From Beyond Television: The Return of Ultraman Episode #9

 

Episode 9: MONSTER ISLAND S.O.S. (KAIJUUTOU SOS) ***

Directed by Ishiro Honda

Intending to spend time with Aki and her little brother Jiro on his birthday, Goh is assigned to fly to New York to pick up a new weapon created by the MAT branch there, a Monster Sonar Scanner. MAT member Minami disobeys orders and secretly takes Goh's place. Flying back from New York, Minami encounters a typhoon, causing his MAT Arrow to crash on an island where he's rescued by some scientific researchers. The team of scientists explain they've been there investigating possible monster activity and this new sonar device will prove useful. A search of the island reveals a hibernating rock creature living within a cave. Minami suddenly falls ill so Goh, feeling responsible, must get a serum to him in time before he expires from any one of three possible fates--tetanus, an unstable island, or a giant, rampaging monster.

This episode is a nice, compact, mini-adventure from famous GODZILLA director, Ishiro Honda. It's nothing overly spectacular, but it makes use of its limited format and screen time by providing a good bit of exposition with a handful of cliffhanger scenarios. One of these is the expansion of the relationship with Goh and Aki, and also her little brother, Jiro. RETURN OF ULTRAMAN was sort of the bridge between the story-focused ULTRASEVEN and the superhero theatrics of ULTRAMAN ACE, KAMEN RIDER and others. It blended the two and frequently blended them beautifully. It's one of, if not the single reason this series remains so memorable among fans of the genre.

There had been a subtle hint of a possible romance in the previous ULTRASEVEN, towards the end of the series, but it remained largely ambiguous. RETURN OF ULTRAMAN introduced a fairly blatant, burgeoning relationship between Hedeki Goh and Aki Sakata (played by the adorable Rumi Sakakibara). Kids didn't care about mushy stuff mixing with their monsters, so it's never allowed to turn into a full-on romance, but it's there, adding an emotional layer of identification this genre isn't known for.

Masaki Inoue made his screenwriting debut with this episode, only penning one other towards the end of the series with the 49th installment. Inoue was likely best known for being the primary writer on the wildly popular 70s show, the KAMEN RIDER series and its spin-offs.

Aside from the light touches of love blooming, Inoue crams more than enough action elements to keep kids and the youngsters of the grown up sort entertained for 25 minutes. You have Minami getting seriously ill on the island (this one is poorly written as Minami seems gravely sick one moment then fine the next); MAT having no available aircraft for Goh to rescue him (this affords us a look into MAT's hangar deck), so Goh jumps in there to get his hands dirty to get one of the Arrow's operational for flight; and there's the plot device of an earthquake (or some other cataclysm) that's used to bring an end to the free-for-all.

The featured monster is this rock-like creature named Dangar (played by Toya Takanobu). Designed by Ikeya Senkatsu, this beast, with his mace-like, single-clawed hands, has no beam or flame attacks. Dangar does have monster dreadlocks around its head that act as some sort of power source. Once U-Jack rips them off during the rambunctious final battle, Dangar is easily put away. To add a bit of spice to this impressively choreographed fight, earthquakes and explosions erupt around the combatants amidst volleys of judo throws, flying kicks, and Karate chops.

This was Ishiro Honda's fourth of five U-Jack episodes he directed. Honda got the series off with a big bang in the opening two-parter, a weak showing with episode seven, a stronger entry with this installment, and he returned to close out the series with episode 51. 

MONSTERS: Dangar

WEAPONS: MAT Arrow #1, #2, MAT Gyro

To be continued in Episode 10: DINOSAUR EXPLOSION DIRECTIVE!!!

From Beyond Television: Return of Ultraman Episode #8

 

Episode 8: MONSTER TIME BOMB ***

Directed By Kakei Tadashi-nori

A new monster surfaces in Hell Valley, and despite being a seemingly harmless creature, MAT must kill it anyways. Using Kishida's new X Bomb, Goh is sent to do the job. Narrowly missing the monsters ray attack, Goh fires, but the bomb doesn't go off. Upon reviewing the Arrow's on board flight recorder, Goh set the bomb as a 10 hour timed blast instead of on-target detonation. Worried the creature may surface in a densely populated area before the bomb explodes, MAT must find the burrowing beast before the ten hours is up. Tensions are alleviated when it appears the creature is leaving the Tokyo area. But when it is learned the monster is heading towards a chemical dynamite factory in the Aoki Highlands, MAT rushes there to avert another potential disaster.

After the merciless assault perpetrated on the benevolent monster of episode 7, captain Tsukamoto seems slightly less bloodthirsty than his team when he acknowledges this new monster is non-threatening, but issues orders to "settle the monster" anyways. Because that's what MAT (Monster Attack Team) does. They settle monsters. The rest chime in jokingly stating they could use this harmless daijaiju to wrangle bulls. Then Kishida seriously proclaims the monster must die immediately. Things get even more unsettling as Kishida brags about his new X-Bomb that could wipe out multiple monsters with one shot. Well, you could never say they don't take pride in their work.

Taguchi Shigemitsu takes over for main screenwriter Shozo Uehara for this episode. Despite some minor similarities with the previous entry, Taguchi keeps the tension very high, with lots of mini cliffhangers coming one after the other. This tension is tightly woven with the action (there's not that much action, but it's not noticeable) culminating in a well handled finish. The only drawback is the typical last scene where the title spaceman's human guise emerges from what seemed like a fatal accident, and everybody is ecstatic to see he survived after all. This sort of capper was a staple of the Ultra hero shows, so it would feel kinda naked without it.

 

The monster Ghostron (odd name) is more playful than destructive; child-like to an extent. He hops around with this 'dippity do da' type sway, and shows little interest in trampling buildings. 

Primary monster-alien suit actor for U-JACK Toya Takanobu gets this across succinctly. Like Gorbagos in episode seven, Ghostron only attacks when he feels threatened. The script makes this reptilian beast myopic, which is an unusual scripting addition. Since he can't see but so far in front of him, Ghostron senses his surroundings via sound. The monster also has a flame attack. 

 

During the brief battle with U-Jack, Takanobu's movements further enhance the monsters impish nature. You get the feeling this creature is a young one. Apparently Ultraman senses this, as he forgoes using his lethal Specium attack, opting instead for the Ultra Hurricane maneuver to do his own burrowing whereby he ascends directly underneath Ghostron, lifting him far above the Earth where the bomb, implanted in his tail, will detonate without causing both collateral and human damage.

 

Those who remember Ichiro, the latchkey kid from GODZILLA'S REVENGE (1970) will recognize Tomonori Yazaki (see above). He plays Jiro's school chum Takashi. His line delivery consists of telling Jiro that MAT sucks because they can't take down this monster. This acts as a lead-in to some minor exposition on how little Jiro feels about Goh, and the disappointment he feels when he doesn't come through. Jiro treats Goh like a big brother, and the scriptwriters are successful in getting this across over the course of the show. 

Going back to Yazaki, he had a brief career in the industry appearing in the Toho-Tsuburaya co-pro, DAIGORO VS. GOLIATH (1972), and several tokusatsu shows on television in the early 1970s.

'Monster Time Bomb' was the fourth lowest rated show of the entire 51 episode run of RETURN OF ULTRAMAN (ULTRAMAN JACK). For its storyline and editing it gets a good grade from this reviewer. It's not a typical monster episode, and one that's more in line with episode 35 of ULTRAMAN, 'The Monster Graveyard', but minus the melancholic atmosphere. It's a mini-disaster movie with monster machinations wrapped around it. Things would return to standard daikaiju conventions in the next episode, but with some flair; and also the return of Ishiro Honda to the directors chair for this predominantly fantastic series.

MONSTERS: Ghostron (Toya Takanobu)

WEAPONS: MAT Arrow #2; MAT Gyro; MAT Bazooka

To be continued in episode 9: MONSTER ISLAND SOS!!!

From Beyond Television: The Return of Ultraman Episode #7

 

Episode 7: OPERATION RAINBOW MONSTER **

Directed by Ishiro Honda

Goh, Jiro, Aki, and Ken are all on a mountain excursion. While enjoying the day, Jiro takes a photograph of Goh and his girlfriend atop a precipice. As they pose, Goh's super hearing picks up a shrill sound that nobody else hears. Later, Aki has the pictures developed and to her surprise, some sort of monster has photo bombed their picture without them knowing it. MAT investigates the location and comes up with nothing except scratch marks on some rocks by the river. They think that little Jiro has somehow doctored the photo as a prank. When the monster does reveal itself, MAT members discover it's a rock-like chameleon beast, assimilating with its surroundings. They devise the 'Rainbow Plan', an air and ground maneuver where the Monster Attack Team will pellet the thing with a myriad amount of colors so that the monster will remain visible.

This episode is of special significance in that it's one of five directed by master of Japanese giant monster movies, Ishiro Honda; who, for the first time since directing YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE (1970), turned to directing monsters on the small screen. Unfortunately, this episode is not as good as the series opener that Honda also directed. Shozo Uehara's script is awkward, and kinda jarring to say the least.

The program starts off very strong echoing a robust sense of mystery. What are those strange high-pitched noises that only Goh can hear? How is it this monster was picked up in Jiro's photo, but remained unseen by the human eye? None of these questions are sufficiently answered (the piercing sound is obviously from the monster, but once we see him, it's not heard again), and the suspense angle is abandoned a few minutes later. MAT finally becomes aware a monster does exist -- in the form of a rock-like creature named Gorbagos (Gorubagosu). 

 

Curiously, the monster is glaringly benevolent. A scene with some rock n' rolling teenagers shows the creature is disinterested in harming anyone so long as he's not disturbed; yet MAT is persistent in killing the beast. Goh even comes to the conclusion that "it'll run away when we attack it in the daytime. But at night, it becomes monstrous." Oddly enough, we never see Gorbagos become monstrous at any point. The bulk of the episode is MAT members, grinning from ear to ear, trying to kill the poor thing.

 

This is among the clutch of 'blood lust' episodes dotted throughout the Ultra series' (up to this point) wherein the science investigative unit mercilessly pelt seemingly benign beasts with laser fire and rockets. Then when Ultraman appears, he throttles the monster (who tries to get away virtually the entire time) before killing it, then flying away, and successfully making himself out to be the villain of the piece.

Possibly due to budget constraints, the action is confined to rocky terrain in what is described as Hell Valley -- a mountain region with a river and plentiful fauna unlike any artist interpretation of what hell is supposed to look like.

 

What's good about this episode is that it delivers what most folks watch these shows for in the first place -- the action. For episode seven, said action is virtually non-stop, and there's a rather well stage final fight. There's also some nice work manipulating the MAT Arrow model jet fighter. Instead of the 'straight line flight pattern' of previous series', they now perform spiral moves while in combat against the monsters.

Despite MAT, and humans in general antagonizing the hell out of him, Gorbagos is the least threatening looking kaiju of U-JACK thus far. The suit designed for him looks to have been a rushed affair; not to mention the back entrance of the suit is visibly open on a couple of occasions. Of the monsters weapons, Gorbagos burrows underground and has a fireball attack. His battle with U-Jack is a highlight, even if the good guys come off as bad guys in this one. Eiichi Kikuchi as Ultraman puts his martial arts background to good use here with a few flips, chops and throws. The modified suplex U-Jack gives to his rock monster opponent doesn't appear to be wire enhanced; and if not, it's a testament to Kikuchi's abilities.

 

After the ruthless MAT and co-conspirator Ultraman have brutally snuffed out Gorbagos, the last scene turns all sappy as MAT admires the rainbow that has suddenly appeared across the sky ("It's going to Heaven"). Toru Fuyuki's pleasing, cheerful end cue, combined with the big rainbow, attempts to leave the audience with a smile on their face in spite of the violence perpetrated on a big monster whose only crime against humanity was just wishing to peacefully sleep soundly within rock formations. For its jarring tone alone, it's barely average, but Ishiro Honda directing will be this episodes major drawing point for fans.

MONSTERS: Gorbagos

WEAPONS: MAT Arrow 1; MAT Gyro; MAT Gun; MAT Bazooka

To be continued in Episode 8: MONSTER TIME BOMB!!!

From Beyond Television: The Return of Ultraman Episode #6

 

EPISODE 6: BATTLE! MONSTERS VS. MAT (KESSEN! KAIJU TAI MATU) ****

Continuing from the previous episode, Ultraman briefly battles Gudon and Twin Tail before he is forced out of the fight after his color timer indicator expires. Thankfully, the two creatures -- one the natural predator of the other -- begin fighting one another, and end up taking their differences out to sea. The trapped civilians are rescued, but Aki is seriously injured. Goh, angering his teammates once more, decides to stay at her side till she's well again. Meanwhile Gudon and Twin Tail surface once more and Tokyo is ordered to be evacuated.

With U-Jack having been put in danger already, it's only natural that one of the human characters is, too. Aki is badly wounded, and with the monsters resurfacing for an encore of Tokyo devastation, a nice cliffhanger is set-up on getting out of the city in time. Goh is distracted, and refuses to leave Aki's side reaffirming a possible romance blooming. The drama actually feels real this time as opposed to padding till the monster shows up. It's very well done for this sort of thing; especially when there's very little time to expand beyond monster action.

Furthering the drama is the proposed use of a powerful laser weapon. This causes a bit of tension between the MAT members and their superior officers (one of them played by giant monster movie favorite Kenji Sahara). We never do get to see it, but the amount of potential damage from this laser is vaguely compared to that of the Atomic Bomb.

Action levels are high again in this continuation from episode five, and more so than before. The in-fighting between the MAT team is here. It's a staple for this series up to this point. But while the group are rarely on the same page, they do work very well with U-Jack in combating the monsters in this episode. The "tag team" offense between MAT and U-Jack, and the lengthy monster duel at the end is well edited and moves the action along in a kinetic fashion. It's a showcase for humans working cogently with their savior from M-78 as opposed to just monsters fighting. The big battle is more intricately choreographed than normal, too. There's martial arts maneuvers, wrestling, and some sweeping kicks. 

Like the preceding show, 'Monsters vs. MAT' is an exciting episode that juggles humans and monsters extremely well within the tight 30 minute time-frame. It's also unique in that the two kaiju, Gudon and Twin Tail, are mortal enemies. They not only attack U-Jack, but also each other. This episode also benefits from a plethora of composite shots. This two-parter is very busy with lots going on, as well as being a lot of fun for giant monster fans.

MONSTERS: Gudon, Twin Tail
WEAPONS: MAT Jeep with bazooka mount

To be continued in Episode 7: OPERATION RAINBOW MONSTER!!!

From Beyond Television: The Return of Ultraman Episode #5

 
EPISODE 5: TWO GIANT MONSTERS ATTACK TOKYO (NIDAI KAIJU TOUKYOU O SHUGEKI) ****

Three boys just out of school run across an unusual rock-like shell that falls off a truck at a construction site. Naturally they believe it to be some sort of fossilized monster egg (from 'the Jurassic Era', as one kid puts it). Shortly thereafter a burrowing creature emerges from the side of a mountain near the building site. MAT is on the scene but fails to obliterate the beast with bombs after Goh sees a little girl on the ground nearby. This refusal to follow orders gets Goh placed under house arrest for three days. Meanwhile, a second creature appears, and a battle ensues between both monsters and Ultraman.

Goh is in hot water with his teammates yet again. He just can't seem to stay out of trouble. In between causing drama, Goh takes a bit of time to work on his race car and flirt with Aki. We're five episodes in and Goh is already the most anarchic of the men to play a Nebula M-78 alien up to this point. It's a constant tension fest with this guy. His persona is definitely different, but understandable considering this was the early 1970s and the societal shift and tumult going on around the world. 

The brevity of the drama and human interaction is interrupted a few times by an earthquake; and when the ground is shaking in a Japanese SciFi or fantasy movie, or TV show it's a good sign a monster will make an appearance at some point. And as the title suggests, Tokyo gets no respect on the small screen as the stomping ground for the monsters here.

When it does appear, this second beast (named Twin Tail) causes a cave-in inside an underground mall. Aki and a couple of her girlfriends are among the civilians trapped below ground. This leads back to the disaster movie cliches we saw in the first two episodes, and was a concept that was to become immensely popular both in Japan and America around this time. Goh's heroism and penchant for speaking his mind further establishes him as not only a troublemaker, but a lifesaver as well.

Going back to his prowess as an agitator, a last minute surprise has Goh quit the force only moments after being told to come back! Kishida, the teammate that was butting heads with him, quits, too. They both join forces again to try and save the trapped civilians, but then the mysterious growing egg hatches and out pops a most peculiar looking kaiju. Known as Twin Tail, this monster is a bizarre design. It's head is on the bottom of its body while the upper portion has two large tentacles that whip around wildly. The monsters roar is the same as Jiger from GAMERA VS. JIGER (1970). It quickly gets the upper hand on U-Jack during the episodes closing minutes. 

The other monster, Gudon, joins the fray. It has spikes along its body, whips for hands, and burrows under the earth. Both creatures resemble one another.

The intercutting between Kishida and Sakata trying to dig their way to those trapped underground and the monster fight is a nice touch, and increases the worth of this episode. It also ends on an exciting cliffhanger as Ultraman is faced with fighting two adversaries once more.

Some viewers might notice this episode does something strange with its plot. In the beginning, three boys are introduced after discovering the shell-like egg. Considering how connected kids and kaiju were at the time in Japanese monster movies and TV programs, it's odd that, outside of this opening scene, we never see the three kids again. However, this is the best episode thus far, and another exciting two-parter. Just as it was in the series opener, there's a strong balance between the human and monster action. It's a great recipe, and one that tastes great here.

MONSTERS: Gudon, Twin Tail
WEAPONS: MAT Gyro

To be continued in Episode 6: BATTLE! MONSTERS VS. MAT!!!