Up From The Depths Reviews | Dogora (1964)

[@battleupsaber462]

man i sure do hate it when a giant space jellyfish steals the diamonds i worked so hard to steal

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

I just steal them better than you 👾

[@dreademperor2094]

He does need them to feed himself

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

@@dreademperor2094 a delicacy fit for an entity like me

[@dreademperor2094]

@@dogorathespacejellyfish6534 even cosmic entities need to eat

[@TheTrueUltimateGenLifeform]

@@dogorathespacejellyfish6534 No

[@SaurianStudios1207]

Dogora is probably the most original and strangest Kaiju design I’ve seen

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

Thank you for such praiseworthy words. Good fortune will come to you.

[@ryandtibbetts2962]

A shame it didn't get more screen time.

[@scado5679]

@@dogorathespacejellyfish6534 holy cheese he's in the comments section, we're doomed

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

@@scado5679 know my power mortal

[@ryandtibbetts2962]

@@scado5679 just feed him a diamond or two. Diamonds are a Dogora's best friend, after all.

[@scado5679]

Dogora is a perfect example of how practical effects can make a kaiju movie great. Dogora (the kaiju) is an interesting concept, and I'd love to see it in a future monster movie. I'm betting you'll do Gorath next, and I won't complain one way or the other

[@fromPEI]

I thoroughly enjoyed Dogora, and find it to be an overlooked gem in Toho's science fiction catalogue. The imagery of the Dogora creature hovering above the city alone is one of the most dreamlike and well crafted sequences of any Kaiju film from the 60s in my opinion, and I thought the human storyline was intriguing and fun. Glad you got around to reviewing this one!

[@marhawkman303]

people in modern times forget just how much Toho liked human drama and disaster plots in movies :D

[@VonWenk]

I've always remembered this movie for the mobsters having a giant rock land on them at the end.

[@shakeelmubarak1146]

Out of every kaiju, i find this one to be the most disturbing

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

They will all learn to fear me

[@deeznutz8076]

It so creepy when it moves those tentacles with the four fingers are the stuff of nightmares

[@Gappasaurus]

@Sofia Katsouda That, and the heartbeat-like sound effect used whenever Dogora appears always got me 😱

[@ohppig1]

One thing I like about Dogora is Robert Dunham. He was an American businessman in Japan wh ended up doing a lot of roles in Toho films. You can tell he was having a marvelous time in a major role as the more-Japanese-than-the-Japanese gaijin

[@dougbrowne9890]

So agree with you. His character, Mark Jackson, helps make this film a fun view.

[@koboldengineering7687]

Dogora as a monster was always so haunting and spooky to me. Something about it's massive ghostly tentacles in the sky was especially horrifying.

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

My arms can stretch for endless miles and ensnare anything...and anyone

[@bunkerzero]

I gotta look this one up! The scenes with Dogora look other worldly almost like a dream

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

Thou have summoned me

[@TheTrueUltimateGenLifeform]

Not so fast

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

@Dogora ironic to say considering thou is 2 years too late 👁👁

[@bkp1st]

be careful, i have wasp venom with me, and im not afraid to use it

[@RobotGooseStudios]

Dogora is one of my personal favourite Toho movies (along with The Mysterians and The Last Dinosaur) and kaiju. I absolutely adore the marionette work in the film

[@brendankim6015]

Was very pleasantly surprised by this one, super underrated entry in Toho’s filmography IMO.

[@kikihideout4966]

fun tidbit, Media Blasters actually did the transfer for its dvd release in house instead of waiting for Toho's R2 dvd transfer, hence the good contrast and grading of the colors with blues and oranges on the picture, but at the cost of having the print being quite worny at times.

[@Studycase3000]

I grew up every Saturday morning watching Creature Double Feature. I WISH there was a channel that still showed all of these movies they are like distant whispers of my memory that you access with each upload. I have grown to love this channel since I found you. Thank you as always for another Awesome review and a look back to my childhood. In these Chaotic times we live in you must know how refreshing your work is to me and many others. /bow

[@dougbrowne9890]

It was a different time. And kids are a lot different now. Their imaginations are very thin, because everything is "in their face" today. Thankfully, there are still some, like you and I, that love watching them.

[@CoryTheRaven]

I really enjoy this movie and adore the monster, but I would love a "Shin-Dogora" that dispensed with the jewel thief plot and explored the terrifying potential of what Dogora is doing. It eats carbon and worked its way from diamonds to coal... going to less and less concentrated forms of carbon. What's left after coal? Life. This creature has the potential to completely sterilize the planet of all organic molecules. That's an apocalyptic threat level even beyond Godzilla. Some filmmaker needs to lean into that more heavily!

[@Tenebrio-Morio]

It's not exactly the same, but in an episode of Ultra Q there was a monster that fed off of energy that threatened to engulf the earth. Any attempt to attack it just made it grow faster.

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

One day my child the universe will tremble and cower at the devourer of existence once more. I will return to claim the world, and none will ready for my arrival.

[@fredmorrison2635]

This is a great observation, giving some depth to the concept.

[@gamera2351]

Excellent!! You knock every review out of the park. Unless I'm mistaken, the only Toho Showa era kaiju movie left is Yog Space Amoeba.

[@scado5679]

There's also Gorath.

[@catyear75]

Great review - I can’t understand how I’m only learning of this movie now ! Dogora is absolutely Alien- it does indeed look like it came from Lovecrafts fevered mind ! I really need to track this down and watch it ASAP

[@Rinesmyth]

I've been looking forward to this one. I've only seen one clip of this movie but it was enough to tell me the effects were ahead of its time.

[@Jormyyy]

Low key Dagora may be one of the powerful kaiju ever. A masisve space jellyfish that consumes planets for their carbon is insane sounding.

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

My hunger knows no limits. The universe is my all you can eat buffet!

[@dreademperor2094]

I actually thought Dogora was just them recording a actual jellyfish using special effects for the scene

[@noaka34bit]

I LOVE DOGORA

[@romangunter621]

I wonder what he is going to review next week, Latitude Zero (1969) or Space Ameoba (1970), he also forgot to review The H-Man (1958), Battle in Outer Space (1959), and Gorath (1962) but he might get to those some other time. The H-Man is also technically part of an unofficial trilogy by Toho that also includes The Secret of the Telegian (1960) and The Human Vapor (1960).

[@fredmorrison2635]

"Dogora" is my favorite kaiju. I love the oddity of it all, including Ifukube's non-traditional score. I think it's closer to "Matango" than to any of the other haiju. And my favorite parts are the scenes with Akiko Wakabayashi--so beautiful.

[@logicaltips4107]

2nd monster that appeared in the Godzilla anime novel...

[@KaijuPictures]

Finally! Dogora gets some love!

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

Good fortune shall come to you my believer.

[@tiernanmcculloch]

Dogora is so great. It's one of my favorite classic Toho films.

[@zintosion]

Dogora is hauntingly beautiful

[@KaijuKing42]

Mark Jackson is my favorite Showa Era character in a kaiju film. He's too much fun!

[@briancenti5423]

i wish they would remake this movie, the sheer size of dogora is incredible. seeing it above cities, it's immense size and tentacles would be an incredible match for Ghidorah. the monster here may be limited, but after 56 years, it's left it's mark. wouldn't this be something hovering above skull island ?? !!! thanks for posting this.

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

One day my child I shall return. Bigger and better!

[@dougbrowne9890]

I love your review. It is exactly as I see the film. Good monster, good subplot (diamond thieves). Mark Jackson is so very cool and Akiko Wakabayashi is a treat to watch on screen (as any Bond girl would be). A+ review!!

[@TemplarBlonic]

Some of these effects look 20 years ahead of their time!

[@ek9509]

3 stars = Okay.

[@Gappasaurus]

I find it interesting that of all the actors to appear in Toho’s films, i always tend to mix up the gaijins (Robert Dunham, Nick Adams, Russ Tamblyn, etc) 😄

[@davidmccann9811]

I've never seen this one, but the monster looks great.

[@crimestick6648]

The only way this film could have been any better is IF the human story had more of an existential dread feel to it; otherwise, this was one of the best kaiju films that I got to see when I was young. Adding to its mystique is the fact that it was rarely shown on t .v. A true, if overlooked gem.

[@only257]

Crimestick mst3k joke are those blue meanies 🤣

[@crimestick6648]

@@only257 cool story....

[@Gappasaurus]

1:49 “A large influx of bees ought to put a stop to that!”

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

I'm acutely allergic to bees...and peanuts

[@TheRealNormanBates]

NO! NOT THE BEES!

[@Xenomorthian]

The statement that Dogora is like a heist movie with a giant monster flying around in the background reminds me of how people say Godzilla Minus One is like a sad drama movie that could stand on its own but also has Godzilla showing up occasionally to scare the shit out of you.

[@garyreid6165]

Actor Robert Dunham had said of actress Akiko Wakabayashi that she had a killer body but not the best acting ability. The use of the puppetry to move Dogora about was phenomenal.

[@paulbacchus1015]

Wow this look's a cool and original monster movie, why has it passed me by. Paul Bacchus esq

[@kemmdog4444]

I saw this years ago and it still stayed in my mind.

[@nornog]

I love this movie along with Gorath.

[@JuddKramer]

I actually read Robert Dunham's book 'Tokyo Unzipped', which is long out of print but able to be bought online. He seemed like such an interesting person.

[@MuzikJunky]

Probably Eiji Tsuburaya’s finest work. Peace.

[@saulamaral574]

I never knew Dogora existed, I find the movie very entertaining and joyful to watch. Dogora is a one time space monster he is definitely the most unusual Toho ever came up with.

[@Matkaizer08]

Spongebob and Patrick are going to have a hard time trying to catch Dogora

[@MGWFilms97]

heck, they probably might not be able too!

[@spencermalley10]

Hope you never run out of material.

[@scado5679]

Honestly, he might be reaching the end of the road in terms of Toho kaiju movies. It's anyone's guess to say what he'll do after thise are inevitably exhausted. Godzilla The Series? Ultraman? We'll just have to wait and see.

[@TevorTheThird]

It's such an interesting idea that I think is doomed by audience reception. On paper it's great. You're basically pitching a heist movie set during a disaster film. Except instead of an earthquake or hurricane, it's a kaiju. That's genius. But no matter how good it actually is I fear a larger audience will always reject it. After watching this I was immediately thinking "Yeah. This is great. We should do a really slickly polished one of these today. We could do the concept such justice!" But the counter is then that the critique you see coming a million miles away of where is the monster? Why does it have nothing to do with the monster? I think the better you do each component the louder that complaint is too. The better the monster stuff the louder the voices complain when it's not the focus. The better the A plot the bigger the lampshading that it has nothing to do with the monster. You could even try to hide the monster in the marketing, playing up the "natural disaster" angle, so that people aren't expecting a kaiju movie... but then critics will slam you for a "twist" that "has nothing to do with the plot". Bums me out. I love the idea of Dogora and think you could do an even better execution of it... I just can't imagine a world where it makes anyone money so it'd never happen. I guess that makes Dogora all the more special then.

[@HydraSpectre1138]

Army of the Dead also did this now. It is basically a grand heist film in a zombie apocalypse.

[@majungabunga]

@@HydraSpectre1138 Nope’s Jean Jacket (The nick name of the creature) is basically a modern version of Dogora (The Monster Atleast), and wasnt really a monster movie

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

Dogara is the most hypnotizing and mysterious kaiju I've ever seen

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

Words of praise shall grant you good fortune my disciple

[@benderbendingrodriguez420]

@@dogorathespacejellyfish6534 Praise Dogora, almighty lord of space jellyfish🙏

[@saulamaral574]

Akiko wakabaysahi is such a an alluring beauty, it is sad that her character dies because she wanted to go into business for herself and she pays the price.

[@andrewpragasam]

It's one of Toho's quirkier, more interestingly plotted monster movies with equally offered though striking special effects. And god, Akiko Wakabayashi is just staggeringly beautiful here.

[@marvinjones4415]

I haven't seen this movie since the 70s. I'd probably appreciate it more now than back then; not that I took it for granted. I lived for any Japanese monster movie!

[@Dontuween]

Always felt bad for the diamond thieves. They just never got a break and in the end, bam!! :)

[@mistergrool3941]

This review hit the nail on the head with how I felt with the movie. I went in wanting to see how they utilized the monster and left somewhat disappointed, but in retrospect can look back on how unique this movie truly is. Regardless of how I felt about the movie overall, though, I do think that the monster effects are the best out of the entire kaiju genre and absolutely hold up to this day, they seriously impressed me.

[@only257]

Great review,fun movie 📼

[@DirtiestDMusic]

One step closer to reviewing every kaiju movie ever made.

[@elcholo6992]

This kaiju is imo is one the most scary kaiju like imagine seeing a giant flying alien in the sky sucking up all your minerals and buildings

[@HildebrandJohnson]

I bought some but not all of the Media Blasters DVDs before they went out of print. This was one of the ones I kept putting off. Is anyone going to release it soon? It showed up on Amazon Prime last year, but the encoding was messed up. It's like they forgot to expand an anamorphic DVD, and there were vertical breaks.

[@robgrimm9004]

More creepy than kaiju but I loved it. Saw this movie as a kid on Klara Kackle's Creepy Cauldron out of South Bend. Back in the 70's. I miss those innocent times.

[@lucasmoore3051]

Long have I waited

[@kaiju115]

I actually want Dogora to make a comeback

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

One day my child...

[@maxbrandt6]

This looks nicely different, certainly going to give at watch!

[@BaldPerspective]

Brandon, come back, we miss you!!

[@BasementDweller_]

It gives me eerie vibes.

[@lolacrosby3478]

As soon as a saw that Dogora was a giant jellyfish the inner biologist in me said: "so that's where Gamera's lunch went."

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

You have it backwards man of science. Among many things, turtle soup is what is on my menu.

[@lolacrosby3478]

@@dogorathespacejellyfish6534 really last time i checked sea turtles ate jellyfish as a regular part of their diet.

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

@@lolacrosby3478 this jellyfish has no predators. It does not fear what can be devoured, and that being all, including turtles and the so called "guardian of the universe". Your jellyfish of earth may be susceptible to shelled reptiles but I am no jellyfish of earth.

[@dreademperor2094]

@@lolacrosby3478 it's best not to argue with a cosmic entity

[@kurtbarlow9402]

Damn, I haven't seen this film in about 40 - 45 years. Hello, Amazon? (Now that I know the title)

[@ronaldspencer547]

Now I have to see it!!!!

[@angryboi595]

This movie be underrated asf. I really like dogora. He needs more love and is really creative in terms of design. I'm so glad he returned in godzilla monster planet

[@iamthebaroness8148]

Dogora is so pretty 🐙

[@dreademperor2094]

Beautiful yet haunting and unsettling

[@serioussam4726]

Keep up the good work

[@redbon8918]

Patrick pass me the jellyfishing net.

[@ThieflyChap]

Hmm, this one I think I definitely have to watch.

[@edwardtoyebo9690]

I love this movie. An original concept and the scenes of Dogora hovering over Tokyo are errie and very effective. I have felt for some time, Toho made a monster movie where the human action takes center stage. Yeah, we come for the monster action and we do get that with Dogora. But I found the heist and detective stories just as entertaining as the monster stuff. I like the character of Robert Dunham. Kudos to Toho for making this bold entry. They tried something different and Dogora works for me.

[@mrmysterious8124]

Can you look at Gorgo🌊🐉

[@HolyCross9]

I'm surprised that this film doesn't have a DVD/BluRay release.

[@luisreyes1963]

Quite possibly, the weirdest creation from Toho. Maybe if the "Kaiju" had a more of an H.P. Lovecraft backstory, it might have been more memorable.

[@kingjohn9054]

Anyone who’s seen the new singular point trailer knows dogora and hedorah did the fusion dance.

[@dinoxels]

If only the Godzilla anime did more with Dogora then just shoving it in the prequel novels.

[@Tenebrio-Morio]

As someone who constantly defends the anime trilogy, the prequel novels are superior.

[@TheRealNormanBates]

So... is this the prequel origin story to the Crystaline Entity (Datalore)?

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

You are confusing me with one of my relatives. A common misconception amongst the masses.

[@tacosnake4342]

I remember first seeing this movie on T.V.

[@Kewrock]

In 1970's NY, we used to have annual Monster Weeks on the afternoon ABC 4:30 Movie. This movie used to turn up occasionally. We didn't like it. It took too long to get to the monster. Then it wasn't really around much.

[@demonickatz2652]

Anyone know where to find a Japanese version of this movie? I've checked a few places and either nothing or only the English dub

[@thegreenfireball897]

While Mary Poppins absolutely deserved to win the Oscar for Best Visual Effects in 1964, I feel like Dogora could have at least earned a nomination. That might seem controversial on some level, but it’s what I believe.

[@spectreagent00]

Available on Amazon Prime!

[@MGWFilms97]

Yay early! I loved this movie

[@alejandrovasquez4948]

can you make a video of your top 10 favorite giant monster movies.

[@josephmatthews9866]

An extremely underrated kaiju, and you said it was done in between two other kaiju monsters movies? Awesome!! Please do other underrated kaiju / horror/ sci fi . May I suggest H ATTACK OF THE LIQUIDFIED HUMANS aka THE H MAN ( American title ) just for starters.

[@paulppchristman5827]

The juxtaposition of the monster storyline and the diamond thieves subplot is rather awkward and confusing; the two seem to be nearly independent of each other, a bit like the multiple vignettes which each episode of the tv series "Fantasy Island" contained. But the film all the same is certainly engaging and interesting, even if a bit perplexing and difficult to follow at times .

[@GuardianComplex]

Oohh! I'm not familiar with this one! Exciting!

[@Zearth1]

Dogora is definitely a band apart from typical Kaiju fare, but I think that's where its heart is. I can only wonder what will be up next from this channel. Gorath? Space Amoeba? The Three Treasures or its remake, Orochi, the Eight-Headed Dragon ? Latitude Zero? Or will you move on to some other non-Toho Kaiju material all together?

[@Shield.Productions]

You did not mention the banger soundtrack

[@smithwesson1896]

They should have made a giant bee kaiju to fight Dogora

[@leeannacall4712]

I wished they would of showed more of the monster 👹. 💜🐾🐺🐾🐺

[@dogorathespacejellyfish6534]

My ethereal presence is too much for mortals to comprehend. It would but those who witness me into absolute madness.

[@brucedavis3816]

So this is where they got tje idea for nope!!!

[@brianlawton8172]

Like ghidirah and h-man but puts the crime element more into the foreground. Still a win win for the house that honda built.

[@DigitalBath742]

Could you review the Daimajin trilogy.

[@edwardtoyebo9690]

I love this trilogy, especially the third Return of Daimajin. You get a children's fantasy, a sword and samurai AND a giant stone statue monster on the loose movie. Sounds confusing, well, it is not. Talk about your big, money shot payoff endings. The third act is a brutal and beautifully photographed confrontation between man and a mythical god-like creature that packs an emotional wallop. Satisfying on every level. If you have not seen the Daimajin Trilogy, seek these movies out.

[@Masonjdejej]

The best kaju

[@Ricanson21]

Any chance of you making a Gunhed (1989) review?!?

[@battleroyale1056]

NICE IDEA!!!

[@kemmdog4444]

Have you or are you going to do an episode on Daimajin movies?

[@greentokyo]

Nice video! Quick note, Tsuburaya’s first name is pronounced like Ay-ee-gee, not Eejai.

[@kirbyuniversal4250]

Dogra is strange

[@D.Z.A.-kp8lf]

thinking outside the sci fi box that's what Japan does