It feels important to immediately mention that if the only version of this film that you've seen is the 1968 English dub released as 'Godzilla vs. The sea monster,' then you have not seen this film. With a terrible and sometimes almost senseless dubbing script, awful and crude editing, recycled footage, and outright omission of some scenes or dialogue, that edition so badly mangles the picture as it should be that the viewing experience is laborious and actively vexing. I was immediately put in a mood so foul that I was put off the idea of watching another movie, any other movie - a reaction I've had only one other time that I can recall - and I was confounded to subsequently read a plot synopsis of the picture as it should have been and discover what I had completely missed out on in the first place. 'Godzilla vs. The sea monster' exemplifies why one should always, always seek out the original version of an international release, with subtitles where applicable. It is, for all intents and purposes, an entirely different film, and at that a definitively inferior one, nevermind a ghastly VHS transfer.
That should come as a bit of good news, in a way, and this too: that in stark contrast, as soon as we start watching 'Ebirah, horror of the deep,' we see a feature that is genuinely cogent and cohesive, with some odds and ends that are actually quite excellent. As this was initially released in Japan the dialogue is sensible and meaningful, the editing is at least suitable if not also kind of sharp, and it's readily evident that all scenes and lines are in their rightful place. 'Godzilla vs. The sea monster' is quite all over the place in the worst of ways, and if 'Ebirah' seems to be slow in its pacing, it's only because the writing is baseline smart enough to communicate an actual story with a purposeful, coherent sequence of events - you know, like any competent storytelling should. Why, bless me bagpipes, as the monsters fight in Toho's true rendition, we viewers can actually see what's happening! Imagine that! I feel so bad for the Japanese cast and crew who worked so hard on their production only to have it so thoroughly butchered on the other side of the ocean.
With this in mind, it's not as if the title is perfect. I'm given to understand that the screenplay trod a rocky road to get to the finished product, and I do think that's reflected somewhat in the film that we see. It's not strictly a "square peg, round hole" situation, but there are still facets of the story that strain suspension of disbelief, including not least early exposition before the characters' South Seas adventure begins. As we've seen in some other Godzilla flicks there are absolutely scattered moments that are downright goofy; this iteration of Nakajima Haruo's costume as the titanic lizard has some curious shortcomings about it, and Mothra isn't looking to be in tip-top shape. Some composite shots are achingly obvious, an eyesore next to other aspects throughout. There are rough edges in these 87 minutes.
Still, Sekizawa Shinichi gives us a duly engaging story, and some nice scene writing. Fukuda Jun's direction is capable, and the acting commendable. The filming locations are beautiful and the sets lovely in their detail. Above all else the practical effects are terrific, and even the post-production visuals are pretty solid. The movie has weaknesses but it's better than not, and it meets the one goal it has: to entertain. For an even better experience, watch the 1966 picture immediately after suffering through its U. S. re-edit. Even if you're a huge kaiju fan the sum total isn't something that demands viewership, yet in a series that has had considerable ups and downs, 'Ebirah, horror of the deep' is reasonably worthwhile on its own merits if you have the opportunity to check it out. Only, please, do make sure that you're watching 'Ebirah' and not 'Godzilla vs. The sea monster.'
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