User reviews

This updated version of the 1960's terrifying terrapin is by far better than the showa films that precede it. Gamera first showed its fangs in 1965 in the movie Gamera (1965) as a response to the popular Godzilla series. for the most part these films were bad.

The 1990's revival of the sabre-toothed tortoise is a brilliant addition to the Kaiju Eiga.

The acting in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is Excellent. Each Actor and Actress portrays there own character well and seem to enjoy playing the part.

The storyline is very good. The inclusion of what humans are doing to the planet being the reason for why the Gyoas waking up was a good plot device. Also the myth of Atlantis/super-civilisation having created the two monsters, Gamera and Gyoas was a good touch.

The soundtrack was good but I do have some complaints about its use. During the final battle scene I feel that the music played was not completely appropriate for a battle of titans.

Overall a good film with some minor flaws. Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is a great film that can be enjoyed by anyone a kaiju fan or not.

And by the way the next two are even better

This film is the first of the newer Gamera monster movies, revived from their 1960 counterparts. The Gamera movies are produced by Daiei Studios, a rival of Toho Studios, which produces all of the Godzilla films. Though I am a Godzilla fan, I have seen a few of Gamera's movies. This one serves as a great introduction to restart the series, bringing us terrific special effects and a chilling music score-nothing like the extreme cheese and camp effects of the kiddie Gamera films in the 1960s and 1970s. We see the suspense built up, bit by bit, as the monsters' origins are depicted in this film. Gamera first emerges from a mysterious rock in the ocean, while Gyaos rises from a remote island: suspenseful introduction to the two monsters. And, this movie puts in a little more element and depth we do not see in the Godzilla films. For example, when the threat of Gyaos emerges in Japan, we actually see the aftermath like stores being closed, the stock market plummeting, food and produce growing scarce and, of course, citizens fleeing for their lives. In addition, people actually freak out when famous landmarks are destroyed, like the Tokyo Tower. In the Godzilla films, human reactions are hardly depicted when famous buildings are crushed. Some downsides are that a few of the characters were pretty annoying, especially the "Mr. Saito" character, played by Hirotaro Honda. I just don't dig his hair-the way he combs it over! And, much of the acting was pretty cheesy.

In this film, we get to learn about the past of these two monsters, and why they end up in fierce battle. And, another notable mention is that the girl named Asagi, played by Steven Seagal's daughter Ayako Fujitani, is the direct link to Gamera's power. She possess this rock which is the source of Gamera's powers. They both also share the same physical feelings, for example, if Gamera gets zapped in the arm, so does she. This is a very interesting concept, and probably echos that of psychic Miki Saeguesa (Megumi Odaka) of the Godzilla "Heisei" series. Overall, a very entertaining film with non-stop monster actions.

Grade B

Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe is a pretty good movie, I would have to say just about on par with the Godzilla films from the Hesai series. It has more plot than most kaiju flicks, and has pretty good suits. If you view it as what it is (namely, the first in a trilogy) then it is a pretty good first part. It develops the theme that will continue with the next two instalments, and does a good job of convaying the many plot twists and new developments. While both of it's sequals surpass it in almost every way, this is still a very good movie. Another plus is that it is the only one of the trilogy that has aired on TV, albeit in a cropped and dubbed version.

Such a satisfying kaiju movie!

And easily the best Gamera film I've seen so far, even if that's not saying a huge amount... well, I enjoyed quite a few of the Showa entries, but some of the more stock-heavy films were rough, and I wanted to get through them so I could appreciate the 90s Gamera films more.

Looks like it will pay off, because this was well-made and a lot of fun, and I've heard the next two movies in this Heisei trilogy are even better.

Decent human characters and storyline, some good monster action, and a big emphasis on sometimes effective, sometimes charmingly silly practical effects (with very little CGI) made for a very good film that I'm honestly on the borderline of giving a 4/5, but will settle on a 3.5 for now.

Can't wait to watch the other two later this weekend.

My main reaction was that this was nearly perfect kaiju. I saw Toho's Godzilla 2000, and here's why it wasn't half as good as this: Godzilla was too big. They made him too big, that's all. Gamera here was the right size: just as tall as a tall building, so when he falls over backwards into it, it really crumbles. So beautiful! I actually bought a Gamera figure (1999, Bandai) before I saw this. And I still haven't seen the subsequent two. But this was just great. They took advantage of new digital tech, as Godzilla 2000 did, but also refined what was great about guys in rubber suits clomping around smashing models. Only complaint: some of the matting when they were flying down the street was weak. But then again, part of the fun is knowing deep down that they're guys in rubber suits, so some flaws are exceptable. In fact, I'm sure each kaiju fan has his own pet special effects gaff that really makes it for him. Mine is the street lights. They never look real. Don't know why. But it's just so great that someone came and glued them there onto the miniature sidewalk. Some great long-distance shots, too. Best one: when Gamera and Gyaos are plummeting back down from outer space, and there's one shot that looks just like a sky-diving shot, with the blue Earth below - did they throw a giant turtle out of a plane and shoot that? And Gyaos roosting on the ruins of Tokyo Tower, silhouetted in the sunlight - gorgeous. The big final battle was great. Gyaos' eggs falling on the cars.

Oh, and there were a lot of great laughs. Especially when the plutonium ship captain comes running in and says, "There's a monster coming out of the ocean!" and he's told, "Not now, we're busy capturing giant birds." I saw a subtitled version. Thank god. The pacing was pretty damn good, too, since you're really only interested in seeing about half an hour of the thing. To watch this stuff in the 21st century rocks. It really reminds you how limited CGI is and what movies really are about. Don't mess with the rubber suit!

If I had to chose one Japanese monster movie, it would be Gamera Guardian of the Universe. The original Gamera films were intended for a child audience. While not a children's film, this is a fun film for all audiences.

A young girl forms a psychic Bond with a monster. Other monsters attack. The good monster beats the living hell out of the bad monsters. Pretty simple. What is so good about this film is, of course, the fact that is is so well balanced when it comes to human suspense and monster action. Most Japanese monster films have this tendency to sacrifice one for the other. This one doesn't, and all action sequences are top notch. Gamera fighting Gyaos in a Stadium, or saving some kids on a Bridge, its the type of movie that will have you cheering.

This, the first in the Gamera Trilogy, has some minor enviromental undercurrents. This is welcome, because we all know how sometimes films like to get preachy. This enviromental theme is apparent in the entire trilogy, but is always on a subdued level where it does get to you, instead of annoying you.

This one should please fans of old school monster movies. Very similar to the classic "Gamera" films (for those not in the know, Gamera is a giant mutant turtle who can fly in the process of defending the earth from other giant mutants). A lot of humor, good movie for kids, decent special effects.

Nothing too memorable, but definitely worth it for fans of the genre.

Better than Toho's new "Godzilla" films, which all feature that annoying psychic girl.

Gamera films are made by a competing film company and it is good to see they are still at it.

I liked this movie the best out of all the '90s Gamera movies. I think this one had the best actors and acting which kept the story alive, and believable. Daiei always had better casting compared to Toho in their movies, and trend continues with this series.

Cinematography is few notches above other Japanese kaijyu films shot in color, and integration between special effects and other scenes are tight too.

What really makes this movie so good is that it actually has plots, and it's not just about mindless monsters destroying cities.

Actor Steven Segal's daughter Ayako Fujitani makes her debut as an actress as Asagi Kusanagi who has ties with Gamera in this movie.

This movie stands to repeat viewing and doesn't get old. Destined to become a classic kaijyu movie.

A surprisingly good movie for fans of the genre! I had low expectations of this film and expected to quit watching it after 5 minutes. However, I'm glad to say I continued watching to the end. Yes, it's hokey - the monsters look like men in monster suits and Tokyo is again at risk. Yet - there's something fresh about this movie. First - it takes place in a more modern setting than the 60s and 70s - large flat screen panels and the like are present. Second, this film didn't have the look of a low-budget movie. It looks like the producers had a decent budget and used it well.

Like the earlier movies, though much more appealingly executed, are the breadth of the settings - the ocean, islands, boats, power stations, downtown Tokyo, space, and more. All the classic scenes you'd expect in a movie modeled after those of the 60s and 70s are present and nicely updated.

If a good old-fashioned style Japanese monster movie piques your interest, this movie won't disappoint. I enjoyed it.

Gamera Guardian of the Universe is an action-packed reboot of the Gamera series that does a lot of things right, but also stumbles in a few places.

Initially presenting us with a human cast that is actually quite engaging (which says a lot for this genre of film), the movie never really finds time to further develop these characters due to how many of them there are mixed in with the monster action. Thus, though swimming in potential, the cast falls flat, with the exception of both the female leads who do a great job conveying the stakes of the story.

As for the monsters the special effects are brilliant. As of writing this review, some of the suit-mation and miniatures are the most convincing I have seen in monster movies of this type, making for an immersive story that more aptly portrays the size and scale of these beasts. Scenes of city destruction, when Gamera and Gaus wreak havoc on the world, are the highlight of the film and never disapoint.

The same cannot be said for the action sequences, however. There are genuinely really exciting moments, such as the flying sequences in the final battle and whenever either monster uses their flaming breath. But when it comes to close combat the movie loses the illusion and you suddenly become all the more aware that you're watching men in suits. It detracts from the action whenever this happens and from the movie as a whole, which happens one too many times for me to give this a higher rating.

But the film as a whole has more good than bad and I would still recommend watching this movie as it has more than its fair share of memorable moments to offer.

I was never a fan of the original Gamera series - most of it was slow, cheap, and made for kids. In fact, it took me quite a while to get around to the new trilogy because I thought, 'heck, why would anyone want to resurrect that turkey?' well, I guess they wanted to because they saw the full potential of the big turtle that the original Gamera team somehow missed. The big turtle is interesting at all because he is not anywhere near as fearsome as his older rival Godzilla, yet he can never be anthropomorphized the way Godzilla was in the sillier early Toho films. He is always a little strange and unexpected. His very existence is an absurdity, yet in the right situation, he's exactly the kind of turtle you want fighting on your side.

If that makes sense at all, then the Gamera revival trilogy is for you. This first film is big daffy fun, filled with big explosions, moments of horror, and annoying human beings who need the Tokyo Tower to be twisted into a huge vulture's nest before they get the sense of the real danger they face. And of course there's our much misunderstood turtle hero, bravely fending off a flock of giant vampire bats with over-developed tonsils. Add to this just a bit of late-20th century pop mysticism, and you have the perfect party treat.

Of course they wouldn't have gotten away with it if they hadn't decided to use state-of-the-art special effects - the film looks good, and moves along quite well. As professional as the worst entries of the original series were amateurish.

So if you like big daffy sci-fi monster fun, forget whatever you thought of the old Gamera, take a good look at the new, and have a good time.

Let it be said that I do not understand why everyone raves over the quality and production values of this film. It certainly isn't any better than the Godzilla films being made at that time. It's a lot better than the original Gamera films when it comes to production values, of course, but after seeing the film I wasn't sure what all the fuss was about.

I've heard people exclaim that this may very well be the ultimate kaiju film and in my eyes it's anything but.

It's not any better nor is it any worse than the typical kaiju film. But if you're a fan of the genre like I am you will definitely consider it a solid kaiju film.

Some of the battle scenes are really fun and Gyaos has always been my favorite Gamera foe.

I look forward to finally seeing the sequels, which are hailed quite highly too. I just hope that those live up to the hype.

It's displeasing to watch the recent coverage of the 1990's Gamera films. Rarely content to uphold it as excellent in and of itself, people nowadays act obligated to explicitly posit Shusuke Kaneko's trilogy as the triumphant, superior answer to the Hesei series of Godzilla films. While hardly a new comparison, pushing a measly franchise rivalry more than 20 years after the fact comes across as a haughty challenge while offering little of consequence. Yet, people continually include this context on the basis of the Gamera films representing the gold standard of the genre, and as the matter has become increasingly lopsided a certain degree of leveling is in order.

That's not to say I don't like these movies. During my foray into film criticism I was very open to the possibility of them being as excellent as their reputations indicated. All three are ambitious monster flicks with a number of noteworthy qualities. But these attributes opened them up to their own failings, and that began with "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe".

I remain nonplussed by the plaudits heaped upon the writing and storytelling, as these are precisely the areas in which the film stumbles most. Following a too brisk set-up that culminates in Gamera's advancement on the domed stadium (an impressive sequence and the film's high point), the narrative continues as an inelegant series of developments that is inconducive to momentum. There's a mechanical feel to the bulk of the film, as if it's bluntly telling the audience "look at this, now that" rather than drawing us in properly. Resultingly, many important moments or chapters, such as the first appearance of the Gyaos and the military operation at the aforementioned stadium, aren't afforded the weight they need; they just happen. More scenes in the vein of the investigation atop the atoll might have been beneficial.

One thing that really disappointed me on my initial viewing of "Guardian of the Universe" was the mythology. While reinventing Gamera as a creature specifically created to oppose the Gyaos was an inspired decision, his heroic status isn't treated with much weight and his connection with Asagi (who is mystifyingly unperturbed by what is happening to her) never develops beyond an outline. No less perfunctory is the "discovery" of the monsters' origins, dully delivered through minor research and a more than fair amount of speculation. Without the aid of some visual representation, such as flashbacks or a prologue, the dramatic impact of the characters' conclusions is limited. What we get instead is a connection to mankind's negative impact on the environment that is simultaneously underdeveloped and heavy-handed. And that brings me to the issue with screenwriter Kazunori Ito's approach to this trilogy: Ito is so preoccupied with inserting any concept that distinguishes his take on the genre that he often forgets to do anything significant with it. It's an irksome habit, especially in the case of verisimilitude, and lends the film a slight air of speciousness.

Deservedly praised, on the other hand, is the film's technical aptitude. During its initial release, "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe" set itself apart in its convincing presentation of monster scenes, with nearly every technique available applied to create the illusion of size, the most significant contributions coming from the camerawork and miniatures. The latter have aged extraordinarily well and serve as a true testament to the craft, especially in a dark setting. "Guardian of the Universe" is also notable for being the first member of the genre to make extensive use of relatively new CGI effects. The results are mixed, ranging from the embarrassing bombs to Gamera's exquisitely animated plasma shots, although it's ironic that the best flying scene (Gamera's take-off at the domed stadium) was done on a computer; the flying scenes done with practical effects look primitive. Enhancing all of this is the sound work. Whether it's the distinct footfalls of Gamera, the military assaults, or the collapsing buildings, the auditory experience is immersive. Even Gamera's roar, which could have been irritating, is given just the right pitch and resonating effect to sound natural. Such investment in sound effects is something the modern era of Godzilla films should take note of. The one blotch is the crunching sound that accompanies the Gyaos' eating; around the third time this happens it becomes more obnoxious than unsettling.

The battle between Gamera and Super Gyaos, an intended climactic struggle between equals, is strangely out of key with the rest of the movie's action. It's not a bad fight, but this dissonance in style (it feels more like something out of a bigger budget Ultraman episode), combined with the fast pacing, always leaves me feeling as if it hardly happened at all. Kaneko's handling of this type of sequence was unsure at this point in his career, with a prioritization of dynamism over engagement. It's telling that during the ground phase an inordinate amount of time is spent on snarling, charging, and building smashing, while the actual fighting is largely reduced to bouts of awkward shoving. And when things move to an incredibly jarring flight into the stratosphere, Kaneko's objectives run away with him. Only at the oil refinery is solid ground reached, and by then the affair is almost over.

Then there's the matter of the villain. Super Gyaos isn't an effective lone opponent because, aside from a disappointingly straightforward transformation, the rest of the film makes no effort to set this one apart from the others. It isn't shown to be exceptionally ferocious, the dominant member, or the "queen"; it just happens to survive longer. Its positioning as the final opponent is just as mechanical as the story, which diminishes the rivalry between the two combatants. Thankfully, learning is evident, and these drawbacks were largely remedied in the two sequels.

For me, "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe" remains entertaining, but curiously standard. While the production values are outstanding, the movie fails to achieve escape velocity in virtually every other facet.

It's nice to take a break from Godzilla and still have the same formula, except that the hero is a Terrapin.

We don't get too far away as the director, Shusuke Kaneko, is a Godzilla (Godzilla,Mothra and King Ghidorah) writer and director, too, as well as director of two more Gamera movies.

One of the main characters, Shinobu Nakayama, was also featured in Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla, or Godzilla and the Transformers as I like to call it.

The special affects were fantastic, and the military blows it again by fighting the wrong monster as Gamera is a friend.

The evil monsters, no not Florida State, but the Gyaos, huge birds, are defeated. of course. and Gamera can safely go back to the sea until Gamera 2.

When Gamera first appeared in Japanese theaters in 1965, he was nothing more than a Godzilla-want-to-be. The giant flying turtle was one of the few want-to-bes that achieved any level of success close to what Godzilla had, but there was still nothing primal about him. Now truth by told, although I am a huge kaiju (giant monster) fan, I was not and still am not a fan of the original Gamera series. Those films were so juvenile and unbelievably dull that they made even the corniest of the Godzilla movies look like visionary works of art by comparison. And so Gamera had that reputation for a while. He was popular and suited only for very young children. That was until 1995, when director Shusuke Kaneko changed all of that with a very successful inventive trilogy of Gamera films that changed the flying turtle from just another Godzilla rip-off into his own character…and in three very good movies. The first was "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe." In this vast reinvention of the Gamera series, decades of environmental catastrophes have awakened a flock of bat-like creatures called the Gyaos, who begin to plague Japanese islands and then threaten the mainland. Around the same time, a giant turtle referred to in legend as Gamera, awakens at the same time. As the monsters begin to battle, its soon discovered that their simultaneous appearance and their aggression for each other is anything but coincidence.

Now in terms of its plot, "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe" is anything but special, but then again, neither was "Predator" (1987) or "Jaws" (1975) or to a certain extent "Gojira" (1954). Like with all of those movies, its the high-energy pacing and the stories that make "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe" work. The best word to describe this movie is fun. Even Roger Ebert, who is not a fan of the kaiju genre (see his review for "Godzilla 1985" for proof) admitted he had a fun time with the film.

One thing I particularly liked about "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe" as well as the other two movies in the trilogy was that even when the monsters were not on screen, I was not bored for a second. Typically in monster movies, the creatures are the most interesting element and the human characters are inane and time-fillers. This film is an exception. The characters are familiar in terms of classification (scientist, witness, etcetera) but they are fairly fleshed-out to become likable. The dialogue is also very well-written so that for once, the explanation of the monsters' origin is not long-winded, familiar, or tiresome.

But of course, I can't leave out the star of the movie, Gamera himself. Kaneko's decision to change Gamera from a child-friendly big-hearted turtle into a more vicious and animal-like, yet somehow appealing monster was absolutely brilliant. Now in terms of how he's presented, no, Gamera is not spectacular, but then again neither was the shark in "Jaws". And both creatures carry of their parts effectively. The Gyaos are also fairly well-done, although in their earlier scenes, there was a little too much of a phony expression in their ping pong ball-like eyes. Overall, the special effects are a little more then what you'd expect, although not fantastic like in the second and third installments of the trilogy.

Bottom line, "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe" is like the "Raiders of the Lost Ark" of Japanese monster movies. It's not meant to be taken seriously and nobody does, it doesn't try to be anything more than what it is, and every second is nonstop energetic and pleasurable cinematic fun.

Much like the Godzilla series of films, Gamera has been updated with more money and effects that give the old turtle a new life. Gamera was and still is a friend to the human race. Gaos and family return to use human beings as their food. Gaos still has its supersonic beam the can cut anything in existence, even Gamera. The military decides that Gamera is more dangerous than Gaos and nearly lead to the destruction of Gamera as the turtle must face attacks from two different angles at the same time. Will the turtle end up as "turtle soup?" Can the turtle survive being cut up by the supersonic beams? Will mankind ever join with Gamera? These questions can only be answered by "pulling up a chair" and enjoying this classic creature in action.

Thank goodness SOMEone saved the giant turtle from languishing in MST3K territory. This film is fun,smart,and visually stunning, Well-written and only the 1st in a trilogy that never lets up and never disappoints. I'm a Godzilla fan and I gotta admit this is better than many of THOSE!!

Fifteen years after Gamera sacrificed himself to save mankind, the massive turtle is back! This reboot ignores everything that has gone before, and is set in a world where the Japanese are blissfully unaware of the existence of kaiju, at least until a small island becomes the feeding ground of prehistoric birds called the Gyaos. Not long after, Gamera makes an appearance as well, and unsurprisingly causes panic, the army taking action by firing missiles at the giant reptile, not realising that the turtle is there to protect people from the flesh-eating birds.

I had hoped that, by 1995, Japanese film-makers would have moved on from dodgy miniatures being stomped by men in rubber monster suits, but Gamera: Guardian of the Universe uses many of the same techniques employed by the series during the '60s and '70s, and it's still quite laughable, even if the cinematography is better and the explosions bigger. This film came hot on the heels of Jurassic Park, but you would be forgiven for thinking it came out years earlier, the special effects being quite primitive for the time. Perhaps that's what most kaiju fans want, the old-school look and feel giving them a comforting sense of nostalgia, but I think I would have preferred the film to have moved with the times.

Oh well, at least there's plenty of action in this one (no matter how unconvincing) and no cutesie kids to make the adults look like idiots. Best moments: Gyaos attacking a packed train, and the big bird nesting on top of what remains of the Tokyo Tower.

5.5/10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb.

Goodness, what we do for the love of our spouses. Jennifer comes home after a long hard day at work with a bottle of wine and a video under her arm. Chick flick? Sure, if you consider a Turtle attacking a pre-historic bird a 'chick-flick'. And you know, it's not all that bad, considering. The reason we watch these movies is the cheesy special effects, the bad acting, and almost invisible plot line or a plot line that is so far-fetched that you roll on the floor laughing in a silly, drunken stupor. This hits most of the 'hot-spots' with its bad acting, and the plot that is both thin and silly at the same time. The special effects for this are pretty damn good! I mean, it's no Return of the Jedi, but it's some kind of impressive if you're expecting a bunch of guys in rubber suits stomping all over a bunch of balsa-wood cubes that are supposed to be skyscrapers. Sure, there are some guys dressed up as Turtles and Birds, but you can spot them and they fit right in with the digital effects. I'm not sure how to put this, but the silly effects are not so silly that you are disappointed. Granted, the desire to see a really cheesy monster movie will not be sated by this - for one thing, it's in colour - but it's a worthwhile way to get an introduction to the Japanese Monster movie genre.

Having recently seen this "Cult Classic" (and it's only a few years old,too!)I've found it to be a true contender for Godzilla's crown!! Gamera gets the facelift he's so desperately needed from the original series (as any MST3K fan will testify to!),some better SFX,a COHERANT storyline,believable acting (!)and just sheer fun! See this movie if you love big monster movies,and see it even if you don't!!

I recently watched Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) on Tubi. The storyline follows Tokyo as it's attacked by the infamous Gyaos, while the military struggles to stop the monster. Gamera, awakening from hibernation, faces off against Gyaos while contending with military interference, all in a bid to save humanity.

Directed by Shusuke Kaneko (Death Note), the film stars Ihara Tsuyoshi (Letters from Iwo Jima), Ayako Fujitani (Man from Reno), Hatsunori Hasegawa (Ultraman 80), Akira Kubo (Sanjuro), and Kôjirô Hongô (Satan's Sword).

As with many monster movies, the human storyline is the weakest part-cutting it out would have made for a stronger film. However, Gyaos is well-designed, evoking a sense of menace similar to Rodan, and serves as a worthy adversary for Gamera. The battles between Gyaos, Gamera, and the military are highly entertaining, with great practical effects, including well-crafted models, fire, and explosions. Gamera's flying sequences are impressively executed, and the final showdown is satisfying.

In conclusion, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is an average film overall, but a must-watch for fans of kaiju films. I'd rate it 6/10.

Good effects and boring everything else in this Kaiju flick from the 90's. The sequels are actually an improvement in every way so I would recommend them instead if you want Hesei Gamera.