Review: Ishiro Honda's SPACE AMOEBA opens up like the maw of a world-ending storm. It's hard to imagine how they thought they would top the credit sequence that sets the screen ablaze in the first few minutes. The monsters of the film– a giant squid, crab, and turtle– are introduced like the harbingers of oblivion; dancing and screaming in front of hot red and cool blue backgrounds. The fever of the teeth-gnashing start is never quite reached again, but that doesn't stop this 1970 kaiju romp from being another fun entry into a legendary filmography.

Toho rubber-suit fans might be a bit dismayed initially at the lack of any special effects work by the legendary Eiji Tsuburaya. While it would be a lie to say that he isn't missed in the feature, Sadamasu Arikawa's work is a serviceable substitution. Some monsters, like the squid Gezora, are at their silliest when completely out in the open, trampling island foliage semi-awkwardly as natives toss flaming sticks. It's not without its charm, of course. The monsters here are based off of real marine animals, making their appearance both interesting and hilarious. The former is backed by a short documentary on the real life inspiration for each beast which, included on the disc, actually adds a great deal of enjoyment to the proceedings.

The odds of you caring about the protagonists much in SPACE AMOEBA are slim, to say the least. It's not as if Akira Kubo and co. stink up the screen or anything, it's just that you'll be more preoccupied with The Big Questions, like "when's the next animal-turned-colossus going to show up," or "will they kill it with fire or... explosions?" The best part about the film might just be how absolutely basic it is. People go to island, amoeba-infected animals go gigantic and stomp on straw huts, etc.; it's by-the-numbers kaiju beauty.

SPACE AMOEBA is also a great showcase for why Akira Ifukube deserves a lofty status in the world of movie music. When the action is at a lull and you've got half the cast doing the head scratch over their giant monster predicament, you'll be snapped back into the action with the slightest of trumpet moans. Even if it's not the best Ifukube you've ever heard, his music has a sort of magic to it that can transform the most average fare into something to smash cities about.

There's really not a whole lot to nitpick about, though. This is a fun flick that will sit nicely next to the rest of your kaiju collection, and if you fancy yourself an Ishiro Honda completist, it's a must. It's got a goofy premise, campy performances, and lots of flying dirt and fireworks. Did I mention that it has a giant squid, crab, and turtle? Why are we still talking about this? Slap this on your shelves or rent it for a quick night of caffeine and sugar, and try not to let any amorphous space creatures work their way into your body while you're at it.