King Kong vs. Godzilla: Ishirō Honda

Ishirō Honda's King Kong vs. Godzilla was a real turning point for the Godzilla franchise as it was where the series began to redirect itself so as to appeal to children. In time, this would result in Godzilla becoming a bona fide hero who defended Japan against other kaiju. But here he still remains a rampaging monster. The film has a few technical problems: some of the composite shots are sloppy, some of the models are unconvincing, and some of the early fight scenes between King Kong and Godzilla are laughable for the wrong reasons (I love how King Kong just...gives up during one of their first fights). But remember one of Roger Ebert's Golden Rules: A film is not about its subject; it's about how it's about its subject. And as a movie intended for children where two kaiju icons beat the crap outta each other, King Kong vs. Godzilla is very well done. The plot is stripped of bizarre narrative cul-de-sacs involving insignificant characters (the one concerning Fumiko, Sakurai's sister, gets a pass because it sets the stage for the film's big King Kong homage) and out-of-place gore (Godzilla vs. Hedorah, anyone?). Also, I liked the homages to the original films starring King Kong and Godzilla vis-à-vis their introductions: King Kong was captured by outsiders looking for fame and Godzilla was unleashed by an American nuclear submarine. Also, I can't believe that Honda managed to include "island natives" on King Kong's island that were less politically correct than the ones in the original 1933 Hollywood film.

7/10