Space Monster Dogora (1964)

Japan, Sci-Fi,

{[['']]}

Several satellites have been destroyed without explanation. A few days later, a group of diamond thieves are thwarted when the gems they are after suddenly disappear. Strangely enough, the two incidents are connected when scientists discover that a giant jellyfish like creature, which was mutated due to a high amount of radiation hovering over Japan, is drawing up all carbon based matter, including coal and diamonds. Soon the creature is also attacking bridges and ships. Can anything be done to destroy the creature before he begins drawing up all mankind?
In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Japanese film companies such as Toho made a bunch of Godzilla-type movies. You know, giant dinosaur-like monsters which often were just guys in big rubber suits stomping on plastic cities and military equipment. Some are entertaining (such as the first Godzilla film) and many were just ridiculous and dumb (such as seeing Gamera the giant killer turtle flying away by shooting flames out his butt). I didn't realize "Dogora" was in this same genre but once I saw it, I felt it was a bit better than these sorts of movies. Yes, there is a big silly monster but he was used sparingly (thank goodness) and the rest of the film was decent.


Strange things are happening on Earth--especially in Japan. Diamonds and coal are being stolen right and left--and soon it becomes obvious that the culprit is NOT of this planet, as you see piles of coal shooting up into the sky. Why? Because Dogora eats carbon and the big-shot scientist in this film is worried people might be next since we are a carbon-based life form. So they must find a way to kill or shoo the monster away. Their solution is odd- -and the team of Japanese are aided by an American mobster, Mark Jackson!

While I never really understood having Mark Jackson in the film, the movie was pretty well acted and interesting. This might be because I did NOT watch the English-dubbed film but the original Japanese one with subtitles. I read some horror stories about this English version so I deliberately chose the original. Not great but not bad either--even if Dogora turns out to look like a giant jellyfish!