Plot: What’s it about?
Ryota has been a desperate man of late, as his brother Yata has been missing for a while, long enough to be assumed dead by the authorities. Yata was lost at sea and while most have given up hope, Ryota remains hopeful, as a medium was unable to locate his spirit on the other side. Sure that his brother was alive and needed help, Ryota stows away on a yacht, convinced he can track down his lost loved one. The trek is smooth until a massive claw trashes the boat and leaves those on board shipwrecked. As if the monstrous claw wasn’t enough, the group winds up on Lechti Island, the base of the terrorist circle Red Bamboo. The terrorists have enslaved the people of Infant Island, which is sure to piss of Mothra, guardian of the island. The group cannot leave the island, as a huge shrimp known as Ebirah patrols the shores. While the terrorists can control the killer prawn, the group can’t even slide past his eagle eye patrols. The group would also love to free the slaves, but again, they have no chance of escape afterwards. Just when hope seems lost, a dank cave proves to hold the solution to their woes, as Godzilla sleeps within. With no other options, the group wakes the giant green monster and soon enough, Mothra joins the excursion. But with numerous enemies, both human and monster to contend with, can even Godzilla stand up to these odds?
This is a great time to be a fan of Godzilla, as fans in America can finally experience the films as they were intended. Yes, after decades of poorly crafted releases that were dubbed and cropped, we finally have versions in widescreen and Japanese, complete with English subtitles. Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster is one of the more unique entries in the franchise, as the film isn’t about a potential apocalypse or the end of mankind, just a giant shrimp with a mean streak. So no, the epic scope of some of the movies isn’t found here, but in its place we have camp and of course, that can be quite fun. Godzilla has battled some strange foes in his career, but perhaps none as outlandish as Ebirah, a massive shrimp with a chip on his shoulder. The battles between the two are solid and with Mothra also on deck, a triple threat is always welcome. A sequence in which Godzilla and Ebirah play tennis might throw some folks off, but I thought it was quite humorous. Alas, this is not one of the better films in the series, as Godzilla has minimal screen time and when he is present, he doesn’t do much. The film also starts off with an extensive stretch with some spies and tribes and what not, which slows down the picture. But for fans of the big green machine, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster offers some memorable moments and as such, I brand it with a rental recommenation.
Video: How does it look?
Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The print is in good condition, with only a few minor instances of debris, while grain is never an issue. This allows the visuals to come across unhindered, so the image is crisp and detail is high. I found the colors to be bold and vivid, with no signs of error to mention, while flesh tones were accurate as well. No real concerns with contrast either, as black levels remain deep and consistent throughout. In other words, this is a slam dunk transfer from Columbia, so fans can look forward to outstanding visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
At last, we have this movie with the original Japanese option, though the included stereo soundtrack isn’t that memorable. The presence is passable, but lacks the depth and power a true surround option would offer, but in the end, the material still has a solid sound. In other words, don’t expect a lot of bells or whistles, but as far as the basics, this soundtrack is acceptable. The music sounds good, with a little more presence that I expected, while dialogue is clean and clear at all times. The sound effects come across well also, but there isn’t as power in the action scenes as I would have liked. This disc also includes an English language track, as well as optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
