Dogora

This Film Feels like two movies in one.One part focus on the monster Dogora, a jellyfish like space monster and the other on a bunch of criminals stealing diamonds that Dogora has an interest for.This film does has some lesser moments from dogora being a uninteresting monster but is saved by the cast of characters,solid acting and has humor to keep this film being good.

The film starts off with a gang of diamond thieves stealing diamonds but eventually they start noticing weird things from floating in the air and seeing a weird object at the diamond place.Meanwhile detective Komai is investigating on a suspicious character name Mark Jackson who has something to do with the diamond heist that went wrong and Mark Jackson has his own motives of his own when he visits the gang boss of diamond thieves.

Later, The Gang tries to come with another heist to steal the diamonds but are interrupted by Mark Jackson.But notice that one of the trucks starts floating in the air though the diamond gang got away with the diamonds but really it was candy as they were tricked.Komai Evenutally finds Mark Jackson and realize that he's a special agent looking for the diamonds and to make sure the gang doesn't get it.

Envenutally strange things start happening around the world from diamond shops to anywhere with diamond sunnedly disappear and Dr. Munakata a professor on carbon dioxide know that the space creature Dogora is taking the diamond soon enough Dogora is in Kyushu and is attacking can It be stop? Overall, Dogora is very uninteresting by the time he appears on screen which is the middle of the film.His appearance somewhat hurts the pacing of the film as you could care less about the monster and really focus and pay more attention to the cast of characters who really steals the show from the title monster.Plus the humor that is brought into the film.From Mark Jackson Shrugging his shoulders,to Komai's naive attitude that make him look dumb and Gangster Sabu who cowardly attitude that has at least you grinning.

as for the Acting, Everyone gives a solid job with their roles, despite what little there given.Robort Dunham gives the most memorable and enjoyable performance of the cast.It's his Fluent Japanese that has his performance praised and deserves Props for his performance.Yosuke Natsuki is another Detective-Deadpan lead for this film.since his character is so flat, he gives a flat performance as well.Nabuo Nakamura as Dr. Munakata is well done.He really fits into his role as the curious bland doctor as he he wants Dogora to be studied not killed.Yoko Fujiyama brings a charm, innocent look to her role as Masayo Kirino as she is the doctor's assistant and also it's funny and cute when she flirts with Komai a.And last there Akiko Wakabayshi as Hamako.Her seductive flare and sly energetic-ness make her role interesting and great.

Overall, Dogora is not bad It's worth watching one or twice when your not doing anything at all but it's not worth watching 60 times though.

In space, a big jellyfish destroys a satellite. The thing then comes to Earth and uses its twisting tentacles to get everything in its path. Buildings, trucks, and even a bridge get lifted up from the ground by the thing. The thing also has a craving for diamonds. Also involved in this mishmash are some diamond thieves who only want a truck of diamonds and a day to the beach without getting stung. Pretty interesting with imaginative special effects. The American print is terrible,dark, and scratched up. The dubbing is also bad.

Watching this film is an enjoyable event. With a cast of hilarious and respected actors and actresses, this movie is one of the funniest and greatest Toho sci-fi movies I've seen. It starts off with an intriguing intro of how a scientist discovers disappearing satellites in space.

Then, it kicks off to these band of outrageous gangsters who wants sparkling diamonds for their loot. The suspense builds when some of the gangsters get lifted up into the air by an unknown phenomenon, later known as Dagora (or Dogara) the Space Monster, who has a thing for diamonds. Instead of buildings, vehicles, bridges, and structures crushing to the floor, they actually rise to the air as Dagora lifts away everything in its path. Dagora is seen in many shapes and sizes, including a giant jellyfish (with "animated" tentacles), shining "stars," and a floating piece of genetic-like substance. Screenplay writer Shinichi Sekizawa did an excellent job on the script.

The scientists trying to figure out a weapon in order to use to defend Japan from Dagora while the detectives try to nab the diamond lovers couldn't be more inspiring and intriguing in this movie. Composer Akira Ifukube gave a haunting and terrific music score and director Ishiro Honda directed one of his best. Some hilarious parts in the movie includes the part where the character Inspector Kommei tries to shoot a gun, only with confetti coming out; the part where Eiji the Safecracker eats a sugar crystal (which he later found out is a fake diamond) and then laughs like a hyena; the scenes of karate fights and the part where the Gangster Moll asks the train conductor to show her where to make a call when the phone is actually a few inches away from her! The only jewelry oriented monster sci-fi flick I've seen, this film is to be watched by all sci-fi fans. There are some plot-holes here and there, like why did the gangsters have to wait so long to steal the diamonds from Jackson, and why did the Gangster Moll have to call her crew to come meet her, since she wants the diamonds all to herself anyways? Could have used more action and suspense from the gangsters, but overall, a fun film. You'll never wear a diamond necklace or diamond ring the same way again.

Grade A-

Asides from the strange plot development which we don't know if this movie is a comedy or a kaijyu movie, I think this could be one of the best monster movie of all times. What's great and horrifying about this movie is the monster Dogora. It's kind of a space jellyfish that can defy gravity. The monster makes you think that perhaps somewhere in space there could be a life form like it, and when it arrives on earth, there's no telling how large it could be. None of the Toho monsters have real life creepiness like the Dogora. If the movie was made on a plot about this space monster arriving on earth and terrorizing the world while it multiplies would have made it a unique masterpiece. There's absolutely no movie like it. For its originality, and the special mood this monster brings to the story, this movie is a masterpiece.

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed by Ishiro Honda; Produced by Yasuyoshi Tajitsu, for Toho; released to American TV as "Dagora, The Space Monster" by American-International TV. Screenplay by Shinichi Sekizawa; Photography by Hajime Koizumi; Edited by Ryohei Fujii; Music by Akira Ifukube; Special Effects by Eiji Tsuburaya. Starring: Yosuke Natsuki, Yoko Fujiyama, Nobuo Nakamura and Robert Dunham.

Japanese horror flick combines monster and gangster genres, with not only the physical plant of Tokyo in danger (as usual) from a giant gooey jellyfish from space, but also the loot and lives of some cheap criminals.