs. Godzilla. They wrestle and wrestle some more. Though released in 1971, this is very sixties. Director Yoshimitsu Banno blends mind twisting images, real scenes of Tokyo bay covered with sludge, the scenes with the hippies, disturbing scenes with dying babies on mutiple screens, gory scenes of Hedorah's victems being reduced to skeletons, scenes with the kid and his scientist father trying to figure out how to stop the monster, and scenes with a newscaster. This is very poetic, bizarre, beautiful, and sometimes extremely disturbing and has about the strongest anti pollution messages I've ever seen (Japan was polluted the most back then). This is one colorful film. P.S. I don't know how this film got a G rating with all the disturbing images in it.

Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971) is a movie I recently watched on a random streaming service. The storyline follows a high amount of toxins in the local seaport leading to a tadpole getting infected and growing into a huge toxic monster. Who can save civilization from the monster's destruction? None-other than Godzilla of course!

This movie is directed by Yoshimitsu Banno (Godzilla vs Gigan) in his directorial debut and stars Akira Yamanouchi (Bullet Train), Toshie Kimura (Sword of the Beast), Hiroyuki Kawase (Battle of Okinawa), Toshio Shiba (Mirrorman) and Yoshio Yoshida (Zatoichi on the Road).

The storyline for this picture once again involves the perspectives of a child that drives a lot of the premise. I will say I want the Godzilla toy he had. There's some cool animations in this and the music to introduce Godzilla is hilarious. Hedorah is a super underrated monster. His spaceship-like travel methods were awesome as was his slime (though there's a cat in this that didn't think so). Of course the battles between Godzilla and Hedorah are great. It's always funny listening to the scientists try to explain what they're seeing. The scene Godzilla figures out how to fly is hilarious too and the movie ends with a fatality, which is magnificent.

Overall this is an underrated Godzilla picture that I would strongly recommend. I would score this a 6/10.

Known as Gojira tai Hedora (1971), in Japan, this film, for decades in the United States, airing on SD television stations or viewed on VHS players, was known as, Godzilla VS the Smog Monster (1972). Once we got into the 21st century and entered into the Blu-ray/streaming era of cinema entertainment, plus western distributors got permission from Toho Studios, to exhibit the original Japanese versions in the states, was when this film went back to its original, intended title, Godzilla VS Hedorah (1971). Now that we have both versions of the film to watch, I'll let you know here, that it isn't a big deal, if you watch the Japanese version or the English-dubbed version. Both are sufficient, for a good view of this film, but buyer beware. First off, make sure you can see this film in all of its widescreen, theatrical-aspect glory. If you are watching the 4:3 version, it cheapens the quality of the effects, camera-work and the over-all intentions, that director, Yoshimitsu Banno, was trying to convey. Trust me, this film needs the help. I have noticed many things in the widescreen versions of these films, that weren't in the old 4:3 versions, because they were cut-off on the sides. I always say, a foreign film is better in its original language, with English subtitles, but if you don't like reading, then find the original English language version from Godzilla VS the Smog Monster (1972). It is pretty good, in fact, from the 1950s to the 1970s, the English-dubbed versions of many Japanese films, were produced well. However, beware of cheap 21st century imitations. The current, English-dubbed version of Godzilla VS Hedorah (1971), is not as good as the original, Godzilla VS the Smog Monster (1972), plus the original Smog Monster, English version of the film, has the English-version, theme song, "Save the Earth". This is one of the more memorable parts of this film and the only good part to the English version, other than the voice-acting. The song is missing on the current, English-language versions of Godzilla VS Hedorah (1971).

So, why do I mention these things, about aspect ratios and language versions? It is, because I grew up with these films in the 1970s, through the 1980s and was a huge fan, who watched them relentlessly for decades. I love Godzilla. But, I was used to seeing the fuzzy, 4:3, VHS or UHF channel, quality, that we had, during those decades. There also was, no such thing, as the Japanese versions. Those were unattainable, unless you lived in Japan. It wasn't until the late-1990s, with the debut of DVDs, the concept of widescreen (or letterbox), restoration processes and all of the other upgraded doors, that were opened up, during the DVD era (and beyond that to Blu-ray and 4K streaming), that it created a whole new perspective to these films. Seeing them in their true theatrical, crystal-clear quality, is a gift for us. For me, it was like, watching brand new films. The original Japanese versions of all the Godzilla movies have been a joy to see. You can see an aura of authenticity in these versions, that wasn't felt in the original English versions. It sends these films into a new level of enjoyment, perspective, critical discussion and their role in film history. Today, Gojira is a world-phenomenon, on both sides of the Pacific.

As things apply to Godzilla VS Hedorah (1971), the film has its problems, but equally, it has its strengths. There is a lot going on, that makes it interesting to see. We also need to remember, what was happening in the real-world, when this film was produced. Director Banno, wanted this film to be a commentary, on the real-world environmental destruction, that the world was facing and the evil monsters, that could climb out of the muck and sludge, that we were standing on. From a Gojira and Toho standpoint, a lot was happening on that front too. As the 1960s came to an end, Toho Studios, as well as, most of the Japanese film industry, was in crisis. Studios were either losing money or shutting down entirely. Toho slashed budgets on all of their films in the 1970s. Gojira tai Hedora (1971), had a budget, that was half of what the budget would have been for a Godzilla film, proportionately, in the 1960s. Also, add the sad fact, that legendary creator of Gojira, Japanese special-effects master, Eiji Tsuburaya, died in 1969. Long time Godzilla director, Ishirô Honda, wasn't doing the films anymore and was replaced with the new kid on the block, Yoshimitsu Banno. Gojira was now alone and left in new hands, as the 1970s dawned.

Along with the environmental angle of the film, Banno also wanted to capture the psychedelic look of the early-1970s, the teen-age rebellion movement and the dance-club atmosphere, seen in that decade, all over the world. Godzilla VS Hedorah (1971), is a time-capsule to 1971 Japan and the gritty, grainy, 35mm film stock, along with the color, gives this film a unique look, that is different from other Godzilla films. So, this film has a meaning to it. It has a message to it. It is well-crafted and fits most text-book styles, pertaining to film-making. It also introduces a new soundtrack for Gojira, keying-in on that psychedelic angle and it births, the new, Godzilla theme, that would become famous, as being the goofy Godzilla theme. The new theme song is part, of what hurts this film.

Hedorah is a product of constant pollution, all over the world. He starts as a tadpole (yes, that's right, a tadpole) and becomes a giant, sludgy monster, spewing smog all over Japan (get it, smog, the Smog Monster). He is actually, an intimidating, slightly scary creature, even though he is a just a pile of sludge. It's Godzilla, that is the problem in this film. I'll explain. Up until the mid-1960s, Godzilla was considered a global threat to the world, but as the 1960s came to an end, he was hoisted up to being Earth's protector and superhero. It was a subtle change at first, but the Gojira films of the 1970s, would eventually, turn Godzilla into a campy shadow of his former self. The new Godzilla suit used in this film is nicely done, but what Banno does to the monster-lizard's personality, lands Godzilla, in-between a boxing kangaroo and the Power Rangers. Godzilla VS Hedorah (1971), is the famous movie, that shows Godzilla flying. Yes, it looks ridiculous.

Godzilla VS Hedorah (1971), is not a great film, nor is it a bad film. It is a middle-of-the-road, science-fiction film, but not one of Godzilla's best. This is a film, that I call, an "E for Effort", which equals a 5/10. I still recommend seeing grade-E films. Even though, Godzilla VS Hedorah (1971), is embarrassing and painful to watch, while Godzilla is reduced to a cartoon superhero character, the film does have an interesting theme to it and some of the interaction, between Gojia and Hedorah, is unique for a classic, Showa era, Godzilla film. The early 1970s saw Godzilla become a hero and even though it seemed, way over-the-top, it solidified his character as a force of nature, as well as, a protector of Earth. It is something handled much better, in the newer, 21st century, incarnations of Godzilla, but in 1971, looked silly. But, it is, what it is. Godzilla rises from the sea, to protect the planet, from an environmental disaster, 1970s style.

5.2 (E+) = 5 IMDB.

Get this: Godzilla flying freaking backwards with his atomic breath. There's a reason why this is in the Criterion Collection. It's a meticulously crafted near masterpiece. The best film in the Showa era. I know it might sound weird that I'm calling this a masterpiece, but I just love movies like this. From the first scene of the movie I knew I was gonna love this. There are songs in this, and good songs. The villain Hedorah, or "The Smog Monster" is yet another clever representation and personification of humanity's actions. He's quite literally a big pile of goo. This film is also one of the only Godzilla films that have interesting human characters. They're really likeable and have strong comedic moments. Overall this is a fantastic film with very well crafted scenes, on a technical aspect.

This is the oddest Godzilla movie in the franchise. The movie is more of a environmental message movie on how people treat the seas and pollution, but I think it more of a anti-drug movie on the stuff that goes on. There is a lot of bizarre stuff like people wearing fish mask in one scene, the building gets destroy by Hedorah flying through it, and Godzilla flying for no reason, As for the actual plot, is mostly standard with characters discovering a new monster while Godzilla comes to fight against him. There is a lot of explanation on where Hedorah comes from which is interesting to learn even though it drags on. Also, there is some animated parts that comes out of none and feels added in. The fight scenes between Hedorah and Godzilla is pretty fun to watch and how does Hedorah fight back.

Hedorah is a interesting villain who is a big blob who reveal to be a alien later on in the movie. He has a interesting design to him and has different forms of him throughout the movie. Also, he has a couple of neat powers throughout the movie and is a memorable monster.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah is a bizarre type of movie that is overall a decent movie in the franchise.

Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster is the kind of movie that doesn't know what kind of movie it wants to be. It must be a kid's movie, because the protagonist is an annoying kid who idolizes Godzilla. Yet some scenes would be more at home in a horror film; as when crowds of people are asphyxiated and skeletonized by the smog monster's noxious emissions. At other times there are signs that this movie wants to be a drug fueled exploitation flick. There are weird cartoon sequences that seem inspired by Yellow Submarine, and at one point a character in a dance club starts hallucinating, for no apparent reason, that his fellow party-goers have paper Mache fish for heads.

There's also a perfunctory astronomy lesson with no real connection to the rest of the film, plus a shot where Hedorah, the titular Smog Monster, flies through a construction site, and the structure collapses, but with no sound. Was the recording track for scene damaged at some point? If that were the case, you would think the filmmakers could re-record the sound effects, or substitute a clip from the studio's library.

But I'm forgetting what this movie is all about, which is Godzilla- and the need to protect the environment. In 1971, when the film was released, this message had not yet become a cliché in children's movies. It was also a very relevant at a time when there was little to no regulation of factory emissions and hazardous waste disposal, and when rivers in downtown Cleveland could suddenly burst into flames.

But Godzilla makes a very odd environmental spokesman, to say the very least. When he first appeared in 1954's Gojira, he was the embodiment of the death and destruction that nuclear weapons could, and had, unleashed on Japan and on the world. Now however, he is Tokyo's savior, a completely benign figure who doesn't knock over a single building, even by accident. Godzilla doesn't always have to play the villain, but he should at least be an anti-hero, dangerous to man even when he's protecting us from other monsters.

Godzilla also makes one of his least dramatic entrances in this film. Instead of slowly rising from the sea, or bursting out of an iceberg, he ambles out of the sunrise as annoying trumpet music blares. Regrettably, this score will be repeated in most scenes where the big guy appears.

As for Godzilla's opponent, Toho has come up with one of its cooler ideas here. Hedorah is not a single organism, but rather colony of billions of rapidly splitting microorganisms. This means that it can change form at will, and can repair almost any damage suffered by producing new cells. Unfortunately, the idea just didn't work. What we end up with, at least in the monster's final form, is a giant, misshapen blob of rubber under which the actor can barely move.

This brings us to the battles between the monsters, usually the high point of any Godzilla film. Some of the earlier fights aren't too badly staged, but once Hedorah learns to fly, Godzilla's main tactic seems to be standing around and failing his arms angrily. And as for the final battle near Mount Fuji, having the military build a pair of giant electrodes to dehydrate the Smog Monster is a fairly good idea, since by this point it's clear that Godzilla can't do it on his own.

But why oh why did this have to mean a protracted sequence in which our hero rips apart his now helpless opponent piece by piece (twice!), to make sure that every drop of moisture is evaporated? Wouldn't it have been more effective for Hedorah to instantly dry out and crumble to dust, like a vampire exposed to sunlight? This isn't Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster, it's Godzilla vs. the giant mud pie.

There's also the question of how Godzilla knew the purpose and operation of the electrodes, and why his atomic breath provided power to them, rather than blasting them to bits like everything else it touches. But this isn't where our suspension of disbelief is really tested.

I mentioned earlier that Godzilla had to go through the process of drying out Hedorah twice. This is because the first time, there proves to some life still left in the blob of filth, and its prior flying form escapes into the sky. So how does Godzilla catch up to his rival and bring him back? Simple, he flies after him. That's right; Godzilla actually flies by using his atomic breath as a form of jet propulsion. This may be the single most ridiculous sequence in the history of Japanese cinema.

I'm not recommending that no one ever see this movie. It achieves a sort of campy grandeur, almost to the point of being so bad that it's good. I would suggest viewing this film just once, so you can gawk in amazement at its sheer awfulness. Or, if that's too much for you, just type in "Godzilla flies" on YouTube. You won't be disappointed by the result.