Chiisaki yûsha-tachi: Gamera

I was able to catch one of the last showings of Gamera this week in Hachioji, Tokyo, and I can say that the experience was a good one.

In 2004, as many already know, Toho announced that the king of kaiju, Godzilla, will be taking an indefinite vacation. This of course has happened before, but in Godzilla's absence someone needs to take the reigns. So, like before, the torch was passed to Godzilla's younger brother/rival Gamera.

Gamera took the torch, and ran with it. Hard. Here are some of the good things about this movie:

-Characters: The main human is a young boy (as always, after all, Gamera IS the friend of children). His mother is dead, and he lives with his father on an island fishing community. Gamera has a history on the island, so when the boy finds a fast-growing baby turtle which flies, some eyes are opened immediately... Other characters include a female neighbor with heart problems, the boys' friends, his father, and some evil government people. All are likable (or hateable), and the acting as far as I could tell was spot-on.

-Story: Its there, so this is not just the full-on kaiju fightfest that characterizes many Godzilla and Gamera movies. But we do have full-on kaiju fighting...

-Full-on Kaiju Fighting: This is probably the reason most people will see this movie, and it doesn't disappoint. The enemy monster this time around is a man-eating dinosaur named Jidas, and while he is not as charismatic as some of Gamera's other foes, he exudes evil and you will be rooting for the big-eyed turtle the whole time. The special effects are absolutely top-notch, in fact I think Jidas is one of the most convincing dinosaur suitmations I have ever seen.

-Music: Powerful when it needs to be. Exactly what it should be in a kaiju movie: it aids the awe that someone should feel when watching 30-story monsters duke it out.

Why I didn't give it a ten: The only thing that disappointed me about this movie was the fact that they replaced Gamera's signature roar with a stock roar, which I believe has been previously used for various incarnations of King Kong. But, this is a very minor complaint. Go see this movie when you can!

When I recently saw Ultraman Mebius and the Ultraman Brothers on the internet I was slightly disappointed. The effects were too over-the-top ,the acting was kind of cheesy, and the ending was unsatisfying. But Gamera: the Brave was another story. I recently bought this DVD off of Yesasia.com and I was thrilled, the action was superb, the story was touching and the characters made you care. This new film was nothing like the 90s predecessors that had a much darker, serious approach. This is not to say this movie was cheesy or corny, in fact the opening scene was awe inspiring and intense. I still felt it was a great way to introduce this to children. This Gamera isn't your typical monster, he has heart.

The special effects of this film were also more believable than Ultraman Mebius, certain scenes, like a battle that takes place on a bridge between the main bad guy (Zedus) and Toto (Gamera) ensues that really makes you go "WOW! That was cool!" All things considered I went away from this movie with practically tears in my eyes, the resolution is wonderful. Even though this film wasn't the most successful movie (it's equivalent to the small popularity "Eragon" enjoyed) there are rumors of sequels in the works, AND I WELCOME THEM! TWO THUMBS WAY UP!

I was never a fan of this flying turtle in the old days. However, they have completely repurposed him for the 21st century and the results are stunning.

Silly effects are supported by a strong, but simple, story and a little depth of characterization. The visual style of the film is what really shines. The Director's skillful use of camera moves and angles and a strong sense of composition really raises this film.

I would love to see what this Director could do with Godzilla (if he ever returns).

For once, a film's title accurately describes the film's content.

While the latest Gamera film is more "kid friendly" than the 90's trilogy, it still maintains enough death and destruction to be a watchable film for adults. I was also impressed with how well the special effects turned out. It is refreshing to see a film where CG isn't used as a catch all for effects. As good as CG has gotten, there is still a very tactile realism to model and make-up effects that can still look good when done well. As mentioned earlier, the story is aimed at children but it is taken seriously and doesn't spare the audience from the carnage that would happen when giant monsters fight or why a monster would be so bad that we would put up with Gamera's usual "bull in a china shop" style of heroics. The main character does get a bit annoying with his protectiveness of and failure to accept that his "Toto" is Gamera. The monster fights were done well enough to painfully leave me hungry for more. With as well as this one turned out, it really deserves a sequel.

When one thinks of giant monster movies what comes to mind is not family entertainment. The Gamera franchise was originally geared toward a younger audience but this entry still comes as something of a surprise given later developments. Gamera The Brave is more along the lines of ET than an actual effort in the kaiju universe. Which is not to say that it is a bad movie. On the contrary, it is precisely the initial parts in which the young leads bond with the little turtle that assure that the viewer is committed to the monster battles once they take place.

The Gamera in this movie is also a child so there is a handicap involved that adds suspense to the outcome. The lead actor, a little boy recently orphaned of his mother, bonds emotionally with his cute pet and the movie provides opportunities for him to grow without becoming a mini adult as so often happens in such cases. Some of the staples of the genre are almost completely absent such as military maneuvers and government ineptitude. There is no interest in developing such plot lines because at its heart what matters is the interaction between the boy and the new Gamera.

The movie may disappoint fans of giant monsters but it offers something that a broader audience can relate to and enjoy. At times perhaps a bit too sappy it is nevertheless enlivened by tight action scenes that are cleverly thought out. There are even lyrical moments such as when the children run against the flow of a fleeing crowd.

Here is a gem of touching cinema that is well worth being watched.