GORATH/Yosei Gorasu (1962) is TOHOs' take on the 'end of the world' disaster film. That theme seems to be near and dear to every motion picture company in the world sometime or another. Whether a localized disaster or universal Armageddon there's boffo box-office in seeing masses of humanity and their works trashed.
The film is made too the level of the limited budget and technical skills of the Japanese film industry of the time. That did not make it a poor film though and the subject was treated with respect. Unlike TOHOs' next fantasy film KING KONG vs GODZILLA/Kingu Kongu tai Gojira (1962) where the slide to camp kiddie fare began.
THE NUTS; GORATH which can be best described as a Red Dwarf Star is on a collision course with the Earth. The solution, move the Earths orbit North by 400,000 Kilometers (est.280,000 Miles) which would tilt the orbital plane allowing GORATH to pass. How to do it, lots of Fusion Rockets at the South Pole. The main focus of the movie is the building of the Rockets and scenes of major destruction with GORATHs' passing. In addition there is a bonus Monster/Kaiju of a Giant Walrus that looks like stuffed foam rubber and which was eliminated from U.S.A. release.
Though not up to THE MYSTERIANS/Chikyu Boeigun (1957) it's as good as BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE/Uchu daisenso (1959). It is the last of the 'Space Operas' from 'The Golden Age' of the Japanese fantasy film. Films that we find more enjoyable then those made in the Eastern Block countries and laterally Italy. It is best to get the original Japanese release versions of these films. They are more coherent in their original edit and dubbing translation.
The film is made too the level of the limited budget and technical skills of the Japanese film industry of the time. That did not make it a poor film though and the subject was treated with respect. Unlike TOHOs' next fantasy film KING KONG vs GODZILLA/Kingu Kongu tai Gojira (1962) where the slide to camp kiddie fare began.
THE NUTS; GORATH which can be best described as a Red Dwarf Star is on a collision course with the Earth. The solution, move the Earths orbit North by 400,000 Kilometers (est.280,000 Miles) which would tilt the orbital plane allowing GORATH to pass. How to do it, lots of Fusion Rockets at the South Pole. The main focus of the movie is the building of the Rockets and scenes of major destruction with GORATHs' passing. In addition there is a bonus Monster/Kaiju of a Giant Walrus that looks like stuffed foam rubber and which was eliminated from U.S.A. release.
Though not up to THE MYSTERIANS/Chikyu Boeigun (1957) it's as good as BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE/Uchu daisenso (1959). It is the last of the 'Space Operas' from 'The Golden Age' of the Japanese fantasy film. Films that we find more enjoyable then those made in the Eastern Block countries and laterally Italy. It is best to get the original Japanese release versions of these films. They are more coherent in their original edit and dubbing translation.