{"id":79492,"date":"2021-12-29T23:12:26","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T06:12:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79492"},"modified":"2021-12-29T23:12:26","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T06:12:26","slug":"ghidorah-the-three-headed-monster-1964","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79492","title":{"rendered":"Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;It&#8217;s getting strange; the Earth is going mad.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Poster-211x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"211\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-79493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Poster-211x300.png 211w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Poster-720x1024.png 720w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Poster-90x128.png 90w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Poster-768x1093.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Poster-190x270.png 190w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Poster.png 781w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nShortly after a mysterious meteorite crashes down in Japan, a police officer (Yosuke Natsuke) is assigned as a bodyguard to a visiting princess (Akiko Wakabayashi), who is nearly assassinated and then develops amnesia while being possessed by aliens on her trip over. Meanwhile, Natsuke&#8217;s reporter-sister (Naoko Shindo) reaches out to a pair of twin fairies (Yumi and Emi Ito) in touch with Mothra, who comes to help resolve a situation involving Godzilla and Rodan fighting against each other, and eventually against a new three-headed monster who has hatched from the meteorite: King Ghidorah.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Japanese Films<\/li>\n<li>Mutant Monsters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nDirector Ishiro Honda and special effects master Eiji Tsuburaya collaborated once again for the fifth entry in their Godzilla franchise, this time featuring not only the lead creatures from <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41339\"><em>Godzilla, King of the Monsters!<\/em> (1956)<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79474\"><em>Rodan<\/em> (1957)<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=76194\"><em>Mothra<\/em> (1961)<\/a>, but the new title beast, King Ghidorah &#8212; a golden, three-headed dragon capable of emitting powerful lightning bolts. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning-1024x431.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"269\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning-1024x431.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning-768x324.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning-1536x647.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning-604x254.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Lightning.png 1659w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The human-driven portions of the storyline are surprisingly jam-packed and fast-paced, with Princess Selina&#8217;s (Wakabayashi&#8217;s) weird story alone enough to fill an entire narrative, given her catatonic amnesia, claims of being a Venusian, and sudden somber prophecies: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies-1024x430.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"269\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79501\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies-1024x430.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies-768x323.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies-1536x645.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies-604x254.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Prophecies.png 1655w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; as well as constant assassination attempts made on her life by sunglasses-clad Malmess (Hisaya It\u00f4) and his crew: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses-1024x438.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses-768x329.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses-1536x657.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses-604x259.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Sunglasses.png 1647w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The inclusion of no less than four <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kaiju\">kaiju<\/a> monsters simply adds to the density of the overall storyline &#8212; and it&#8217;s quite hilarious not only watching Rodan and Godzilla fight pettily with each other (Rodan picks Godzilla up and drops him down on an electrical tower; Godzilla throws and kicks rocks non-stop at Rodan), but Mothra&#8217;s attempt to intervene, first by spinning silk at both of them (!) and then diplomatically urging them to unite against a common enemy, Ghidorah. We&#8217;re also treated once again to the delightful Twin Fairies of Infant Island, first (re)introduced through a &#8220;Where Are They Now?&#8221;-type game show: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79502\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Game-Show.png 1659w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s all silly, colorful, and fanastical, and will surely appeal to fans of the genre &#8212; but it isn&#8217;t must-see for all film fanatics. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine special effects (for the time)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan-1024x438.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan-768x328.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan-1536x656.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan-604x258.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Rodan.png 1659w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still-1024x439.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-79510\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still-1024x439.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still-300x129.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still-768x329.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still-1536x659.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still-2048x878.png 2048w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Ghidorah-Mothra-Still-604x259.png 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a one-time look for its cult status. Listed as a Camp Classic in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0058544\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1965\/12\/16\/archives\/presley-shares-billing.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=2768\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s getting strange; the Earth is going mad.&#8221; Synopsis: Shortly after a mysterious meteorite crashes down in Japan, a police officer (Yosuke Natsuke) is assigned as a bodyguard to a visiting princess (Akiko Wakabayashi), who is nearly assassinated and then develops amnesia while being possessed by aliens on her trip over. Meanwhile, Natsuke&#8217;s reporter-sister (Naoko Shindo) reaches out to a pair of twin fairies (Yumi and Emi Ito) in touch with Mothra, who comes to help resolve a situation involving&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=79492\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=79492"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79512,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79492\/revisions\/79512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=79492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=79492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=79492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}