Retro : Monster Mash

Godzilla, King of the Monsters, was born in the Pacific Ocean, the result of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan during World War II. His main aim in life is to destroy mankind.

But people around the world adore the mutant dinosaur. Especially baby boomers, who spent many a Saturday afternoon transfixed in front of the tube watching the adventures of one of Japan’s greatest imports.

What’s not to love about Godzilla movies? They’re so bad, they’re wonderful. The special effects are horrendous. But that’s nothing compared to the atrociously out-of-sync dubbing from Japanese to English.

This week, TNT and TBS are celebrating the wonders of Godzilla with two monster marathons.

TNT kicks off its Godzilla festival at 2 a.m. Monday with “Adventure Quest Godzilla-Thon,” featuring Godzilla-themed cartoons. And you may want to also set your VCR for its “Godzilla Festival” of movies later that morning.

Kicking off the nine-hour watchathon is Godzilla’s first film, 1956’s “Godzilla, King of the Monsters.” The original version, released in Japan in 1954 under the title of “Gojira,” is well-respected among sci-fi fans. The U.S. version, though, eliminated numerous subplots and added a pre-”Perry Mason” Raymond Burr as an American reporter named Steve Martin.

Next up is 1964’s “Godzilla vs. Mothra,” with Akira Takarada and Yurki Hoshi. The fourth entry in the series finds the lizard meeting his match in a mutant moth named Mothra.

The 1970 camp classic “Godzilla vs. Monster Zero” features Nick Adams and Akira Takarada. This time around, Godzilla and fellow monster Rodan are carried, via flying saucer, to Planet X so they can defend the alien Ghidrah. Adams plays an astronaut who falls in love with a toy saleswoman who actually is an alien in disguise. The film also is known as “Invasion of the Astro-Monsters” and “Monster Zero.”

Godzilla shows his softer side in the 1969 fantasy “Godzilla’s Revenge,” which also stars Kenji Sara. This entry deals with a young boy who learns how to fight bullies after getting some advice from Godzilla. The theme song is “March of the Monsters.”

The Earth is threatened with yet another alien invasion and it’s up to Godzilla to save the day in 1975’s “The Terror of Mechagodzilla.” Katshiko Sasaki is the human star.

“TNT Adventure Quest Godzilla-Thon” begins Monday at 2 a.m. and “Godzilla Fest” begins at 7 a.m.