Description

From the same crew who brought us the effects-juiced Gamera:Guardian of the Universe comes an even more CGI-enhanced adventure for our tortuganhero: A freak meteor shower near Sapporo, Japan brings with is more than just a killerlight show. Electrical problems, over-grown plant life and a whole slew of rather irritablecritters also drop in to threaten the human race. Local science instructor Midori Honami(Miki Mizuno) is called to assist the brave Colonel Watarase (Toshiyuki Nagashima) inthe military's oft-confused attempts to save mankind. They must find a way tosuccessfully combine efforts with their reptilian protector, or both will face ultimatedistruction from the Earth's bugged-out invaders. Join the battle as Gamera and hisbipedal pals work to repel the Attack of Legion! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

IT DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS!
This IS the all-time best giant monster movie ever made. The script is tight, the direction is keen, the pace is fast, and the special effects are so convincing you WILL believe a giant turtle can fly. This time Gamera battles a horde of alien insects infesting cities and, in one memorable scene, blowing one of those cities up. This is the first ever release of this film in the U.S. (I've seen the Japanese release) and it's about time. The DVD comes with both a Japanese language track and an English dubbed track. I haven't seen the English dubbed, but I always recommend watching it in Japanese with the English subtitles. A lot can get lost in translation. For a good sci-fi romp that everyone in the family can enjoy (although really small children might be frightened by some scenes), it really doesn't get better than this.

The best monster series ever.
If you think this is the best, wait for Gamera3, that movie has some of the best cg I've ever seen in this type of movie, with a compelling story too. It's terrific that Gamera2 is finally coming out in America, I knew there was a reason I didn't buy the bootleg on ebay. The great thing about Gamera (besides the excellent effects) is that it's a monster movie that you can take seriously, it doesn't go for the cheap and cheesy thrills like most of the Godzilla films, but wraps up the impressive action in a compelling story. This is definitely one of the most fun movies I've seen, and thank god it comes with a Japanese language track on the dvd.

Legion of Quality
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe vastly improved upon the poorness of the old Gamera films. This second film in the new series continues to do that. Shusuke Kaneko continues his work, taking place two years later, with the decision to return to the alien-invasion roots of the older 60's and 70's films. It might be considered a gutsy move, but it pays off.

This film is much less disjointed than the beginning of the first one. It begins with an American weather station noting some unusual activity that they label a freak meteor shower. On the night of the shower, one large meteor creates a trail through the trees and disappears. It's tracks appear to be slowing down. Soon after, various incidents are reported with transmissions problems and sightings of strange creatures, including an attack on a subway car, that culminates in a giant flower-pod emerging in a tall building. The oxygen in the area becomes dangerously flammable, giving the army little ability to stop the strange invasion until Gamera appears to combat the flower, as well as the invaders known as Legion.

There's a lot of science and figuring when it comes to the aliens in this film. While it's very easy for that to become boring, it's very interesting the first couple times through. The aliens are insect-like by nature, and there are both small ones, and a big one, for Gamera and the army to deal with.

Of the trilogy, this is the only one where the plot isn't disjointed at the beginning, and it's also the only one where Gamera and the Japanese military are not disjointed. They actually work together here against a common threat from outside Earth.

The special effects improve upon the previous film. While the full-CG Gamera looks very bad most of the time, it's not used often, and CG is used mostly as an assisting tool, like it should be. The suits look excellent, and they managed to find a way for Gamera's "jet" flying to look better by giving him gliders on his arms that morph away when he no longer needs them. The battles are exciting, with a combination of flashy fights and suit brawls.

As with the first movie's DVD, this one comes loaded with extras. Featurettes, documentaries, etc, and of course, the Japanese language track.

The movie is somewhat less emotional than it's predecessor (or it's follower), but it's still an entertaining movie, a great middle-path in the new Gamera trilogy, and an excellent kaiju film overall.

Getting Better !!!
Some people say the plot and SPX is getting no better but what more do you want?G flicks hardly imporve until 1985 and thats a long time consider all those g flicks they did and the story line didnt change much either.This Spx really takes over and the monster battles is great and legion quite look so challeging hes packing please believe.Overal just buy this and the other 2 as well.

I wanted to like this more...
...but the movie feels like a rush job. The special effects did not impress me all that much and the characters spent most of the movie running after or from the monsters. This entry sadly lacks a human element and the Gamera Girl from the first is utterly wasted here. Yes the movie has some nifty moments in it, but after seeing the first Gamera and how well its director Shusuke Kaneko handled his take on Godzilla, I was expecting so much more. On a more up positive note, the disc is crammed with juicy extras. Kaiju fans will enjoy it, just keep in mind that its just another sequel that is not equal to the first. ... Read more

Description

In the third and final part of "The Human Condition," Kaji (Tetsuyo Nakadai) is the sole surviving member of his unit and surrenders to the advancing Soviet Army. Hoping for better treatment than he received from his own army, Kaji is accused of murder and threatened with execution. Once again he must escape his captors, this time across a desolate field in the midst of a blizzard. ... Read more

Description

High schooler Nanbu Kiroku yearns for the prim, Catholic Michiko, but her only desire is to reform Kiroku's sinful tendencies. Hormones raging, Kiroku channels his unsatisfied lust into the only outlet available: savage crazed violence. Fighting Elegy is a unique masterpiece in the diverse career of Seijun Suzuki, combining the director's signature bravura visual style with a brilliantly focused satire of machismo and fascism. ... Read more

Description

The dutiful, unhappy wife of a lawyer falls in love with a young, mysterious woman she encounters at an art class. Soon their affair involves her husband and the young woman's impotent lover and the four slowly descend into web of desire, deceit, blackmail, blood oaths and suicide pacts. Featuring superb performances and director Yasuzo Masumura's stunning visual precision, this exquisitely wrought tale of erotic obsession is a hothouse of tangled passions and over the top emotion. Fantoma is proud to present this landmark film for the first time in the US. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Obsession and annihilation
I was originally interested in this movie because two of my favorite Japanese actresses were in it, Ayako Wakao and Kyoko Kishida. I had also read Tanizaki's book upon which this movie is based, so I was curious to see film director Yasuzo Masumura's interpretation. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Movies about lesbian love and twisted sexual affairs may seem tame in today's world. But keep in mind this film was made in 1964, and in Japan no less! The plot centers around Mitsuko and her efforts to emotionally control her male and female lovers. This movie is erotically charged without being exploitive. There is very little nudity. What Masumura gives us is a very good portrayal of how sexual obsession can lead to annihilation. The acting is outstanding. This is a hard movie to classify, but it's definitely one that leaves an impression.

Strangely affecting
This film was the second Masumura film that I saw. Like "Giants and Toys", the film feels broad for its first half. The acting feels a little bit overwrought, but by the end of the film, the character's plight actually resonates. The film is based on a Tanizaki novel, so while there is a bit of "erotic" content, it's not cheap or exploitative. The booklet contains an excellent essay with cultural background for the film and analysis by a film scholar that I found useful.

For the record, Manji is the name of that swastika looking symbol on the front cover. (It has nothing to do with Nazism. It's a Buddhist symbol.) Recommended for fans of Japanese Cinema. ... Read more

Description

Writer/director Masaki Kobayashi's powerful trilogy continues as the newly drafted, idealistic Kaji (Tatsuya Nakadai) is ordered to Manchuria, the site of Japan's longest and most savage atrocities during World War II. When he sees the rampant mistreatment of the soldiers, Kaji makes a protest. In response, he is threatened and tortured, eventually escaping only to see his entire unit destroyed as the Allied victory becomes inevitable. ... Read more