Eric Stevenson
I guess it's kind of hard for me to really hate this movie, mostly because it's easy to see how awful the dubbing is. They're not even trying to match up the words with the lips. That could be more of the dubber's fault and not the movie's creators. I still knew that this movie would be really cheesy. The dinosaurs don't really appear until the end of the movie and it's at this point that you can easily see how bad the effects are. I can at least appreciate the attempt at character development. It's hard to believe this was made in 1977. It looks a lot more like the 1960's.There's too much going on at the end. About the only good thing is that some of the explosions were cool. I just knew what would happen next. I knew that she would carry up an arm attached to a partly eaten body. It's easy to see how they use stock footage. This should have been shorter as you can tell they were trying to drag it out. I seriously wouldn't have been surprised if that fake dinosaur part was supposed to be the real one in the story. *1/2
cburkemper
Well, I originally saw this on TV years ago. Its a pretty cool movie that most people are not too kind to. Sure the dinosaurs effects are cheesy, there are plotholes, etc., but the movie is pretty well made otherwise. Its got some good creepy moments, some good atmosphere, some stylized touches, a little sex appeal, and a really cool finale. Also, a really cool sound track. All in all, a really fun, good piece of Japanese Schlock cinema. Its too bad there is not a original Japanese version availible.
icehole4
This film is a pretty bland Japanese offering. Basically the plot goes like this: Some people find dinosaur eggs around Mount Fuji, and then the chase is on for the dinosaurs. It takes Loch Ness and moves it to Japan. There's a festival going on with probably the worst country and western band ever providing the music. (When I think of country music, I really don't think of Japan.) The later half of the film focuses on a male and female diver who dive into the lake just before they close it off and throw depth charges into the lake. They go through hell to get out of the danger, and in the end, you end up not caring. Avoid this one if possible.
sogoishi
This is regarded as the worst kaiju eiga ever made. I believe people always have a right to their opinions but this is vastly underrated. This film, about an obsessed paleontologist(dubbed by Robotech's Greg Snegoff) who comes back to his home town in search of a plesiosaur living in the lake. A pteranodon also makes an appearance as they duke it out at the end of the movie. There is graphic violence in this film but it's used quite effectively in quick cuts sending a jolt to the viewer. Most notably is when we catch a glimpse of a girl's bloody thrown-up arm and a headless horse. The music by Masao Yagi is of the times but is often effective and very original. It's unheard of for any monster movie to have a stylish jazzy film score. The pre-credit sequence is eerie. The cinematography is atmospheric, showing the misty forests of the lake and MT.Fuji. I admit this is a bad movie, but one that should looked closer on artistic terms. However, the movie has some obvious logic missing. Why would the reappearnce of dinosaurs cause massive earthquakes? Why would the ever so dormant MT. Fuji erupt after such a long time? How could anything hatch from a petrified egg?Also, plesiosaurs and pteranodons ARE NOT dinosaurs. The best scene in the movie is when the ptreanodon attacks some villagers. The editing is top notch and the disco-esque music that plays over it adds to the fun. The most disturbing part of the scene is when the winged reptile picks up a victim, flies high into the air and sadistically drops him. The dubbing is also very good. If you're a fan of Kaiju Eiga or b-films, pick this up.