"The War of the Gargantuas" (1966) [Kaijuly]

by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s The War of the Gargantuas which is part of our 2nd annual “Kaijuly” look at some giant monster films (of which we both love thanks to seeing them in our childhood of the 60s and 70s).

Synopsis

A giant, cannibalistic humanoid's rampage through Tokyo is halted by his more docile twin, but neither their reunion nor their scientist caretakers can prevent their eventual duel.

The Good

Joseph: I’m going to leave the technical stuff to Mike this time around and pretty much just reminisce. Ever since I was a young ‘un — and a very wee young ‘un, at that — War of the Gargantuas has held a special place in my heart. It’s my favorite kaiju movie that doesn’t involve Godzilla. I think it first appealed to me because of the good vs. evil natures of monster brothers Sanda and Gaira, and the vicious, people-munching destruction in the film. Gaira is a truly villainous creature. That also appealed to my Big Time Wrestling side, as the movie gives us a clear babyface for whom to cheer and a nasty heel to root against. As an added bonus, you have no idea how big of a giant octopus and giant squid fan I was as a kid, and early on we get a kaiju fight with the former.

Mike: Ishirō Honda's War of the Gargantuas is a great kaiju movie with a lot of heart, which is a surprise in the monster movie genre. More or less a sequel to Frankenstein Conquers the World, it's about Sanda and Gaira, two huge humanoid animals whose family relationship becomes the emotional center of the story. The monster design is really creative. Instead of the standard bugs or reptiles, we get hairy, emotional giants that let the stories get deeper. One of the best parts is the fight scenes, especially the big one near Mount Fuji. Honda gives the destruction a lot of real energy, and Eiji Tsuburaya's models, cityscapes, and costumes are very good. The movie also has a creepy soundtrack by Akira Ifukube - the big, brassy themes give what could have been pure camp a sense of weight. Even though Russ Tamblyn's acting isn't perfect, he gives the movie a bit of an international flair that helps it appeal to people outside of Japan. Overall, the mix of monster action, melodrama, and science fiction is very well matched.

The Bad

Joseph: I’d write more here, but for some reason . . . “The words get stuck in my throat” . . .

Mike: The movie ends somewhat quickly, leaving a lot of unanswered questions and not much emotional closure. Other than that, War of the Gargantuas is pretty much a perfect daikaiju film.

The Verdict

Joseph: War of the Gargantuas has stood the test of time for me. Some films and TV series from childhood remain better left in our memory banks than rewatched — I’m looking at you, later seasons of Lost In Space — but I still get joy out of every rewatch of this one.

Mike: War of the Gargantuas is a classic daikaiju movie with a unique concept and memorable monster-on-monster chaos. The creatures, the realistic effects, and the sad bond between Sanda and Gaira are what make it great. Even though the movie has slow spots and a weak ending, it still has a special place in the history of the genre. You should watch it if you like old tokusatsu or want to see monster action with a bit more emotional depth. Just be ready to overlook a few very minor flaws along the way.