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Wrath of Daimajin (大魔神 逆襲 Daimashin Gyakushû, lit. Daimajin's Counterattack) is a 1966 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Daiei Film Co. Ltd. It is the third and last film in the Daimajin trilogy.
Plot
In the third and final film, the same statue from the first two movies is on top of a mountain rather than on the side. The fathers of some of the local children have been captured by an evil warlord and forced to work in their labor camps. When the four sons decide to go out and save their fathers, they have to cross Daimajin Mountain, where the stone god lays sleeping, a notoriously dangerous area full of treacherous terrain, evil samurai, and the angry Daimajin. The four boys are smart enough to pay their respects to the statue when they pass it so that they do not incur the monster's wrath.
Eventually, the warlord's men anger the statue, who once again comes to life and destroys all those who have not been paying respect to him. The children and their fathers are spared while the work camp is destroyed.
This film is different, politically, from the first two in that Daimajin is awakened by the pleas of a poor, rural boy rather than by someone of rank, and fights to rescue and avenge common people. None of the heroes in this film are of noble rank, unlike the first two, in which the main protagonists were members of deposed noble families.
In the third and final film, the same statue from the first two movies is on top of a mountain rather than on the side. The fathers of some of the local children have been captured by an evil warlord and forced to work in their labor camps. When the four sons decide to go out and save their fathers, they have to cross Daimajin Mountain, where the stone god lays sleeping, a notoriously dangerous area full of treacherous terrain, evil samurai, and the angry Daimajin. The four boys are smart enough to pay their respects to the statue when they pass it so that they do not incur the monster's wrath.
Eventually, the warlord's men anger the statue, who once again comes to life and destroys all those who have not been paying respect to him. The children and their fathers are spared while the work camp is destroyed.
This film is different, politically, from the first two in that Daimajin is awakened by the pleas of a poor, rural boy rather than by someone of rank, and fights to rescue and avenge common people. None of the heroes in this film are of noble rank, unlike the first two, in which the main protagonists were members of deposed noble families.
This proves that Daimajin only takes side with commoners and is made clear when he kills castle retainers who, though unaffiliated with the villains, are indifferent to the commoners' peril.
Also noteworthy is that this final film in the trilogy very much parallels the Gamera series (also by Daiei) in which the titular monster forms a bond with young children.
Also noteworthy is that this final film in the trilogy very much parallels the Gamera series (also by Daiei) in which the titular monster forms a bond with young children.
Cast
- Kôjirô Hongô as Lord Juro
- Shiho Fujimura as Lady Sayuri
- Taro Marui as Dodohei
- Takashi Kanda as Lord Danjô Mikoshiba
- Kôji Fujiyama as Ikkaku Arai
- Yûji Hamada as Farmer 2
- Chikara Hashimoto as Shunpei Ikenaga and Daimajin
- Sei Hiraizumi as Hayato Tabe
- Jutarô Hojo as Genba Onikojima
- Yoshitaka Ito as Farmer 3
- Kiyokazu Kagatsume as Ryûta
- Hyôsuke Kanbe as Mohachi
- Keiko Koyanagi as Shige
- Hideo Kuroki as Tasuke
- Tsuyotake Matsuda as Farmer 1
- Kayo Mikimoto as Toyo
- Koichi Mizuhara as Kamon Doi
- Kimiko Tachibana as Kume
- Gen Takasugi as Saburôta Atô
- Yûsaku Terajima as Kanetsuki-wasuke
- Asao Uchida as Heibei Nakoshi
- Koichi Uenoyama as Katsushige Nakoshi
Production
Original release date: 10 December 1966. Directed by Kazuo Mori.
Produced by Masaichi Nagata
Music by Akira Ifukube
Special Effects by Yoshiyuki Kuroda
Also known as Return of Daimajin (A.D. Vision (again, this was a mistake; they placed the second film's title on the third film)), Majin's Counterattack (literal English title), The Revenge of Majin (international English title), and Majin Strikes Again (informal English title that probably would have been used if American International Television had released it in the U.S.(which was never done)).
Original release date: 10 December 1966. Directed by Kazuo Mori.
Produced by Masaichi Nagata
Music by Akira Ifukube
Special Effects by Yoshiyuki Kuroda
Also known as Return of Daimajin (A.D. Vision (again, this was a mistake; they placed the second film's title on the third film)), Majin's Counterattack (literal English title), The Revenge of Majin (international English title), and Majin Strikes Again (informal English title that probably would have been used if American International Television had released it in the U.S.(which was never done)).
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Ebirah, Horror of the Deep, (released in Japan as Godzilla, Ebirah, Mothra: Big Duel in the South Seas (ゴジラ・エビラ・モスラ 南海の大決闘 Gojira, Ebira, Mosura Nankai no Daikettō)) is a 1966 Japanese science fiction kaiju film produced by Toho.
Directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Sadamasa Arikawa (supervised by Eiji Tsuburaya), the film starred Akira Takarada, Akihiko Hirata, and Eisei Amamoto. The 7th film in the Godzilla series, this was the first of two island themed adventure films starring Godzilla.
The film was released straight to television in the United States in 1967 by the Walter Reade organization as Godzilla versus The Sea Monster.
Directed by Jun Fukuda with special effects by Sadamasa Arikawa (supervised by Eiji Tsuburaya), the film starred Akira Takarada, Akihiko Hirata, and Eisei Amamoto. The 7th film in the Godzilla series, this was the first of two island themed adventure films starring Godzilla.
The film was released straight to television in the United States in 1967 by the Walter Reade organization as Godzilla versus The Sea Monster.
Plot
After Yata (Toru Ibuki) is lost at sea, his brother Ryota (Toru Watanabe) steals a yacht with his two friends and a bank robber, the crew runs afoul of the giant lobster Ebirah, and washes up on the shore of an island, where a terrorist organization manufactures heavy water for their purposes, as well as a chemical that keeps Ebirah at bay. The organization, known as the Red Bamboo, has enslaved natives from Infant Island to help them, but the natives hope to awaken Mothra to rescue them.
In their efforts to avoid capture, Ryota and his friends, aided by a beautiful native girl, stumble across Godzilla sleeping within a cliffside cavern. The group devises a plan to defeat the Red Bamboo and escape from the island. In the process, they wake Godzilla using a lightning rod. Godzilla fights Ebirah, but the giant crustacean escapes. Godzilla is then attacked by a giant condor and a squadron of Red Bamboo fighter jets, but destroys them.
The humans retrieve the missing Yata, free the enslaved natives and Godzilla begins to destroy the base. Godzilla smashes a tower that has a self-destruct button that makes the island unstable. Godzilla fights Ebirah and defeats it, ripping off both Ebirah's claws and causing it to retreat into the sea. The natives summon Mothra to save everyone, however, Godzilla challenges Mothra when she gets to the island. Mothra manages to push Godzilla away and carry the people off. Godzilla escapes the island just before it explodes.
After Yata (Toru Ibuki) is lost at sea, his brother Ryota (Toru Watanabe) steals a yacht with his two friends and a bank robber, the crew runs afoul of the giant lobster Ebirah, and washes up on the shore of an island, where a terrorist organization manufactures heavy water for their purposes, as well as a chemical that keeps Ebirah at bay. The organization, known as the Red Bamboo, has enslaved natives from Infant Island to help them, but the natives hope to awaken Mothra to rescue them.
In their efforts to avoid capture, Ryota and his friends, aided by a beautiful native girl, stumble across Godzilla sleeping within a cliffside cavern. The group devises a plan to defeat the Red Bamboo and escape from the island. In the process, they wake Godzilla using a lightning rod. Godzilla fights Ebirah, but the giant crustacean escapes. Godzilla is then attacked by a giant condor and a squadron of Red Bamboo fighter jets, but destroys them.
The humans retrieve the missing Yata, free the enslaved natives and Godzilla begins to destroy the base. Godzilla smashes a tower that has a self-destruct button that makes the island unstable. Godzilla fights Ebirah and defeats it, ripping off both Ebirah's claws and causing it to retreat into the sea. The natives summon Mothra to save everyone, however, Godzilla challenges Mothra when she gets to the island. Mothra manages to push Godzilla away and carry the people off. Godzilla escapes the island just before it explodes.
Cast
- Akira Takarada as Yoshimura
- Toru Watanabe as Ryota Kane
- Toru Ibuki as Yata Kane
- Choutarou Tougin as Ichino
- Hideo Sunazuka as Nita
- Kumi Mizuno as Dayo
- Pair Bambi as Shobijin
- Jun Tazaki as Red Bamboo Commander
- Akihiko Hirata as Captain Ryuui (Yamoto in English version)
- Eisei Amamoto as Carrier Captain
- Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla
- Yū Sekida as Ebirah
Production
The film was originally written for King Kong (the project was tentatively titled Operation Robinson Crusoe:King Kong vs Ebirah), but Toho switched Kong with another popular character at the time, Godzilla. This explains why Godzilla displays uncharacteristic behavior in the film, such as drawing strength from electricity, his curiosity to Kumi Mizuno's character, the usage of boulders to destroy the Red Bamboo Base, and his hostilities with Mothra (despite them now being allies). Toho would later use Kong for King Kong Escapes.
The US television version and early video versions have a different opening to the film. The opening scenes of Ryota at the Maritime Safety Agency searching for news of his brother have been replaced with a scene supposedly showing Ebirah destroying Yata's boat. This sequence was created by editing a later scene in the movie. The current DVD version of the film restores the Japanese cut.
In 1991, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster was distributed under the Film Ventures International name. The company replaced the opening with a generic credit sequence, using footage from Son of Godzilla. This version was aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The film was originally written for King Kong (the project was tentatively titled Operation Robinson Crusoe:King Kong vs Ebirah), but Toho switched Kong with another popular character at the time, Godzilla. This explains why Godzilla displays uncharacteristic behavior in the film, such as drawing strength from electricity, his curiosity to Kumi Mizuno's character, the usage of boulders to destroy the Red Bamboo Base, and his hostilities with Mothra (despite them now being allies). Toho would later use Kong for King Kong Escapes.
The US television version and early video versions have a different opening to the film. The opening scenes of Ryota at the Maritime Safety Agency searching for news of his brother have been replaced with a scene supposedly showing Ebirah destroying Yata's boat. This sequence was created by editing a later scene in the movie. The current DVD version of the film restores the Japanese cut.
In 1991, Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster was distributed under the Film Ventures International name. The company replaced the opening with a generic credit sequence, using footage from Son of Godzilla. This version was aired on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
English Version
In 1967, the film was released directly to television in North America by the Walter Reade Organization. It was the first Godzilla film to not receive North American theatrical distribution. As with Walter Reade Organizations' next Godzilla release, Son of Godzilla, this movie was dubbed by Titra Studios.
There were several alterations made for this release:
Captain Ryuui's name was changed to Yamoto. Ebirah and the Red Bamboo are never named.
Deleted: The opening credits sequence. This version features only the title card, Godzilla versus The Sea Monster.
Altered: 30 seconds of Ebirah's attack on the Yahlen were shifted to the beginning of the film, standing in for Yata's unseen shipwreck.
Deleted: A scene where Ryota goes to the Maritime Safety office and sees a poster on the wall for a dance contest.
Deleted: Yoshimura thinking up a plan with Nita and Ichino to turn the Yahlen around through cooperation with Ryota.
Altered: The tracked in surf music from Akira Kurosawa's High and Low was removed during Godzilla's battle with the Red Bamboo airforce.
Deleted: Several unneeded, pace halting scenes of the natives of Infant Island praying to Mothra during the third act were removed.
In 1967, the film was released directly to television in North America by the Walter Reade Organization. It was the first Godzilla film to not receive North American theatrical distribution. As with Walter Reade Organizations' next Godzilla release, Son of Godzilla, this movie was dubbed by Titra Studios.
There were several alterations made for this release:
Captain Ryuui's name was changed to Yamoto. Ebirah and the Red Bamboo are never named.
Deleted: The opening credits sequence. This version features only the title card, Godzilla versus The Sea Monster.
Altered: 30 seconds of Ebirah's attack on the Yahlen were shifted to the beginning of the film, standing in for Yata's unseen shipwreck.
Deleted: A scene where Ryota goes to the Maritime Safety office and sees a poster on the wall for a dance contest.
Deleted: Yoshimura thinking up a plan with Nita and Ichino to turn the Yahlen around through cooperation with Ryota.
Altered: The tracked in surf music from Akira Kurosawa's High and Low was removed during Godzilla's battle with the Red Bamboo airforce.
Deleted: Several unneeded, pace halting scenes of the natives of Infant Island praying to Mothra during the third act were removed.
The English version runs 83 minutes, four minutes shorter than the Japanese version.
In 2005, Sony released the film on DVD. This was the first time the original Japanese version had been officially released on home video in the United States. The original American version, however, was replaced by Toho's international version, which is uncut. The dubbing in this version is often cited as inferior to the original Titra Studios dub.
In 2005, Sony released the film on DVD. This was the first time the original Japanese version had been officially released on home video in the United States. The original American version, however, was replaced by Toho's international version, which is uncut. The dubbing in this version is often cited as inferior to the original Titra Studios dub.
Titles
Godzilla, Ebirah, Mothra: Great Battle in the South Seas - Translated Japanese title.
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep - Toho's official English title, and UK home video title.
Godzilla versus The Sea Monster - Original U.S. dub title. The only English Godzilla title where "versus" is spelled out.
Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster - U.S. DVD title. This is actually the Ebirah, Horror of the Deep dub with a new title card.
Box Office
In Japan, the film was released on December 17, 1966 and sold approximately 3,450,000 tickets. It was re-released on July 22, 1972 and sold approximately 760,000 tickets.
Godzilla, Ebirah, Mothra: Great Battle in the South Seas - Translated Japanese title.
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep - Toho's official English title, and UK home video title.
Godzilla versus The Sea Monster - Original U.S. dub title. The only English Godzilla title where "versus" is spelled out.
Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster - U.S. DVD title. This is actually the Ebirah, Horror of the Deep dub with a new title card.
Box Office
In Japan, the film was released on December 17, 1966 and sold approximately 3,450,000 tickets. It was re-released on July 22, 1972 and sold approximately 760,000 tickets.
Home Media Releases
Kraken Releasing - Blu-Ray
Released: May 6, 2014
Picture: AVC-1080P (2.35:1)
Sound: Japanese and English (DTS-HD Mono)
Subtitles: English
Extra: Original Japanese Theatrical Trailer
Note: 86 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG for sci-fi monster violence and brief mild language
Sony Pictures - DVD
Released: February 8, 2005
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Sound: Japanese (2.0), English (2.0)
Supplements: Trailers for Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, MirrorMask, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, and Steamboy
Region 1
Note: Contain's Toho's International Version
MPAA Rating: PG for sci-fi monster violence
Kraken Releasing - Blu-Ray
Released: May 6, 2014
Picture: AVC-1080P (2.35:1)
Sound: Japanese and English (DTS-HD Mono)
Subtitles: English
Extra: Original Japanese Theatrical Trailer
Note: 86 Minutes
MPAA Rating: PG for sci-fi monster violence and brief mild language
Sony Pictures - DVD
Released: February 8, 2005
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Sound: Japanese (2.0), English (2.0)
Supplements: Trailers for Godzilla: Tokyo SOS, MirrorMask, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, and Steamboy
Region 1
Note: Contain's Toho's International Version
MPAA Rating: PG for sci-fi monster violence
Details (Original film)
- Directed by Jun Fukuda
- Produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka
- Screenplay by Shinichi Sekizawa
- Music by Masaru Sato
- Cinematography Kazuo Yamada
- Edited by Ryohei Fujii
- Production company Toho Studios
- Distributed by Toho
- Release date December 17, 1966 (Japan)
- Running time 87 minutes
- Country Japan
- Language Japanese
- Box office ¥330 million