General Gamera Thread

[eabaker]

I find the first three Gamera flicks all pretty dull. I'm mostly fine with skipping them and starting with Viras, which I find to be goofy fun.

I consider Zigra and Super Monster - hmmm, unwatchable is too harsh, but they can both be a bit of a struggle to get through.

That run of Viras-Guiron-Jiger has just the tone I like in Showa-era Gamera.

[Godzilla21]

My rankings of the Showa films-

1. Guiron
2. Jiger
3. Barugon
4. Gyaos
5. Gamera
6. Viras
7. Zigra
8. Super Monster

[Zarm]

I personally enjoyed vs. Zigra the best- most definitely in a 'laughing at, not with' sense, but still...

[tbeasley]

For me Gyaos balances the best aspects of the first two films so it's my favorite Showa film and I see why it inspired the basic premise of GOTU. How do you make Gamera stand out from Godzilla? Showcase his flying abilities and have him fight another flying monster!

However, the little stock footage montage that ends Gyaos basically heralds in the more overbearingly kiddy tone the remaining films would have, with Jiger being my favorite of that bunch.

The 90s trilogy deserves all the praise it gets, and Gamera the Brave is supremely underrated.

[cloverfan98]

I need to give Gamera the Brave another chance didn't really care for it when I first saw it. Also I love the 90's trilogy but I always forget about Gamera 2. It's not bad it just feels disconnected from 1 and 3. I think its because Legion doesn't have any ties to earth or the ancient society that created Gyaos, Gamera, and Iris.

[Anguirus]

I forget about Gamera 2, and I love that movie, but it’s disconnected from the other two.

Also, is Gamera the Brave worth buying on DVD for $25? I notice it’s not available for streaming on Amazon Prime or YouTube rentals.

[UltramanGoji]

It's pretty hard to find these days so I'd say go for it. Probably my favorite Gamera movie.

[Jeff-Goldblum1]

It's been a short while since I last watched a Gamera movie. So tonight I decided to give Gamera Vs Viras another spin.

I might get called out on this, but those three girl scouts are cute, so cute!

Anyhow, Viras is a pretty unique monster within all of kaiju cinema. Good stuff. I particularly enjoy the opening of this movie, where Gamera just breaks his face through a spaceship wall.

[eabaker]

Anyhow, Viras is a pretty unique monster within all of kaiju cinema. Good stuff. I particularly enjoy the opening of this movie, where Gamera just breaks his face through a spaceship wall.

That is a moment of transcendent cinematic glory and it makes my heart leap every time I see it.

[daveblackeye15]

Barugon is the best Showa one. Outside of that I really like Jiger since it is nicely put together and Guiron is just kinda crazy. Hm seems like I really like the four legged Showa Gamera monsters.

[Jeff-Goldblum1]

Just watched Gamera: Super Monster

This is definitely a movie that exists. In many ways it captures exactly what a kaiju film should be, a reel of monster fights. For better or worse it's the movie equivalent of a greatest hits album.

[ROMG4]

We're never getting a new movie!

[Maritonic]

Just watched Gamera: Super Monster

This is definitely a movie that exists.

You don't say?!

In many ways it captures exactly what a kaiju film should be, a reel of monster fights. For better or worse it's the movie equivalent of a greatest hits album.

Snark aside, I do agree with you. I actually enjoy this movie, even though it's terrible.

[tbeasley]

We're never getting a new movie!

Stranger things have happened.

[Destorogoji]

Just watched Gamera: Super Monster

This is definitely a movie that exists. In many ways it captures exactly what a kaiju film should be, a reel of monster fights. For better or worse it's the movie equivalent of a greatest hits album.

Movie's awful, but captures exactly what average Showa tokusatsu is about.

Added in 1 minute 28 seconds:

We're never getting a new movie!

We are... Just not right now. Give the turtle some time and you'll see we will get something as good as the Heisei trilogy.

[Godzillian]

While nothing major is happening now, Gamera has a great chance of returning in the future especially with the Godzillaverse in the planning stages at Toho. Hopefully they do a better job than DC though haha

[Dawsbfiremind]

Just watched Gamera: Super Monster

This is definitely a movie that exists.

I had no idea.

[eabaker]

Just watched Gamera: Super Monster

This is definitely a movie that exists. In many ways it captures exactly what a kaiju film should be, a reel of monster fights. For better or worse it's the movie equivalent of a greatest hits album.

Movie's awful, but captures exactly what average Showa tokusatsu is about.

What, in your mind, constitutes the "average Showa tokusatsu"? Average by what metric?

[Destorogoji]

Just watched Gamera: Super Monster

This is definitely a movie that exists. In many ways it captures exactly what a kaiju film should be, a reel of monster fights. For better or worse it's the movie equivalent of a greatest hits album.

Movie's awful, but captures exactly what average Showa tokusatsu is about.

What, in your mind, constitutes the "average Showa tokusatsu"? Average by what metric?

I wasn't meaning "average" in quality, but "average" in what was common to see on TV.

[Tohosaurus]

I forget about Gamera 2, and I love that movie, but it’s disconnected from the other two.

Also, is Gamera the Brave worth buying on DVD for $25? I notice it’s not available for streaming on Amazon Prime or YouTube rentals.

In my opinion yes. Among the better giant monster movies of that time.