Gamera: Millennium Era Films (2006—)

Gamera the Brave (2006)

Dir. Ryuta Tasaki

Kadokawa's re-imagining of Gamera is a significant departure from Daiei's Heisei era style and as such deserves to be judged by different criteria. It's very much a children's movie, but it's one that has the potential to touch their hearts and stay in residence there as they grow and mature.

It follows Toru (Ryo Tomioka), a boy not yet come to terms with the death of his mother a year before. Toru has friends but spends much of his time alone. When he finds a baby turtle, they form a strong bond. He protects it and as it grows it protects him in return.

It's a sentimental journey that isn't without its explosive moments, but the real punch in the story is the simplicity by which it's told and the lingering aspect of the perfect ending.

Gamera: Heisei Era Films (1995-99)

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995)

Dir. Shûsuke Kaneko

GotU is the first of three films in a hugely successful Heisei era reboot for Gamera. It's actually the ninth outing for the turtle in total, but seeing as how it's a reboot, and a shit-ton better than any of the previous films, it's the perfect place to start if you're new to the franchise or are unsure if it's even for you. It's arguably the weakest of the trilogy, but still good and a great taster for what follows.

It's a kaijū movie that builds tension in the usual way, by having a small group of humans tracking the destruction left by the beast(s) before the eventual reveal. The beasts are familiar, giant, carnivorous, featherless birds.

There's an ecological message beneath the chaos, but it's the destruction of model cities that most people want to see and in that it doesn't disappoint.

Gamera (the creature) is awesome. He looks like a fat, stumpy turd on radar, but when he surfaces he's towering and menacing with none of the bad comedic decisions that were forced upon him in some previous films. It's a triumphant return.

Gamera: Shōwa Era Films: Part Two (1969-80)

Gamera vs. Guiron (1969)

Dir. Noriaki Yuasa

NOTE: Shōwa Era: Part One is HERE.

Film number five features a trio of plucky under-tens investigating a spaceship that landed not too far from their location. The 'plot' develops and after much chicanery the blade-nosed Guiron goes pointy-head to turtle-head with the titular, heroic kaijū, who spends more time getting to the actual battle location than he does engaging in it.

There's flame-breath, boyish heroics and city destruction for kids; space-ladies in figure-hugging polyester for dads; and, no, there's nothing much of note for moms, unless reinforcing the belief that moms are the only women you can trust counts.

Gamera: Shōwa Era Films: Part One (1965-68)

Gamera (1965)

Dir. Noriaki Yuasa

All eight of the original Shōwa era Gamera films are available on Blu-ray for a very affordable price thanks to Mill Creek Entertainment. They're split over two volumes, of which this is the first, with each release containing four remastered Japanese originals on one Blu-ray disc. Four films on one disc would ordinarily make me cringe, but the truth is they look just fine. What's equally important is that, even though it states on the reverse that they're Region A, they are in fact Region FREE.

Created to cash in on the success of Toho's Gojira (Godzilla) franchise, the first Gamera movie contains within it enough unique elements to differentiate it from Godzilla.