Rating: 
Summary: LOL godzilla flick
Review: Actually this movie is very rare and its OOP i can see why
because this G flick is very horriable.For one where in hell
did the director go with this story and who wrote this?Its
about some pollution monster name hedorah that pollutes the earth
and godzilla fights it to protect the earth.The only good thing
about this movie is the end monster action because it seems
in my point of view hedorah was actually beating up godzilla
not until the humans intefering with their project they wereusing to defeat it.But over all i give this a two star because
this monster G flick was pretty bad but if you havent watch it
go ahead and watch and you may like it better then me.Im a huge
G fan and i was really disappointed in the movie as well the
director and producers.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Godzilla flick
Review: Godzilla so far has had three movie runs. Out of all these only a handful of films stand out story-wise and this is one of them. The monster nemesis is a real frightening creature, not a fantasy three headed dragon, a giant worm, or a reptillian armadillo, but a monster made out of toxic sludge created by the ignorance of people. There is some pretty horrific imagery including the monster flying over people turning them into skeletons, a crying cat covered in sludge after a disco is trashed, and this thing sucking smokestack cigar like a yuppie at an oxygen bar- eating the trash that we spew out onto the planet on a daily basis. This movie complements the original Godzilla film more than most in it's dark mood. Both Godzilla and Hedora are created by the folly of man. The only reason that this film doesn't get a five star rating is because it doesn't go far enough in the comparisons between Godzilla and Hedora. Hedorah can't destroy Godzilla because he is a by product of nuclear radiation, something much worse than an oil slick or toxic sludge. Even though Godzilla is shown as a hero, maybe the humans should have helped Hedora, no matter how stinky he is, because Godzilla trashed Tokyo many times after the smog monster was gone.
Rating:
Summary: It's Lke Sushi
Review: I remember the first time this one showed up on UHF TV as a kid... one of those slow weeks, waiting in anticipation for a new, fresh, never before seen or heard of G flick. Air time - 2:00 PM on a Saturday, 197X - right after 'rasslin on channel 110 UHF. Then...
Whoa! WTF is this! The first thing that struck me was, where's the thunderous, "DUNNNNNN, dun-dun-dun-dun-dun, d-d-d-dun" G theme? Instead, there's this strange score, like out of a trippy western, that didn't work at all. I hated the G-costume (though worse were yet to come...) and cringed when G took to the air in that infamous scene. What's with these animations? "Save the Earth..." ahhhh! My ears! My ears! Make them stop! What's those round things that G's ripping out of the monster? Eggs? Vital sludge organs? And why does it kill him? Dunno. Why does G's ray blast power the weapon that kills the smog monster at the end, instead of melt it (the weapon) like it does everything else? And, how does G - as a giant radioactive mutated tyranosaurus, even know how to do this? Boy, japanese hippies sure look weird. It was also jarring to see G get his [...] kicked so badly... third degree burns to the face, had an eye put out, and that high-pithced roar in one scene as it writhes around in pain in the sludge. This boy was in a scrape. But I tuned in to see G kick some [...] against some kaiju jobber - like Mothera or "the sea monster". Is he past his prime? Time to retire?
On the plus side... the sludge monster was pretty cool in its various forms. Something different that the traditional overgrown _____________ (fill in the blank). Neat how it inhales fumes from a factory smoke stack. Thumbs up on the kaiju-adversary side.
I turned off my TV at the end, shook my head, and thought I'll just have to watch US-made sci-fi. NOT! US scifi? Talk, talk talk...blah, blah blah. No giant lazer ray spewing monsters. No cool toy arplanes hanging from wires - or miniture cities being demolished, (or classy, exotic, and sexy as all hell japanese babes).
In the subsequent months between repeat airings (UHF station 110 had about nine movies in total in its library - six of which were japanese sci-fi flicks, God bless'em.) I found myself humming "Save the Earth". I was drawing pics of that goofy smog monster in my 6th grade note book, and the little plastic tyranosaurus - that doubled as G, usually, "took to the air" to get from Tokyo to smash Osaka. So, two months later when Godzilla vs the Smog monster aired again, did I tune in? You betchya. Twenty years later am I ordering the DVD? (...for my son, of course) You betchya.
This film is like sushi. The first time you try it, it's a wtf experience. A few weeks later, you're jones'n for a sushi fix and have graduated to uni. Viva la smog monster! ... and while you're up, my saki needs topping off. Thanks!
Rating: 
Summary: Hedorah;Big, But Not silly
Review: It's wonderful that American home video distributors have finally started taking Godzilla seriously and releasing excellent DVDs of the Big Guy's flicks. This DVD of the 1971 "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" (originally released in America as "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster") may not offer much in the way of extras, but it lets you see the film as you've never been able to: in a beautiful widescreen image (enhanced for 16:9 TVs) with the option to watch it in Japanese with English subtitles or dubbed into English. For older viewers, I definitely recommend watching it in Japanese; it will change your whole perspective on Godzilla and makes the film seem less cheap and campy. However, the English dub is a good feature to have for younger children, who will definitely want to watch the film as well.
Although watching "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" in Japanese will tone down the camp somewhat, this remains the weirdest, oddest, most mind-bogglingly bizarre of all Godzilla movies. In the 1970s the Japanese film industry entered a steep decline because of competition from television, and the Godzilla films suffered from severe budget cutbacks. One of the guiding fathers of the Godzilla films, special effects wizard Eiji Tsubaraya, died in 1969 and the effects work on the Godzilla films suffered an additional drop in quality. "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" therefore came at a time when the Godzilla films were changing, and not always for the better. A new director, Yoshimitsu Banno, helmed this film and purposely set out to make a completely new kind of Godzilla film: a weird mixture of serious environmental message, frightening horror sequences, rock 'n' roll party scenes, cartoon montages, kiddie antics, and surreal monster fights. This is one strange film! The shift between the often grisly horror sequences (Hedorah the Smog Monster does some nasty things to his human victims) to animated "bumper" sequences and Godzilla actually flying (!!!) will make you wonder if somebody put the reels out of sequence! For all these problems and the film's silliness, there's something endearing about this monster mash: compared to the next few films, which are so cheap and uninspired, "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" feels like a project that the people working on it actually cared about. The environmental slant also provides a real message, the first time since the original "Godzilla" (1954) that the series approached such a heated topic.
Godzilla steps into full superhero mode here. Hedorah (the name comes from the word 'hedoro' meaning 'sludge'), a monster born in the waters from humanity's pollution, rapidly mutates into a jelly-like giant that comes ashore in Japan and starts wreaking havoc and turning humans into skeletons. Godzilla answers the call to save humanity. But Hedorah is a fearsome foe, armed with laser eyes, poison gas, and toxic spit-balls! Godzilla won't have an easy time, but maybe the scientists and the military can lend a hand with their electrode device. In between scenes of monsters battling, you can hang out with Japanese teens at a disco and watch the psychadelic acid pattern show on the wall. Or just listen to the wah-wah-wah soundtrack music -- guaranteed to make you want to buy a lava lamp!
Yeah, this is a weird film. But it's a cult classic, and resembles no other Godzilla film. (Apparently series producer Tomoyuki Tanaka hated the final product and director Banno consequently never directed another film.)
Note about the English dub: Viewers who remember seeing this film on TV in the 1970s and '80s may notice that the English dub on this film is different than the one they remember. This is because there were two English soundtracks made for the film back in 1971. American International Pictures released the film as "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster" and did their own dub through Titra Sound in New York, composing cool English lyrics for the theme song, "Save the Earth." Toho studios made their own English dub in Hong Kong for use in other English-speaking territories. In the early 1990s, the rights to the picture in America returned to Toho, and the Toho dub has now replaced the American International one. This DVD therefore contains the Hong Kong dubbing job, and that means "Save the Earth" is now in Japanese instead of English. Fans of this classic camp song might be a bit disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: make mine extra campy, please!
Review: Most people don't understand how Godzilla films became so campy in the '60s and '70s. As a long-time fan, I can admit that some of these films were hard to stomach (Megalon and Gigan, I'm talking to you) and some are just weird (Godzilla vs the Sea Monster). But Godzilla vs the Smog Monster (a.k.a. Hedorah) gives us a rare peak into the late-60's Tokyo scene: go-go dancers, tight pants, wakka-chakka pop music, and groovy hair styles...what a happenin' place to be! This is a Godzilla movie with an enviro-political message: get rid of pollution before it gets rid of you! The Smog Monster is created from Man's own industrial waste. Godzilla is awakened, presumably by the screaming citizens on the mainland, and proceeds to open up a Fuji-sized can of whupass on the ever-changing Hedorah. Sure it's campy, but the average audience member back then was a 13-year old boy. So sit back and enjoy it. I like mine extra campy, with a little cheese on the side.
Rating:
Summary: Smog Monster Returns
Review: Not a great God-Z flick but not the worst- however definately the most unusual of the old series. More like an art film or sixties acid/hippy flick. Lots of psychedelics going on here. My only real complaint about the film is the Hedorah/Smog Monster, it's far too goofy/fake looking. If they had of given him more eyes or one big eye or better yet eyes without pupils would have worked best and made him more other worldly (he's not an animal he's a giant hunk of living polution). Also the monsters movements are REALLY terrible. Godzilla acts like a prize fighter(?) or something strange and the little kid at one point even immitates his moves!? Which makes no sense at all as he has never acted like this before!? Not to mention the crazy flying scene... Although the film is strictly for kids it has a lot of hippy/adult themes about polution (which are still relevent today) and scenes of graphic violence- if they had of stayed serious and aimed it totaly at adult acid heads it would have worked better. And it needed more carnage! Really thats the whole reason to watch these movies is for things to get blown up and there is very little. Also the music doesn't work in spots like when Godzilla shows up they have replaced the traditional God-Z theme with hippy guitar that falls completely flat. Over all its an enjoyable although some what long B-movie hippy Godzilla flick. The films MADE BETWEEN "Destroy all monsters" and "Terror of Mechagodzilla" represent the very worst godzilla films ever made, this is one them but it has a lot of unusual hippy camera work to keep it above the pack. Good for a laugh.
Rating:
Summary: Great G Movie!
Review: Released in 1971, this movie is quite innovative for a G flick, and it includes a 1960's American twist. The eleventh entry in the series by Toho, it features Japanese hippies, a pop-music theme song, cartoon animation sequences, and multiple split-screne images. These make "G vs. the Smog Monster" (also titled "G vs. Hedorah") one of the more interesting G movies. Godzilla reprises his role of "savior of the Earth" from the mid '60's, a role he would play well until the end of the original series in 1975. This movie also contains the first graphic shots of monster casualties since the first Godzilla movie. "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster" also shows us that Big G can fly by using his atomic fire breath as propulsion. Although this is a monster movie, it carries with it the message that unchecked pollution can ruin the Earth. This is indeed the theme of the movie, which is definitely unusual for a G film. I give it five stars simply because it feels more like a 1960's U.S. monster movie than a 1970's Godzilla movie.
Rating:
Summary: "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" Film and DVD Review
Review: The Movie:
After watching this movie for the first time in so many years, I can see why fans are so divided by it. It's either one of the best or one of the worst Godzilla films in fans' eyes. The style is so different that many people hate it, but its also the reason why many people love. In my opinion, it ranks as one of the best, and though Banno has a style far different from Honda, he sits close up to him as giving the series one of the most intruging films.
"Godzilla vs. Hedorah" is set in a time where pollution was a huge problem in Japan. Taking action in utilizing this inviormental problem in the movie, "Godzilla vs. Hedorah" becomes one of the darkest and effective message throwing Godzilla films since the original "Gojira". Hedorah is the embodiment of man's ignorance and carelessness, just like Godzilla was. In many scenes that can be considered graphic for the time, the movie shows us the death and carnage Hedorah causes. Some scenes could be considered more graphic than the hospital scene of the original "Gojira". News reports flash up throughout the film citing how many people have died by Hedorah's attacks, and the number simply keeps growing to shocking results. Cartoon segments and many effective media drenched, mob scenes of worried people break in the film. The symbolize the panic Hedorah has been causing and it works well as many G-Films in this era fail to do this. These segments truley are a testament to the director's approach.
Banno's style is utilized in a very bizzare, but 'artsy' way. Linking the carlessness of the youth (or hippies) as just as much of the problem: 'Sure they can preach we're messing up the world...but that's about it. Drinking and dancing is the only other thing they do.' And they decide to do this even to the point of death. (In a great scene, one of the characters has too much to drink and looks around to see everyone wearing fish masks. A testament to the youth's ignorance? A sign that they are all in a sense 'fish in a barrel' for Hedorah?)
Godzilla himself is characterized as an almost tragic hero with the excellent characterization of young Ken. Though Ken beleives (and acts like he knows) Godzilla is there to save them, who's really going to listen to a kid? This makes Ken one of the most well written children characters in the conventional Godzilla series. Most children in thes series seem to know everything and influence the adult characters to the highest degree. But Ken's words aren't taken seriously (despite the fact he's right) and the media still has a very bleak view on Godzilla himself. Meanwhile Godzilla is found angry at the pollution taking place in the world (specificly the ocean where he lives) and is angry at mankind for doing this to their own planet. In turn, Godzilla hates what Hedorah stands for. A glaring rivalry seemed to grow on screen between the monsters in a fabulous fashion. Many scenes before battle dragged out a long stare-down between them. Their battle wounds also show their spite for each other as Godzilla's left hand is deteriorated to a skeliton with skin hanging off it and his right eye becomes crusted by Hedorah's sludge. Meanwhile, not only does Godzilla take out Hedorah's right eye, but has a field day ripping the monster to pieces at the very end of the movie. The battle was quite savage and showed a very dark side of Godzilla movies' battles. Easily one of the most graphic battles in Godzilla, especially for the time this movie was made.
The characters aren't the best developed of the series, but better than many other movies as well. Like I said Ken is one of, if not the best child character of the series. Even in the recent "Godzilla x MechaGodzilla" we see children with too much influential power on adult characters and unrealistic wisdom beyond their years. This is not the case here. Ken is clearly a kid who thinks of Godzilla as a hero and loves to play with his toys. His words are mostly ignored and his courage isn't unrealistic. (Unlike a certian child putting desks together in "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.") His uncle is a bonified hippie/drinker that you really can't tell is an antagonist or protagonist, but intresting non-the-less. And Ken's mother and father show conflict in learning about Hedorah, struggling to live their own lives and yet worry about others. The main problem with the charactrs is that their not given much to do by the end of the film but watch the monsters fight-- much like Okawara's films ("Godzilla 2000", "Godzilla and Mothra: The battle for Earth") in which he wasn't sure what to do with his characters at times.
Needless to say, despite the movies heavy symbilism, very powerful message and refreshing style, its not without flaws. Hedorah's design is pretty goofy looking and the suit itself is poorly realized. But at times it can be considered creepy as well-- With those two huge red eyes randomly placed in the middle of walking sludge, you'll either look at him as a phantom-esque creature, or a carpet with red golf-balls . The editing is also a bit akward. In one scene Godzilla is trapped in a hole being swamped by sludge and the next time we see him, he's rolling down the side of Mt. Fuji with Hedorah. The most painful scene in this movie is the infamous flying scene in which Godzilla uses his ray to propel himself backwards in the air to stop an escaping Hedorah. Though the movie is very stylized, has a beautiful approach to it and is the darkest film since the original, this scene still manages to make it in to the final cut and is simply out of place. Admittedly though...it is kind of fun to watch.
The music can be both a complaint and a praise. Though Godzilla's theme can be considered kind of 'wonky' and embarrassing, it also has a noble sound to it at the end of the theme. It takes some getting use to but its not that bad. Hedorah's theme is very in place for the character though and fits the creepy killing machine's presence perfectly. Overall the 70s-esque music fit the style and ton of the film and is able to make the mood a bit more bizarre. It can be argued that it does and doesn't add to the dark atmosphere of the film, though I think it does.
Overall "Hedorah" proves to be one of the most different Godzilla movies. Creating a different style and approach to Godzilla it delivers realistic characters, a message that speaks loud and clear and some nifty effects shots here and there. (The best shot in the entire movie being the scene where Godzilla first appears and roars with a gorgeous sunrise behind him. Magnificent!) For some its Godzilla's worst. For me, I put it high up on "The Best" of list as a rather artistic looking film.
**** out of *****
Picture quality:
Astounding. The DVD picture quality makes this movie look like it was made yesterday. The night scenes are easier to see was well as you can make out much more of what's going on. The picture was so clear and the colors so vibrant, I felt like I could reach in and touch what was going on in this film.
***** out of *****
Sound:
Mono, but it didn't really bother me at all. The sound was still clear and the music was always booming through magnicantly.
**** out of *****
Extras:
We have the English dub and Japanese audio tracks, with the options of English and French subtitles. There's the Japanese Teaser to "Tokyo: S.O.S.", "Godzilla: Save the Earth" for PS2 and X-Box, previews to two animated features, The GINO Series on DVD and a movie parodying old, black and white horror films. (The title escapes me.)
The dubbing is what we've heard before from this movie and the subtitles are actually quite accurate. Some might seem like dubtitles, but there are several lines that are different from the dubbed version--- Which was probaly just well translated.
It's plenty for me to finally have the Japanese language released in America, but overall, very weak special features.
** out of *****
Overall:
A fantastic movie, a great release with beautiful picture quality and Japanese language and the only set back being lack of features. It's still a valuable collectors item JUST for the fact it has the original Japanese version on it. Go for it now!
**** out of *****
Rating: 
Summary: GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH AKA: THE WORST GODZILLA MOVIE EVER MADE
Review: THIS is the Godzilla movie I had always wanted to get my hands on as a little kid. THIS is the one I always heard about, but could not find anywhere. THIS is the one that piqued my curiosity, due to all the controversy directed at it. And now, thanks to the powers that be at Sony, it is finally available again in the States . . . . . . . . on DVD, no less! And having finally seen it after all these years, I must say that GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH, though not one of the *best* G-films ever, is definitely among the better entries.
Director Yoshimitsu Banno was obviously trying to do something (VERY) different with the Big G, and for the most part he succeeds. On the surface, the film is about the effects of pollution, and how it may very well destroy us in the end. Rather than relying totally on the characters to get this across by talking (and it does become a bit heavy-handed whenever they try), the filmmakers rely on often haunting imagery. Visions of unclear objects floating in huge clumps of sewege in the middle of the ocean are used quite often (the sight of a mutilated human body is especially effective). As Hedorah flies around, he spews sulfuric gas, melting buildings and leaving a trail of bodies whose flesh have been dissolved and rotted down to the bone. Banno's techniques are disturbingly/beautifully brought to life by effects maestro Teruyoshi Nakano.
However, whatever Banno was trying to get across with the psycadellic imagery, short animated segments, and musical/dance numbers fails miserably. They're not thought-provoking, they don't enhance the atmosphere, they don't add to the anti-pollution message . . . . . they really serve no purpose. They're just distracting, and pretty jarring at times. I'd only count this complaint as a small nit-pick, if it didn't happen so often. But then, that's what the fast-forward button is for.
Now I come to the actual monsters. Effects-wise, here's where the film slightly falters again, mainly with Hedorah. When it moves on all fours, for instance, it moves too much like a dog rather than slithering as it should have. I was expecting a lot more, but I guess for the time it was the best they could do. Godzilla looks good, but one can kind of see that the suit is getting rather old. (Indeed, by the next film GODZILLA VS. GIGAN the suit would literally fall apart on screen!)
The battles in this movie do NOT disappoint!! Director Banno allows for plenty of stare-downs between the monsters, establishing a splendid rivalry and bitter hatred that one rarely feels between Godzilla and his foe(s). Once they actually duke it out, it is nothing short of spectacular! There's none of the crappy "beam-fighting" to be found in other 70s entries (a.k.a. Godzilla's "Dark Age"), or the boring "monsters-bumping-against-each-other" of the Heisei Era. When these kaiju get at it, they really get at it! The fights are brutal, with Godzilla being pummled, drowned in a pool of sludge, getting his skin melted off and his eye burnt shut, and Hedorah getting holes punched right through him! Hedorah is without a doubt the greatest and most powerful foe of the Showa Series (and maybe even ever), which makes for some of the best G-battles in history.
All in all, despite its flaws, GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH makes for superb kaiju-eiga entertainment. That said, this one is definitely not for the kiddies; previously mentioned imagery of death and decay will not sit well with very young children, and even left me (a high school student) surprised.
Here, I come to the DVD quality. Though I wouldn't call it stunning as other people have, this is definitely the best I have ever seen a classic G-film look and sound E-V-E-R. Picture is slightly soft in some shots, but there was no grain or scratches to be found. The color is muted and dull, but I don't count this as a fault; this was intentional and adds to the film's look. Don't expect this one to be bursting with bright colors. Audio-wise, it's fine, with everything coming off crisp and clear. As with all of these recent G-DVDs, extras extend as far as trailers for everything else BUT the actual film! Thanks to this, I wish these discs didn't cost so much a piece. But having these classics on DVD with such awesome presentation is definitely worth it.
Do not let this one pass up the chance to sit on your DVD shelf!
Rating:
Summary: Learn to speak Japanese with the Big G
Review: This review is for the October 19 DVD release of Godzilla Vs. Hedorah, and this film is the eleventh movie in the long-running Godzilla series. The movie is also known as Godzilla Vs. the Smog Monster. Watching this film as an adult, I was surprised how good this film is. I recall it receiving the infamous Turkey Award as one of the worst movies ever made, but this is far from being the worst Godzilla movie ever made. The plot (what little there is) is interesting and the special effects hold up rather well by Seventies standards. Hedorah would be a monster best realized by modern CGI but the costume works well, even if the sludge which oozes from beneath him is so digusting as to be laughable at times. Here Godzilla is a friend to humanity; however the movie is nowhere near as campy as subsequent releases which resulted in the temporary death of the series. One negative aspect of the story, Godzilla does fly in this movie -- embarrassing indeed.
The quality of this DVD is impressive. The image is a 2.35:1 widescreen, and the image is allegedly anamorphic. There are many night sequences in this film which are beautifully rendered on this transfer -- contrasts are terrific, and it's clear to see what is occurring, whereas videotapes of this film made it hard to tell what was going on. Colors are bright and lifelike, but do sometimes look slightly washed out in special effects sequences. The film has been impressively restored, but there are still occasional bits of dust which appear throughout the film. For what it's worth, the image quality of this DVD is far better than ADV Films' DVD release of the 1995 Gamera film.
The disk contains the usual badly dubbed English language track, but more impressively it contains the original Japanese track with English subtitles which appear in clear, large yellow type beneath the widescreen image on an analog television. Sadly there are some musical numbers in this film which are not subtitled or dubbed into English. The transfer also features the opening titles and credits in English rather than Japanese.
There are no bonus features on this DVD aside from a few trailers for other Columbia Tristar DVDs. Still, this is easily the definitive version of this film on home video. Also look for two other Seventies Godzilla movies available in widescreen, restored and having a Japanese track: Godzilla Vs. Gigan and Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla.
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