Gamera gegen Jiggar: Frankensteins Dämon bedroht die Welt

One of my sci-fi/horror/fantasy reviews written 50 years ago: Directed by Noriyaki Yuasa; Produced by Hidemasa Nagata for Daiei Studios, released in America by American-International TV. Screenplay by Niisan Takahashi; Photography by Akira Kitazaki; Music by Shunsuke Kikuchi; American version directed by Bret Morrison. Starring: Tsutomu Takakuwa, Kelly Varis and Katherine Murphy.

Campy Gamera epic with "the children's friend" going up against a huge armored lizard who comes up out of the ground and threatens to destroy Expo '70 when the mystical statue that kept him down under the ground is unearthed and taken to the exposition. Neat stuff: injected by X, Gamera seems to die halfway through the movie; narrator has a teenage boy's voice; the music is delightful -alternating the joyous "Gamera theme" when he shows up, with a stately, solemn overture when he marches to battle. "Gamera, stay well, return again", cries a little girl at the end. Zingy, zingy!

This film is pretty much a formula Gamera film that follows the same plot as every other film. A giant monster threatens to destroy a Japanese city and just when things look bleak, in comes Gamera to save the day. However, Gamera usually loses at least one or two battles with his adversary before he finally defeats him. However, the one thing that makes this film different is the fact that usually in a Gamera film, Gamera is the one who saves any children that are in trouble, but in this film it is up to two young boys (one Japanese and one Caucasian) to save him from a parasite that was injected into his body. Even with this plot twist, this is still the typical Gamera film. But as I have said in my other commentaries about films in the Gamera series, these films are pretty much a way to introduce children to the world of kaiju eiga.

Who can advertise an Expo Fair with a Monster movie? Well, the answer is DAIEI with Gamera vs. Jaiger.

So far, in the old Gamera series, Jaiger and Gyaos were the only female monsters, and perhaps the nastiest as well. The only thing that could damage Jaiger is a huge, ancient whistle, stolen by Expo Fair workers. What the workers did not know is that the whistle makes a very, very annoying sound. So annoying, it makes a Yoko Ono CD sound like plesant Korean Trance music.

But the scene that stands out from the old Gamera series was the "Fantastic Voyage" type scene where the two boys take a demo submarine into Gamera's body and finds Jaiger's offspring, which is perhaps the most irritating Kaiju in history.

May not be a classic but G vs. J is quite a hoot to watch!

1970 saw the release of "Gamera vs. Jiger", also known as "Gamera vs. Monster X". And no, no, no relation to the Monster X of "Godzilla: Final Wars". At this point in the series, when the kids warn you not to do something, and then Gamera warns you not to do something, it's best not to do it. Naturally, the sacred statue is disturbed anyways and not even twenty minutes in and our title monsters show up. Being quite frank, Jiger is probably the least attractive creature featured in the Gamera movies. It looks like a reptilian-warthog abomination. I don't know what's stranger, the creature's looks or the way it jumps. With that stocky body and its short legs I'm surprised it can cover that much ground. Jiger also shoots quills and fires a "super ultra violet ray beam" which I don't grasp at all. It even has a parasite injecting tail and suction-covered feet…Ah screw it, I'm just getting this over with: Jiger sucks.

Children are the main heroes of course, managing to outsmart not just their parents but Japan's top military generals and scientists. This really grates on my nerves and honestly he story is short but lacks real tension if you ask me. With no relatable characters as in the earlier films, it's hard to keep interest. At least with "Gamera vs. Guiron" the writing was so bad and weird it kept you involved. The story here feels far too bland and with is opponent looking the way it did, I found no excitement in the battles. But I'll admit the statue to the brain was an interesting fatality, Johnny Cage might want to check that out. This kaiju film is a dud by all laws of psychics.

This is a children's movie. Is it a great children's movie? No.

But, it is an enjoyable children's movie. Sure Gamera looks like he was constructed at the last second out of an old shopping bag; and, Monster X looks like something that you pulled out of a Salvation Army drop-box. But, this movie has children as the main characters, doing the bulk of the heroics and making the bulk of the sound decisions...

There are a tremendous number of plot-holes in this movie; but, if you've got children, and a little patience, you can enjoy ninety minutes of pig-headed adults, brave children and flying turtles...

Also, there is a certain resemblance to the science fiction novel Blameless in Abaddon...anyone else notice?...