#24- "Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster" (1964)

This is a classic monster mash up from the early goings of Japanese monster films, and also one of the first to humanize Godzilla and the other monsters into friendlier characters. The most lasting impact from Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster is the movie's namesake creature being introduced. Ghidorah (Ghee- Door- Uh), also known as King Ghidorah or Ghidrah in other Godzilla films, would go on to make several more appearances as Godzilla's primary antagonist in future films, and popularity poles have often times shown that King Ghidorah is Godzilla's most beloved enemy in the eyes of the fans. He really is an iconic bad guy in the Godzilla series. Ghidorah comes to Earth after destroying Venus in the original Japanese release, and from Mars in the American redubbing, making Ghidorah Godzilla's first interstellar foe. Despite not having arms, Ghidorah usually whoops Godzilla's ass, especially in this movie where it took the combined might of Godzilla along with Larval Mothra and Rodan to drive Ghidorah back into space. In the movie, Godzilla and Rodan quarrel together (this was also the first movie to depict Godzilla and Rodan in the same film universe) after awakening and destroying parts of Japan. Mothra comes to separate the two monsters in a very corny attempt to personify the beasts as being sentient and able to understand that man hates monsters, so monsters hate man. Ghidorah later beats up on Mothra in a one sided battle, prompting Godzilla and Rodan to join the fray to defend their valiant counterpart. Ghidorah flees after Godzilla pushes him off a cliff, and the Earth monsters celebrate successfully defending Earth for the first time. Little did they know, Ghidorah would be back all too soon. It's not that this movie is bad, since I've ranked it so low, but that I would prefer to watch twenty three other Godzilla films instead, due to this films generally generic structure and fight scenes. Nonetheless, it is a memorable Godzilla movie.

The Earth Monsters assault Ghidorah from all sides.