FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

George Taylor A really so-so entry in the Kaiju epics of Toho. Filled with a really likeable cast, this movie is hurt by uninspired monster suits, and really for a Toho, poor special effects. Made after the expert Tsuburaya passed away, the crew that did this didn't do that great of a job. Also known as Yog, Monster From Space, it's easy to see why none of these creations showed up in any other Kaiju films.

JLRVancouver A sparkly-blue blob of light from outer space with the ability to take over and mutate/enlarge a host arrives on Earth. Soon, denizens of a tropical island are threatened by a stupendous squid, a colossal crab, and a titanic turtle. Eventually, the space creature takes over a human, allowing it to gloatingly communicate its nefarious plans of world conquest. An aversion to porpoises and bats yields a clue to the invader's weakness, and plans are made to fight back. Diakaiju-sized plot inconsistencies aside, this is a pretty good Toho monster opus. The tentacled monster ('Gezora') is a nicely done example of suit-mation - yes, we all know that there is an actor within, but the creature still looks good and, for an '60's film, is well integrated into the live footage. The turtle ('Kamoebas') is a little weaker in execution but the giant mutant crab ('Ganimes') is excellent - better (IMO) than the shrimp-based kaiju "Ebirah" ("Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster" 1966). I watched an adequately dubbed English version of the film, so can't comment on the acting or original script, but generally liked the portrayal of the characters (especially the 'natives', who, unlike most stereotypical peaceful islanders, were the ones who kept showing up with more and bigger guns). Directed by Toho's best known kaiju wrangler (Ishiro Honda) and with music by Akira Ifukube, the film has the look and sound of a Showa-era Godzilla outing and is an entertaining time-passer for anyone willing to suspend their disbelief long enough to fear for the lives of the intrepid islanders, who are all that stand between us and extinction. A must see for people concerned with their 'kaiju-life lists', as the three featured monsters are essentially one-offs in the Toho corral: ('Kamoebas' has a bit part as a washed-ashore corpse in "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S." (2003), 'Gezora' is briefly glimpsed in the opening montage of "Godzilla: Final Wars" (2004), and 'Ganimes' never again surfaces (despite being a nicely executed giant crab outfit)).

Woodyanders Alien spores hitch a ride on an unmanned space probe and go to Earth. The parasitic life forms crash land on an island and cause a squid, a crab, and a snapping turtle to grow to giant size. Director Ishiro Honda, working from a compelling script by Ei Ogawa, relates the engrossing story at a brisk pace, makes fine use of the exotic tropical setting, maintains a serious tone throughout, and stages a fierce climactic beast bash between the crab and the turtle with rip-roaring aplomb. The sound acting from the capable cast rates as another substantial asset, with especially commendable contributions from Akiro Kubo as likable photographer Taro Kudo, the adorable Atsuko Takahashi as the perky Ayako Hoshino, Kenji Sahara as cynical opportunist Makoto Obata, and Noritake Saito as traumatized native Rico. Moreover, the filmmakers warrant further praise for playing the wild premise completely straight, with no silly humor or an annoying subplot involving a cutesy kid. The special effects are quite colorful and impressive. Taiichi Kankura's sumptuous widescreen cinematography gives the picture an attractive vibrant look. Veteran composer Akiro Ifekube comes through with a typically robust and rousing full-bore orchestral score. A nifty creature feature.

deeroq The enjoyment that you derive out of this movie is directly proportional to what your expectations are. I'm a big fan of Honda's work, he's made some of the very best giant monster (not just limited to Japanese kaiju) movies ever made - this is not one of them. It's really pretty bad - not Jun Fukuda bad, mind you, but in the world of Ishiro Honda's works it's quite the stinker.And yet... It's somehow great. What makes it truly great can essentially be summed up in one word. Gezora. Gezora is a giant squid, or an octopus, or perhaps a cuttlefish, or... It really doesn't matter what Gezora is supposed to be, just know that (unlike the giant octopus from "King Kong vs. Godzilla") Gezora is not a slimy creature that flutters and unfurls itself along the ground like an octopus probably would if it could actually move outside of the water. No, my friends, Gezora is rubbery looking and he walks. Let's say that again so that the utter ridiculousness of it can sink in:Gezora WALKS. On tentacles. You see, they didn't have access to high-tech animatronics and kaiju films have always had an aversion to stop-motion animation, so, as was custom - it's a guy in a suit. But how does a guy in a suit impersonate the flowing movement of an octopus/squid/cuttlefish on land, you ask?He doesn't. He walks around, dragging and swinging tentacles with reckless abandon. That, if for no other reason, is why this movie must be seen to be appreciated. Gezora is, by far, my favorite bad kaiju. Yes, even better and far more ridiculous than King Seesar. This may be difficult to believe, but he's even sillier (and more lovable) than Guiron - knife-headed foe of Gamera. You, too, will love Gezora if you just give him a chance - and that chance has arrived as of today, for "Space Amoeba" has been released on DVD.Huzzah!