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This 2001 Godzilla feature from Japan's Toho Studios, released as part of the mighty monster's 50th anniversary, is a visually impressive and action-packed entry in the long-running franchise, but also one with a fast and loose re-interpretation of its history that may displease some stalwart fans. Writer-director Shusuke Kaneko (who previously revitalized the Gamera series) erases everything that occurred after 1954's Godzilla and re-imagines the beast as a mythical creature harboring the souls of the Japanese victims of World War II; its attack is challenged by three "Guardian Monsters": Mothra, perennial villain King Ghidorah (here reinvented as hero) and B-list player Baragon (from Frankenstein Challenges the World). The retooling, while imaginative, is supported by spectacular special effects, but the monsters' brawls (a core reason for enjoying these films) seem abbreviated, and Kaneko's script experiences awkward seismic shifts from comedy to grim drama that may befuddle longtime G-fans. Columbia-Tri-Star's DVD is widescreen and offers Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and a Japanese language track (with English subtitles) that should please viewers with an aversion to dubbing. Trailers for other Sony/Columbia sci-fi titles like the American Godzilla feature are also included. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Reviews (59)

Terrific Kaiju!! An instant classic!
After the disappointments that were GODZILLA 2000 and GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRUS, I prayed that GMK would be an improvement. It was: a MAJOR improvement! I mean, this movie has EVERYTHING! I repeat, EVERYTHING that makes the Kaiju genre so great. I was actually impressed with the human story this time around, and the acting was way above average (the dubbing wasn't too bad, either). The film begins very mysteriously, and builds with an intriguing and original plot until the monsters are finally unleashed! I was a bit confused with that whole plot about Godzilla containing all the souls of those Asian souls lost in the Pacific War (?), but the rest of the plot was really cool. I was also a bit disappointed with the Godzilla suit; it looked too much like a crocodile, and they should've given him real eyes with pupils, not just blank white orbs. It was, however, a big improvement from the previous suit. I was not disappointed with the actual Godzilla. This isn't just the lumbering lizard that he was reduced to in the last two films. No, this Godzilla is smart and quick-witted, which made tha monster battles all the more exciting. And they returned his atomic fire breath to its original blue color! That said, I wish the filmmakers had extended the battles a little. I thought the other monsters were beaten a bit too easily, especially Baragon. But the battles that were there were excellent!! These were some of the best, if not THE best, I've ever seen. The newly designed monsters look terrific, though it took a little while getting used to Ghidora's new look (and new role as Earth's defender, not destroyer). Plus, I'm so happy that they actually included Baragon and gave us a good look at him. He's always been one of my favorite monsters, but I could never really get a clear view of him. Like I said, I just wish they had used him a little more and elongated his battle with Godzilla.

The special effects are spectacular, too! The monster suits are incredible, the blue screen well-hidden, and what CGI there was I had a hard time finding. This was a big step up from GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRUS, which had some of the most pitiful FX work in any Godzilla film I've ever seen. The music in GMK was alright, and I wasn't nearly as distracted by it as with GVM, but dang I miss Akira Ifukube!

Minor complaints aside (and believe me, they are minor), GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK is some of the best kaiju you're ever likely to behold. What expectations I had were completely blown away, and I can't wait to see GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA. Hopefully, that and its upcoming follow-up will continue the great success of GODZILLA, MOTHRA & KING GHIDORA, a modern Kaiju masterpiece to be placed in every Godzilla-phile's library.

The bad Godzilla is back to stomp tokyo!
After redefining Gamera for a new generation, writer/director Shusuke Kaneko got his chance to helm a Godzilla film and attempted the same thing. He was, from my view, successful. Yet again, the only movie GMK Giant Monsters All-Out Attack has any connection to is the first. After nearly fifty years Japan is slowly forgetting about the monster that destroyed Tokyo. Too bad, because the spirts that died in the Pacific Conflict (aka WW2) have infested the Big G with a healthy dose of rage. Three 'Holy Beasts' (Mothra, former bad guy King Ghidorah, and Baragon) are brought to life to battle the attacking beast and save Japan. As with his Gamera movies, Kaneko infuses his take on Godzilla with a serious and realistic mood (although glimpses of humor can be seen). He also reinvents the creatures as supernatural beings, which may not sit well with old school purists, but it works within the context of the story, so I cannot hold it against the movie. Kaneko continues to show that he is the rightful heir to the serious minded kaiju movie crown previously worn only by Ishiro Honda. An essential for any Godzilla fan.

Best Godzilla film to date!
When i first saw this flick, i was blown away! What an amazing film. Seeing Godzilla as a "bad guy" rather than a pest was a great way to go with the movie. The plot was very unique for kaiju films. Instead of the typical "gov't needs to take care of so and so monster" we get something more in the fantasy genre. I'm sure other reviewers have posted the plot, so i'm not going to repeat it. The film was a breath of fresh air into a series that desperately needed it. Who says sequels aren't better than the original films?!

An interesting addition to the Godzilla series
Spanning five decades, it's not too surprising that many Godzilla films are rehashes of earlier ones. "GMK - Giant Monsters All-Out Attack" is a welcome addition to the series largely because of its original take on the series (as well as some suprisingly impressive special effects). In this movie, Godzilla is the embodiment of the souls of Japanese soldiers who died during WWII and have become sickened by the Japan they fought so hard to save. The Japan of today is decadent and without decency or honor, according to these spirits. Godzilla rises from the ocean to exact revenge.

The undertones of hatred of society are unusually strong in this film but serve to make the film stand out from the rest of the series. A gang of mischevious youth attempt to drown a dog out of sheer boredom only to be entombed by Mothra. Teenagers giggle at how "cute" Godzilla was (whom they have only seen in history books) only to be slaughtered by said lizard in the middle of their joking. The arrival of Godzilla in the 21st century poses a problem for the Japanese military who have re-written history to claim that they successfully destroyed Godzilla in the 50s in order to justify their existance. A housewife scoffs at the idea of interrupting her shopping trip simply because of Godzilla only to be blasted to bits by the monster. A 30-something couple ignores warnings to evacuate in an attempt to take a photo of the approaching Baragon (which they will presembably brag to their friends about) -- a mistake which results in their death at the hands of Godzilla. One cannot help but feel that many of the people who die at the hands of the monsters almost deserve it. Perhaps the souls of the WWII soldiers are on to something...

Japan's protection comes in the form of three mythical monsters -- Baragon, Mothra, and King Ghidora -- as well as the Japanese military. Each monster is unique. Baragon features no fancy weapons but is all heart. Clearly outmatched, he fights to the death against Godzilla and you cannot help but be impressed. His bravery stands in stark contrast to the fleeing Japanese populace. Mothra deftly plans her attacks to take advantage of her aerial capability. Ghidora is content to duke it out with Godzilla on his own terms. And the Japanese air force, navy, and army attempt to regain some honor by destroying an enemy they have already claimed victory against.

The SPFX are unusually good for a Godzilla film and the soundtrack features some of the best music of the series since Akira Ifukube. The leading characters, however, are another matter entirely as none of them are particularly likeable. This is a chronic problem in Godzilla films (including the American film) and serves to detract from the potential impact. The final battle against Ghidora drags on way too long (how many times can this creature come back from the dead?). And Toho still doesn't seem to understand that an aerial creature like Mothra would be significantly more effective if it flew faster than Godzilla's ability to blast it with his heat ray. The film's really shinning moment is in Godzilla's rampage through the city, before he engages any monsters, including an inspired choice of a "Godzilla-cam" point-of-view that lets the viewer see the fleeing Japanese populace as Godzilla sees them -- as an infestation of scurrying cockroaches that should be exterminated. As in the earlier film "Godzilla vs. Biollante", the monster battles seem poor compared to the drama of Godzilla vs. humanity.

All that having been said, this film is a refreshing look at the legend of Godzilla. While other films feature Godzilla as a unfair, cruel menace to humanity or as a goofy superhero savior, this film features a vengeful monster who's motivation is not entirely without merit. The film does an interesting job of dancing between condemming humanity as worthy of extermination and praising our species as being compassionate towards others. The main character, Lili, embodies some of this as she takes her father -- a famous war hero -- for granted until she sees him risk his life for Japan. For those who have longed for a Godzilla movie that harkens back to the seriousness of the original, this is about as close to that ideal as Toho is likely to achieve.

Excellent special effects in DUMB Godzilla ghost movie
Forget radioactive monsters. Forget every movie up to this point. Now we have all the angry war dead spirits from WW2 going into Godzilla and he looking like a fat blind aligator (with a beer belly) attacking Tokyo! Oh no! Now Baragon, Mothera and Ghidra are spirits awoken by a weird old man and different groups of uncarring idiots (who get theirs) and the battle begins to stop the possessed Godzilla. Special effects are the best I've seen in these recent movies- REALLY GOOD- but the story...... What ever happened to monster island and radioactive beasties wasn't that hard enough to swallow?? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fire, Blood, Tears and Brimstone...
Junko Aoki is a quiet young woman who keeps herself to herself. She is seemingly aloof from her co-workers where she works who in turn treat her badly and make fun of her because of this.

What they don't know is that Junko's aloofness is born out of a terrible secret she keeps deep inside herself, a secret so frightening, so terrifying it has the ability to kill if Junko is ever roused to anger.

Junko is cursed with the power of pyrokinesis, the ability to start terrible fires at will. This power is hereditary and from childhood she has been warned by her anxious mother never to give into her anger because of what will happen if she does.

However as a defenceless child Junko was forced to kill a boy who tried to attack her and she has never forgotten the terror she felt as she saw the youth explode into flames and die before her eyes.

It is this memory that makes Junko so aloof and distant from her fellow workers, however she is lonely and when she is befriended by the gentle Mr Tada, a fellow office worker, she lets her defences down for the first time since she was a child, falls in love with him and becomes close to his teenage sister, the lively and loving Yukie.

When Yukie is cruelly murdered by a group of young men making Snuff Films for kicks, Junko's fire born rage is ignited and she reveals to her friend Mr Tada the terrible gift she has harboured within her since birth.

At first Mr Tada is consumed by the need to revenge his younger sister's death but when he sees one of the murderers catch light and the agony and pain such a fiery end causes, he momentarily backs away from Junko, unable to continue with his quest. He is confused and unsure of what he wants in the way of retribution for his beloved sister's death.

Junko is also being doggedly tracked by a sympathetic female Police Officer, Kaori whose sense of humour is wonderfully dry and brittle, especially when unexplained fires flare up along with her male junior colleague who just might have a terrible link to Junko from a past the young woman would rather forget.
Junko though is out for revenge, especially when a stranger gives her tape of Yukie's death and she sets out on a journey which could ultimately lead to both her redemption and destruction.

There are many poignant moments in this movie like when Junko tries to have a family life with a young girl who has similar powers to her own, and her memories of her mother's warnings about the power she possesses within. Some of the last scenes are the most memorable and touching and there is a strange beauty if the violence of fire.

The plot has many twists in it, and some of them you don't expect which makes the movie all the more exciting and watchable.

All the characters are larger than life but are also incredibly subtle and the actresses playing Junko and Kaori steal the show with their strength and vulnerability.

This movie is very reminiscent of Stephen King's book and film Firestarter; this movie however is far superior, in acting, special effects, the musical score and the twists and turns of a complex but thrilling plot.

Some people might be put off by the fact that the film is in Japanese and has subtitles, take it from me, it makes no difference whatsoever to the quality of the film.

This is a brilliant movie, and well worth borrowing from your local library (if they have it) or buying it and sitting down to an excellent evening of fire, blood, tears and brimstone.

Catching Fire
PYROKINESIS -- despite a slow middle third -- plays out like a memorable episode of Fox Television's popular THE X FILES ... but with a unique afterlife twist.

Born with the ability to telepathically ignite fires, Junko spends her life primarily in isolation -- fearing inadvertantly hurting others -- until a polite coworker loses his younger sister to a vicious crime associated to the making of a "snuff" film. Then, Junko comes out of her closet, using her secret powers to help fuel the young man's revenge. However, as she is quick to discover, Junko is not the only person with psychic abilities, and, before the eventually psychokinetic showdown of wills with adversaries and colleagues, Junko's abilities will be tested to their bittersweet limits.

Filled with terrific special effects and a dose of credibility handled by exceptional actors, PYROKINESIS cooks like a slow thriller should ... simmering slowly until the pot-boiling conclusion. ... Read more

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

Still reeling after the hard-fought battle to repel Legion, Japan is nowreminded of a deadly foe from the past. The Gyaos have returned, and this time theornery man-eating birds have not only increased their numbers, but also added amenacing new member-Iris-to their destructive little club. Raised by a young girlwhose parents Gamera accidentally squished, the flying, blood-sucking squid monster Iristakes her learned hatred and goes out on the warpath. Dr. Nagamine and Inspector Osakaare reunited to help Gamera in his relentless quest to protect and save the human race.Can Gamera ground the Gyaos? Can the turtle tie up the terrible tentacles? Do the haplesshumans and the rowdy reptile have what it takes to thwart the revenge of Iris? ... Read more

Reviews (24)

One of the Better Monster movies out there
This movie is a great film. It has incredible effects work for a low-budget foreign film, better than many American blockbusters of the same era (American Godzilla, anyone?). However, that's not to say it doesn't have flaws. The story isn't as conclusive as it should be, considering it's the final act. Although case of a movie like "The Matrix Revolutions", not answering everything the viewer asks keeps it mysterious and interesting, in a series like Gamera it just seems lazy. Even still, the movie's good points outweigh its bad by a long shot. In comparison to the other Gamera Trilogy films, I'd place it slightly below the fun-filled adventure "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe" and higher than the pretty-but-ultimately-pointless "Gamera 2: Attack of Legion".

Visceral poetry, a humbling masterpiece
I'm a hard boiled Godzilla fan who couldn't stand the VHS dubbed Gamera: Gaurdian of the Universe, but I wanted to give the original Japanese audio a shot, so I bought the whole DVD trilogy. Gamera III: The Awakening of Iris is a Kaiju film beyond compare. Screenwriter Kazunori Ito does for kaiju cinema what he did for anime with his adaption of "Ghost in the Shell." And Director Shusuke Kaneko composes an elegant master's thesis of a film. This movie rises above other films in general with its themes of heroism, sense of duty, anger and hate, and courage to fight when no one else can or will. The film is constantly haunted with the question of whether or not Gamera is really a hero, after seeing his destructive, life taking battle in Shibuya. This Gamera is a darker, battle weary reptile rather than the campy cult hero that is "friend to all children." Many kaiju fans complain there is too little monster action in the movie, and it is true that the monster fights are few and far between, but the fights impacts are meant to be more than just food for the action hungry. The brawls while short are perfect and brutal and clever in every way, and they are most importantly stunning. Gamera doesn't have lines to convey his feelings and thoughts, he has action scenes, he has movement, he has decisions that show his real character. This movie is very adult, it is heavy and philisophical, and very articulate. I am faulted when watching kaiju films because I always want a grand finale, a Death Star blowing up if you will, but even though Gamera's climactic duel was not the drawn out slug fest I had hoped for, it blew me away. Gamera III ends on a haunting and humbling note that reminds us all that sometimes it takes a monster to show us the more venerable qualities of humanity.

~ Bo Bradshaw

The Great Treasure of Kaiju Films
Before getting into this, a warning: It is absolutely necessary to see the first two Gamera movies in the new trilogy before seeing the third and (apparently) final one. Not to say that the third isn't enjoyable without them, but most of what's being discussed will not be understood.

With that out of the way, I can safely say that Gamera 3 is the best kaiju film to date. The idea would seem ridiculous years ago, but today it is true: Gamera has triumphed over Godzilla. The only Godzilla movie to have neared this one in magnitude is GMK, and they share the same director.

The story begins with sightings of the Gyaos, the giant monsters from the first movie, and their apparent eating habits. Cutting to an undersea research team, they've discovered an enormous sea bed littered with skeletons that resemble Gamera. Elsewhere, a teenage girl named Ayana broods hatred for Gamera, as he accidentally killed her family during the first Gyaos attack. She hates her life and wants revenge. When she goes on a dare from her schoolmates, she finds a strange egg, and a possible way to fulfill her desires.

This installment is not as battle-heavy as the last two, but the amazing quality and execution of the battles more than makes up for it. Ayana's parents aren't the only people accidentally killed: During the first battle of the movie, Gamera's fireballs spray everyway, with the death toll being estimated between 15-20 thousand people.

The movie is more centered on drama than fighting, though the kaiju are present constantly, both in appearance and mentioning. There are news reports of the Gyaos fighting Gamera all over the world and the new monster, Iris, is heavily involved with Ayana. The movie can be very talky at times, but it's not hard to understand if the previous films have been seen.

Iris is a very interesting monster. Physically, it's supposed to be a modern rendition of a phoenix, except it's more squid than bird... and even then, it doesn't fit. It's a very alien creature. It's impact on the plot is also interesting. It forms a symbiotic relationship with Ayana, requiring her care to survive and grow, and then depending on her for a nerve fusion, where it could evolve into a stranger lifeform. The premise is almost a twist on the old monster-human relationship from the earlier Gamera movies. These Gamera movies succeed in something that Godzilla has yet to do: the human involvement in the movie works well.

As it stands, this seems to be the last new Gamera movie (officially, that is), and there could be no more fitting of an end to the series. It has everything a kaiju fan could ask for and more. In fact, this is one of the very few in the genre that can actually ascend to the ranks of being a truly good film. I cannot reccomend it enough.

Gamera - the perfect ending to a perfect trilogy
This, without a doubt, is a masterpeice of, not just the giant monster genre, but films in general. Gamera started back in the 60s with more horrible FX and worse storylines than the infamous later movies of the Showa Godzilla series. However, in 1995, Gamera was resurrected as his main competition died out (seemingly) in "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah." The Heisei Gamera trilogy was a fine example of how good japanese monster movies could be if time and initiative are put into them. This film is the best of the trilogy, and shows just how great it is to be able to enjoy kaiju. The SFX are nearly flawless, and even the monster suits portray believable movements, showing that suitmation isn't as terrible as it is so claimed to be. The story of this film makes sense, and one can actually care for the actors. It's a shame that the Shinsei Godzilla series (99-03) didn't take an example from this film. "Godzilla 2000," the reintroduction of the Godzilla series while Gamera was ending, was a major disappointment compared to this film. If you are unsure about the giant monster genre, watch the Gamera trilogy (in order preferably, or else some parts of G3 won't make since) before looking at the Godzilla and Showa Gamera movies (but don't expect anything better unless you are watching the original uncut Japanese 1954 version of "Godzilla").

BLOWN AWAY !!!!!!
Im a big Godzilla Fan and Gamera but this flick no question or complaints whats so ever.Directed by Shusuke Kaneko and visual effects by Shinji Higuchi they make godzilla 1998 special effects
look like crap with only 7 million dollars.This is the best Kajiu
film ever created sorry Godzilla but your latest films doesnt
even come close to this.The Spx is amazing the action good and
I mean it was so good I wasn't even worried about the monster
fights like godzilla and gamera other films.The story line was
good and the acting was great no disappointment from me.Gamera suit was bad ass and Iris look cool as hell.The fighting Man I
have to say they so realy i could't sometimes think there were
in costumes.This is a must have Kajiu Film period !!!!

Gamera 3 is the best Kajiu film ever created in its period sorry
Godzilla your my Favorite Kajiu monster but it seems the Turtle
go the upperhand! ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Giant Monster Fans - Enjoy!
This is a qick paced Japanese giant monster movie that fans of the genre will really enjoy. The story is good, though fairly silly fun that fans of the old Godzilla movies will welcome with open arms. The movie is the first in a trilogy of great Gamera movies.

The DVD features very good picture quality and offers the option to view the film in the original Japanese language with English subtitles or with and English dubbed soundtrack. The picture quality is very good as is the audio. Bonus features include an informative 31 minute interview with the director of special effects, footage from the Gamera announcement press conference & the Japanese opening of the movie, behind-the-scenes footage, 3 theatrical trailers, 6 TV spots & more!

All in all a great disk to own.

Gamera almost rivals Godzilla as King Of The Monsters.
Most gamera fans have seen the cheesy 60s and 70s versions of the turtle that tried to be godzilla. But now, Gamera actually defeats Godzilla in FX. The Godzilla series from 1989-1995 (The Hesei series) had excellent to mediocre FX. Now Gamera beats the FX in this one! But not only do FX makes this a good movie, but the plot actually clicks without plot holes, and, IMHO, is well explained.

Synopsis: A floating atoll is discovered and a research team chases after it, while three giant bird-monsters appear and chow down on people. The atoll cracks open and releases a monster turtle called Gamera, a dragon created by an ancient civilization to destroy the evil Gyaos. All but one of the birds are killed, and the survivor grows to a size equal to Gamera's. The bird has been dubbed Gyaos and the military decides to stop attacking Gamera and turn towards Gyaos. Gyaos and Gamera meet in Tokyo and fight to the death.... I can't tell you who wins. END

Gamera: Guardian of Kaiju Credibility
Long ago, back when there were plenty of Godzilla-ripoffs, there was one series that stood above the rest: Gamera. Gamera was the most popular of these, most likely because it appealed largely to children (outside of Gamera vs. Barugon, which may have been the best of the older series.) By and large, the Gamera series was a joke. With cheap, often-poorly designed costumes, poor and predictable plots, and an over-reliance on Gamera, "Hero of the Children," it's amazing it went on for as long as it did.

In 1995, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe was released, with a completely different approach. This new Gamera, directed by Shusuke Kaneko, abandons the old plotline, as Godzilla 1985 did with the Godzilla series, and brings the audience into a new, darker Gamera, relying on myth rather than children.

The story begins when a Japanese vessel carrying radioactive material runs aground in the middle of the sea. A mysterious floating atoll has been found and is heading towards Japan. On an island elsewhere, Dr. Nagamine has discovered a giant species of "birds" that have eaten the entire population of the island and one of her fellow scientists. Back at the atoll, a science team led by Professor Kusanagi finds many comma-shaped stones on the atoll, as well as a large 2001-esque monolith buried in it. When the professor's assistant touches the monolith, it breaks apart, as does the atoll. Back with the "birds", the Japanese government stages a plan to capture them as an endangered species, but their efforts are thwarted when Gamera, the creature within the atoll, arrives to destroy the creatures himself.

The beginning of the movie is very disjointed, thus the shaky plot summary. However, once the two halves meet, the rest is solid, involving the confused Japanese government trying to capture the birds and defeat Gamera, Gamera's origins as a bio-weapon in Atlantis, and professor Kusanagi's daughter, Asagi, who provides a human link to Gamera and an homage to the giant turtle's earlier role.

If it's different from the older movies, then it must have better special effects, right? At the point of this film being made, Gamera had never looked better (though the sequels continued to improve his look.) His "flying saucer" flight looks spectacular with CG flames, though his half-jet flying won't look good until the next film. The suit is also a bit fatter than in the old series, which is good, since turtle's don't have flat shells. The birds are based on the old Gyaos from the old series, and while they look very good, they're still clearly hand-puppets and marionettes. There are also several other effects with missiles explosions, and the Gyaos's laser.

The music is good as well. While a little hokey at times, the main theme fits wonderfully with Gamera.

While the movie itself manages to reach Godzilla's level of achievement, the DVD far surpasses it. Most Godzilla discs are complete bare-bones; some don't even have chapter-stops. ADV has included making-of featurettes, videos of opening night, a Japanese language track with subtitles (as well as the dub), and a multitude of other goodies. It's everything a fan could want. And there happens to be this box set out. While it's a little more expensive than the movie by itself, it's nice to have a small case for when you get all three films.

And after seeing this one, you will want the rest. A very good kaiju film , high above Gamera's usual standards, and the best is still to come.

Not Your Father's Gamera
Before I review the importance of this film, allow me to digress.
Why is a film that incorporates CGI considered to have "better special effects" than effects done using minitures and costumes? To this point, within a couple frames:

a> You can tell "immediately" if a creature is done in CGI.
b> You can tell "immediately" if a creature is a costume.

In both cases, the effect is ineffective in that you know it's a special effect. Something either looks convincing, that is "real" and you can't identify the technique used to create it, or it does not. It's a boolean thing. Having said that, the Japanese effects >tradition< of using minitures and costumes is as equally unconvincing as CGI - however, the live action style is more vivid, and interesting. I prefer the elaborate minitures, costumes, and physical effects and find them far, far, more entertaining than something produced on a laptop with a 3D software package.

Secondly, realize that most Japanese kaiju flicks are done on a 10 million dollar budget. It was amazing in the 60's as it is now that an effects film can be realized at all with such a paltry budget. The shooting schedule of this films is also break-neck.

The reason this Gamera film is important is that it re-defined a genre. Many films and filmmakers try, few succeed. It's "The Unforgiven" (western) or The Excorsist (horror) of kaiju.

Most negative reviews of this film cite effects techniques and dubbing (it's nearly impossible to accurately dub english/japanese it's a different language, of course the lips won't synch...) These reviewer are xenophobic.

In summary, Gamera is an IMPORTANT film as it redifined an entire genre. Critics who point to effects technics and dubbing are xenophobic. Long live minitures and rubber suits! The Japanese (not the US) make the best anime and big bug, saturday matinee sci fi from the 50's to today.

Gamera is back!!!
Despite the Gamera in the 60's that was aim towards kids this turtle is back!!When i first saw this I was Blown away I mean The SPX effect are ten times better the Newer godzilla films.
This suits and all were just Damm thats look cool.I mean who ever created this new gamera environment had the right idea and Meen damm he did a good job.All i have to say this on the other 2 Gamera films are a 5 star in my book. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Giant Monster Fans - Enjoy!
This is a qick paced Japanese giant monster movie that fans of the genre will really enjoy. The story is good, though fairly silly fun that fans of the old Godzilla movies will welcome with open arms. The movie is the first in a trilogy of great Gamera movies.

The DVD features very good picture quality and offers the option to view the film in the original Japanese language with English subtitles or with and English dubbed soundtrack. The picture quality is very good as is the audio. Bonus features include an informative 31 minute interview with the director of special effects, footage from the Gamera announcement press conference & the Japanese opening of the movie, behind-the-scenes footage, 3 theatrical trailers, 6 TV spots & more!

All in all a great disk to own.

Gamera almost rivals Godzilla as King Of The Monsters.
Most gamera fans have seen the cheesy 60s and 70s versions of the turtle that tried to be godzilla. But now, Gamera actually defeats Godzilla in FX. The Godzilla series from 1989-1995 (The Hesei series) had excellent to mediocre FX. Now Gamera beats the FX in this one! But not only do FX makes this a good movie, but the plot actually clicks without plot holes, and, IMHO, is well explained.

Synopsis: A floating atoll is discovered and a research team chases after it, while three giant bird-monsters appear and chow down on people. The atoll cracks open and releases a monster turtle called Gamera, a dragon created by an ancient civilization to destroy the evil Gyaos. All but one of the birds are killed, and the survivor grows to a size equal to Gamera's. The bird has been dubbed Gyaos and the military decides to stop attacking Gamera and turn towards Gyaos. Gyaos and Gamera meet in Tokyo and fight to the death.... I can't tell you who wins. END

Gamera: Guardian of Kaiju Credibility
Long ago, back when there were plenty of Godzilla-ripoffs, there was one series that stood above the rest: Gamera. Gamera was the most popular of these, most likely because it appealed largely to children (outside of Gamera vs. Barugon, which may have been the best of the older series.) By and large, the Gamera series was a joke. With cheap, often-poorly designed costumes, poor and predictable plots, and an over-reliance on Gamera, "Hero of the Children," it's amazing it went on for as long as it did.

In 1995, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe was released, with a completely different approach. This new Gamera, directed by Shusuke Kaneko, abandons the old plotline, as Godzilla 1985 did with the Godzilla series, and brings the audience into a new, darker Gamera, relying on myth rather than children.

The story begins when a Japanese vessel carrying radioactive material runs aground in the middle of the sea. A mysterious floating atoll has been found and is heading towards Japan. On an island elsewhere, Dr. Nagamine has discovered a giant species of "birds" that have eaten the entire population of the island and one of her fellow scientists. Back at the atoll, a science team led by Professor Kusanagi finds many comma-shaped stones on the atoll, as well as a large 2001-esque monolith buried in it. When the professor's assistant touches the monolith, it breaks apart, as does the atoll. Back with the "birds", the Japanese government stages a plan to capture them as an endangered species, but their efforts are thwarted when Gamera, the creature within the atoll, arrives to destroy the creatures himself.

The beginning of the movie is very disjointed, thus the shaky plot summary. However, once the two halves meet, the rest is solid, involving the confused Japanese government trying to capture the birds and defeat Gamera, Gamera's origins as a bio-weapon in Atlantis, and professor Kusanagi's daughter, Asagi, who provides a human link to Gamera and an homage to the giant turtle's earlier role.

If it's different from the older movies, then it must have better special effects, right? At the point of this film being made, Gamera had never looked better (though the sequels continued to improve his look.) His "flying saucer" flight looks spectacular with CG flames, though his half-jet flying won't look good until the next film. The suit is also a bit fatter than in the old series, which is good, since turtle's don't have flat shells. The birds are based on the old Gyaos from the old series, and while they look very good, they're still clearly hand-puppets and marionettes. There are also several other effects with missiles explosions, and the Gyaos's laser.

The music is good as well. While a little hokey at times, the main theme fits wonderfully with Gamera.

While the movie itself manages to reach Godzilla's level of achievement, the DVD far surpasses it. Most Godzilla discs are complete bare-bones; some don't even have chapter-stops. ADV has included making-of featurettes, videos of opening night, a Japanese language track with subtitles (as well as the dub), and a multitude of other goodies. It's everything a fan could want. And there happens to be this box set out. While it's a little more expensive than the movie by itself, it's nice to have a small case for when you get all three films.

And after seeing this one, you will want the rest. A very good kaiju film , high above Gamera's usual standards, and the best is still to come.

Not Your Father's Gamera
Before I review the importance of this film, allow me to digress.
Why is a film that incorporates CGI considered to have "better special effects" than effects done using minitures and costumes? To this point, within a couple frames:

a> You can tell "immediately" if a creature is done in CGI.
b> You can tell "immediately" if a creature is a costume.

In both cases, the effect is ineffective in that you know it's a special effect. Something either looks convincing, that is "real" and you can't identify the technique used to create it, or it does not. It's a boolean thing. Having said that, the Japanese effects >tradition< of using minitures and costumes is as equally unconvincing as CGI - however, the live action style is more vivid, and interesting. I prefer the elaborate minitures, costumes, and physical effects and find them far, far, more entertaining than something produced on a laptop with a 3D software package.

Secondly, realize that most Japanese kaiju flicks are done on a 10 million dollar budget. It was amazing in the 60's as it is now that an effects film can be realized at all with such a paltry budget. The shooting schedule of this films is also break-neck.

The reason this Gamera film is important is that it re-defined a genre. Many films and filmmakers try, few succeed. It's "The Unforgiven" (western) or The Excorsist (horror) of kaiju.

Most negative reviews of this film cite effects techniques and dubbing (it's nearly impossible to accurately dub english/japanese it's a different language, of course the lips won't synch...) These reviewer are xenophobic.

In summary, Gamera is an IMPORTANT film as it redifined an entire genre. Critics who point to effects technics and dubbing are xenophobic. Long live minitures and rubber suits! The Japanese (not the US) make the best anime and big bug, saturday matinee sci fi from the 50's to today.

Gamera is back!!!
Despite the Gamera in the 60's that was aim towards kids this turtle is back!!When i first saw this I was Blown away I mean The SPX effect are ten times better the Newer godzilla films.
This suits and all were just Damm thats look cool.I mean who ever created this new gamera environment had the right idea and Meen damm he did a good job.All i have to say this on the other 2 Gamera films are a 5 star in my book. ... Read more