131) Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)

Halloween 2022's Godzilla-Maniapalloza Extravaganza #6...For the Love of Godzilla.

All Hail, the Monster King!

"Mutual trust is a beautiful thing."

Director

Ishirō Honda

Cast

Akira Takarada - Kazuo Fuji
Nick Adams - Glenn
Akira Kubo - Tetsuo Torii
Keiko Sawai - Haruno Fuji
Kumi Mizuno - Namikawa
Yoshio Tsuchiya - Xilien Controller

Jun Tazaki - Dr. Sakurai
Haruo Nakajima - Godzilla
Masaki Shinohara - Rodan
Shoichi Hirose - King Ghidorah

"Invasion of Astro-Monster" continues the story from the last movie, "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster." 

This sixth film in the Godzilla franchise was released in the U.S. in 1970 with the title "Monster Zero." It's also known as "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero." Back during its initial release, it was double billed with another Toho film, "War of the Gargantuas." 

I previously mentioned that "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster" is where the franchise really gets immersed in science fiction as far as all the standard sci-fi tropes go. While the other Godzilla movies are obviously science fiction, "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster" suspends reality even further than before. Previously it was just about Godzilla, the monstrous result of atomic testing, destroying Tokyo. Then as the franchise carries on, new monsters emerge from the Earth for Godzilla to fight. In "Ghidora, the Three-Headed Monster," a new foe descends from the outer reaches of space. So, it's an alien invasion movie. 

The theme of space exploration was huge at this time. It's fitting Godzilla is brought into this chapter of sci-fi movies during this atomic age of horror. The monster brawl that Godzilla fans love takes place this time on a different planet. On top of that, there's an alien race threatening to dominate Earth. 

Toho coproduced this movie with an American studio - a first for the Godzilla franchise. Hence, American actor Nick Adams is cast in this movie.

The story takes place in the year 196X. So, I guess it takes place sometime in the remaining five years of the decade but still in the unknown future. 

Astronauts Kazuo Fuji (Akira Takarada) and Glenn (Nick Adams) are travelling through space towards an unknown planet called Planet X. 

Shortly after they land and walk around to check stuff out as men are inclined to do, they meet an alien race called Xiliens. These aliens basically look just like humans but wear typical shiny alien outfits and sport some fancy alien shades. The leader of the Xiliens is the "Controller" (Yoshio Tsuchiya). 

They invite Fuji and Glen into their underground domain just moments before a flying monster, whom the local aliens call "Monster Zero" attacks the surface above. Monster Zero happens to be Ghidorah himself... triple heads and all. 

The astronauts know Ghidorah all too well as he attacked Earth in the last movie. 

Godzilla takes on Ghidorah once again in 
"Invasion of Astro-Monster."

The Controller tells Glen and Fuji that, thanks to Monster Zero's constant attacks, the Xiliens are forced to live underground, and it sucks to be down there. So, he asks if they can borrow Godzilla and Rodan for, like, a little bit to conquer Monster Zero. Since these two monsters fought Ghidorah before (in the last movie! Remember?), the Controller thinks they can conquer Ghidorah again. Sadly, they're without Mothra for this round. Mothra's absence is always a bummer.

In return, the Controller promises to send Earth a miracle cure for any disease. In the Japanese cut, they promise a cure for cancer. Either way, it sounds like a big win for Earth. No Godzilla nor Rodan destroying cities. And they get a miracle cure!

So, Glen and Fuji merrily bring the Xiliens' request back to Earth. 

And speaking of Earth, that's where Tetsuo Torii (Akira Kubo) has invented a personal alarm system which gives off an ear-piercing siren. 

Tetsuo is also dating Fuji's sister, Haruno Fuji (Keiko Sawai), much to Fuji's chagrin. He doesn't think Tetsuo can support his sister by being an inventor. 

Tetsuo previously sold his alarm invention to a businesswoman named Namikawa (Kumi Mizuno). But she took his invention without paying - a really douchebag thing to do.

To his surprise, Tetsuo sees Glenn with Namikawa as the two are having a romantic fling. 

Glenn and Fuji begin doubting the true motives of the Xiliens. It turns out they've been hiding on Earth before meeting up with the astronauts on Planet X. Some Xilien spies arrest and imprison Tetsuo after he tries following Glenn and Namikawa. 

Later, Xilien flying saucers emerge from the lake where Godzilla is sleeping. The aliens also locate Rodan. With their weird alien transporting technology, they take both monsters back to Planet X. They also take Glenn, Fuji and a scientist named Dr. Sakurai (Jun Tazaki).

The monsters wake up on Planet X and start fighting Ghidorah. After the initial fight, Glen and Fuji wander off and happen to run into some super sexy Xilien women. These women identically resemble Namikawa. 

They're caught, however, and taken to the Controller.

He gives them instructions for the miracle cure he promised and sends them back to Earth.

But Godzilla and Rodan are left behind. 

When they get back to Earth and hand the instructions over to world leaders, they all learn they've been conned! 

Instead of being the promised miracle cure, the message is an ultimatum for the entire planet. The Xiliens want the planet surrendered to them, or they will unleash Godzilla, Rodan, and Ghidorah on all mankind. The monsters are under the mind-control of the aliens and will do whatever they want them to.

Well, that's just a naughty thing to do. 

Meanwhile, Glenn goes to pay Namikawa a visit in her office and finds her wearing a Xilien uniform. Though she tells Glenn that she's an alien spy, her feelings for him are real and true. 

Yoshio Tsuchiya as the Xilien Controller (center) with
some other Xiliens, doing Xilien things.

Her leader barges in and kills her. Before he does, she slips a note into his pocket. Glenn is then arrested and placed in the same jail cell as Tetsuo. 

Glenn finds the note which states that Tetsuo's high-pitched alarm device can defeat the Xiliens. 

At the same time, Dr. Sakurai and Fuji create a machine that will obliterate the Xilien mind-control over Godzilla, Rodan, and Ghidorah. 

They manage to escape from their cell by ... I don't even remember how they did it.  

Tetsuo's alarm is played over the radio, and citizens are asked to tune in and play it as loud as they can. This defeats those jive-turkey Xiliens. 

And the monsters awaken from their mind control trance and start fighting again like they're supposed to. 

Gone is the schtick of having two news reporters involved trying to figure stuff out. Overall, the story feels like a Buck Rogers style sci-fi adventure suited to American audiences. That's not to say "Invasion of Astro-Monster" doesn't feel like a Japanese monster movie. It is, right to the core. 

Despite the typical era schlocky space and alien premise, the movie is really fun to watch. It's as though the writers just wanted to go out on an extra-terrestrial limb just to make something entertaining and new for the franchise. So, they did. For what it is, the story is well constructed. 

Unfortunately, the premise makes Godzilla and his pals look like side characters. The Xiliens are the main antagonists. Godzilla and the other monsters are simply weapons in their arsenal.  

The pacing takes its time compared to the last film. And the film takes Godzilla and friends to some place not seen before.   

Plus, Godzilla and Rodan are under alien mind control. Another first for Godzilla. 
Stock footage from the movies "Rodan" and "Mothra" are used. 
Even with its dated, campy sci-fi style and storyline, somehow "Invasion of Astro-Monster" manages to be a superior film than the previous "Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster." Good writing certainly plays quite the role in good movie making, and it shows here, even for a movie like this. 
During the initial fight, as Ghidorah flies off, Godzilla does a victory dance. It's a trip to watch. 

Again, Godzilla is a good monster in this movie, but still bad. 

"Invasion of Astro-Monster" is certainly among the more entertaining movies of the franchise.