To understand this movie, you have to know something about Korean history. The Koreans are still smarting after thirty-five years of Japanese occupation (1910-1945), which ended with Japan's defeat in World War II. The Japanese treated the Koreans much the same way the Russians treated the Poles or the British treated the Irish. Even today Japanese movies and comic books are illegal in Korea. Thus, perhaps not surprisingly, most Korean movies are calculated imitations of popular Japanese genres--give the home folks their own version of Japanese movies so they won't long for forbidden fruit. "Yongary" may seem to us a poor "Godzilla" rip-off, but to Korean audiences that haven't seen a Japanese monster movie it's undoubtedly much more exciting. Judged strictly on its own merits, "Yongary" is about par for the Japanese kaiju movies of its era--neither better nor worse.
45 Reviews
Somewhat Boring
gavin694216 August 2017
Earthquakes in central Korea turn out to be the work of Yongary, a prehistoric gasoline-eating reptile that soon goes on a rampage through Seoul.
Allegedly, there is no more Korean print of this film and what circulates today is an American television print. This means we are stuck with the American dialogue rather than the original, and the editing may be quite different. Thus, we are watching (and critiquing) a film not as it was ever intended to be seen.
While much of what remains is amusing, it does tend to get boring. With Godzilla it never gets old, but with Yongary we can only see him smashing things for so long before it seems like the same old thing over and over. What other tricks do we have? None?
Allegedly, there is no more Korean print of this film and what circulates today is an American television print. This means we are stuck with the American dialogue rather than the original, and the editing may be quite different. Thus, we are watching (and critiquing) a film not as it was ever intended to be seen.
While much of what remains is amusing, it does tend to get boring. With Godzilla it never gets old, but with Yongary we can only see him smashing things for so long before it seems like the same old thing over and over. What other tricks do we have? None?
The Truth Beneath Plate Tectonics
mstomaso6 May 2008
Nuclear testing in the Middle East awakens the earth-shaker Yongary from the depths of Korean mythology. This medium-sized kaiju is essentially Godzilla with big canines and a rhinoceros horn glued to his snout, and he is about to face the entire South Korean space program, air force, army and a willful eight-year-old. Needless to say, there really isn't much competition and Yongary makes short work of Seoul and everything along the way.
The special effects are anything but. The miniatures and cinematography are actually worse than some of the worst Japanese kaiju films of the early '70s. The acting and English dubbing is actually fairly good and the plot is not incoherent, though it is ridiculous.
Recommended for silent background play accompanied by your own soundtrack at a house party.
The special effects are anything but. The miniatures and cinematography are actually worse than some of the worst Japanese kaiju films of the early '70s. The acting and English dubbing is actually fairly good and the plot is not incoherent, though it is ridiculous.
Recommended for silent background play accompanied by your own soundtrack at a house party.
Godzilla's Seoul Brother
TheAngryRobot25 May 2004
A Scientist and a young woman get married and immediately are harassed by the bride's young brother, whom you will likely hate almost immediately. Their honeymoon is short lived, as the scientist's new father-in-law calls him into action on the wedding night, not the kind of action he was looking for. It seems this man is the only one who can solve a problem plaguing the Korean people...a giant, angry, thunder lizard who has emerged from "the deep". I guess it's happened before, as most of the people know this Godzilla-like beast by his first name, Yongary.
Anyways, Yongary destroys a bunch of buildings, killing a bunch of people I assume, and ravages the Korean oil refineries, using the blow-torch in his mouth. We find out that he was only causing this ruckus because his tummy was growling, yes our boy Yongary was hungry. That pretty much covers most of the movie, other than a scene where he starts to dance, which makes it all worth watching (not really).
Anyways, Yongary destroys a bunch of buildings, killing a bunch of people I assume, and ravages the Korean oil refineries, using the blow-torch in his mouth. We find out that he was only causing this ruckus because his tummy was growling, yes our boy Yongary was hungry. That pretty much covers most of the movie, other than a scene where he starts to dance, which makes it all worth watching (not really).
Kuk Dong delivers a poor but amusing Godzilla ripoff.
MrVibrating26 August 2007
I mean...the company is called Kuk Dong. If you speak Swedish, that is quite funny. Otherwise its just random. Umm...movie review.
A giant monsters appears after a space shuttle launch. It goes to crush a model of a Korean city. An annoying kid uses his flashlight to make Yonggary dance. After much pointless destruction, a random scientist dumps a load of toxins on Yonggary and he dies a painful, withering death.
It's standard stuff here, folks, but very quaint and amusing in it's production. It's got some random stuff, like the Korean priest shouting repent in one of the crowd scenes, and the epileptic rave scene. Otherwise it's Godzilla from start to finish, complete with terrible models, a supremely cheesy space sequence, and pointless, unintroduced characters.
Yonggary has got a neat cutting beam that he slices a motorcycle and a jet fighter(straight out of Team America) in half with.
If you want some late night cheese, this is it.
A giant monsters appears after a space shuttle launch. It goes to crush a model of a Korean city. An annoying kid uses his flashlight to make Yonggary dance. After much pointless destruction, a random scientist dumps a load of toxins on Yonggary and he dies a painful, withering death.
It's standard stuff here, folks, but very quaint and amusing in it's production. It's got some random stuff, like the Korean priest shouting repent in one of the crowd scenes, and the epileptic rave scene. Otherwise it's Godzilla from start to finish, complete with terrible models, a supremely cheesy space sequence, and pointless, unintroduced characters.
Yonggary has got a neat cutting beam that he slices a motorcycle and a jet fighter(straight out of Team America) in half with.
If you want some late night cheese, this is it.
Let's hear it for the itchy, dancing lizard who appears to be part rhino.
mark.waltz9 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Dinosaur by play dough, trucks by Tonka. That's the obvious credit that this film should carry, a silly "Godzilla" rip-off where the sets are obviously models (check out those battery operated tanks) and pretty much every piece of metal (every shape or form of it) was utilized to provide plenty of amusement, but not in the way the creators may have wanted. This time, the monster is in Korea, not Japan, and Yongary comes out of the ground just as an enormous earthquake is continuing to devastate the whole country.
The hero is a young kid, originally seen with some sort of gun that flashes a light and makes its victims itch horribly, in this case his own sister and her fiancée. Later, he gets the over-sized reptile to itch and dance at the time, making you think that you're in the middle of the "Itchy and Scratchy Show", ironically with rock music in the background.
There's a strange brief sequence showing partying Koreans getting wasted, not realizing the danger outside approaching, but that's never even seen again, making me wonder if the editor cut out the wrong footage. Even with obvious models, the effects are pretty good, although kids today spoiled by computer technology and graphics are going to realize it's all phony.
So if you want a few laughs with some bad English dubbing and a reminder of what didn't necessarily come from Hollywood (even though this ended up in a sequence of the 1982 documentary "It Came From Hollywood"), check this out. This is marked, interestingly enough, as having been released by American International Television, but for some reason, it's in widescreen, giving the impression that some drive-in or second rate theater somewhere must have shown it.
The hero is a young kid, originally seen with some sort of gun that flashes a light and makes its victims itch horribly, in this case his own sister and her fiancée. Later, he gets the over-sized reptile to itch and dance at the time, making you think that you're in the middle of the "Itchy and Scratchy Show", ironically with rock music in the background.
There's a strange brief sequence showing partying Koreans getting wasted, not realizing the danger outside approaching, but that's never even seen again, making me wonder if the editor cut out the wrong footage. Even with obvious models, the effects are pretty good, although kids today spoiled by computer technology and graphics are going to realize it's all phony.
So if you want a few laughs with some bad English dubbing and a reminder of what didn't necessarily come from Hollywood (even though this ended up in a sequence of the 1982 documentary "It Came From Hollywood"), check this out. This is marked, interestingly enough, as having been released by American International Television, but for some reason, it's in widescreen, giving the impression that some drive-in or second rate theater somewhere must have shown it.
If You Thought Japanese Monster Movies Were Bad
rabrenner27 October 2007
Cheapo Korean GODZILLA rip-off. Yonggary has a nose that glows when excited, likes to dance to rock 'n' roll, and is vulnerable to itching powder. Going Godzilla one better, Yonggary breathes fire AND shoots lasers from his nose. An allegedly cute eight year old boy befriends him; you keep hoping a building will fall on the boy or he'll get run over by a tank or be trampled by the mobs fleeing in terror to shut him up. The weirdest sequence occurs early in the movie: on his wedding night, just when his new bride is getting amorous, an astronaut is summoned on a secret mission; the next scene you see, he's blasting off into space in an enormous phallic rocket ship.
Good Monster but Largely Boring Film.
Space_Mafune4 September 2002
Yongary is a terrific Monster with fantastic powers(albeit a little too much like Godzilla). Particularly I like his horn which shoots laser beams.
However the film itself drags on incessantly, stars an annoying little kid in short shorts and has less than spectacular special effects. Particularly bad is when the flame-shooting device used for Yongary to breathe fire is so obviously visible on screen. Also the eventual outcome for Yongary may be too much for some children.
However the film itself drags on incessantly, stars an annoying little kid in short shorts and has less than spectacular special effects. Particularly bad is when the flame-shooting device used for Yongary to breathe fire is so obviously visible on screen. Also the eventual outcome for Yongary may be too much for some children.
A very underwhelming start to the Korean giant monster genre
FilmExpertWannabe11 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
After The Best From 20,000 Fathoms, Toho was inspired to create a movie and monster that would become far more famous globally, 1954's Godzilla. After Godzilla's success at both the box office and in popularity, other companies the world over scrambled to create their own monster films to attract similar success. America launched countless efforts, from The Giant Mantis to It Came From Beneath the Sea (and many more). Britain had Gorgo in 1961. Within Japan there will films like Gamera. But Korea launched its own low budget attempt at Godzilla and the new-at-the-time Gamera series. Yongary (1967) was this movie.
Yongary is proportionally based on Godzilla with a head that apes Baragon and Gamera to an extent. So the monster itself is nothing compelling, and the quality of the suit is poor, as you've probably well gathered by now. Giving him more convincing eyes would've gone a long way, because they don't move and they glow unrealistically. The pump shooting fire in his mouth was another goof. And with trying to appeal to children at the time -much as how Godzilla and Gamera were- we received a child for a lead. The plot is nothing fresh either, with a giant bipedal fire breathing monster rising from the Earth.
The one surprising scene in the movie is at the end when the monster is dying a slow, painful death while jerking from pain and bleeding. It's the first time the film begins to draw in something from the audience. Unfortunately, it's FAR too little FAR too late. You can watch the entire movie for free on Google, which is probably the only way I'd watch it. Even though you can purchase it cheaply for $5-6, I'd pass. Even then it's too much for a movie you'll surely watch just once. It has nothing on even Toho's movies of the late 1960s, such as War of the Gargantuas or Destroy All Monsters. Buy one of these or something from Gamera's series if you want an Asian giant monster flick from this era.
As a final word, a Korean company tried to resurrect the Yongary monster in a new film from 1999, titled Reptilian in the US. It's probably even worse for its time than the 1967 original. It makes the 1998 American Godzilla and 1999 Japanese Godzilla 2000 look like the best thing since sliced bread.
Yongary is proportionally based on Godzilla with a head that apes Baragon and Gamera to an extent. So the monster itself is nothing compelling, and the quality of the suit is poor, as you've probably well gathered by now. Giving him more convincing eyes would've gone a long way, because they don't move and they glow unrealistically. The pump shooting fire in his mouth was another goof. And with trying to appeal to children at the time -much as how Godzilla and Gamera were- we received a child for a lead. The plot is nothing fresh either, with a giant bipedal fire breathing monster rising from the Earth.
The one surprising scene in the movie is at the end when the monster is dying a slow, painful death while jerking from pain and bleeding. It's the first time the film begins to draw in something from the audience. Unfortunately, it's FAR too little FAR too late. You can watch the entire movie for free on Google, which is probably the only way I'd watch it. Even though you can purchase it cheaply for $5-6, I'd pass. Even then it's too much for a movie you'll surely watch just once. It has nothing on even Toho's movies of the late 1960s, such as War of the Gargantuas or Destroy All Monsters. Buy one of these or something from Gamera's series if you want an Asian giant monster flick from this era.
As a final word, a Korean company tried to resurrect the Yongary monster in a new film from 1999, titled Reptilian in the US. It's probably even worse for its time than the 1967 original. It makes the 1998 American Godzilla and 1999 Japanese Godzilla 2000 look like the best thing since sliced bread.
Problem Child 4, he's Korean now!
ericstevenson7 September 2017
Well, I got to see North Korea's take on the giant monster genre with "Pulgarasi" a movie that was created literally because the country's leader kidnapped a director and now I see South Korea's take on it. I admit to being confused as to how this one is actually worse. I guess when you're being forced to do something, you have to work harder. This movie features a giant monster named Yongary attacking South Korea. The actual monster doesn't appear until a third into the movie, which is actually better than most giant monster movies. The thing is, it's very poorly done.
It's mostly because we just get cheesy scene after cheesy scene of Yongary being attacked over and over. There are a few times where it seems to die, only for us to unfortunately find out it's just going to give us more movie. It's dumb how they try to make it sympathetic, but then admit they have to kill it. I can literally easily see the tube inside the monster's mouth where the fire comes out! That might have been a deliberate part of the monster as it looked too cheesy to even be fake. The models are ugly looking and sometimes the people really do appear to be as large as the actual monster. *1/2
It's mostly because we just get cheesy scene after cheesy scene of Yongary being attacked over and over. There are a few times where it seems to die, only for us to unfortunately find out it's just going to give us more movie. It's dumb how they try to make it sympathetic, but then admit they have to kill it. I can literally easily see the tube inside the monster's mouth where the fire comes out! That might have been a deliberate part of the monster as it looked too cheesy to even be fake. The models are ugly looking and sometimes the people really do appear to be as large as the actual monster. *1/2
Not as bad as its reputation, a rarity from South Korea
kevinolzak28 February 2022
1967's "Yongary Monster from the Deep" ("Taekoesu Yonggary" or The Great Monster Yongary) served as South Korea's entry in the kaiju sweepstakes, using technicians from Japan's Toei Studios to help on special effects. With the year's competition being Toho's "King Kong Escapes," Shochiku's "The X From Outer Space," and Nikkatsu's "Monster from a Prehistoric Planet" (plus one apiece from Godzilla and Gamera), it would be no surprise that poor Yongary doesn't earn the kind of recognition he otherwise might have, if only because of his status as a Korean rarity. Scriptwise it greatly resembles a Gamera film, with 8 year old Icho the brat so annoying even his big sister isn't safe from his latest prank, an itch-causing flashlight shining on her newlywed vehicle to force the couple into a scratching fit in the middle of the road. Hubby just happens to be Korea's only viable astronaut, called away from an obviously uncomfortable honeymoon to venture beyond mere head space, discovering an earthquake that awakens a legendary monster known as Yongary, emerging at the half hour mark to begin stomping buildings and such. Amazingly, military leaders and politicians never leave headquarters as they argue the merits of their futile efforts, leaving little Icho to do all the heavy lifting like spotting Yongary's feasting on gasoline and energy reserves. Naturally, the boy's brother is a brilliant scientist who deduces that the right combination of ammonia dropped on the unlucky Yongary will assuredly prove fatal, but not until after he shares a tango in the night with Icho to a guitar instrumental. Yongary shoots flames from an open mouth like Gamera (the nozzle clearly visible) but in all other respects looks and acts like Godzilla, smaller spikes down his back, a long tail, and a horn on his nose. We go from smashing up a battered metropolis to boozing on gas at an oil refinery before ending at a lonely stream where the final dropoff puts the quivering beast to bed permanently, his blood flowing into the water a disquieting touch. Derided for years as a cheap knockoff, it was obviously a risky undertaking for director Kim Ki-Duk, special effects completed in three months to huge box office returns in Korea alone, picked up for a small screen dub by AIP-TV to become the nation's best remembered monster picture.
Best Korean made Kaiju film ever
loufalce6 January 2006
On the night of his honeymoon, a Korean astronaut { I did not know that Korea had a space program}is sent on a re con mission to observe an earthquake moving to the center of South Korea.This however is no earthquake. The scientist- and his obnoxious but likable 9 year old sidekick soon discover that nuclear testing in the Mid east have awaken the legendary monster Yongary, and he's heading straight for Seoul!After making quick work of the army and air-force Yongary- who looks like a close relative to Godzilla heads for an oil refinery and starts to drink the oil! Having followed Yongary to the refinery through the sewers, the kid aims his static gun at the beast and he starts to dance to what sounds like surf music!Before long, the monster is on the rampage again.To the uninitiated, this might seem like a Japanese monster movie. Although it does borrow heavilly from Godzilla, this film has its own unique feel. The FX are reminiscent of Tsubarayas work and the directional style is pure Honda, but thats not a bad thing.Even though Yongary is a man in a monster suit, it is fairly well done The FX do run hot and cold. The prerequisites city stomping is good, but you can see the blowtorch in Yongarys mouth as well as the 3rd wheel undert the jeep before the rear section gets blown away. It is amazing that these goofs were not edited from the movie. The end is kind of out of character with the rest of the film, but you will feel sorry for Yongary.Far from being Bergman or Kurosawa, the film does have its moments, The spaced out patrons at the club and the street evangelist yelling "repent, repent" are priceless.This is like the old channel 9 movie{in the New York area}that they used to show at midnight on Saturdays in the late 60s and early 70s. Great fun for fans of the genre. How can you NOT like a movie like this?}
A mixed bag of charming camp
Emideon25 June 2008
Yonggary (1967) is much like Gamera, a cash crop film, aping off the success of other pilfered monsters, better ones. The film opens with what I thought was a rather nice shot of space with rolling credits, followed by a fine cast of mediocre actors and a young boy in shorts, the evil omen for any giant monster movie fan of terrible things to come. The story and plot run through very worn out terrain, mysterious happenings somewhere, a loving couple, monster attack, and discovery of weapon to kill the monster. The film was geared to children, as most kaiju films of this time (late 60s), one would expect this in itself would diagnose Yonggary as terminally unwatchable, but the kid aspect is what to me kept it entertaining, Yonggary dancing, drinking, etc. were all bizarre enouph to keep a smile, bad editing also played it part. As for the action sequences, Yonggary's arrival and first rampage was well done, not very convincing mind you, but thats never really the point in these films, to look interesting and incite nostalgic inner child hollaring.
Yonggary is by far one of the most forgettable Kaiju monsters to grace East Asian screens, his physical appearance is right down the middle neutral to anything that may catch attention; his skin color bland, his design simple and uninspired and his range of emotion nonexistent. However , despite all of this, I had fun watching it, unlike Gappa, pretension toward seriousness is out the window, thus making the inevitable moral lesson and speech at the end all the more bearable.
One of the better, lesser kaiju films. 6/10
Yonggary is by far one of the most forgettable Kaiju monsters to grace East Asian screens, his physical appearance is right down the middle neutral to anything that may catch attention; his skin color bland, his design simple and uninspired and his range of emotion nonexistent. However , despite all of this, I had fun watching it, unlike Gappa, pretension toward seriousness is out the window, thus making the inevitable moral lesson and speech at the end all the more bearable.
One of the better, lesser kaiju films. 6/10
Cheesy, in a limburger sort of way
bluzman18 May 2004
I cannot imagine to much good that can be said about this muddle. It is amateurish even by the standards that defined the genre of cheap, japanese monster movies of the sixties and seventies. The set, especially the backgrounds are so obviously phony and the rockets, army equipment, etc. might as well kept the tags on them from the toy store. The buildings were so hokey as they toppled (they had nothing inside, even fake floors, to give the illusion of reality. And to top it all off was the guy in the rubber monster suit. How hard is it to look like a monster in a monster movie??? Six-year old Trick or treaters give better performances.
The only redeeming aspect I can point to is that it made in Korea, instead of Japan, which is kind of interesting to see on a why would anyone think copying cheap Japanese monter movies was a good idea level.
The only redeeming aspect I can point to is that it made in Korea, instead of Japan, which is kind of interesting to see on a why would anyone think copying cheap Japanese monter movies was a good idea level.
It's Coincidence, I Tell You!
boblipton24 September 2020
Yongary comes out of the sea and destroys Seoul.
Some of you who have looked at this masterpiece of Korean cinema may claim that this is nothing but Godzilla with a name change and set in Korea. True, Yongary comes out of the sea, is played by a guy in a rubber iguana suit and has atomic-fire breath. He stomps down various medium high-rises in Seoul while the populace flees, each carrying the item most precious to them (no babies, but one man seems to be carrying a bowling ball). However, he has a horn on the end of his nose, like a rhinoceros, so nothing at all like Godzilla.
In addition, this monster isn't defeated by chance. There's a small boy who has invented an itching ray, you see, and has the knowledge to operate the controls of a oil-storage facility.
I look forward to the many sequels in which Yongary becomes the boy's best friend. A kid like that must attract bullies, and when someone is yanking up your underwear, there's nothing like an atomic-fire-breathing giant lizard to help you out.
Some of you who have looked at this masterpiece of Korean cinema may claim that this is nothing but Godzilla with a name change and set in Korea. True, Yongary comes out of the sea, is played by a guy in a rubber iguana suit and has atomic-fire breath. He stomps down various medium high-rises in Seoul while the populace flees, each carrying the item most precious to them (no babies, but one man seems to be carrying a bowling ball). However, he has a horn on the end of his nose, like a rhinoceros, so nothing at all like Godzilla.
In addition, this monster isn't defeated by chance. There's a small boy who has invented an itching ray, you see, and has the knowledge to operate the controls of a oil-storage facility.
I look forward to the many sequels in which Yongary becomes the boy's best friend. A kid like that must attract bullies, and when someone is yanking up your underwear, there's nothing like an atomic-fire-breathing giant lizard to help you out.
Good movie for a first try
ebiros214 December 2013
No offense to the South Koreans, but I'm surprised to see how similar the town and people looks compared to the kaijyu moves from the similar era Japan. I've heard that this move is not well known in its home country, and the version I saw was an English dubbed version made by MGM.
An astronaut is asked to investigate a bomb experiment. When the bomb goes off, it starts a chain of earthquakes. The earth quake strangely is heading towards middle of Korea. A martial law s declared, and soon after the monster Yonggari appears from the ground.
The look and feel of this movie is very similar to the Gamera series movies from the mid '60s. The man protagonist's driving a Chevy Corvair just like the original Ultraman series defense force guys were driving. Then comes the obligatory scientist's lab scene, and another obligatory meeting of the minds of the government officials.
The Yonggari's special effects scenes were shot by Daiei's crew that were flown over from Japan, so I can understand the similarities, but even the scenes involving humans were very much like (almost identical) it's Japanese cousins. I'd like to compare this movies to other Korean movies from the same era to see if the similarities, were a coincidence.
The movie is on par with the likes of Gamera vs. Barugon. Even the roar of Yonggari is borrowed from Barugon, but suitmation part isn't as good as the Japanese counterpart.
There might be no market for this type of movie in Korea, but it would have been interesting if they developed this idea further as it was done n Japan. An okay film that's as entertaining as the kaijyu movies made by Daiei of '60s Japan.
An astronaut is asked to investigate a bomb experiment. When the bomb goes off, it starts a chain of earthquakes. The earth quake strangely is heading towards middle of Korea. A martial law s declared, and soon after the monster Yonggari appears from the ground.
The look and feel of this movie is very similar to the Gamera series movies from the mid '60s. The man protagonist's driving a Chevy Corvair just like the original Ultraman series defense force guys were driving. Then comes the obligatory scientist's lab scene, and another obligatory meeting of the minds of the government officials.
The Yonggari's special effects scenes were shot by Daiei's crew that were flown over from Japan, so I can understand the similarities, but even the scenes involving humans were very much like (almost identical) it's Japanese cousins. I'd like to compare this movies to other Korean movies from the same era to see if the similarities, were a coincidence.
The movie is on par with the likes of Gamera vs. Barugon. Even the roar of Yonggari is borrowed from Barugon, but suitmation part isn't as good as the Japanese counterpart.
There might be no market for this type of movie in Korea, but it would have been interesting if they developed this idea further as it was done n Japan. An okay film that's as entertaining as the kaijyu movies made by Daiei of '60s Japan.
the Godzilla and Gamera of Korea
TheUnknown837-11 January 2008
"Yongary: Monster from the Deep" is another entry on a nearly endless list of low-budget giant monster films that owe their inspiration and creation to the two most popular movie monsters of Asia: Godzilla and Gamera. The monster, Yongary, has characteristics similar to both of these monster icons. The thing is that Yongary makes his film debut in a film that is very cheap, dull, and oftentimes unintentionally funny. And the moments that were intentionally funny, are mostly just painful to look at.
Yongary, as you can imagine, was represented by a man in a rubber suit. The suit, I'm afraid to say, is a very poor effort. It isn't bulky like Godzilla, but in fact very slender, like the T-rex costumes of some particular low-budget American dinosaurs movies. When viewed from the side, Yongary doesn't look half-bad. But since we most commonly see him from the front, he mostly looks pretty bad. Too skinny, too humanlike, too unrealistic. There are many other revealing aspects to the poor special effects. Yongary, like Gamera, can breathe and literally inhale fire. Whenever he does either one of these, you can see the nozzle in the back of his mouth and his tongue just seems to disappear. And what's also funny? Yongary is prone to feeling itchy, and also likes to dance. Yes, dance.
The human characters are dull and uninteresting, mostly annoying, as you would expect. Dubbing, for once, wasn't half-bad. Like Gamera, Yongary has a child character who idolizes him. But I think this character just smiled too much. Even when he talks about how Yongary wasn't a bad monster, he just smiles. If Yongary is facing danger, instead of being angry, the kid still smiles. There is also a sense of stupidity with these characters. Such as, what's the point to sending a man in a rocket into space to observe a nuclear explosion? One can easily see and observe from a safe distance on Earth. And also, there's a moment where the characters argue about missiles to attack Yongary with, and say the missiles could be too dangerous to the city to use. But, when they are used, the missiles don't seem to cause much for an explosion. Missiles fired by jets later on, which are much smaller and less destructive, seem to cause greater damage.
Bottom line, "Yongary: Monster of the Deep" is a movie that is worth looking at. But do not expect much from it. It is better than other low-budget Godzilla-rip offs such as "The X from Outer Space", but is still not all that impressive of a film.
Yongary, as you can imagine, was represented by a man in a rubber suit. The suit, I'm afraid to say, is a very poor effort. It isn't bulky like Godzilla, but in fact very slender, like the T-rex costumes of some particular low-budget American dinosaurs movies. When viewed from the side, Yongary doesn't look half-bad. But since we most commonly see him from the front, he mostly looks pretty bad. Too skinny, too humanlike, too unrealistic. There are many other revealing aspects to the poor special effects. Yongary, like Gamera, can breathe and literally inhale fire. Whenever he does either one of these, you can see the nozzle in the back of his mouth and his tongue just seems to disappear. And what's also funny? Yongary is prone to feeling itchy, and also likes to dance. Yes, dance.
The human characters are dull and uninteresting, mostly annoying, as you would expect. Dubbing, for once, wasn't half-bad. Like Gamera, Yongary has a child character who idolizes him. But I think this character just smiled too much. Even when he talks about how Yongary wasn't a bad monster, he just smiles. If Yongary is facing danger, instead of being angry, the kid still smiles. There is also a sense of stupidity with these characters. Such as, what's the point to sending a man in a rocket into space to observe a nuclear explosion? One can easily see and observe from a safe distance on Earth. And also, there's a moment where the characters argue about missiles to attack Yongary with, and say the missiles could be too dangerous to the city to use. But, when they are used, the missiles don't seem to cause much for an explosion. Missiles fired by jets later on, which are much smaller and less destructive, seem to cause greater damage.
Bottom line, "Yongary: Monster of the Deep" is a movie that is worth looking at. But do not expect much from it. It is better than other low-budget Godzilla-rip offs such as "The X from Outer Space", but is still not all that impressive of a film.
Korean Godzilla
rosscinema19 May 2003
Warning: Spoilers
This was Korea's 1967 version of the Godzilla type of films and its pretty much identical to those style of films from Japan. Film starts out with a Korean astronaut on his honeymoon but is called back to work to man a rocket for some such reason. While up in space there are massive earthquakes rocking the country and it turns out to be the legendary monster that has caused them. The monster crawls out of the ground and starts kicking over buildings and breathing fire! Of course, there is a little kid that is running around and noticing things about the monster that he relates back to his sisters boyfriend that is a scientist. The kid gives him information that ultimately will be the creatures demise. Yes, its a silly movie with horrible special effects and just a guy in a rubber suit but aside from a couple of dumb scenes this is a film that stays within a boundary of decency. The dumb scenes are when the jets attack the monster they fly right into him! Nice flying!! And of course the monster dance! What was the point of having the monster get up and dance? Anyone?
*****SPOILER ALERT***** The ending to the film is really kind of sad and the characters show some compassion to a dying monster. As the helicopter keeps dropping a chemical powder on the monster and he dies the little boy tells them to stop. I don't remember ever seeing that in a monster film before. And watching the monster die a slow death was not like other films. In most films you cheer the conclusion but here with the monster bleeding and twitching it becomes painful to witness. Not a bad film of its type. You definitely laugh at parts but by the end you have stopped laughing. In their own little way, they showed they were different from the giant monster films from Japan.
*****SPOILER ALERT***** The ending to the film is really kind of sad and the characters show some compassion to a dying monster. As the helicopter keeps dropping a chemical powder on the monster and he dies the little boy tells them to stop. I don't remember ever seeing that in a monster film before. And watching the monster die a slow death was not like other films. In most films you cheer the conclusion but here with the monster bleeding and twitching it becomes painful to witness. Not a bad film of its type. You definitely laugh at parts but by the end you have stopped laughing. In their own little way, they showed they were different from the giant monster films from Japan.
Yongary the dancing, fire-breathing monster
wbswetnam3 August 2012
This is a rather enjoyable mid-60s Korean monster film, in which a Godzilla-like monster decides to give Tokyo a break for once and ravages Seoul, Korea (maybe the South Koreans would have cheered it on if it had attacked Pyongyang instead??? hmmm...). Anyway among the cast we have a young scientist / astronaut who along with his new wife and her annoying 8 year old brother, try to find a way to stop Yongary from flattening the better part of the capital.
The effects are quite low budget but passable for this genre of films. Whenever you see Yongary in a shot coming close to a large building or a bridge, you just know that structure has gotta go! Call it Yongary's plan for the urban renewal of Seoul. Yongary itself is quite obviously some guy in a rubber monster suit who had the joy of smashing his way through flimsy plaster-of-Paris building models.
If you go into the film with the understanding that this is a Korean Godzilla ripoff on a low budget, you will not be disappointed and you may enjoy it. Finally I wish to say that the character of Suna, played by actress Jeong-im Nam, was quite beautiful, especially in that red dress... wow
The effects are quite low budget but passable for this genre of films. Whenever you see Yongary in a shot coming close to a large building or a bridge, you just know that structure has gotta go! Call it Yongary's plan for the urban renewal of Seoul. Yongary itself is quite obviously some guy in a rubber monster suit who had the joy of smashing his way through flimsy plaster-of-Paris building models.
If you go into the film with the understanding that this is a Korean Godzilla ripoff on a low budget, you will not be disappointed and you may enjoy it. Finally I wish to say that the character of Suna, played by actress Jeong-im Nam, was quite beautiful, especially in that red dress... wow
Monster fun... with a distressing finale
barugon31 May 1999
This is a fairly standard 60's Giant Monster rip-off, like those produced in Japan by Daiei, Shochiku and Nikkatsu Studios in the wake of Toho's success. Yongkari's special powers are his ability to burrow through the earth, and a death-ray he sometimes projects from his horn. He has a wonderful roar, and even starts dancing to a rock version of a famous Korean folk song...
But then there's the ending. Once again the scientists trying to stop Yongkari do about as much damage to the environment as the monster did... Our heros dump chemicals on the beast. There has never been a more horribly realistic demise in rubber-suit monster movie history, as Yongkari sinks to the ground, twitching and bleeding.
But then there's the ending. Once again the scientists trying to stop Yongkari do about as much damage to the environment as the monster did... Our heros dump chemicals on the beast. There has never been a more horribly realistic demise in rubber-suit monster movie history, as Yongkari sinks to the ground, twitching and bleeding.
Amazingly stupid
sixhoos31 March 2020
Weak Korean entry into the kaiju genre
jamesrupert20142 March 2018
A nuclear test in the Middle East either awakens (creates?) Yongary, a giant reptilian monster OR generates earthquake with a mobile epicenter that travels to Korea where it awakens (creates?) the creature (Yongary's origins are unclear). Once in Korea, the fire-breathing kaiju proceeds to destroy cities, shrug off mankind's puny weapons, and drink fuel-oil to sustain itself. All the while, the beast is being observed by a young boy who becomes key in devising a successful strategy to destroy the colossus. Throw in a ridiculous gimmick like an 'itch ray', a monster who dances (or maybe it's the itch ray or the ammonia bath, that is unclear as well), horrible acting (admittedly, I was watching a dubbed version), an annoying child in a lead role, a disjointed and incoherent plot, and second-rate special effects, and you end up with this bottom-of-the-barrel Korean Godzilla knockoff. The titular monster, which looks a bit like an emaciated Godzilla with a glowing horn on its snout, both breathes fire (during which its tongue seems to disappear) and emits some kind of energy-beam from the aforementioned horn that is accurate and powerful enough to slice attacking fighter-jets in half. Despite this impressive weaponry, the scientist-hero takes his girlfriend, her friend and her little brother in the helicopter that is going hover above the behemoth and drizzle it with ammonia, which it does not like in the least. And the final insult to the viewer: if they have not suffered enough watching the film through to the climax, there is a tedious epilogue before the film mercifully fades to black. I have low expectations of, and high tolerances for, monster movies, but "Yongary, Monster from the Deep" is pretty awful. Apparently the original Korean version has been lost (although there seem to be undubbed versions on-line), so we may never know if it was as bad as the Western release I watched. For hard-core kaiju fans only (unless you can find the MST3K annotated version, which may appeal to a broader audience).
Hey Korea...you're late!
haildevilman17 February 2008
But you did give us a great one. Thank you.
An earthquake shakes up the peninsula and it turns out a 'Seoul' version of Godzilla is to blame. Meet Youngary.
Like the Japanese films, this big creature stomps cities and causes general mayhem just because. People flee and we hope they make it. So why is it different? Korea gave the cast, crew, and direction a lot more emotion. The stoic nature in Tokyo is a lot more stressed. The Koreans were allowed to free their feelings. Therefore our hearts were with them.
A lot of the decor was different too. An Asia-phile would notice it more. But it was good to see a "Kan-Kokku-no" version in the monster genre.
Nice job Seoul-mates. Welcome aboard.
An earthquake shakes up the peninsula and it turns out a 'Seoul' version of Godzilla is to blame. Meet Youngary.
Like the Japanese films, this big creature stomps cities and causes general mayhem just because. People flee and we hope they make it. So why is it different? Korea gave the cast, crew, and direction a lot more emotion. The stoic nature in Tokyo is a lot more stressed. The Koreans were allowed to free their feelings. Therefore our hearts were with them.
A lot of the decor was different too. An Asia-phile would notice it more. But it was good to see a "Kan-Kokku-no" version in the monster genre.
Nice job Seoul-mates. Welcome aboard.
"Fire retro-stabilizers!"
gigan-9210 July 2012
1967, the year Japanese audiences came face to face with "Gamera vs. Gyaos" and "Son of Godzilla". However, Korea was also releasing a kaiju flick that year: "Yongary: Monster From the Deep". Following in the line of King Kong, Godzilla, Gorgo and Gamera, Yongary emerges to wreak havoc on mankind. The monster looks like your average dinosaur, nice and fearsome (quite obviously a Ceratosaurus). Oddly enough, as opposed to most monster movies, there are a significant number of people who choose to die as the monster approaches. Another plus is that the miniatures look pretty awesome in this one.
Like Gorgo and Gamera, this movie gets a kick out of throwing a child into the plot. I can't say I care for him but it's still nothing compared to other tortures I've been subjugated to, like "Gamera vs. Guiron" of 1969. The characters here aren't too developed but there's some nice comedy between them. At one point a plan is forged and a government official remarks, "If it can save just one life it'll be worth it". Wow, if only governments in the real world acted on such polices right? I will say though, the scene where Yongary is killed is something akin to the 1933 King Kong death atop the Empire State Building. You actually feel for the poor dancing dinosaur, even though if it is a tad less elegant. Yongary is poisoned like a giant rat, even ends up pissing blood, what a way to go.
A lot of what we see here is familiar but it's all in good fun. I find this film better than the new Yongary film, a.k.a. "Reptilian".
Like Gorgo and Gamera, this movie gets a kick out of throwing a child into the plot. I can't say I care for him but it's still nothing compared to other tortures I've been subjugated to, like "Gamera vs. Guiron" of 1969. The characters here aren't too developed but there's some nice comedy between them. At one point a plan is forged and a government official remarks, "If it can save just one life it'll be worth it". Wow, if only governments in the real world acted on such polices right? I will say though, the scene where Yongary is killed is something akin to the 1933 King Kong death atop the Empire State Building. You actually feel for the poor dancing dinosaur, even though if it is a tad less elegant. Yongary is poisoned like a giant rat, even ends up pissing blood, what a way to go.
A lot of what we see here is familiar but it's all in good fun. I find this film better than the new Yongary film, a.k.a. "Reptilian".
South Korea does Kaiju
bensonmum220 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
As with a lot of the movies I've written about lately, until last night, I hadn't seen Yongary in what seems like a million years. Thanks to the new MST3k, I watched it once again. I remembered it being a cheap, poor, Godzilla knockoff – and that's exactly what it is. Other than the horn on the nose, the creature designs are almost identical. Even the plots are similar with Yongary going on a rampage through Seoul, similar to Godzilla's rampage through Tokyo.
But that's where the similarities between Yondary and Godzilla end. First, compared with Yongary, Godzilla looks incredible. It may be a man in a rubber suit, but the Godzilla design is so much better than Yongary. Yongary looks exactly like what it is – a man in a rubber suit. The Godzilla design is much fuller and more interesting to look at. The eyes, though always a weakness with Godzilla, are a million times better and more expressive than Yongary. And Godzilla's roar destroys what little noise Yongary makes. Other aspects of the films where Yongary fails: tone, music, plot, action, miniatures, acting, interesting characters, and on and on. In fact I cannot think of a single area where Yongary beats Godzilla. To make matters worse, it's boring. There is absolutely no tension. At no time is the menace that's so palpable in other monster movies present in Yongary. If all that weren't bad enough, the dance scene with the annoying kid and Yongary should be enough to put anyone off Yongary. In the end, not only do I find Yongary a poor example of a kaiju, it's a poor film regardless of how you classify it.
But that's where the similarities between Yondary and Godzilla end. First, compared with Yongary, Godzilla looks incredible. It may be a man in a rubber suit, but the Godzilla design is so much better than Yongary. Yongary looks exactly like what it is – a man in a rubber suit. The Godzilla design is much fuller and more interesting to look at. The eyes, though always a weakness with Godzilla, are a million times better and more expressive than Yongary. And Godzilla's roar destroys what little noise Yongary makes. Other aspects of the films where Yongary fails: tone, music, plot, action, miniatures, acting, interesting characters, and on and on. In fact I cannot think of a single area where Yongary beats Godzilla. To make matters worse, it's boring. There is absolutely no tension. At no time is the menace that's so palpable in other monster movies present in Yongary. If all that weren't bad enough, the dance scene with the annoying kid and Yongary should be enough to put anyone off Yongary. In the end, not only do I find Yongary a poor example of a kaiju, it's a poor film regardless of how you classify it.
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