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Gamera vs. Zigra

Original title: Gamera tai Shinkai kaijû Jigura
  • 1971
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
3.7/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Gamera vs. Zigra (1971)
KaijuAdventureFamilySci-Fi

Space aliens arrive on Earth with their giant shark and intend to take over the planet, but first they must destroy Gamera.Space aliens arrive on Earth with their giant shark and intend to take over the planet, but first they must destroy Gamera.Space aliens arrive on Earth with their giant shark and intend to take over the planet, but first they must destroy Gamera.

  • Director
    • Noriaki Yuasa
  • Writer
    • Niisan Takahashi
  • Stars
    • Kôji Fujiyama
    • Daigo Inoue
    • Reiko Kasahara
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    3.7/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Noriaki Yuasa
    • Writer
      • Niisan Takahashi
    • Stars
      • Kôji Fujiyama
      • Daigo Inoue
      • Reiko Kasahara
    • 28User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos76

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    Top cast15

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    Kôji Fujiyama
    Kôji Fujiyama
    • Dr. Tom Wallace
    Daigo Inoue
    Reiko Kasahara
    • Woman X…
    Daihachi Kita
    Goro Kumon
    Shin Minatsu
    Shô Natsuki
    • Doctor
    Keiichi Noda
    • Jigura (Japanese version)
    • (voice)
    • (as Kei'ichi Noda)
    Isamu Saeki
    • Dr. Yosuke Ishikawa
    Yasushi Sakagami
    • Kenichi Ishikawa
    Mikiko Tsubouchi
    Mikiko Tsubouchi
    • Mrs. Ishikawa
    Eiko Yanami
    • Woman X
    Yoshio Yoshida
    Yoshio Yoshida
    • Niemon
    Arlene Zoellner
    • Margie Wallace
    Gloria Zoellner
    • Helen Wallace
    • Director
      • Noriaki Yuasa
    • Writer
      • Niisan Takahashi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    3.72K
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    Featured reviews

    3jamesrupert2014

    The end of an era...thankfully

    Admittedly, the English-dubbed version I watched may not have done the film justice, but "Gamera vs. Zigra" is pretty awful, even by bargain-basement kaiju-eiga standards. Briefly, an alien spaceship attacks a moonbase, then plunges into the ocean near Japan, from where Zigra kidnaps two kids and their fathers. There is a lengthy expositional scene where an alien space-babe (with '"super-celestial powers"), who seems to be channeling some kind of giant space-shark, explains Zigra's backstory, informs us that resistance is futile, and demonstrates diverse abilities such as causing earthquakes and hypnotising subjects with a snap of her finger. Typical of the Showa-era Gamera series, grownups are ineffectual, but the children manage to rescue their stupefied fathers and escape. Gamera attacks the submerged spaceship, which inexplicably changes into a monster resembling a gigantic, robotic 'goblin shark'. Various adventures and battles follow, with the two children always in the thick of things. As usual, Earth's puny weapons are proven useless and only Gamera, the children's friend, can save us. At times, the film (or at least the dubbed dialogue) makes no sense: explaining Zigra's origins, the space-babe states "We on Zigra planet, we used to live in the sea but your Earth science polluted the water and we could no longer live there", this despite the fact that Zigra is 400 light-years from Earth. The special effects are low-budget and not very effective, with most of the monster action underwater or on a beach. The Gamera suit looks as unconvincing as ever and the silly Zigra costume is on par with most of Gamera's goofy kaiju foes (Gyaos being an exception). In keeping with the drift toward 'environmental values' in the genre ('Godzilla vs the Smog Monster' was released the same year), the film has lots of preachy moments about valuing the oceans, etc., yet opens with what is essentially a plug for "Sea World". There are also several references to Coke, the tiresome little girl's libation of choice. For a kaiju film, there is not a lot of 'action' and far too much time is spent on the space-babe's pursuit of the annoying children, descriptions of carnage and destruction that we don't get to see, and Zigra's continual gloating about his superiority, our dismal fate, etc. His comeuppance for this verbose posturing is to have his dorsal fins played like a xylophone by the triumphant turtle, who then breaks into dance (even sillier than Godzilla's infamous victory jig in 1964's 'Invasion of Astro-Monster'). Incongruously, after this lighthearted song-and-dance moment, Zigra is incinerated while still alive. The Gamera formula was getting pretty tired by 1971 and, perhaps fortunately, this was the last of the original Showa-era films. Other than 'starring' in 1980's dire "Gamera Super Monster" a compilation of fight scenes frame-worked by a ridiculous (and possibly imaginary) story involving 'space women', the giant, jet-powered, flying turtle hibernates until 1995's excellent "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe". One bonus: the score includes the 'Gamera Song', this time with lyrics and sung by a children's choir. If this memorably cheerful ditty doesn't lay an egg in your inner ear, nothing will.
    2kevinolzak

    Last and least of the original Gamera series

    1971's "Gamera vs. Zigra" was the last (no 7), and by far least, of Daiei's original Gamera series, eventually making the television rounds in the US over 15 years after the company went bankrupt (the other six all showed up on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater). With yet another batch of annoying children, and adults who behave just as badly, it's up to series veteran Reiko Kasahara to maintain intrigue, even if she has to run around in a fetching bikini! She had previously appeared in "Gamera vs. Gaos" (no. 3) and "Gamera vs. Guiron" (no. 5), the latter as one of the two alien women desiring to devour the children's brains (not that that could make them any smarter). Zigra is revealed as a kind of shark usually found in the deeper waters off Japan, but Gamera is just laughable. The previous color sequels, apart from "Gamera vs. Viras," had some merit, but this one has absolutely none, dumb characters coupled with dumber monsters.
    3jerekra

    Probably The Worst Gamera Film.

    Gamera vs Zigra is probably the worst Gamera film ever made. It has an old plot, bad monster action, and pretty stupid dialogue.

    Basic plot involves an alien space ship led by an evil Sorcerous named Zigra. Then you pretty much predict what will happen, they try to take over the Earth and Gamera must save the Earth.

    There are so many alien invading science fiction films that this one is nothing special. In fact it is really bad. The little kids in this film are so annoying that they make me want to see the other annoying kids in other Gamera Films.

    Zigra is a pretty cool looking monster. However he moves around so slowly and really does not do anything exciting like Gamera's other foes. But he does look cool. I guess it is somewhat interesting how Zigra shoots a ray that messes with your chromosones. Also Zigra can talk in comprehendable English which is a first for a Gamera opponent. The fights between Zigra and Gamera are not really very good at all. There is so much standing around and roaring between Gamera and Zigra and it just gets boring.

    There are other oddities in this film. The whole concept of Earth's water pressure making Zigra bigger made me scratch my head. Also why does Gamera have to play Zigra like a xylophone? And the song he plays is the Gamera theme song. Pretty lame part. Finally there is no way that Gamera could breathe fire under water and yet he does so in this film.

    The dubbing is so bad in this film. I always prefer watching the Japanese films to the American dubbed film so it would be interesting to see the dialogue in Japanese to see how badly they screwed up the dubbing. But that would mean having to watch this film again and I do not want to do that.

    So this one is pretty bad. Extremely boring and stupid at parts. Not a recommended Gamera film.
    Ace-85

    Always good for a laugh

    Campy and low-budget, all the things that make the old Gamera movies great. This movie follows a creature named Zigra, who first destroys a moon base then threatens Tokyo. Gamera arrives late and generally just mucks things up. He does somehow save the day, in one of the cheesiest fight sequences ever made. If you like stupid old movies, this one's for you.

    "Gamera is really neat, Gamera is full of meat, We believe in Gamera!"
    5wdavisterry

    Fun ending of original Gamera series

    After Gamera vs. Jiger this one is a definite upgrade to the level of previous Gamera movies. A real charmer, Gamera vs. Zigra features an alien who controls humans with hypnosis to get what it really wants. The plot runs into two children, the girl, Helen, who, with her older sister Maggie, appears to be bi-racial, and Kennie, who have a psychic link to Gamera. Avoid the non-Japanese print, this one is beautifully shot in wide-screen that is completely lost in the t.v. cut version. Also, the acting is much more restrained than the horrible dubbing would have you believe. It's sort of the ultimate expression of the Gamera idea. Gamera: it can never be said that he fails to get the job done when he racks up another impressive victory over a monster, here Zigra, who is creepy on the space ship (including cobwebs) but out of the ship (and full size) is more attractive than Gamera's other adversaries.

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    Related interests

    Haruo Nakajima in Godzilla (1954)
    Kaiju
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "Gamera vs. Zigra" was the only classic Gamera film not released in the U.S. until the advent of home video. All the previous films had been picked up for theatrical distribution or for television. "Gamera vs. Zigra" first appeared in the U.S. in 1987 via videotape, long after its Japanese release.
    • Goofs
      Although Gamera is a monster, how is it possible for him to use his flame jets and his fire breath under water?
    • Quotes

      Kenny: Ah, Gamera!

      Helen: I don't like monsters.

      Kenny: Gamera is the friend of all children!

      Helen: Is he really?

    • Connections
      Edited into Gamera: Super Monster (1980)

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    FAQ15

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 17, 1971 (Japan)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Gamera contra Zigra, la amenaza de los océanos
    • Filming locations
      • Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan
    • Production company
      • Daiei Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 27m(87 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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