Gamera is cool once more. The giant turtle recently guest starred on Mad Men. Who would have imagined Don Draper would be sharing screen time with Gamera? The sexiest man on TV with the most stunning mutant reptile in a shell. This was a bigger profile boost than when Mystery Science Theater 3000 roasted his various films. After decades of working with pesky boys in baseball caps, Gamera was back with adults. He’s like Mickey Rourke and Betty White without a good skin lotion. There are even reports of college bands playing the “Gamera March Theme” to psyche up their football teams. The terrapin is bigger than the lizard. The ultimate compliment to his career is the re-issuing of his original movies on DVD with pristine uncut transfers and the original Japanese soundtracks. Gamera Vs. Guiron / Gamera Vs. Jiger: Gamera Double Feature brings the fifth and sixth adventure of turtle that’s a friend to children everywhere.
Gamera Vs. Guiron (1969 – 82 minutes) goes international with its pesky boy in the baseball cap role. The English speaking Tom covers his dome to befriend the turtle. Him and his pal Akio use a telescope to scan the night sky. They notice a spaceship descend and land in a nearby field. Instead of alerting the authorities, their parents or guardians, the duo wait until morning and investigate the UFO. Instead of doing the wise thing and taking pictures and calling the authorities, the boys climb inside and press buttons until the ship takes off. They are transported through space towards an unknown planet. Luckily along the way they cruise past Gamera on his intergalactic walkabout. The boys call to Gamera after they’re taken prisoners on a planet ruled by two creepy women and their giant monster with a head the shape of knife. Even cooler is Guiron can fire throwing stars from his face. Gamera comes to their rescue, but can he really defeat a monster that has ninja throwing stars? The basic lesson of this film is don’t get on UFOs without a note from your parents. Fans of MST3K will remember this movie from the turtle’s Gymkata moment in the battle.
Gamera Vs. Jiger (1970 – 83 minutes) takes the beatdown to the 1970 World’s Fair Expo in Osaka. An ancient statue called the Devil’s Whistle gets airlifted from an island to the Expo site. This turns out to be a really bad idea since it unleashes Jiger. The creature checks out the displays at Osaka. Gamera shows up to defend the tourist attraction. While this should be a slam dunk fight, Gamera gets knocked out and Jiger does something in the turtle’s mouth. The scientist think Gamera is dead. They figure out how to work him into an exhibit. It’s up to a Japanese boy in a baseball cap and white kid to resuscitate their hero. They pilot a mini-submarine to go inside Gamera’s mouth for an actual size version to The Fantastic Voyage. This is a different mini-sub than the one used in Viras. Don’t get too confused. The boys discover what’s been shot down Gamera’s throat and it isn’t pretty. It’s a cross between the Rod Stewart and Richard Gere urban legend. Strange that the history books never mention how this Expo was crushed by a giant turtle tussling with a massive triceratops.
This double feature of Gamera Vs. Guiron / Gamera Vs. Jiger certainly brings out the turtle fun. The films aren’t formulaic since the first set of kids prove to be a pain while others offer salvation for Gamera. Just cause a boy wears a baseball hat doesn’t mean he’s always hopeless schmucks. Gamera does come off as a turtle ready to work with bigger stars. Shame that it took nearly four decades for him to score the dream gig on Mad Men. Perhaps next month he’ll be starring in Gamera Vs. the Sons of Anarchy.
The video is 2.35:1 anamorphic. The transfers of both films are exceptional when compared to the earlier pan and scan versions that had bounced around TV for all these years. You get a true sense of the detail in Gamera’s shell. Both films feature their original Japanese soundtrack with subtitles. Jiger has an English dub. Guiron has two English dubs. The first track is the better option.
Publicity Gallery contains numerous photos, sketches, and promotional material for both films.
The Gamera Vs. Guiron / Gamera Vs. Jiger: Gamera Double Feature serves up two more major battles from the mutant turtle. Both films continue the tradition of Gamera liking a boy with a baseball cap. Luckily the second kid isn’t nearly as much of a brat as the first. Both films brings the monster stomping to a new level with the widescreen action and stunning transfers. It’s like you’re watching Gamera for the first time in its pure form.
Shout! Factory presents Gamera Vs. Guiron / Gamera Vs. Jiger: Gamera Double Feature. Directed by: Noriaki Yuasa. Starring: Chrystopher Murphy, Nobuhiro Kajima, Tsutomu Takakuwa and Kelly Varis. Boxset Contents: 2 Films on 1 DVD. Rating: Unrated. Released on DVD: September 21, 2010.
