MartinHafer I am one of the more open-minded viewers you'll find when it comes to reviews. I love all sorts of films--including international films. However, for the life of me, I no idea why anyone would enjoy the Japanese giant monster films. The only one I ever enjoyed at all was the original "Godzilla"--otherwise I just don't get them. They are like Mexican luchador films, they just don't make a lot of sense to folks outside of the country."Daikyojû Gappa" is the only giant monster film made by Nikkatsu Studio. Yet, amazingly, the formula and look is pretty much the same as you'd see in the Gozilla, Rodan and Gamera films. Once again, some guy is dressed up in a monster suit and he stomps around the set smashing tiny model villages, plane, tanks and the like. And, inexplicably, there's a super-annoying kid who somehow knows EVERYTHING about the monsters and has a special bond with them. This time, the annoying know-it-all brat is different only in that the studio poured some silly paint all over his skin to show us he's Polynesian--though he just looks like a Japanese kid who painted himself with brown paint. And finally, you have inane dialog--particularly between the guy and his love interest.The bottom line is that this film offers nothing new other than a mommy, daddy and baby dinosaur-like creature. If you think this sort of thing is good, you'll probably like it. If you are like me, you'll wonder afterwards why you even bothered, as the film is incredibly dumb and lacks originality.

dbborroughs Easily one of the worst Japanese Giant Monster movies ever made this turkey really dull. Essentially a remake of Gorgo, with an expedition finding a baby monster on and island and taking it home. There it grows rapidly. Its also there that the parents arrive to get it. After 45 or 50 minutes of painfully slow and painfully stupid south sea island stuff the parents show up and we get painfully bad special effects and moments that that are really dumb-for example it take awhile before anyone realizes they big ones want the baby, then the stupid humans won't give it up. The faces (like the rest of the suits) are rigid and the eyes are clearly on pivots (This movie has nothing on the monster in that awful North Korean workers allegory who's name I've forgotten) The breath weapon more often then not seems to have been included as an after thought. I was howling at the adult gappa wandering around destroying the city with an octopus in its mouth. Its horrible.And racist, with the all of the islanders smeared with a brown or black shoe polish, I guess its the Japanese version of a minstrel show. I really hate this movie--- well mostly- the destruction scenes are goofy fun, but its a horror to watch from the start- which I did. Serves me right for wanting to see the films cheesy special effects in high def.

unbrokenmetal Ignoring the warnings of natives that Gappa will punish them, an expedition takes a strange reptile which just hatched from a huge egg back home to Japan with them. It grows until it's a proper monster, and then its enraged parents come around to trash cities like Godzilla on a mild day, stepping slowly and carefully on buildings. I think it is the poor special FX that are good for laughs in the first place, not the intentional ingredients such as the script. Even though an inspiration by good old "King Kong" is obvious, "Gappa" tries to be somewhat original since it tells the story of a monster family instead of rivaling creatures. The naive scene of daddy giving junior a first flight lesson sticks to my mind. Bad? Yes! But funny enough not to regret the time I spent watching it.

huemannus A new entry will have to be created in the dumb-looking dinosaur/monster book of fame. Place this discovery under G for "Gappa" and log in its defining features as a prehistoric bird-lizard, complete with the biggest pair of stumpy feathered thighs any bird ever had and be sure to note its amazing ability to sustain flight for its mega-ton body merely by opening its wings.For his grand idea of a tropical theme park, Japanese magazine publisher has his minions abduct a baby "Gappa" for use as a prop but Mom and Pop Monster take exception. Copying a few clips from Godzirra's famous expose on how to trash puny humans and their equally lame weapons with hot Japanese wasabi breath, Mr. and Mrs. Gappa alternatively "fly" over and laboriously stomp through a thicket of Japanese toy villages on their way to retrieve junior.Do the desperate but determined Mom and Pop make it through the toy tank and firecracker gauntlet to rescue their homesick toddler? Bring a hankie for the grand finale reunion. It will touch your heartstrings as well as your funny bone.