Godzilla may get called the "King of the Monsters," yet in actuality the moniker belongs to the film studio with which the gargantuan is most associated. Practical creations will always be superior to computer-generated imagery, and the kaiju of Toho continue to impress even decades later with their detail. For those ways in which the "rubber suits," their movement, and the destruction they leave in their wake may be less than perfect, the imperfections are more believable and engaging than the pristine, fluid artificiality of digital wizardry. And with three such beasties coming to life in 'Space amoeba,' viewers are treated to an even greater feast of such delights than we usually get. True, this title does also make use of post-production visuals in some measure, and the disparity with filmed footage can be glaring, yet much more than not this is pretty entertaining, and certainly suggested above all for anyone who appreciates like-minded fare from the Japanese studio.
The chief filming locations are gorgeous, and a lot of care clearly went into the sets that were built to be torn apart. In any such picture other elements of the production are rendered secondary at best to the monsters and effects, yet be that as it may, for what the material requires I think the cast give fine performances. There is a strong foundation in the screenplay for the course of events; moreover, each primary character that is introduced has solid reasoning for traveling to the accursed Selgio Island - a welcome change from the average genre flick, I dare say. Akira Ifukube, composer extraordinaire and an anchor of Japanese cinema generally and Toho specifically, provides a rich, dramatic score that's lends substantial flavor to the proceedings at any given point. And I think this movie is a fine credit as well to director Ishiro Honda, who at times shows an eye for shot composition, and otherwise orchestrates scenes with a mind for spectacle and impact.
In fairness, I can understand that kaiju flicks don't appeal to all comers; everyone has their personal preferences. In the very least the pacing of these features might sometimes plod along with the same gait as their giant creatures, and plot development may take shortcuts of Movie Magic to tell a story within a concise allotment of film stock. Yet anyone who comes across 'Space amoeba' or its kin can't not know what they're getting into, for these hardly carry any pretenses about what they are; either one is receptive to the effects-laden extravaganzas, or they're not. This 1970 title may not always make the best choices, but by and large it's suitably well made and entertaining within the intent with which it's fashioned and the space it creates for itself. Don't go out of your way for 'Space amoeba,' but if you do have the chance to watch and especially if you're a big fan of Toho, these eighty-odd minutes are light fun for a lazy day.
The chief filming locations are gorgeous, and a lot of care clearly went into the sets that were built to be torn apart. In any such picture other elements of the production are rendered secondary at best to the monsters and effects, yet be that as it may, for what the material requires I think the cast give fine performances. There is a strong foundation in the screenplay for the course of events; moreover, each primary character that is introduced has solid reasoning for traveling to the accursed Selgio Island - a welcome change from the average genre flick, I dare say. Akira Ifukube, composer extraordinaire and an anchor of Japanese cinema generally and Toho specifically, provides a rich, dramatic score that's lends substantial flavor to the proceedings at any given point. And I think this movie is a fine credit as well to director Ishiro Honda, who at times shows an eye for shot composition, and otherwise orchestrates scenes with a mind for spectacle and impact.
In fairness, I can understand that kaiju flicks don't appeal to all comers; everyone has their personal preferences. In the very least the pacing of these features might sometimes plod along with the same gait as their giant creatures, and plot development may take shortcuts of Movie Magic to tell a story within a concise allotment of film stock. Yet anyone who comes across 'Space amoeba' or its kin can't not know what they're getting into, for these hardly carry any pretenses about what they are; either one is receptive to the effects-laden extravaganzas, or they're not. This 1970 title may not always make the best choices, but by and large it's suitably well made and entertaining within the intent with which it's fashioned and the space it creates for itself. Don't go out of your way for 'Space amoeba,' but if you do have the chance to watch and especially if you're a big fan of Toho, these eighty-odd minutes are light fun for a lazy day.