[33] Alpha Video released a cropped public domain version of the U.S. version on DVD in 2003, along with other public domain Gamera films. [35], Gamera, the Giant Monster is one of few films featured twice on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (both times as Gamera), the first as part of the initial KTMA series (episode 5) and again in Season 3 (episode 2). Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? [8] Yuasa stated that the first Gamera film had a budget of about ¥40 million and that the film went "over budget a little bit". Gamera the Giant Monster is much less military-oriented than the American cut of the film, grounded more in the trials and tribulations of its cast of characters and their starkly different impressions of the title kaiju (Japanese for “monster” and used by fans of these movies to refer to giant Japanese monsters). Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No; Factory", "Daikaijû Gamera (The Giant Monster Gamera) (1965) - Rotten Tomatoes", "Gamera the Invincible (1965) - Noriyaki Yuasa", "Gamera, The Giant Monster (Special Edition) DVD Review", "James Reviews Gamera: The Giant Monster on DVD from Shout! Gamera, the Giant Monster is fundamentally solid. [8], Gamera, the Giant Monster was the only film in the series shot in black-and-white. Devil’s Envoy. 8 of 9 people found this review helpful. For the Arctic sequences, ice was delivered en masse by three trucks, however, the ice quickly melted and forced filming to be delayed for three days while the flooded set was being dried out. When a giant stone statue on Wester Island is disturbed, the legendary monster Jiger appears and heads for Japan. In his search for energy, Gamera wreaks havoc over the entire world, and it's up to the scientists, assisted by a young boy with a strange sympathic link to the monster, to put a stop to Gamera's rampage. To replace the film, Nagata conceived the idea for Gamera after envisioning a tortoise flying alongside his plane. One American version, GAMMERA THE INVINCIBLE, is already here. Gamera destroys the expedition ship and escapes. Hibernating under the Arctic, the turtle monster Gamera is awakened by an atomic bomb test. Mill Creek Gamera Legacy Collection DVD Cover. 1965's "Gamera: The Giant Monster" is notable for three things: Daiei Studio's Gamera, the giant fire-breathing turtle of Atlantean origin, was the only significant rival to Toho Studios' Godzilla; two, this is the only movie in the "Gamera" series of films in which the titular chelonian does not battle another monster; and three, this was the last Japanese monster movie to be filmed in glorious black & white. Sagisu commented, "I screened my demo reel at Daiei and no matter what anybody may think, I'm sure they used this reference for Gamera. However, the name was changed to "Gamera" due to "Kamera" sounding too close to the Japanese pronunciation for "camera". Giant Demon God) is a 1966 daikaiju eiga (giant-monster movie), the first entry in the Daimajin series about a giant statue that comes to life named Daimajin. And he is also sympathetic in some regard since he comes to view Gamera as his only friend (the exact circumstances of this "friendship" are actually quite touching if viewed with an open mind), and likewise we identify with this unique little bond.Having viewed the film for the first time in its original, uncut Japanese format, I can say that "Gamera: The Giant Monster" is a worthy kaiju film, despite its flawed attempts at a pro-environmentalist subtext and as an anti-Cold War message movie (different nations coming together to face a worldwide threat, etc.) Given the movie’s age and roots, this seemed like an erratic but adequate image. Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965, Japan) is a Kaiju film directed by Noriaki Yuasa. [26] Keith Phipps from AV Club stated "Gamera finds the perfect intersection between silly and cool, looking both dangerous and ridiculous as he tromps around. I might even die for it. Upon returning to Japan, Dr. Hidaka, Kyoko, and Aoyagi accompany the military when Gamera approaches a thermonuclear plant. Giant Monster Gamera ) is a 1965 daikaiju eiga (giant-monster movie) about a giant turtle named Gamera . Synopsis Striking down jets, grabbing hold of the Tokyo Tower, flying through the air breathing fire, the giant monster of the century! [36] Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro named the original Gamera film amongst his top five favorite kaiju films. Adventure. [18] Gamera's name was originally conceived as "Kamera", due to "kame" being the Japanese word for "turtle". A giant monster that emits a destructive ray from its back attacks Japan and takes on Gamera. Using several clips from previous Gamera entries, this film deals with alien forces sending all the monsters Gamera has faced in one final battle to rid the planet of its last hope. The ONE that would inspire three series about a giant turtle that can fly and spit fire. From Wings to Parasite, here's a look back at all of the Best Picture Oscar winners in the history of the ceremony. Coke has its Pepsi. Giant Monster Gamera) is a 1965 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company, and the first entry in the Gamera series. In the 1980s, distributor Sandy Frank acquired the rights to five classic Gamera films, had new video versions prepared, and distributed them under King Features Entertainment. Godzilla is my favorite movie monster of all time - "Gojira" (1954) is my favorite giant monster movie, period - since I was first exposed to the badly dubbed Japanese "kaiju-eiga" (Japanese monster movie) series of films as a young kid. This was due to a positive response from a scene in the 1965 film when Gamera saved Toshio, Yuasa commented, "It led to a great response and we received many letters from children. But when the gargantua from the ... See full summary », A nuclear explosion in the far north unleashes Gamera, the legendary flying turtle, from his sleep under the ice. Factory Factory Gamera: The Giant Monster , Gamera vs. Barugon , Gamera vs. Gyaos , and Gamera vs. Viras Mill Creek Gamera Collection Volume 1 Blu-Ray Cover Giant Monster Gamera (大怪獣ガメラ, Daikaijū Gamera) is a shonen manga written by Kenichiro Terasawa and illustrated by "Hurricane" Ryu Hariken. https://archive.org/details/gameraultimatecollectionv1playlist7 While English dubs were recorded for the Japanese cuts of the other films by Hong Kong-based studios for international releases, the Japanese version of Gamera, the Giant Monster had no existing dub and a new English dub was commissioned and recorded at Anvil Studios in England, which featured the voices of Garrick Hagon and Liza Ross. The series would not really shine until the Heisei era reboot trilogy of films by Shusuke Kaneko in the mid-1990s, but there are far worse ways to be introduced to the second greatest monster to attack Japan. Gamera was my #2 favorite monster from Japan. Gamera (ガメラ?) The nuke that loosed the herculean turtle is never attributed to a specific nation, just broadly defined superpowers of which Japan is stuck in-between. 'Giant Monster Gamera')[6] is a 1965 Japanese kaiju film directed by Noriaki Yuasa, with special effects by Yonesaburo Tsukiji. TMDb Score. [17] Takahashi then wrote a four-page treatment titled A Fire-Eating Turtle Attacks Japan. Created by competing studio Daiei to ride the "[28] James McCormick from Criterion Cast called the film "a wonderful slice of schlock that you can watch again and again and appreciate the workmanship and love put into every scene. Produced and distributed by Daiei Film, it is the first film in the Gamera franchise. [1] The final suit weighed over 60 kilograms and was produced with plaster reinforced by latex. Honestly, GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER is a flawed film (as are many movies of its type). Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. In Sagami Bay, Toshio (a boy forced to release his pet turtle) and his family encounter Gamera, who attacks their lighthouse. Seeing Gamera rampage around was so cute and so fun. Gamera (Japanese: ガメラ, Hepburn: Gamera) is a fictional monster originating from a series of Japanese films of the same name. And welcome to MIFV season two! Gamera: The Giant Monster DVD by Shout! [32] Neptune Media released the original, unaltered Japanese version and the altered U.S. version on VHS in 1999. As giant monsters rampaged the Japanese cinematic landscape during the “kaiju boom” of the mid-1960s, Daiei Studios introduced a new character to the screen that would be embraced for generations: Gamera, the giant, flying, fire-breathing turtle, and friend of all children! History. The behemoth creates chaos when it arrives in Japan and an ambitious plan must be hatched to try and stop the rampage. --DVD Talk Product details. IMDb R. Tomatoes. And so, Gamera became a [sic] children's ally in the end. "[29], Artist and filmmaker Tomio Sagisu (co-creator of Spectreman) claimed that Nagata stole the idea of Gamera from him. Films featuring Godzilla and Gamera were made into the 1970s, and a King Kong remake was released in Gamera - The Showa Era Blu-ray | Arrow Films ... Arrow Films Eleven years passed between Toho’s Godzilla and Daei’s Gamera, two franchises forever linked (however indirect and unofficial those tethers are).Much changes over a decade, and for Gamera, it was a radically different post-war, economically recovered Japan.. Gamera doesn’t admonish or blame another nation for this giant monster incident. Use the HTML below. (1966's "Gamera vs. Barugon," a direct sequel to "Gamera: The Giant Monster," is noteworthy for being the only film in the series to not feature any children as the main protagonists, and is my favorite film in the series after this one.) Much to Nate’s chagrin, the Board-mandated “Year of Gamera” begins with the “freakishly mediocre” 1965 movie Gamera the Giant Monsters (or Daikaiju Gamera).So saddened by this is Nate that he visits the Monster Island Chapel and speaks with Rev. Gamera, the Giant Monster Striking down jets, grabbing hold of the Tokyo Tower, flying through the air breathing fire, the giant monster of the century! [11] Stop motion, mechanical props, and suitmation were initially used to portray the creatures, with Ryosaku Takayama building several prototypes and a radio controlled prop,[12] but these were unsuccessful[13] and the crew were forced to use live rats crawling over miniature cities. Gamera the Giant Monster is the original Japanese version with subtitles in English. Large Monster, Gamera), also known as Gamera: The Giant Monster or Gammera, the Invincible, is a 1965 tokusatsu kaiju film produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company. [7] The film was followed by Gamera vs. Barugon, released on April 17, 1966. Japanese scientists on an expedition nearby, Dr. Hidaka, his assistant Kyoko and reporter Aoyagi, are given a stone tablet by an Eskimo chief, who explains that the creature is called Gamera. Hibernating under the Arctic, the turtle monster Gamera is awakened by an atomic bomb test. [1] Nezura was originally billed as Daiei's "premiere monster movie" scheduled to be released for new years in 1964. Yuasa received criticism from his own staff and there was consideration of hiring Tsuburaya Productions to complete the film. Gamera (ガメラ?) Due to this, the health department forced the production to shut down. Fisherman bemoan their lacking inventory in Gamera, a scene familiar to Godzilla watchers, but the reason for the tuna shortage changed. Gamera tries to stop this new rival, only to be injured when Jiger lays eggs inside of him. Sagisu was soliciting ideas for a kaiju television program to various studios in 1962, and screened a demo reel entitled The Colossal Turtle, which featured a stop-motion animated turtle monster that pulled its limbs, expelled flames, and took flight. Gamera, who breathes fire and can fly, makes a beeline toward Japan where he soon causes great destruction and finds nourishment in fossil fuels such as gasoline and petroleum, and other rudimentary forms of energy. To impress exhibitors, World Enterprises claimed to have spent a million dollars in advertising the film. The quality of the print, however, will really open new eyes to this film and likely to the rest of the Gamera series as well (as of this writing, GAMERA VS. BARUGON has been released and looks positively spectacular). A group planning to build a resort hotel land on the island and discover it to be inhabited by giant... See full summary », An experimental lab animal called a gargantua escapes from his captors and is suspected to be the creature that is killing people all over the countryside. [22], Gamera, the Giant Monster was released in Japan on November 27, 1965. Dr. Hidaka claims that may be Gamera the cause due to hiding in the bay. Due to the film's low budget and tight schedule, Yuasa was forced to use outdated equipment, faulty props, and faced belittlement from colleagues. [1] Produced and distributed by Daiei Film, it is the first film in the Gamera franchise. Add a photo to this gallery. It pales in quality to the original Godzilla, but is far more than a silly romp. Was this review helpful to you? Gamera: The Giant Monster is the first film in Arrow's Gamera Collection. Bill's company did sublicense Giant Monster Gamera for laserdisc, but that format was also on its last legs. Mifune, the Island’s chaplain. But that's because the "Gamera" series of films often had significantly lower budgets and one of the most nagging problems with these films were the inclusion of annoying little children as the main protagonists, which helped earn Gamera the nickname of "friend of children" and the films were often marketed as such toward children. From out of the arctic comes a gigantic flying, fire-breathing turtle that sets its sights on destroying Tokyo. [8], The film was acquired and heavily altered by Harris Associates, Inc. and World Enterprises Corporation for its American release. The Z Plan is eventually completed and Gamera is lured to Oshima by lighting an oil slick path. [4] A heavily localized version of the film was theatrically released in the United States on December 15, 1966 as Gammera, the Invincible by Harris Associates, Inc. and World Enterprises Corporation. Daimajin (大魔神, Daimajin?, lit. Contents: Watch Trailer | Blu Ray | Available DVDs | Poster Art | Fun Facts; Included in: Colossal Creatures from Japan: Kaiju Cinema Classics Andrzejbanas 19:40, 20 October 2017 (UTC) Toshio bids the monster farewell. The Ice Men From Outer Space was planned to be a sequel to the original Gamera film, set in the middle of an invasion on Earth conducted by ice-based aliens dubbed the "Ice Men.". Gamera, the Giant Monster. Gamera, the Giant Monster[5] (大怪獣ガメラ, Daikaijū Gamera, lit. is a giant, flying turtle monster from a popular series of Kaiju (Japanese giant monster) films produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. The flying Gamera prop burned through several wires it was attached to, causing it to crash. The movie was featured on a 1983 episode of Elvira's Movie Macabre, which Shout! Aoyagi starts a bonfire to lure back Gamera but it is also extinguished by the typhoon. Check out our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're excited about this month, like Mortal Kombat, "Them," and Stowaway. 60. Yagi was assigned to build the suit and enlisted the aide of his father and associates from Toho's art department. Gamera vs. the Space Icemen (大怪獣ガメラ対宇宙氷人, Daikaijū Gamera tai Uchū Hyōjin, lit. Not just a turtle, but a very large turtle that can fly and spit fire, Gamera has always had a reputation problem. A nuclear explosion in the far north unleashes Gamera, the legendary flying turtle, from his sleep under the ice. Gamera: The Giant Monster, Gamera vs. Barugon, Gamera vs. Gyaos, and Gamera vs. Viras Mill Creek Gamera Collection Volume 1 Blu-Ray Cover. A young man steals a boat to find his brother, but he and his shipmates become shipwrecked on a mysterious island inhabited by a giant sea monster and a slumbering Godzilla. Gamera is a huge mutant turtle who has risked his life loads for innocent children. 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