Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)
Originally reviewed on 8/27/23, last edited 9/7/23.
You Letterboxd cretins can't gaslight me into thinking this was a good movie. No way. This was some trashy popcorn entertainment. I laughed at one joke that I was supposed to laugh at. So I give it that. Congratulations. Human action is strange James Bond shit, monster action is shot poorly and featuring poor looking suits and puppets.
Ebirah appears only in shallow waters and it is not very horrifying, I must admit!
The paint on this cookie monster motherfucker Godzilla's nails peeling and the cigarette stuck in Mothra's fur during one of the shots say it all, in my mind.
This was originally supposed to be a King Kong movie and it shows in all ways. It seems that there were no writing changes made at all to reflect the shift from Kong to Godzilla. He's asleep in the Earth and draws power from lightning, just like in King Kong vs. Godzilla. He randomly develops a fixation on a human woman, which goes nowhere. The creatures on the island are all giant Earth animals rather than monsters and prehistoric beasts, and despite being allies before Godzilla is suddenly aggressive towards Mothra! Probably because Kong sure doesn't know Mothra. And frustratingly, despite swimming everywhere always, Godzilla is suddenly incapable of doing anything under the water in this. He hesitates to approach Ebirah in the water and even almost appears to fear drowning.
Godzilla's most iconic weapon isn't his atomic breath, it's a fucking rock. That's his go-to move lately, just throw a fucking rock at whoever is bugging you!
★★☆☆☆