Gamera: The Giant Monster

Sure the film is silly if you're not a fan of the Japanese monster movie genre. But if one catches the right version of this film, which is the original American dubbed version, and not the grotesque Sandy Frank re-dub that's been deservedly sent up on MST 3000 many times, then you'll end up watching instead a credible entry in the "kaiju" genre that was the first effort by Toho rival Daiei to come up with their answer to Godzilla.

The original Japanese version (and the Frank redub) has some particularly horrible scenes involving American Air Force personnel in the opening, including among others a would be actor playing the general who looks and sounds like he's auditioning to replace Curly in a Three Stooges short. The original US version thankfully replaces all of these scenes with more credible looking ones featuring some professional actors, especially Dick O'Neill ("The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three") as the general who is so good you wish he'd been in the rest of the movie instead of over the hill Brian Donlevy who plays the US general in charge of the operation.

Gamera's debut film and the rise legendary rival of Godzilla as the King of Japanese monster cinema. I'm going to say this right now, but I'm not much of a fan of Gamera's early films. There were a few interesting ones, like "Gamera vs. Gyaos" and "Gamera vs. Barugon", however, the original series went to sh*t at a much faster rate than the showa Godzilla films. 1968's "Gamera vs. Viras" is a staple to that statement and of course the series would only get worse till the 80s film "Gamera: Super Monster". This film isn't as good as "Gamera vs. Gyaos" and "Gamera vs. Barugon", but is far superior to latter entries.

Positive notes, well for his debut, Gamera looks pretty awesome. The city stomping scenes are well done, of course Japanese studios by 1965 having had lots of practice. The pacing is brisk and believe it or not doesn't drag. Most kaiju films have interesting finales and if you haven't seen this one you'll either laugh or sit in awe. Either way good fun. And the score is far from Akira Ifukube quality, with wildly switching moods, but it hold together.

Bad points, eh, too much borrowed from other monster movies. A monster emerging from the ice, obviously lifted from "Beast from 20, 000 Fathoms" and the black and white look of the film is borrowed, if you will, from the original 1954 Gojira. I suppose that's what happens when you come in that lame in the game. Plus the child character kind of grated on my nerves, a true turtle lover all right. The movie takes itself rather seriously with notions of the Cold War as opposed to the 1965 Toho release "Invasion of Astro Monster" which was light-hearted but more memorable. That film had awesome colorful cinematography, the likes of three monsters (Godzilla, Rodan, and King Ghidorah!!" and a fun and yes zany plot. Plus it was scored by the maestro Akira Ifukube. Comparing it to this film isn't really fair, but Godzilla for the win this round.

However, I still highly enjoy the vintage sci-fi and I recommend the movie to classic sci-fi lovers.

I am not going to comment on this film - enough has been said about it. I am going to comment on the two lead American actors - Brian Donlevy and Albert Dekker. Seeing these two in a film again brings back memories. The last time I saw them act together was in the 1942 film "Wake Island". If at all possible get this film and watch it (Available only on VHS). See what a great job these two actors can do with a well written script.

This review is of the American version of the film which has additional scenes offering two of the movies favourite scientists, Albert Dekker (Dr. Cyclops) and Brian Donlevy (Prof. Quatermass) together. Once it became obvious that Toho Studios had a hit with Godzilla other studios wanted their own monsters. Daiei came up with a giant fire breathing, flying turtle. Well, why not? Freed from the arctic ice by (what else?) a nuclear explosion Gammera heads for (you guessed it!) Tokyo to cause the usual panic and destruction. Gammera is not a mutation of atomic radiation (like another giant monster who shall go nameless at this point) he comes from a time so remote in Earth's pre-history that his cell structure differs from all other living things. He gets energy from heat and eats fire to survive! This makes all modern weapons useless. What to do? The military comes up with Plan Z which is surely the most outrageous way of getting rid of a giant monster that has ever been used in a movie! Does it work? Well . . .until the sequel it does! Both versions of this film are fun though I have a preference for the original Japanese versions of all movies of this genre. Actually this movie has many incarnations. This version which was done in 1965, another version with different dubbing done by Sandy Frank in the 1980's and the original, subtitled Japanese version. They vary just enough to make each version original. Gammera, and this is the only movie where his name is spelled with two "m"'s, is a villain in this one but he learns rather quickly to become a good guy in the later sequels. There has been talk for the last 10 years about a movie where Gammera battles Godzilla. Toho Studios claims this will never happen. Still, you never can be sure.

It helps to be a kaiju fan if you watch this as an adult. I was able to see the English subtitled version, and found it enjoyable for what it is. It's monster destruction along the vein of Gojira, albeit a cheaper budget, yet more updated special effects. The movie is short so its fairly easy to get through. I love the atmosphere of black and white, and the seriousness of Gamera as a threat to humanity. There is a child present, but he will not totally turn off adults. I'm not gonna pick the film to pieces and tell you what's wrong. It's just good kaiju fun! This movie is as important to the series as the original Godzilla was to his. I recommend it to all true fans of the genre.