LEGEND
OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS (1977) Director: Junji Kurata
Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock
LEGEND
OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS (1977) Media Blasters has won the hearts of Japanese fantasy film fans over the past couple of years with fantastic releases of some of the most highly-desired titles from the famed Toho library. One of their latest releases, however, is a slight departure from this formula. A Japanese production, LEGEND OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS (aka LEGEND OF THE DINOSAURS) was released by Toei, a rival studio of Toho that had seen success with THE GREEN SLIME earlier, but was still better known for their incredible Sonny Chiba action films than they were for monster movies like this one. Lacking the technical genius of Toho’s Eiji Tsuburaya, Toei’s LEGEND OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS still attempts to showcase giant monsters (in this case, dinosaurs) attacking a Japanese community before turning their violent intentions towards each other, a formula that garnered Toho timeless adoration from fans worldwide. So, just how does Toei’s entry into the monster movie territory stand up against the masterpieces created by other Japanese studios like Toho and Daiei? Well, despite an inspired effort by Media Blasters in regards to the DVD’s technical merits, Toei probably should have stuck with what they know best – Sonny Chiba action films.
Strange
happenings are occurring around Mt. Fuji. Motivated by financial gain, our mildly-likeable
protagonists investigate the area hoping to discover the results of some current
and very unusual weather conditions. They discover a Loch Ness Monster-ish plesiosaur
living in a lake that begins to feed on the unsuspecting locals in a rather
graphic manner. And, since two monsters are always better than one, a pterosaur
hatches in a nearby cave, which also attacks the unsuspecting locals before
setting its sights on the plesiosaur, resulting in a less-than-thrilling climatic
showdown.
LEGEND
OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS is, first and foremost, incredibly derivative
of JAWS. Not only does it “borrow” ideas from that film, but exact
shots and scenes are recreated here. What they should have borrowed from JAWS,
however, was the pacing - LEGEND OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS is plodding
and dull, with lots of talk and very little excitement. Aside from a few action
sequences, most of the monster fun is reserved for the film’s final 15-minutes.
And speaking of monsters, the plesiosaur and pterosaur models are stiff and
unimpressive, especially for 1977 when various technical advancements were readily
available to the filmmakers. Instead, the monster sequences come across like
they were filmed 20-years earlier, at least. The final climatic battle between
our two antagonists is unintentionally hilarious – to call this sequence
“clumsy” is an understatement. The jazz, pop, and country music
found on the soundtrack entrench this film squarely in the 1970s – but,
whether that is a positive or a negative depends entirely on the viewer. One
of the film’s few bright spots is the artistic, assured cinematography
– unique angles and lighting conditions are employed that help to elevate
the film above its exploitive origins.
While
the entertainment value of LEGEND OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS can be questioned,
there is no such debate regarding the film’s DVD presentation. Media Blasters
has done a spectacular job in the video and audio areas of this release. The
2.35:1 anamorphic image is sharp, bright and colorful. Fleshtones are spot on,
and with the exception of some very, very minor blemishes, the source material
is immaculate. From the misty forests to the dank caverns, the video presentation
is a sheer delight. As for the audio, both the Japanese and English-dubbed mono
tracks are strong and clear. Even though the English dubbing isn’t too
horrific, sticking with the original Japanese track helps to lend the film a
slight artistic quality that it most likely doesn’t deserve to have. Optional
English subtitles are also available. As for Special Features, we’re presented
with two theatrical trailers for LEGEND OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER BIRDS, along
with four trailers for other Japanese fantasy films. There is a Still Gallery
that contains some nice monster shots that don’t appear in the film itself.
Media
Blasters once again delivers a top-notch DVD presentation of a Japanese fantasy
film, with an absolutely splendid transfer. LEGEND OF DINOSAURS AND MONSTER
BIRDS is a less-than stellar effort, and the DVD is recommended for Japanese
fantasy film completists, and/or those who really appreciate fine cinematography.
Everyone else might want to stick with renting this title before purchasing.
(Matt Martell)