Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (August 31, 2020)
GAMERA: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER: “Even as a rehash of Godzilla, I hoped Gamera the Giant Monster might offer chaotic fun. Unfortunately, the film seems poorly made and without excitement or impact.
GAMERA VS. BARUGON: “While not an objectively good movie, I think Gamera vs. Barugon improves upon its predecessor. Though it runs too long and spends too much time with dull human characters, it boasts superior production values, a darker tone and enough action to make it watchable.”
GAMERA VS. GYAOS: “After the series’ second movie worked surprisingly well, Gamera vs. Gyaos comes as a notable decline. With a weaker story, crummier effects and a general lack of quality, it turns into a weak monster flick.”
GAMERA VS. VIRAS: “Just as the James Bond franchise got campier as it went, our favorite giant turtle marches toward silliness with Gamera vs. Viras. It more overtly panders to kids and becomes a spotty adventure.”
GAMERA VS. GUIRON: “Arguably the most ambitious effort in the series to date, Gamera vs. Guiron comes with real potential. However, it lacks commitment to its themes and ends up as a shoddy mix of bad effects and lackluster action.”
GAMERA VS. JIGER: “Though the sixth film in six years, Gamera vs. Jiger becomes one of the franchise’s more satisfying efforts. While I can’t claim it excels, it capitalizes on the property’s strengths and avoids some of the usual pitfalls.”
GAMERA VS. ZIGRA: “Perhaps the franchise would’ve entered hibernation no matter what after 1971’s Gamera vs. Zigra, as maybe viewers just tired of the character. However, the poor quality of this slipshod, boring monster flick didn’t help.”
GAMERA: SUPER MONSTER: “Created to fulfill a contractual obligation, Gamera: Super Monster feels like the cinematic product it is. Idiotic, incoherent and downright dull, the movie must be the franchise’s absolute nadir.”
GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE: “Objectively, Gamera: Guardian of the Universe offers a mediocre movie at best. Subjectively, I recognize its flaws but still think it provides enough monster movie action to make it watchable.”
GAMERA 2: ATTACK OF LEGION: “A continuation of the franchise’s 1990s reboot, Gamera 2: Attack of Legion offers a sporadically exciting affair. The movie drags too much of the time and takes too long to get to its title character, but it still manifests enough thrills to make it moderately enjoyable.”
GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS: “The final part of a reboot trilogy, 1999’s Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris likely offers the franchise’s best movie. Though it comes with some weaknesses, most of the film works quite well and delivers an exciting, dramatic tale.”
GAMERA THE BRAVE: “As of 2020, 2006’s Gamera the Brave remains the character’s last cinematic adventure. The film proves an inconsistent tale, one that boasts enough positives to merit a look, but also one whose flaws make it a disappointment.”
