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A solid 1967 documentary about a very large Asian reptile, a Yongary. It is bigger than a Komodo dragon even, and I'm surprised I'd never heard of it before now. Although apparently primaeval, it is oddly reminiscent of a man in a rubber suit.



The dramatised opening scenes, showing how Korean scientists and administrators are alerted to the danger posed by the Yongary, are well-scripted and well-acted. The Korean approach to productive scientific endeavour is for the scientists to have their family and friends around them at all times in the lab and mission control rooms - the method seems to pay off, judging by the advanced state of Korean science and space technology in 1967.



The Yongary starts destroying chunks of South Korean real estate, and the silly generals have no better solution than to fire missiles at it. These just amuse the monster, and it seems down to a brilliant young scientist (who looks like Lawrence Harvey) to halt its destructive behaviour. However, it has been wisely said that scientific progress is down to "10% luck, 39% sweat, and 51% a precocious smartass kid with some itching powder".



A word for the bravery of the wildlife cameramen in shooting those amazing reels of the Yongary on the rampage - you really get the idea of its size in these scenes: it certainly makes the buildings, tanks, aeroplanes etc. look like toys. When the Yongary is killed (with itching powder), the Koreans show an enlightened sorrow at the destruction of one of nature's creatures, which after all was presumably wrecking half of South Korea only as part of a perfectly natural territorial display, or mating ritual.



Picture quality and sound are just acceptable, 3 stars, wet Sunday afternoon.

- February 12, 2013Yongary