Gamera: Guardian of the Universe
Encyclopedia
, is a 1995 Kaiju
film directed by Shusuke Kaneko
. It is a reboot of the Gamera
film franchise. It is the ninth entry in the Gamera film series and first in Shusuke Kaneko
's Gamera trilogy
. It was followed by Attack of The Legion
and Revenge of Iris
.
It was a co-production of Hakuhodo
/Daiei
/Nippon Television
, and was the first Gamera film not to be released by Daiei Pictures. It has been widely acclaimed by fans and critics alike, and is considered a classic of the genre. Due to his change, it is also considered to be the first complete reboot of a film series.
to eliminate rampant pollution. However, the Gyaos grew stronger, started breeding and began feasting on humans. For protection, the Gamera
s were created to fend off the attacks. The onslaught of the Gyaos was eventually halted, and they were forced into hibernation. Despite the best efforts of its people, the advanced civilisation was ruined. So, the scientists preserved the last remaining Gamera and bequeathed him to the next civilisation, should the Gyaos ever return.
The year was 1995, off the eastern coast of the Philippines
, the Kairyu-Maru was trudging through the darkness of night. Its crew, and the crew of its Marine Safety escort, hoped that nothing would go wrong. The ship was carrying plutonium, and even a small leak would be disastrous. Without warning, the Kairyu-Maru ran aground on a mysterious floating atoll. The atoll moved away from the vessel and passed underneath both the ship and its escort. Fortunately, no plutonium was leaked, but the crew was shaken up, and reports of similar events started occurring throughout the area. A team of scientists landed on the atoll as it approached Japan. There, they found several small stone amulets, and a stone slab at the center of the anomalous formation. A strange writing was engraved on the slab, which was later deciphered. It revealed the names of Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe, and Gyaos, the Shadow of Evil. The atoll suddenly started to quake, and the slab was destroyed. As the scientists were thrown into the water, one was shocked to witness the eye and tusk of a giant turtle
.
Meanwhile, three Gyaos were lured from the Goto Archipelago to the Fukuoka Dome baseball stadium. With its retractable domed roof, the stadium would be the perfect area to trap and study the pterodactyl-like creatures. However, one of them escaped and flew toward the harbor, where Gamera suddenly burst from the water and killed it. Gamera waded through the town towards the stadium, intent on destroying the final two Gyaos. However, they escaped, and Gamera left the city to gather strength. One of the amulets found on Gamera's shell was given as a present to a young girl named Asagi Kusanagi. Through the artifact, she found herself spiritually connected to Gamera, and also discovered that she was able to bestow him power he needed to fight his enemies.
The Gyaos found a place to hide and feed in the Kiso Mountain range, but Gamera soon arrived and blew one to smithereens with a plasma fireball. Gamera flew in pursuit of the only remaining Gyaos, but he was shot out of the sky by the Japanese military, whom the self-defense force saw as the greater threat. Gamera eventually escaped, but was forced to find a place to gather more strength.
The last Gyaos had grown into Super Gyaos and was now besieging Tokyo
. It landed atop the ruined Tokyo Tower, inadvertently wrecked in a military strike against the kaiju
, making the landmark its nest. The following day, Gamera burrowed into the metropolis. He destroyed the nest and chased Gyaos across the city until the two began battling in the heart Tokyo. Gamera cut Gyaos' leg and took off into the sky, where Gyaos chased him into the outer atmosphere. As the two monsters endured the immense pressures of re-entry, Gamera sliced off Gyaos' wounded leg and shoved himself away. Gamera crashed into an oil refinery, and the resulting explosions surrounded him with flames. Gyaos furthered the explosions with its sonic beam and landed nearby, but Gamera absorbed the raging fire and recovered. He then destroyed Gyaos with a massive fireball, and gave a final glance to his human companion, Asagi, as he returned to the sea.
Roger Ebert
gave the film three stars out of four, saying: "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is precisely the kind of movie that I enjoy, despite all rational reasoning. How, you may ask, can I possibly prefer this Japanese monster film about a jet-powered turtle to a megabudget solemnity like Air Force One
? It has laughable acting, a ludicrous plot, second-rate special effects and dialogue such as, 'Someday, I'll show you around monster-free Tokyo!' The answer, I think, is that Gamera is more fun."
Peter H. Gilmore of MonsterZero.us said, "All in all, this is a vibrant and energetic film. The monster battles are full of physical grappling as well as energy weapon exchanges, and the excellent suitmation
is well augmented by judiciously used CGI
." Popcorn Pictures said, "This is just a great, fun kaiju
film. ... Gamera finally has a film to rival Godzilla
(but he's still second best to the Big G, though) and rid the infamous legacy that has dogged him throughout his motion picture life."
Mill Creek Entertainment
DVD:
ADV Films
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
film directed by Shusuke Kaneko
Shusuke Kaneko
is a Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter.-Career:Shūsuke Kaneko began his career in film with Nikkatsu's Roman Porno film series, in which he served as assistant director to Kōyū Ohara. The series also gave Kaneko his directorial debut with writer Kōichirō Uno's, Kōichirō Uno's Wet and Swinging ,...
. It is a reboot of the Gamera
Gamera
is a giant, flying turtle from a popular series of kaiju films produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. Created in 1965 to rival the success of Toho Studios' Godzilla during the daikaiju boom of the mid-to-late 1960s, Gamera has gained fame and notoriety as a Japanese icon in his own...
film franchise. It is the ninth entry in the Gamera film series and first in Shusuke Kaneko
Shusuke Kaneko
is a Japanese filmmaker and screenwriter.-Career:Shūsuke Kaneko began his career in film with Nikkatsu's Roman Porno film series, in which he served as assistant director to Kōyū Ohara. The series also gave Kaneko his directorial debut with writer Kōichirō Uno's, Kōichirō Uno's Wet and Swinging ,...
's Gamera trilogy
Heisei era (daikaiju eiga)
In the context of Japanese monster cinema the Heisei Era refers not to the current era in Japan but to all kaiju eiga made between 1984 and 1999...
. It was followed by Attack of The Legion
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
is a 1996 Kaiju film directed by Shusuke Kaneko. It is a sequel to Gamera: Guardian of the Universe and the tenth Gamera film in the series.-Plot:...
and Revenge of Iris
Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys
is a 1999 Kaiju film. It is the third and last film in the Gamera Heisei series, and the last to be distributed by Toho. It was released in the United States on DVD in 2003 under the title Gamera: Revenge of Iris.-Plot:...
.
It was a co-production of Hakuhodo
Hakuhodo
is Japan's second largest advertising agency, with gross sales of approximately 700 hundred million yen. It has its headquarters at Akasaka Biz Tower in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo....
/Daiei
Kadokawa Pictures
is a Japanese movie studio.-History:One of the most famous studios in Japan and founded in 1942 as , it is best known for having produced the giant monster Gamera film series and the Daimajin Trilogy. It also produced the Zatoichi and Nemuri Kyoshiro film series and the television series Shōnen Jet...
/Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
, and was the first Gamera film not to be released by Daiei Pictures. It has been widely acclaimed by fans and critics alike, and is considered a classic of the genre. Due to his change, it is also considered to be the first complete reboot of a film series.
Plot
Ten thousand years ago, an advanced civilisation created the GyaosGyaos
, is the name of several daikaiju from Daiei's Gamera film series, introduced in their 1967 production Gamera vs. Gyaos and one of Gamera's most famous opponents...
to eliminate rampant pollution. However, the Gyaos grew stronger, started breeding and began feasting on humans. For protection, the Gamera
Gamera
is a giant, flying turtle from a popular series of kaiju films produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. Created in 1965 to rival the success of Toho Studios' Godzilla during the daikaiju boom of the mid-to-late 1960s, Gamera has gained fame and notoriety as a Japanese icon in his own...
s were created to fend off the attacks. The onslaught of the Gyaos was eventually halted, and they were forced into hibernation. Despite the best efforts of its people, the advanced civilisation was ruined. So, the scientists preserved the last remaining Gamera and bequeathed him to the next civilisation, should the Gyaos ever return.
The year was 1995, off the eastern coast of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, the Kairyu-Maru was trudging through the darkness of night. Its crew, and the crew of its Marine Safety escort, hoped that nothing would go wrong. The ship was carrying plutonium, and even a small leak would be disastrous. Without warning, the Kairyu-Maru ran aground on a mysterious floating atoll. The atoll moved away from the vessel and passed underneath both the ship and its escort. Fortunately, no plutonium was leaked, but the crew was shaken up, and reports of similar events started occurring throughout the area. A team of scientists landed on the atoll as it approached Japan. There, they found several small stone amulets, and a stone slab at the center of the anomalous formation. A strange writing was engraved on the slab, which was later deciphered. It revealed the names of Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe, and Gyaos, the Shadow of Evil. The atoll suddenly started to quake, and the slab was destroyed. As the scientists were thrown into the water, one was shocked to witness the eye and tusk of a giant turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
.
Meanwhile, three Gyaos were lured from the Goto Archipelago to the Fukuoka Dome baseball stadium. With its retractable domed roof, the stadium would be the perfect area to trap and study the pterodactyl-like creatures. However, one of them escaped and flew toward the harbor, where Gamera suddenly burst from the water and killed it. Gamera waded through the town towards the stadium, intent on destroying the final two Gyaos. However, they escaped, and Gamera left the city to gather strength. One of the amulets found on Gamera's shell was given as a present to a young girl named Asagi Kusanagi. Through the artifact, she found herself spiritually connected to Gamera, and also discovered that she was able to bestow him power he needed to fight his enemies.
The Gyaos found a place to hide and feed in the Kiso Mountain range, but Gamera soon arrived and blew one to smithereens with a plasma fireball. Gamera flew in pursuit of the only remaining Gyaos, but he was shot out of the sky by the Japanese military, whom the self-defense force saw as the greater threat. Gamera eventually escaped, but was forced to find a place to gather more strength.
The last Gyaos had grown into Super Gyaos and was now besieging Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. It landed atop the ruined Tokyo Tower, inadvertently wrecked in a military strike against the kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
, making the landmark its nest. The following day, Gamera burrowed into the metropolis. He destroyed the nest and chased Gyaos across the city until the two began battling in the heart Tokyo. Gamera cut Gyaos' leg and took off into the sky, where Gyaos chased him into the outer atmosphere. As the two monsters endured the immense pressures of re-entry, Gamera sliced off Gyaos' wounded leg and shoved himself away. Gamera crashed into an oil refinery, and the resulting explosions surrounded him with flames. Gyaos furthered the explosions with its sonic beam and landed nearby, but Gamera absorbed the raging fire and recovered. He then destroyed Gyaos with a massive fireball, and gave a final glance to his human companion, Asagi, as he returned to the sea.
Cast
- Tsuyoshi IharaTsuyoshi Iharais a Japanese actor of Korean descent, born on November 6, 1963 in Kitakyūshū, and who grew up in Ikuno-ku, Osaka. He is a graduate of Imamiya Senior High School, situated in Naniwa-ku, Osaka. Ihara is represented by the K Dash agency.-Biography:...
as Yoshinari Yonemori - Akira Onodera as Naoya Kusanagi
- Shinobu NakayamaShinobu NakayamaShinobu Nakayama is an actress and a former J-pop singer. She was born in Tokyo, Japan, and released her first single on 2 November 1988. Her final release as a J-pop artist was on 1 March 1991. She was a member of the short-lived idol groups Nanatsuboshi and Rakutenshi...
as Mayumi Nagamine - A gifted scientist who is also a friend of Asagi's. - Ayako FujitaniAyako FujitaniAyako Fujitani is a writer and actress. She is fluent in English and Japanese.-Early life:...
as Asagi Kusanagi - A young girl who forms a spiritual bond with Gamera after she received an ancient pendant found on Gamera's hide by her father. - Yukijiro Hotaru as Inspector Osako
- Hatsunori Hasegawa as Colonel Satake
- Hirotaro Honda as Mr. Saito, EPA
- Naoki Manabe, Jun SuzukiJun SuzukiJun Suzuki may refer to:* Jun Suzuki , Japanese football player currently playing for Avispa Fukuoka* Jun Suzuki , former Japanese football player currently coaching Japanese club Omiya Ardija...
as GameraGamerais a giant, flying turtle from a popular series of kaiju films produced by Daiei Motion Picture Company in Japan. Created in 1965 to rival the success of Toho Studios' Godzilla during the daikaiju boom of the mid-to-late 1960s, Gamera has gained fame and notoriety as a Japanese icon in his own...
- A giant fire breathing turtle that was created by an advanced civilization to exterminate the invading Gyaos. - Yuhmi Kaneyama as GyaosGyaos, is the name of several daikaiju from Daiei's Gamera film series, introduced in their 1967 production Gamera vs. Gyaos and one of Gamera's most famous opponents...
- Three man-eating bird/bat-like creatures and the arch-enemies of Gamera.
Awards
- 1996 - Nominated Award of the Japanese Academy Best Supporting Actress - Shinobu Nakayama
- 1996 - Won Blue Ribbon Award Best Director - Shusuke Kaneko, Best Supporting Actress - Shinobu Nakayama
- 1996 - Won Festival Prize Best Director - Shusuke Kaneko, Best Screenplay - Kazunori Itô, Best Supporting Actress - Shinobu Nakayama, Best Technical - Shinji Higuchi (for his special effects)
Critical reaction
The film has been highly praised by fans and critics alike. It has been regarded for its darker tones, ground-breaking special effects, and successful reinvention of the franchise and character. The film has been noted to be far more darker and edgier than the original series, which was often criticized for being too campy.Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
gave the film three stars out of four, saying: "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe is precisely the kind of movie that I enjoy, despite all rational reasoning. How, you may ask, can I possibly prefer this Japanese monster film about a jet-powered turtle to a megabudget solemnity like Air Force One
Air Force One (film)
Air Force One is a 1997 American action-thriller film written by Andrew W. Marlowe and directed by Wolfgang Petersen. It stars Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, and Glenn Close, and also features Xander Berkeley, William H. Macy, Dean Stockwell and Paul Guilfoyle...
? It has laughable acting, a ludicrous plot, second-rate special effects and dialogue such as, 'Someday, I'll show you around monster-free Tokyo!' The answer, I think, is that Gamera is more fun."
Peter H. Gilmore of MonsterZero.us said, "All in all, this is a vibrant and energetic film. The monster battles are full of physical grappling as well as energy weapon exchanges, and the excellent suitmation
Suitmation
is a term originally used in Japan for a tokusatsu technique to portray a daikaiju using a suit actor in a monster suit.The term can be used when puppet does not apply, since the puppet is being worn by an actor, and when costume does not apply, since the costume is also being controlled by a...
is well augmented by judiciously used CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
." Popcorn Pictures said, "This is just a great, fun kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
film. ... Gamera finally has a film to rival Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
(but he's still second best to the Big G, though) and rid the infamous legacy that has dogged him throughout his motion picture life."
Blu-ray and DVD releases
Blu-ray:Mill Creek Entertainment
- Released: October 12, 2010
- Note: Comes bundled with Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion on the same Blu-ray DiscBlu-ray DiscBlu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
.
DVD:
ADV Films
- Released: March 18, 2003
- Note: Extra features: Interview with special effects director Shinji Higuchi, Press Conference Footage, Behind the Scenes, Footage from Yabari International Fantastic Adventure Film Festival, Opening Night Footage, Trailers.