Godzilla Vs Hedorah (1971) (aka Godzilla Vs The Smog Monster)

	Director: Yoshimitsu Banno
	Starring: Akira Yamauchi, Toshie Kimura, Hiroyuki Kawase, Keiko Mari
	Run Time: 84 mins
	Certificate: PG
	Rating:

Plot
From the pollution of the Earth, a toxic shape-changing monster known as Hedorah emerges and begins killing people across Japan as it's spreads it's pollution across the country. With every sniff of smoke or swallowing of trash, the monster gets bigger. Only Godzilla can save the planet and stop Hedorah.

Review
No introductions for this one because it really isn't worth my time!

Let me get the positive out of the way first. I really dig the fact that the writers came up with a monster that wasn't controlled by aliens trying to take over the planet. Just like the fear of the atomic bomb had given rise to Godzilla back in the 50s, it was now the fear of pollution that was increasingly worrying the people of Japan. Thus their fears are manifested once again in giant monster form as only they know how! What better way to bring forward the message of protecting the environment that by pitting the "evil pollution monster" against Godzilla, one of the biggest icons in Japan at the time. If Godzilla was concerned about fighting pollution, then surely everyone should be! Hedorah is definitely one of Godzilla's more interesting opponents and a different kettle of fish to the usual space monster he had to fight (although the American version of this alludes to Hedorah being from outer space!)

Well I really wish that they hadn't because Godzilla Vs Hedorah is one of the worst films in the series and arguably one of the worst giant monster films ever made. As interesting as the concept of Hedorah may be, the practical result is one of the most absurd creatures ever conjured up on film. He's a complete mess

Hedorah is one of Godzilla's more interesting opponents but is a complete a mess.

s. Some of the special effects are horrendous and the fight scenes are bad. Godzilla and Hedorah stand around for a long time seemingly trying to out dance each other before they actually get down to business. Even when they do brawl, there is no sense that Hedorah will actually do anything worthwhile. He spews a bit of pollution at Godzilla and melts a bunch of humans watching the fight with his acid mist. The good moments involving Hedorah aren't during the fights but during the eerie scenes in the cities where Hedorah stops to breathe in fumes from chimneys to recharge itself. There are also some weird animated scenes to break the film up every now and then as if the director was having an acid trip or something.

Verdict
This is one of the worst in the series. The whole thing seems like an acid trip from start to finish. Very bad indeed and easily one of Godzilla's worst hours.