Akeelah and the Bee (Widescreen Edition)

Amazon.com

There aren't enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe the excellence of Akeelah and the Bee. Superbly written and directed by Doug Atchison, this PG-rated family drama covers the same dramatic territory as the acclaimed 2002 documentary Spellbound and the 2005 drama Bee Season, but the fictional story of 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) is, if anything, even more entertaining, inspiring, and full of hope for the potential of children everywhere. Although reluctant at first (and fearful of being labeled a "brainiac" by classmates at her under-funded middle school in South Central Los Angeles), Akeelah grows determined to win the district, regional, and ultimately the Scripps National Spelling Bee, aided by the able coaching of an English professor (Laurence Fishburne) who, like Akeelah's overworked single mother (Angela Bassett) is slowly recovering from a devastating personal loss. Structured like a conventional sports drama, Akeelah and the Bee rises above its generic trappings to become an uplifting and deeply moving study of friendship, pride, fair play, and above all, the value of self-confidence and realization that there's more to life than winning. As played by the young Palmer in an award-worthy performance, Akeelah is a winner in the best sense of the word, and so is this wonderfully positive movie. --Jeff Shannon

Description

An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding.......2007-08-21

One of the best movies of the year. Excellent acting and script. Heartfelt and humorous, also inspiring and intellectually engaging.
Totally excellent.

You go, Akeelah!.......2007-08-18

Truthfully, I was NOT expecting to like this movie. I was sure I had seen it before in the same, tired, mentor-underprivileged kid(s) genre.

Three things made me give it a chance:

1. Laurence Fishburne who is always delicious to watch and can give a quiet dignity to any scene in any movie.

2. Angela Bassett who in her ever present gorgeousness and grace must have descended from a line of ancient royalty.

3. I am one of those nerds who actually watch the Spelling Bee on ESPN.

I am glad I watched it. My eyes stayed moist almost throughout the entire movie but my heart glowed. Keke Palmer does an awesome job as Akeelah blossoming from an uncertain progidy into becoming 'powerful beyond measure' and every nuance, change and unfurling is expertly captured on camera and that was my undoing: this subtle and powerful transformation.

Palmer holds her own amidst the screen legends and it was fascinating for me to see how both Fishburne and Basset somehow tone done their huge screen charisma on this small movie. It proved to me that these two are in a great class of actors, as yet undefined.

The DVD has pretty good extras and I do like how everything is spelt and pronunciations given. I thought is was funny, silly and slightly quirky.

My only hope is that Keke Palmer keeps this pace because if she does, she will one day hold Hollywood in the palm of her hand as do Fishburne and Bassett.

It's Often The "Small" Films That Pack The Most Punch!.......2007-08-07

I have come across a number of gems in "small" movies that tend to have the most impact. These are movies that seem to be overlooked at the box office by movie-goers. Perhaps there is a fear that they are too corny, sentimental, or just plain boring. However, many of these films are anything but.

Akeelah and the Bee dares Americans to face a glaring paradox: Everyone is a winner. Yes, we preach this and we try to teach this. This film actually makes this concept work. In a society that thrives (many times too much) on competition, we often forget that people have feelings. How often is it the kids who need to remind us of that fact. For example, in the Little League World Series, you often see many acts of sportsmanship.

Akeelah and the Bee is about a young African-American girl who lives in south central Los Angeles. She lives with her mother who works as nurse and struggles just to make ends meet. Akeelah discovers that she has a love for words, and spends hours looking through the dictionary to not only be able to spell the word, but also understand what the word means.

This is a hobby that she keeps to herself. She doesn't want her classmates to get wind of the fact that she just might like something academic at school. However, when her English teacher notices that Akeelah does exceptionally well on her spelling tests, the teacher immediately attempts to get Akeelah to participate in the school spelling bee. Reluctantly, she agrees.

As briliant as Akeelah is with words, she still needs a lot of work and help. Enter her "spelling coach," Dr. Larabee (played magnificently by Laurence Fishburne who was also a producer for the film). Dr. Larabee also has a love of words, but he has to encourage Akeelah to study the origins of the different words, and perhaps even more importantly, he helps to instill a confidence and a sense of self-worth in Akeelah. One of the first steps is that Larabee will not allow Akeelah to speak ghetto-talk. "You will speak intelligently," he says. It is a bit of a mystery at first as to why Larabee wants to coach Akeelah as it is apparent that there is something else going on. There is a touching reason that I will not disclose here.

Angela Bassett plays Akeelah's mother. And her performance, as in so many of her films, she does a great job. She plays a hard mother but a caring one. She is so busy with work, that it comes as a surprise to her when she finds out about Akeelah's talent.

Another surprising performance is given by Curtis Armstrong as Akeelah's principal. Armstrong has done mostly comedic roles, such as the infamous "Booger" in "Revenge of the Nerds." I was slightly apprehensive at first, but he also turns in a very credible job. He plays a very supportive school principal. After seeing this role, you might wonder why we don't have more "supportive" principals in our schools.

Of course, I can't mention performances without mentioning Laurence Fishburne. He is still one of my favorite actors. He is so brilliant at embodying the sage-like man who has an unswerving, and yet quiet wisdom. My two favorite roles of his are Morpheus from the "Matrix," and Furious Styles from "Boyz and the Hood." His performance here in this film is no less inspiring and thought-provoking.

At last, I have to talk about newcomer, Keke Palmer (Akeelah). This amazing, young actress turns in a great performance as the young spelling, whiz kid. While she plays Akeelah with a young, impressionable sweetness, she is also able to tap into the brewing teenage arrogance that is starting to come out. Akeelah has got some attitude, but Palmer is careful to not let that overshadow the softness and kindness of Akeelah.

This film may seem a bit formulaic, but I assure you, it has a surprise at the end that I would bet few people see coming. This is a film that will have you feeling good no matter how many times you've seen it. It has that kind of power that very few films are able to capture. These kinds of movies are called "gems" because very few of them seem to come along. I truly wish that there were more films like this out there. It demonstrates that movies can be so effective in inspiring and educating, but few movies are made to do this. Anyway, you can't possibly go wrong with this film which is easily watchable fo the entire family.

I'm a sucker for a good montage sequence.......2007-07-13

There are too few good family films around these days. Some of the kid's movies peddled by the major studios are okay, but they mostly try to appeal to adults by being saturated with snarky in-jokes and cultural references that only adults would get. I guess we are suppose to giggle demurely when the writers throw us a little treat right over our children's heads. They then try to appeal to kids with flatulence humor (which I'm all for by the way), by completely overpowering their senses, and, of course, the melodramatically enhanced death of a parent, which I guess is suppose to hook the young viewers by setting up some sort of repetition compulsion.

Akeela and the Spelling Bee is a breath of fresh air. It is a beautiful story that focuses on a young girl gaining confidence and a sense of mastery through working hard, using her natural gifts, and an impressive display of resilience. There are good messages in the film. Every character set up to be a villain is ultimately redeemed by Akeela's unflappable grace and inability to be seduced by thoughts of retribution. You do have the death of a parent as part of the backstory, but it is not played up in that manipulative lets-traumatize-the-children Disney style. It is there as a necessary part of explaining Akeela's character and the complexities in her bond with her coach.

And, you get montage sequences of Akeela cramming for the spelling bee. Not just one, but three. I always love that in a movie, when the music starts and you just see brief clips of the character studying in various settings. Many is the time in my own life that I gutted through exam preparation by dissociating to my own little montage sequence.

Some critics have focused on clichés in the movie. But they are not clichés to little kids who haven't spent the bulk of their time deconstructing cinema. And they aren't clichés to parents who can make a vicarious, playful connection with their kids and just take the movie at face value. In the end, your kids will love this movie and, if you let yourself get swept into it, you too will find yourself both inspired and entertained.

Family film with all the right touches, heart, soul and charm..........2007-07-09

Well, `Akeelah and the Bee' was not a film I initially jumped at the chance to see, but after the raves poured in my wife and I decided to give it a shot, and at the end of the day with credits rolling and smiles plastered on our faces we have come to the conclusion that `Akeelah and the Bee' was a genuine surprise, and a good, no great one at that. If anyone ever tells you that a film about a spelling bee must be boring or worthless has never seen this film, I can guarantee you that much. Doug Atchison beautifully captures heart and soul in this fantastic drama featuring an awards worthy performance by its young star Keke Palmer.

The film moves along briskly and is completely engrossing from start to finish and just an utter delight to watch. As much has been said for Palmer's brilliant performance should be said for the script, direction and film as a whole. Everything is top notch and effortless. The script is tight and entertaining, fresh and believable. The characters for the most part are fleshed out properly, the film itself coming off very polished and detailed just right.

Palmer plays young Akeelah Anderson, your typical young teen trying to find herself. She lives in a not so wonderful part of town and goes to a not so wonderful type of school. But Akeelah is special. She has talent and a love for learning, especially for words, a talent and love that are hard to find in the area in which she is growing up. With a little push Akeelah is persuaded to take a hold of her talent and turn it into something very good, not just for her but for her community as a whole. Palmer invests so much spunk and charm into Akeelah that the audience can't help but fall in love with her with each passing scene. As Akeelah trains and then eventually competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee we are intertwined in her life and love every minute of it.

To me, the only downfall to `Akeelah and the Bee' is Laurence Fishburne who doesn't seem to play any character apart from Morpheous. He's way too serious, so serious that even his cracked smiles and laughs appear forced and harsh. I found him hard to watch. He comes off very actorly, very technical and overtly dramatic. Angela Bassett at times finds herself in the same boat, but she's able to pull herself out of it enough to make her character a little more real and relatable. Don't read me wrong, Fishburne is far from enough reason to skip the movie all together, but he is my one critique. Apart from his performance I adored the movie. It's a great family film with heart and it teaches valuable lessons for children and parents alike. It's a pure joy and a film that will touch just about everyone.

Average customer rating:

Outstanding
You go, Akeelah!
It's Often The "Small" Films That Pack The Most Punch!
I'm a sucker for a good montage sequence
Family film with all the right touches, heart, soul and charm...

Akeelah and the Bee
Starring: Keke Palmer , Laurence Fishburne , Angela Bassett , Curtis Armstrong , and J.R. Villarreal
Director: Doug Atchison
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000G1R38U
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Amazon.com

Description

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding.......2007-08-21

One of the best movies of the year. Excellent acting and script. Heartfelt and humorous, also inspiring and intellectually engaging.
Totally excellent.

You go, Akeelah!.......2007-08-18

It's Often The "Small" Films That Pack The Most Punch!.......2007-08-07

I'm a sucker for a good montage sequence.......2007-07-13

Family film with all the right touches, heart, soul and charm..........2007-07-09

Average customer rating:

Great Fun!
"An Almost Adequate dvd"
Definitely A Film Worth Getting If You Love Godzilla!
not much action
monster round table

Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster
Starring: Akihiko Hirata , Yuriko Hoshi , Emi Ito , Hisaya Ito , and Yumi Ito
Director: Ishiro Honda
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000OCY7IU
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

(Sci-Fi) Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster -- A prophetess from Venus foretells cataclysmic disasters! Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan reappear in Japan, wreaking havoc! A giant meteor crashes into the mountains and the three-headed, fire-spitting space dragon King Ghidorah emerges! As the Venusian's prophecies come true, assassins from a tiny Asian kingdom hunt her down, while the Earth monsters must decide whether to settle their petty differences and join forces against the extraterrestrial enemy!

Customer Reviews:

Great Fun!.......2007-09-02

It doesn't get any better than giant monsters fighting each other and tearing up the town. TOHO had the best suit actors on their payroll as well as the best special effects crew of the time. And if you pay attention, you will learn that it's wrong to pollute the Earth and that we caused the mess we're in. You have to love a movie that has wanton destruction and yet delivers a "green" message. Enjoy!

"An Almost Adequate dvd".......2007-08-25

The original Japanese theatrical release is in pristine condition however Classic Media/Toho studios should have also cleaned up and remastered the American English dubbed version. That was annoying as one who would prefer to watch the American version and not have to concentrate on reading subtitles is distracted by the the uncleaned film print presented.

The dvd also offers a couple of extra features which consist of stills of the monsters that star in the film and a biography(forgotten who).
Stills include text and other film appearances of the monsters-with title and year given.

Definitely A Film Worth Getting If You Love Godzilla!.......2007-08-10

Being a life-long Godzilla fan, I was excited when Classic Media said they would release Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster on DVD! Back in 1998, we got a VHS release of the movie for the first time in YEARS. The film was pan and scan and was discolored and grainy. Not the perfect print for such a classic but we really didn't complain much because we finally got a chance to own the film.

Classic Media did a great job in bringing us a widescreen version of the U.S. release and the Toho Scope Japanese version! The coloring is great, the sound is wonderful, and there is considerably much less grain than on the VHS release a handful of years earlier!

There are some nice extras on this DVD including a trailer, a poster slide-show, and film commentary! This film has just enough goodies on it to keep die-hard G-Fans entertained and satisfied! Highly recommended!

not much action.......2007-07-30

Doesn't anyone realize that this movie doesn't have a whole lot of action?
The battle between king ghidorah, rodan, mothra, and godzilla was short but good. The only problem was that in the middle of it it was interupted by the people. I thought that it could have been better but it was good.

monster round table.......2007-07-29

If you are anxious to see a Japanese monster movie about Rodan, Godzilla and Mothra having a round table discussion about whether to unite and save the world from Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, this is your film. Director Ishiro Honda delivers just that.

If, though, you want to see Honda's GREATEST film and one of the most horrifying and unsettling films of the sixties you should skip the above and check out Mantango. There are no monsters here over six feet tall, Tokyo is not threatened, no buildings are crushed, no tin tanks are destroyed, no thousands of people flee in terror, there is no radioactive breath anywhere and the Japanese army is nowhere in sight.

I guess this world is big enough for both.

Average customer rating:

Great price and quality
Ridiculous
Fun movie.
Fun film, beautiful girl, great HD-DVD picture.
"Who says who're the good guys?"

Sahara (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Jude Akuwidike , Mark Aspinall , Rakie Ayola , Christopher Bello , and Nicholas Beveney
Director: Breck Eisner
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009UC7H0
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Amazon.com

It took more than 25 years for another Clive Cussler novel to come to the screen after the financial and critical disaster of Raise the Titanic. Based on Cussler's oddly landlocked adventure, Sahara finds the author's hero, Dirk Pitt (Matthew McConaughey)--a sort of all-American, high seas variation of James Bond--in Africa looking for a Confederate ironclad ship that impossibly might have ended up there. Soon he and his faithful sidekick Al Giordino (Steve Zahn) are lost in another adventure, discovering a deadly contaminate being tracked by a beautiful doctor (Penelope Cruz). The results are checkered: there's no one outstanding sequence, but the action is enjoyably varied, while the thrills are mild yet not bombastic or gratuitous. The cast are all adept in their roles, yet the only one who sparkles is the scene-stealing Zahn, cast against type; McConaughey, who also produced, knows he might be starting a franchise character and plays it safe. He's never as dangerous as Cussler's hero is on the page (except in his introduction), and in fact, the whole movie plays towards comedy, infused by a soundtrack of 70s FM radio monsters. Cussler fanatics may not like this lighter fare, especially with the archeological portion (a Cussler strong point) not fully embraced, but with a very, very likable cast and colorful settings, Sahara is a kindler, gentler action film that has all the elements in place for a better, more memorable franchise if anyone cares to attempt it. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews:

Great price and quality.......2007-08-23

This was such a good movie that we just had to have it. I searched everywhere for one but Amazon was the only place it could be found. It was so easy to order and I received it in record time.

Ridiculous.......2007-07-27

I was excited about buying this movie. The trailer was sure deceptive as I thought it would have been interesting and fun. I thought it bordered on ridiculous. Matthew's character was not blieveable at all. It was also pretty hard to imagaine Penelope as a doctor. The only actor who played his part and actually had me believeing in his character was Zahn. Sahara could have done a lot better if the script as welll as the acting was better

Fun movie........2007-07-06

Funny, unrealistic adventure. McConaughey and Zahn are great together.

Fun film, beautiful girl, great HD-DVD picture........2007-06-07

I just recently purchased an HD-DVD player and have been looking for film titles that really show off the HD picture. This film has one of the best transfers I have seen. Beautiful picture. Details really pop.

Cast is alot of fun. Matthew McConaughy was great, Steve Zahn really nailed the slightly goofy but very smart sidekick role. I thought this was a great film for Penelope Cruz as it got her more exposure to the general movie going public than the art house films do. She is really talented and of course a great looking lady.

"Who says who're the good guys?".......2007-05-20

Sahara brings to the screen two main stories, which are unfolding simultaneously: On the one hand, the spread of a deadly plague and its effect on the people in the region of northwest Africa, and on the other, the treasure hunt for the Civil War era CSS Texas and its legendary cargo of gold.
In short, the acting is pretty good (Matthew McConaughey, Steve Zahn, and Penelope Cruz carry out their performances well, though by no means are they the performances of their lives) while the plot, the music, and the action/special effects are very good.
In a nutshell, it's probably not a movie you would want to add to your collection, but it will provide for an evening's entertainment. 3.5 Stars

Average customer rating:

Godzilla, the Last Kaiju Standing
Godzilla's Evolution
Godzilla: Final Score
More like "Godzilla: Extended Cameo"
A TRUE GODZILLA FAN!

Godzilla - Final Wars
Starring: Don Frye , Masakatsu Funaki , Masatô Ibu , Shigeru Izumiya , and Rei Kikukawa
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BMY2L0
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Description

Godzilla's 50th Anniversary project and costliest adventure to date out of 28 films. Earth has been relatively peaceful since Godzilla was successfully buried deep in ice beneath the South Pole. Then - sometime a few years hence-several of his old nemeses return to wreak havoc on cities worldwide. A huge spaceship suddenly appears and neutralizes all the monsters in a blink. The visitors are "Xiliens," who take human form and announce they would like to negotiate a peace treaty that would replace the United Nations with a "United Universe". They are indeed too good to be true, however. It doesn't take long before their nefarious real purpose is exposed - conquering Earth. Greatly outmatched, Earth officials decide to de-freeze Godzilla as man's only hope to vanish the invaders, as well as the monsters they control. Only trouble is Godzilla is still mad at man for freezing him in the first place.

Customer Reviews:

Godzilla, the Last Kaiju Standing.......2007-08-25

The film can be viewed with original japanese language or american dubbed. It is good that Sony pictures gives the viewer that option.

Extras include: -previews of other Godzilla films that are available
(mostly from the "Millenium" series)

The battle scenes are enjoyable but some of the Godzilla pairings against other monsters is short and disappointing ie., Godzilla vs. American Godzilla, Godzilla vs. giant insect(forgot name)-looks like a wasp/bee to name a few. The movie concentrates an awful lot on the xliens than the monsters and their battles itself. This may be disappointing to fans who really want to see more of the kaijus.

The fighting sequences between the mutants-persons who posess the "M" gene and later the lead mutant character against the xliens and their eventual leader appear to be very "matrixy." These subplots detract from the main feature-our beloved kaijus.

All in all, "Final Wars" is a very entertaining, no holds bar, out with a bang ending for Godzilla. Until 2012 that is...

Godzilla's Evolution.......2007-08-24

Having seen ALL of 'G's movies, I have come to accept Final Wars for what it is, The sign of the times, a new generational era, Matrix, Mutants, CGI's, (computer generated images) loud heavy metal sound tracks. I enjoyed final wars, but I was looking for Closure!! a fitting end to 50 years of pure enjoyment, excitement and mesmorizing entertainment. We must always remember the 4 men who were responsible for 25 of the 30 Godzilla films. 1- Inoshiro Honda (Director & Scripts), 2- Eiji Tsuburaya (Special Effects Master) 3- Akira Ifukube (Musical Genius) 4- Tomoyuki Tanaka (Head of Toho Studios) last but not least 'New Yorks Titra Sound Studios' responsible for Dubbing and voices". The aforementioned ensemble exists No More. May they all rest in peace, Final Wars is a product of Japans 'Hollywood' young film makers catering and reaching out to their movie going patrons, We baby boomers should accept & embrace this new artistic expression that allows the 'Greatest' movie monster ever conceived to continue to be apart of our lives, our childrens lives and our grand children's lives. Thank you Toho for a wonderful 50 years of treasured memories. Godzilla deserves a rest, and perhaps in 10 years or so the saga will begin again. 'Godzilla Final Wars' was a good starting point for my grand kids. I hope to be around to watch many more 'G' films with them.

Godzilla: Final Score.......2007-08-20

In 2004, it was announced by Toho, that yet again, they would be retiring their famous star monster, Godzilla. Fans such as I were disappointed, but excited to hear that big shot director of Versus Ryuhei Kitamura would be helming the film, which would have the biggest budget of any previous Godzilla film, with an all star monster cast. It looked as if Godzilla was gonna go out with a bang. Godzilla: Final Wars was meant to be a collage to all previous films, especially the showa era. While it had some good concepts, the film kind of let me down. It is a decent enough pic, but wasn't good enough to be the final godzilla film...

NEGATIVES:
First off the biggest problem with the film was that Kitamura didn't seem to understand that this is a KAIJU film, not an action/martial arts film. There is far too much human action. Yeah it was cool, and in limited amounts it would have been find. But it was far too excessive. There seems to be more human fighting than monster fighting, and i often find myself having to fast forward through it to get to the good parts. Secondly, some of the simple matte shot effects look like they were done in the 60's. They are of such poor grade. It's disappointing. Also, this film brought back some of the camp (notably the whirling noise effect in the new york scene when the cop and gangsters hats blow off). This movie had the chance to show that godzilla was more than just campy cheesy sci fi and real entertainment. Also, the monster battles are so short. Especially Hedorah, who doesn't even fight Godzilla. I was most excited to see Hedorah, one of my favorite monsters return, and was sad that he got about 2 seconds of screen time. How is it that one of Godzilla's toughest opponents is killed so easily?

POSITIVES:
We get a ton of classic showa monsters, an international approach at Godzilla, Anguirus!, an awesome new monster, a creative updated approach at King ghidorah, an awesome performance from the actor who played The young lead Xian, a return of the Xians, awesome monster choreography, Don Frye has a cool character, cool style, three veteran showa actors, Updated monster designs.

As you can probably tell, the movie unfortunately is outweighed by the negatives. The movie had so much potential, but was a great let down. While I respect Kitamura as a director, I just don't think he was right for the film. They probably should have just brought back Kaneko, our modern day Ishiro Honda. It's really too bad...

More like "Godzilla: Extended Cameo".......2007-08-13

A funny thing happened a few years ago: Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin made a big-budget "re-imagining" of the 1954 Japanese classic, "Gojira." It made $400 million dollars at the box office, and yet a few years later, if you ask 80% of internet fanboys about it, they'll scream and whine about how "It's not really Godzilla," "It sucks! Man in suit forever!" or "It's Godzilla in name only!". And if you even hint that you might slightly LIKE the movie, they will tear you a new one.

So it's quite funny that a few years later, Toho decides to send the franchise back into hibernation with "Godzilla Final Wars." Despite what you may have read, this isn't really a Godzilla movie, or at least no more so than the 1998 re-imagining was. Godzilla is in it, sure, but it's not his movie. The movie is actually about a unit of elite genetically enhanced soldiers who have to wage battle against evil aliens, who concoct a James Bond-esque plot that somehow involves giant monsters instead of having their finger on a button. It's true that there are A LOT of monster battles in this movie, but unfortunately, they're all crammed into a montage that lasts all of five minutes.

No, the real bulk of the action scenes in the movie are centered around the super soldiers. And for what they are, they are very cool. Ryuhei Kitamaura definately knows how to assemble a good action scene involving HUMANS, no matter how ridiculous in concept they may be, and that is where the movie truly shines. It's just a shame that the monster battles, which are supposed to be the highlight of a Godzilla film, end up getting completely overshadowed by the battles featuring the human stars. While the human action scenes are fast, energetic, and acrobatic, the monster battles are for the most part slow and hokey just as they would be in any run-of-the-mill Godzilla film, which is a disappointment coming from an action director. It's as if Kitamaura just wanted to make a sci-fi karate movie, and the only way he could get the budget for one was by going through the Godzilla franchise.

In all, if you go into Godzilla Final Wars expecting a derivative chop socky sci-fi movie with really flashy martial arts fights, you'll get what you came for. But if you are one of those internet fanboys who called the American re-imagining an abomination, you should by all means despise this with almost as much mis-directed passion. Personally, I'll take both films for what they are-- decent, but flawed action flicks that don't really go out of their way to re-capture what made the first 'Zilla flick special. Grab some popcorn, unplug your brain, and don't expect to see much of big G, and you might just enjoy yourself. But remember, this is a Matrix-wannabe action movie first, and a monster movie last.

If you really want the best Godzilla movie of the past 10 years, go and get the newest version of Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla. That movie actually had some great new ideas in it, and has just about everything that make a good Kaiju film. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it over Final Wars if you just want to see a recent Godzilla movie.

A TRUE GODZILLA FAN!.......2007-08-09

OK LISTEN I LOVE GODZILLA MOVIES, AND HAVE BEEN A DIE HARD FAN SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. BUT THIS LAST MOVIE...WELL? IT WASN'T VERY GOOD! IF YOU'RE THINKING IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER GODZILLA 2000 YOU ARE VERRRRY WRONG! TRUE GODZILLA FANS LOVE ACTION, AND CORNY COSTUMES. NOT COMPUTER ANITMATED CREATURES AND SUPER HUMAN PEOPLE (wich was what the movie was mainly about). I WAS REALLY DISAPOINTED IN THIS MOVIE AND I HOPE IT ISN'T THE LAST. BUT IF YOU'RE A FAN...WELL? YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET IT OR WATCH IT.

DAVID

Frankenstein Conquers the World / Frankenstein Vs. Baragon

Average customer rating:

A GREAT JAPANESE CLASSIC!!
Frankenstein vs Baragon
Frankenstein Conquers The World
NICE TO SEE THIS ON DVD! KEEP THEM COMING!
Media Blasters does it again

Frankenstein Conquers the World / Frankenstein Vs. Baragon
Starring: Tadao Takashima , Nick Adams , Kumi Mizuno , Yoshio Tsuchiya , and Koji Furuhata
Director: Ishirô Honda
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000JU8H7E
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Description

During WWII, a human heart taken from a certain lab in Europe (Dr. Frankenstein's) is kept in a Japanese lab. When it gets exposed to the radiation of the bombing of Hiroshima, the heart grows in size, mutates and sprouts appendages, and eventually grows into a complete body and escapes. Later, a feral boy with a certain physical deformity (a large head with a flat top) is captured by scientists who refer to the boy as Frankenstein. The creature grows to the height of 20 feet, escapes again, fights police and army, and is practically indestructible. Later, a reptilian monster goes on a rampage. Eventually the Frankenstein creature and the reptile face off in a terrible battle.

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT JAPANESE CLASSIC!!.......2007-09-10

This classic japanese monster movie finally gets a DVD release here in the states and what a treat it is!! Nick Adams and the always sexy Kumi Mizuno star in this film about a boy who eats the heart of the Frankenstein monster and becomes a giant. If you love monster bashes, this is the ultimate two disc collectors set for you.

Frankenstein vs Baragon.......2007-09-07

This was always one of my favorite monster movies as a kid, and the new dvd makes it just as cool as it was then. I did not realize it was a two-disc set when I ordered it, so that was a bonus. Anyway, rockin' good movie.

Frankenstein Conquers The World.......2007-07-30

Both versions of this film are good and the alternate ending in Japanese is a real treat and the extra scenes were a surprise. A good CD to have for anyone collecting films from Toho, Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra and the like

NICE TO SEE THIS ON DVD! KEEP THEM COMING!.......2007-06-28

I must admit that I liked these ToHo films as a kid,but they are mostly for laughs now.I guess a little for nostalgia too. These Japanese Monster movies are just hysterical! I had not seen this one for many years and I was doubled over with laughter watching it! It is great that they released this film and I would have given it 5 stars,but I remember some different scenes as a kid that ended up in the deleted scenes section of this release. Still all and all a great buy with 3 versions of the film and lots of extra goodies. I would love to see "War Of The Gargantuas", "The Green Slime" and " Yog Monster from Space" released! TOHO FAN ALERT: YOG MONSTER FROM SPACE WAS JUST RELEASED UNDER THE TITLE - SPACE AMOEBA!

Media Blasters does it again.......2007-06-28

Another terrific release from this company. I'm so glad that original Japanese features are finally getting what they deserve. Subtitles too.
Great menus and extras as well.

Average customer rating:

Sahara Blu-ray

Sahara [Blu-ray]
Starring: Delroy Lindo , William H. Macy , Glynn E. Turman , Lambert Wilson , and Penélope Cruz
Director: Breck Eisner
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000IOM0X8
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Description

Master explorer Dirk Pitt goes on the adventure of a lifetime of seeking out a lost Civil War battleship known as the "Ship of Death" in the deserts of West Africa while helping a UN doctor being hounded by a ruthless dictator.

Customer Reviews:

Sahara Blu-ray.......2007-01-10

Another terrific remastered movie, compared to standard definition, this Blu-ray version is nothing short of superb, but once again, the best panel, leads and audio are essential to appreciate this technology.

Average customer rating:

An Almost Adequate Dvd II
GOOD ENTRY IN THE SERIES BETTER TREATMENT FOR FILMS
One Godzilla film you MUST have in your collection
Mothra Vs Godzilla
the terror of the titles

Mothra vs. Godzilla
Starring: Akira Takarada , Yuriko Hoshi , Hiroshi Koizumi , Yu Fujiki , and Emi Ito
Director: Ishirô Honda
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MV8AJK
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Description

After a fierce typhoon, a mysterious gigantic egg washes ashore. The twin fairies of Infant Island plea for the egg's return to Mothra, its rightful owner, but it's too late - greedy promoters have turned it into an amusement park attraction. Meanwhile Godzilla reawakens and tramples across Japan, heading straight for the big egg. Can Mothra save her offspring from Godzilla? Will Japan survive this epic monster battle? Directed by Ishiro Honda, MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA (1964) is widely considered the best of all Godzilla sequels, with an all-star Toho cast and exciting special effects. Classic Media presents the original Japanese-language version with English subtitles in glorious Toho Scope, plus the classic English-dubbed version originally released in the U.S. as GODZILLA VS. THE THING. Special Features Includes Japanese and English dubbed versions of the film Audio Commentary Poster Slide Show Akira Ifukube biography featurette Original Japanese trailer

Customer Reviews:

An Almost Adequate Dvd II.......2007-08-25

The original Japanese theatrical release is remastered and looks pristine. However, this is not the case with the American English dubbed version. Classic Media should've reconsidered cleaning up the American version as one may want to watch it as an alternative to reading and concentrating on the subtitles.

Included on the dvd are features that are welcomed by die hard fans of Godzilla but personally I would've wanted interviews with stars of the film-giving their insights on the movie, experience in filming scenes etc. It especially would've been a treat if they were able to get an exclusive interview with the peanuts.

In short, this should be in any Godzilla collection especially for completists.

GOOD ENTRY IN THE SERIES BETTER TREATMENT FOR FILMS.......2007-08-09

I have said this in my past reviews of the Godzilla series, I grew up on these films and I have fond memories of watching them, but they are very juvenile. Even the Japanese versions are juvenile.....Having said that, I wish that these films were cleaned up. The print here isn't bad, but looks like there is room for much improvement. The features are quite good and considering the age of the material it is nice to see some of this stuff. I think 3 stars for any of these Godzilla movies is fair.....5 stars? Come on this isn't "Gone with the Wind" Please(Big G fans)don't have a hissy fit. I'm not really bashing "old radiation breath" he is a part of my childhood. If the prints were cleaned up and the extras were longer I'd give the release 5 stars. As it is, it's a fun entry in a juvenile series.

One Godzilla film you MUST have in your collection.......2007-07-08

After his giant battle with King Kong, the monster known as Godzilla returns. Only this time, he's up against a giant moth who's preventing him from attacking more civilians. In 1964, the Toho Company released the fourth movie in the Godzilla series, "Mothra vs. Godzilla." Known in the United States as "Godzilla Vs. The Thing," the film was a product of the celebrated creative team of Shinichi Sekizawa (screenplay), Ishiro Honda (human drama), and Eiji Tsuburaya (special effects). Mothra Vs. Godzlla is known by fans everywhere as "Godzilla's finest hour," for its good sound effects, tone and script. It's also the most popular and memorable film in the franchise. Mothra Vs. Godzilla is widely considered to be the best of all the sequels. Watching it again after so many years, I find that statement to be very true. This is one of the best Godzilla movies out there. If you want to see Godzilla in his prime, then this is the movie you have watch; for it truly is his finest hour.

After a giant typhoon hits Tokyo, a news reporter named Sakai and his photographer Junko take pictures of the damage. Later that same day, the local villagers discover a giant monster egg washed ashore on the beach. The villagers salvage it and scientists come to study the egg. No one knows whose egg it is and where it came from. While Sakai and Junko try to ask Professor Miura questions about the egg, an entrepreneur of Happy Enterprises named Kumayama scurries the scientists off and explains that he bought the egg from the local villagers. Instead of letting scientists study the egg, Kumayama wants to make it apart of a tourist attraction. Kumayama wants to make more cash by having customers pay to see the giant egg hatch. Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura are disgusted by the idea and believe that Kumayama has no right to keep the egg. As Kumayama discusses the tourist attraction with his boss, they are visited by two tiny twin girls.

The two girls explain that they are from Infant Island and that the egg belongs to a monster named Mothra. The twins later leave with nothing after pleading with the two men on giving the egg back. The twins then turn to the newspaper journalists for help, but still fail. Later, Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura then go out testing for radioactivity in an industrial area. That's when Godzilla suddenly pops out of the beach (where he supposedly left off after his fight with King Kong) and begins to attack the surrounding cities. With very little hope that the military will defeat Godzilla, another reporter suggests that the friendly Mothra might be able to get rid of the monster. Sakai, Junko, and Professor Miura then head to infant island to warn the villagers that Mothra's egg might be in danger, resulting in a climatic battle between Mothra and Godzilla.

This was one of the many Godzilla movies I remembered watching as a kid. Back then I was always fascinated with Godzilla, so I was pretty heart broken to see him defeated at the hands of Mothra's babies. I was young at the time, so I wasn't as into the story. I always figured that Godzilla was a good guy, so I was really ticked off when I first saw this movie. It wasn't until I got older that I realized Godzilla was the bad guy. In fact, the early movies presented Godzilla as a menace. A punishment for the sins of World War 2. A result from the fallout of a hydrogen bomb test. A giant fire breathing villain with a sweet tooth for destruction (alright you get the idea). The other monster in the movie, Mothra, is actually a nice creature. A sort of "love" monster if you will. This film marks the first appearance of Mothra in the Godzilla series. Mothra would later appear in many other Godzilla films.

Mothra Vs. Godzilla is one of the key movies in the Godzilla franchise, due mostly to its popularity. It's one of my all time favorite monster movies. It has a great story, a good cast of characters and a great script. It's top notch compared to many other films in the series. If this isn't already in your collection then you should be ashamed of yourself. Mothra Vs. Godzilla is a must own for monster movie and Godzilla buffs alike. Much like the previous re-releases, Genius Products attached both the original Japanese-language and English-dubbed versions of the movie. As always, the Japanese cut of the movie is better (and less confusing). Once again it's not jam packed with bonus material, but there is a commentary track and "Akira Ifukube biography" featurette. If you're looking for a great monster movie then look no further. The Toho Master re-release of Mothra Vs. Godzilla is one that you must have in your collection.

Mothra Vs Godzilla.......2007-06-10

I like the fact that Toho is releasing all there older Monster movies in a new dvd case.I look forward to seeing more of the movies being released so I can add them to my collection. One thing I would have liked to have seen with the movies being redone is to have the audio done in 5.1 dolby sound, than the standard audio format that they were originally done in.

the terror of the titles.......2007-05-28

This fine film is destroyed by the titles. Some are on the film itself and some are on the black band below the image. The former are hard to read. But worst of all, some are split between both of the above and will give you a horrible headache. Why doesn't anyone seem to care about the placement of titles? A fun film that deserves better.

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla / Godzilla vs. Destoroyah

Average customer rating:

Great flick that brings the big guy full-circle
Very good Godzilla DVD
My grandson Jared loves this DVD!
One fair one awesome
End of the second series

Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla / Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Starring: Megumi Odaka , Jun Hashizume , Zenkichi Yoneyama , Akira Emoto , and Towako Yoshikawa
Director: Kensho Yamashita , and Takao Okawara
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003L9CB
Release Date: 2000-02-01

Amazon.com

Godzilla's nuclear-powered heart is waning, threatening not only himself but mankind. But before going to that monster island in the sky, he must first battle his most forbidding foe to date: Destoroyah. Destoroyah makes Biollante, Space-Godzilla, and Rodan look like washed-up sparring partners as he dukes it out with Godzilla Jr. and Pop. With chilling powers that are sure to remind you of the creature from "Alien," Destoroyah wreaks havoc, and everyone's favorite radioactive lizard must give everything, including his life, to defeat him. Easily among the best of all Godzilla movies, Godzilla vs. Destoroyah eschews much of the series' campy humor for a dark and poignant vision that infuses the long-running series with new life at the same time that it lays to rest a beloved monster. --Tod Nelson

Customer Reviews:

Great flick that brings the big guy full-circle.......2007-07-05

For Godzilla, the end is near. GvD capped off a series of Gojiro flicks of the `90's that had a very mixed success. The nutty villainous-westerners of the future plot of "King Ghidorah" masked a movie that wasn't really about anything. "Destroyah" is a different affair entirely, arguably taking the character full circle to his roots in 1954.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT
"Destroyah" is a mutated crustacean, created by the oxygen-destroyer machine used to off Gojiro in his very first appearance. At first, a horde of vicious, man-sized Destroyah's run amok across Japan. When confronted by advanced Japanese weaponry (which includes special "ultra-low-temperature lasers), the creatures merge into a larger keiju-sized beast capable of flight and wreaking havoc on a much larger scale. The only hope is to draw Godzilla and his adolescent son (Godzilla, Jr., or just "Junior") into the fray. However, Big-G has his own problems - his nuclear-powered heart is threatening to meltdown, which may threaten life on Earth itself. Now both monsters are a threat, and each offers its own version of salvation. Meanwhile, the under-funded Godzilla task force struggles to deal with the impending double catastrophe.

I haven't been much of a fan of the Godzilla movies in some time, but I enjoyed this flick which channels the monster's iconic and tragic value as few other flicks have managed to. There are many slow parts, and often it's hard to figure out what's going on (Destroyah seems to be killed off repeatedly) but the finer points of the story manage to keep a grasp. The special effects are definitely a cut above the Godzilla movies I remember, with much more convincing wholesale devastation. Destroyah is a great monster - definitely a cut above other Keiju, with more menace and malice than your ordinary guy-in-a-rubber suit, and because he can change shape (or number) without warning, he's often several monsters in one. But above all, "Destroyah" rules as a monster flick that stays true to its roots and themes, and makes the viewer do the same.

Very good Godzilla DVD.......2007-03-22

Godzilla has been around since forever as long as i can remember. But seeing the 90s type Godzilla is truly awesome. This double feature is a very good and decent DVD to be honest. If you happen to get this Godzilla DVD, get it for "Godzilla vs Destoroyah", which, in my view is the best Godzilla film of the 90s...highly recommended !!

My grandson Jared loves this DVD! .......2007-02-25

What can I say. Godzilla has captured the imagination of my grandson*. If it's anything to do with Godzilla then he's right there in a sec. This one seems to be his favorite at the moment. He's sure to wear it out from frequent watching. I don't really get it -- for me if you've seen 1 you've seen them all, but he can go on and on and on about this movie. Too cute!

*Musta got it from my daughter cause she had an affinity for Godzilla at his age too and will sit and watch this with him even today....

One fair one awesome.......2007-02-16

I recorded these two on Sci-Fi one time, but the tape got ruined so I bought it. Godzilla v.s. Space Godzilla is not great, but it's tolerable. I don't watch the movies for the people, I watch them for the monsters. Space godzilla is cool, but Godzilla's head and roar remind me of a rat. Mogera is really stupid, too. My rating:6.0 Godzilla v.s. Destoroyah is something else. Destoroyah is really cool monster, the guy looks dang evil, and his ability to lift Godzilla is incredible. Godzilla rocks,with the red heat beam and he's a lot taller, too. Junior (A.K.A. little Godzilla is really cool and when he dies, it's pretty hard to watch. and even more heartbreaking is when you see Godzilla's one and only tear. Godzilla dying is an amazing way for the king of the monsters to go out with a fight and I know that even in his death, Godzilla is immortal. my rating:9.8

End of the second series.......2006-11-01

I didn't think G vs space G was that great, except that I watched it twice in one day, only a few hours apart

vs Destoroyah was, well, the end of the second series, while a cliffhanger that never really gets resolved because Toei realised that they had killed off too many of the better monsters, leaving them with very little for future movies.

Average customer rating:

King Kong vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes......
Nice films, but just AWFUL DVDs!
There Really is a Mechi-Kong!
Awesome twin pack!
The Two Mightiest Monsters Of All Time!

King Kong Vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes
Starring: Ichirô Arishima , Yu Fujiki , Mie Hama , Akihiko Hirata , and Haruya Kato
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BISBDE
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Description

It's King Kong to the rescue when a giant robot threatens to destroy Tokyo in the gripping King Kong Escapes! The action begins when the conniving Dr. Who builds a robot Kong in order to retrieve a highly radioactive element for his mysterious benefactor, Madame X. When the robot proves less than reliable, the devious duo scheme to kidnap the real Kong from his remote island home of Mondo. But interfering with their plans are the heroic trio of U.S. Cmdr. Carl Nelson, Lt. Jiro Nomura, and Kong's current crush, Lt. Susan Miller. It's up to them to outwit the greedy ape-nappers in this sci-fi adventure that takes Kong to unprecedented heights of excitement.

The two mightiest monsters of all time battle in the thrilling adventure classic, King Kong vs. Godzilla. When an underhanded pharmaceutical company goes to a remote tropical island to steal King Kong for advertising purposes, they get more than they bargained for when the gigantic ape attacks an unsuspecting village and an enormous octopus. Meanwhile, far below the sea, a submarine crew unleashes reptilian terror when they melt a block of ice and release the ferocious Godzilla from his icy lair. When both destructive monsters descend on Tokyo, it's a fight that holds the future of mankind in the balance in this knock-out film that was the first theatrical release to bring its larger-than-life contenders to the big screen in glorious color.

Customer Reviews:

King Kong vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes.............2007-07-07

I recall seeing both these movies way back when I first started watching Godzilla movies. Both are among my favorites to watch every now and then. I mean, who wouldn't want to see an American icon like King Kong go up against the 'King of Monsters'? or see Kong go up against a Mecha-version of himself? I'll admit, by today's standards, both of the movies are kinda cheesy and the plots are 'out there' but they are still fun to watch. Makes me wish that Toho could/would make more up-to-date versions of these two movies. From what I've read online, Toho did try that back in '91 -especially with King Kong vs Godzilla- but Turner Entertainment(owners of the original film) asked for too much money for King Kong's use in the film to which Toho declined & instead made Godzilla vs King Ghidorah as part of the Heisei series. With the recent success of Peter Jackson's King Kong, I think it would benefit both parties quite well. Not only making Godzilla fans happy but generating interest in the original Kong film as well as the rest of movies in the franchise. At any rate; we can hope that one day, in the near future, both companies can come to some agreement so our favorite giant monsters from opposite ends of the globe can battle it out once again.

Both of these movies were directed by Ishiro Honda with visual effects either done by or directed by Eiji Tsuburaya.

King Kong vs Godzilla was made in 1962 and tells the story about Mr. Tako who is head over a pharmaceuticals company. Frustrated with the tv shows his company is sponsoring, he tries to come up with something to boost the ratings. He soon finds out about a giant monster that was discovered on Faro Island. Believing it would give him the publicity he needs, he sends two men to find and bring the monster back. Meantime, an American submarine gets caught in an iceberg. The same iceberg that Godzilla was trapped in the movie, Godzilla Raids Again. Godzilla eventually breaks out and head toward a nearby Japanese Artic base to which he obliterates. On Faro Island, Kong is captured by Tako's men and brought back to Japan. Kong breaks free and meets up with Godzilla & the rest is history. You know what happens, lol, just by looking at the title. Guess who comes out the winner. It sold 11.2 million tickets during it's inital theatrical run in Japan and holds the title of having the highest attendance records ever on any Godzilla movie to date.

King Kong Escapes was made in 1967(hehe.. the year I was born). A mean genius named Dr. Who creates a Mecha-Kong in order to dig for a highly radioactive element dubbed "Element X". When Mecha-Kong fails, he decides to kidnap the real Kong and hypnotize him to dig for it. Kong soon snaps out of it and heads off for Tokyo. Kong and Mecha-Kong end up fighting on Tokyo Tower with the city hanging in the balance. This is also the first film to feature Gorosaurus(who played a part in Destroy All Monsters and made a cameo in Godzilla's Revenge) who is a fan favorite from Toho Films.

While there is no special features to speak of nor no extras, any respectful Godzilla or King Kong fan owes it to themselves to add these films to their collection just to have them. The way things stand right now, we might never see any more films featuring Kong & Godzilla duking it out or Kong battling a mecha version of himself. That, in itself, makes these two films worth collecting. My only gripe is that you're unable to see it in its' original Japanese dialogue with subtitles. I would've loved to have seen it that way.

Nice films, but just AWFUL DVDs!.......2007-06-16

These discs are terrible, although the tranfers may not be that bad, threre are no extras at all. No feturetts, no deleted Scenes, no Original Japaneses versions, not even Theatrical trailers. Unlike Sony who provide some features for there Godzilla titles, or Warner Brothers for there King Kong titles. Universal usauly provides wonderful extras for there DVDs and HD-DVDs. This is wrong!

There Really is a Mechi-Kong!.......2007-03-21

When I was a kid and saw King Kong Escapes, I was mesmerized by the Mechi-Kong robot. What a great idea! He looks so cool! It had been so many years since I saw the film, I thought I had dreamt the movie. Imagine my suprise with this two-pack release! It is a pristine wide screen presentation. The film is as fun as I remembered it. Not to be taken too seriously, it is a rubber monster movie with cool ideas and plenty of monsters clashing, all within the trademark cheapo effects of the time. Utterly charming.
The Toho version of Kong (his rubber suit, that is) is truly awful, but this only adds to the fun of the film. As this is a Japanese movie overdubbed in English, we also have the voice talents of Paul Frees ("Winter Warlock" from the Rankin / Bass production of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer") providing the voice of the villian. What more could you ask for? How about the bonus of getting Godzilla vs. King Kong? You got it! What a bargain!

Awesome twin pack!.......2007-03-21

Truly a killer twin pack King Kong movies. Get it for the "King Kong vs Godzilla" alone, a very awesome movie that hardly gets air play and great for any movie monster collection...highly recommended!!

The Two Mightiest Monsters Of All Time!.......2007-03-16

KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (1962)

PLOT: Mr. Tako, head of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, is frustrated with the television shows his company is sponsoring and wants something to boost his ratings. Tako is informed by a special type of berry that only grows on a small Pacific island called Faro Island. The natives there process the berries into a juice that they use as a medicine. They also use the juice as an offering to their giant god named "Kong". Tako sees potential in the berries and decides to set up an expedition to Faro Island. When Tako's men arrive at Faro Island, the natives there claim that "Kong" is real being. Meanwhile, an American submarine named Seahawk gets caught in an iceberg. Something goes wrong and the submarine blows up. An American helicopter hovering above watch as the iceberg breaks open and Godzilla crawls out. Godzilla heads toward a nearby army base. The base is no match for the mighty power of Godzilla. Back at Faro, a giant octopus attacks the village and the natives quickly throw spears at it. Unfortunately, the spears are no match for the giant creature. Suddenly, Kong shows up and beats up the giant octopus, sending it crawling back into the sea. Kong drinks some of the giant containers of berry juice and falls asleep. Tako's men then inform him of Kong. Tako makes plans to take Kong back to Tokyo, as a publicity stunt for Pacific Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Tako arrives on the ship transporting Kong, but unfortunately, the monster then wakes up and breaks free from the raft. Kong finally reaches Tokyo and meets up with Godzilla in a valley. This is a match between the mightiest monsters of all time. Who will win?

COMMENTS: This film