Gamera Triple Feature Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Review
Where to get it: Mill Creek
The first Gamera movie was made way back in 1965. From there we would have twelve total Gamera movies, most with a plot of Gamera having his intentions misread and fighting a giant monster while the military is trying to fight him all at the same time. Gamera was of course made originally due to the popularity of Godzilla and the films would take a similar tone. It was in 1995 when the series would get a reboot. The three films that would follow are here and in a Blu-ray form from Mill Creek. It is one of the more solid trilogies I think you will ever find.
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995)
Director: Shûsuke Kaneko
What is a fire breathing turtle to do? The giant flying turtle is back for this 1995 Japanese feature where once again Gamera’s intentions are misinterpreted by the military. All Gamera wants to do is take on his old enemy, Gyaos, the giant prehistoric bird who has nested atop Tokyo Tower.
You want to know how fun this movie is? Roger Ebert actually liked it! That, my friends, is saying a lot on its own. And this movie does have a lot to love about it. It packs a big fire breathing turtle that can fly swooping in to save the day! Of course he is here to do battle with Gyaos and it’s a pretty epic battle for 1995 if I do say so myself. This movie packs everything you’d love if you were a kid and now even as an adult it has a lot of awesome stuff that will keep you stuck to your TVs. Some of the older Gamera movies were pretty awful. But I assure you the journey of watching Gamera befriend a young girl, fight a monster, and try to save the day is well worth your time.
(8/10)
Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion (1996)
Director: Shûsuke Kaneko
One year after the events of the last film, a strange meteor lands in Japan unleashing hundreds of insect-like “legion” creatures which find their way into Tokyo. When the military fails to control the situation, Gamera shows up to deal with the ever-evolving space adversary.
Gamera is once again the heroic giant flying turtle with fire breathing powers as he is standing toe to toe with a nest of nasty things called legion! If you enjoyed Gamera you will also enjoy this, but I will admit I did find it to be a slightly step backwards in the series. It is still packed with action and it is still loaded with lots of fun. But I did have a better time with the last film. But we still have Gamera, we still have lots of fun, and we still have the story with the monster and the girl he shares a bond with, Asaji.
(7.5/10)
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999)
Director: Shûsuke Kaneko
Ayana finds a large egg in a cave that, according to legend, houses demons. The egg hatches into a small monster, which Ayana decides to raise and quickly develops as psychic bond with. As Ayana’s monster, named Iris, grows to adulthood, the flying turtle Gamera begins to take an interest in this new potential threat. Who will be the victor in the final battle, and how much of Japan will be left standing at the end?
Man, is Gamera’s work never done? Gayos is once again back and causing lots of trouble luring Gamera back out to do what he does best. But the worst is yet to come in a new monster given the name Iris. Making matters worse, it has been raised by a girl with a grudge. I think this is a return to form for the new Gamera series. All the stuff we love about this series is all here in one last and final epic battle. I also think this one has a much stronger message that gets hidden away in the explosions and chaos the movie presents. If you want a strong finish to a trilogy, you can’t get much better than this one here.
(8/10)
These movies are beautiful on screen. They are probably the best Blu-rays I have seen from Mill Creek yet and to make this package even better you get three awesome movies that match their great transfers. These movies are tons of fun and a perfect alternate or companion to any Godzilla fan.
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