Reviews

"Two Before Zero" is more of a polemical statement rather than a drama, although it is not that far away from an episode of "The Twilight Zone" or an odd NET (the old PBS) drama from the 1960's ('ala "NET Playhouse). It is a dialogue between two characters illustrated by newsreel footage. Basil Rathbone plays what has been called an "inquisitor-like" charcter, and Mary Murphy is his audience. It is a warning against what happens when an ideology, in this case Marxism, is forced on individuals and the death and destruction that can occur. Hopefully, those who take the anti-Red Scare position can see that what went on in the Soviet Union and other places was not totally benevolent and lied about by its enemies in the west. (The film contains graphic footage of people who were killed by fanatical Marxists.) Although the film is dated (it came out in 1962) , I think we can still learn some of its lessons even today. Basil Rathbone, incidentally, gave a good performance in one of his last roles. This film doesn't deserve to be as obscure as it is.

This is a really great Toho monster movie, one of their best from the 1960's. The Green Gargantua is a truly frightening creation. There is no attempt to give him too many human attributes in order to diminish his malevolence. He and his more sympathetic "brother" are truly effective especially during those scenes where they suddenly appear,seemingly,out of nowhere or are hidden in the mist.I must admit, however, that the special effects are a mixed bag. There are some excellent scenes, but many with the usual "toy" tanks and other equipment. The acting (I've only seen the English-dubbed version) is fine, including Russ Tamblyn as the doctor. The scene with Kipp Hamilton is pure "camp". My only regret is not seeing it when it first came out in the U.S. in 1970, double-billed with MONSTER ZERO.