Uchû daikaijû Dogora

I remember watching this film when I was a kid and I thought it was a pretty decent film. However, when I read some of the comments I couldn't understand how a lot of people hated it. This might have something to do with the fact that due to the stupid re-editing job that was done to the film after it arrived in America. Ishiro Honda originally wanted this film to be a comedy that brought together two of the genres that he was famous for, gangster films and, of course, kaiju eigas. Unfortunately, the persons in charge of editing and dubbing the film when it reached our fair shores decided that it would be better to make this film into a typical kaiju and make the monster the most prominent element of the film, unlike the Japanese version where the monster takes a secondary role in the film. Thank God for Media Blasters. Because of them the film is now on DVD and it is finally being seen as Mr. Honda had originally envisioned it.

In space, a big jellyfish destroys a satellite. The thing then comes to Earth and uses its twisting tentacles to get everything in its path. Buildings, trucks, and even a bridge get lifted up from the ground by the thing. The thing also has a craving for diamonds. Also involved in this mishmash are some diamond thieves who only want a truck of diamonds and a day to the beach without getting stung. Pretty interesting with imaginative special effects. The American print is terrible,dark, and scratched up. The dubbing is also bad.

Watching this film is an enjoyable event. With a cast of hilarious and respected actors and actresses, this movie is one of the funniest and greatest Toho sci-fi movies I've seen. It starts off with an intriguing intro of how a scientist discovers disappearing satellites in space.

Then, it kicks off to these band of outrageous gangsters who wants sparkling diamonds for their loot. The suspense builds when some of the gangsters get lifted up into the air by an unknown phenomenon, later known as Dagora (or Dogara) the Space Monster, who has a thing for diamonds. Instead of buildings, vehicles, bridges, and structures crushing to the floor, they actually rise to the air as Dagora lifts away everything in its path. Dagora is seen in many shapes and sizes, including a giant jellyfish (with "animated" tentacles), shining "stars," and a floating piece of genetic-like substance. Screenplay writer Shinichi Sekizawa did an excellent job on the script.

The scientists trying to figure out a weapon in order to use to defend Japan from Dagora while the detectives try to nab the diamond lovers couldn't be more inspiring and intriguing in this movie. Composer Akira Ifukube gave a haunting and terrific music score and director Ishiro Honda directed one of his best. Some hilarious parts in the movie includes the part where the character Inspector Kommei tries to shoot a gun, only with confetti coming out; the part where Eiji the Safecracker eats a sugar crystal (which he later found out is a fake diamond) and then laughs like a hyena; the scenes of karate fights and the part where the Gangster Moll asks the train conductor to show her where to make a call when the phone is actually a few inches away from her! The only jewelry oriented monster sci-fi flick I've seen, this film is to be watched by all sci-fi fans. There are some plot-holes here and there, like why did the gangsters have to wait so long to steal the diamonds from Jackson, and why did the Gangster Moll have to call her crew to come meet her, since she wants the diamonds all to herself anyways? Could have used more action and suspense from the gangsters, but overall, a fun film. You'll never wear a diamond necklace or diamond ring the same way again.

Grade A-

"Atragon," the 1963 offering from the great film-making team of director Ishiro Honda, composer Akira Ifukube and special FX master Eiji Tsuburaya, is an excellent sci-fi movie depicting a Japanese supersub's battle with the undersea kingdom of Mu. The following year, this same team came out with "Dogora," a fun if decidedly lesser effort. In this one, a single-celled organism floating in space is affected by Japan's seemingly ubiquitous radiation and grows to become a humongous, jellyfishlike monster who lives to suck carbon off the surface of our world...along with any buildings, bridges or trucks that happen to be in the area! In a somewhat confusing plot, multiple story lines involving a group of diamond thieves, a mysterious insurance investigator, an aged expert on crystals, and a swarm of bees are conflated, with mixed results. The first time I watched "Dogora" (and no, we never learn the meaning or origin of this particular "kurage kaiju"'s moniker), I thought the film rather hard to follow, and in all somewhat diffused. On a second viewing, the plot seemed to make more sense, but its dependence on coincidence still rather marked. One of the picture's saving graces, for me, is the presence of Akiko Wakabayashi--who I first became enamored with in 1967, as a result of her appearance in the James Bond blowout "You Only Live Twice"--who here plays a moll and who looks more beautiful than I have ever seen her. Dogora itself is a pleasing creation, and the sight of it whirlpooling coal into its giant maw or pulling a Kyushu bridge to bits is actually fairly awesome. Its ultimate demise is brought about in a fairly unique manner, as well. In all, not a bad little picture, as long as you don't go in expecting anything on the order of Honda's "Gojira" or "The Mysterians"!

This Film Feels like two movies in one.One part focus on the monster Dogora, a jellyfish like space monster and the other on a bunch of criminals stealing diamonds that Dogora has an interest for.This film does has some lesser moments from dogora being a uninteresting monster but is saved by the cast of characters,solid acting and has humor to keep this film being good.

The film starts off with a gang of diamond thieves stealing diamonds but eventually they start noticing weird things from floating in the air and seeing a weird object at the diamond place.Meanwhile detective Komai is investigating on a suspicious character name Mark Jackson who has something to do with the diamond heist that went wrong and Mark Jackson has his own motives of his own when he visits the gang boss of diamond thieves.

Later, The Gang tries to come with another heist to steal the diamonds but are interrupted by Mark Jackson.But notice that one of the trucks starts floating in the air though the diamond gang got away with the diamonds but really it was candy as they were tricked.Komai Evenutally finds Mark Jackson and realize that he's a special agent looking for the diamonds and to make sure the gang doesn't get it.

Envenutally strange things start happening around the world from diamond shops to anywhere with diamond sunnedly disappear and Dr. Munakata a professor on carbon dioxide know that the space creature Dogora is taking the diamond soon enough Dogora is in Kyushu and is attacking can It be stop? Overall, Dogora is very uninteresting by the time he appears on screen which is the middle of the film.His appearance somewhat hurts the pacing of the film as you could care less about the monster and really focus and pay more attention to the cast of characters who really steals the show from the title monster.Plus the humor that is brought into the film.From Mark Jackson Shrugging his shoulders,to Komai's naive attitude that make him look dumb and Gangster Sabu who cowardly attitude that has at least you grinning.

as for the Acting, Everyone gives a solid job with their roles, despite what little there given.Robort Dunham gives the most memorable and enjoyable performance of the cast.It's his Fluent Japanese that has his performance praised and deserves Props for his performance.Yosuke Natsuki is another Detective-Deadpan lead for this film.since his character is so flat, he gives a flat performance as well.Nabuo Nakamura as Dr. Munakata is well done.He really fits into his role as the curious bland doctor as he he wants Dogora to be studied not killed.Yoko Fujiyama brings a charm, innocent look to her role as Masayo Kirino as she is the doctor's assistant and also it's funny and cute when she flirts with Komai a.And last there Akiko Wakabayshi as Hamako.Her seductive flare and sly energetic-ness make her role interesting and great.

Overall, Dogora is not bad It's worth watching one or twice when your not doing anything at all but it's not worth watching 60 times though.