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Giant Monster Gamera (1965)POSTED BY JASON FETTERS, August 24, 2014 Share
During the Japanese monster boom of the 60’s, Daiei unleashed a unique Kaiju movie about a giant turtle. The creature called Gamera was released from being frozen in the ice when an American jet shoots down a Soviet bomber that has an atomic bomb that crashes and explodes. The ice splits open and Gamera emerges. Gamera was so successfully that it spawned a movie franchise that has lasted for decades and is a strong rival for Toho’s Godzilla.
A young boy is causing problems for his family by taking his pet turtle named Pee Wee to school. His older sister and father force him to return Pee Wee to the wild. Sadden the boy reluctantly agrees. He takes Pee Wee out to the bay and mopes on the grass. Suddenly, Gamera’s gigantic head appears, scaring the child. The boy manages to run away just as Gamera walks out from the sea and starts his rampage. Running for his life the boy flees to a lighthouse. Gamera knocks over the top portion of the lighthouse, leaving the boy dangling from the railing. Gamera gently picks up the child and puts him down safely on the ground. So establishes the connection between child and giant monster.
Japan is in a severe crisis as Gamera arrives at Haneda airport and proceeds to destroy Tokyo in true Kaiju fashion. It is up to Japan’s Self Defense Force, top scientists, and the cooperation of the US and the Soviet Union to put a stop to Gamera’s destructive rage.
As is generally the case in monster movies there is a beautiful and young female scientist, a handsome and daring young reporter, along with the boy, who join forces to protect the Earth.
The boy cries out, “Gamera don’t be bad!!”
For a black and white monster movie from 1965, Gamera still holds up well. Mainly because the movie has so much heart. With human characters that you can empathize with and care for, you are drawn into the dilemma. From the boy’s perspective, you really don’t want to see Gamera destroyed by military power. You want to see the scientists come up with a peaceful working solution that protects the Earth and doesn’t harm the creature.
Gamera is a lot of fun to watch and with this Summer’s success of the US Godzilla (2014,) give this movie a chance. I recommend the Mill Creek two volume DVD collection that has eight movies in total, split up into four movies on volume one and the other four on volume two. After that seek out the 90’s Gamera trilogy on both DVD and Blu-ray and see why part III The Revenge of Iris is considering one of the greatest Kaiju movies ever made.
Happy Viewing!!
Highly Recommended
5 out of 5 Stars
"The Asian Aperture" is ©2014 by Jason Fetters. All contents of Crazed Fanboy are ©2014 by Nolan B. Canova and Terence Nuzum.
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