Gamera Vs Zigra

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Gamera Vs Zigra

Author: ham4 from Italy

This episode of the Gamera franchise reprises the pollution item from the more famous Godzilla-Toho movies. If we can make a comparison, this movie is closely related to "the smog monster" movie of the Godzilla series. Two annoying kids are abducted by aliens. at first they think some pretty woman to be the villain, only to realize later she's a captive earthling and her boss & invading alien is some sort of stuffed shark. Lots of hide'n'seek & a few shots of the hottie in bikini. What takes these early gamera movies apart is they are expressly children movies. However, children movies from the 60's get old quick and i'm not sure how much of any appeal they might have for today's children. The budget is typically low, SFX nearly non-existent and the plot is nearly non-existent, with the trademark of say UN surrendering to the aliens to save a couple of silly childs. While childs in other Gamera movies are very smart, these 2 are borderline idiots (check the military interview part). Most TOHO movies were children movies but could easily target adults; not so with most of these early DAIEI productions. Kikuchi rips himself off recycling tunes from his score repertory. Luckily it is a short movies, thus it is perfectly watchable for what it is.
Author: bensonmum2 from Tennessee
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

When the Earth is threatened by an aquatic, shark-looking alien named Zigra (and conveniently from the planet Zigra), it's up to Gamera (and two very annoying Japanese children) to save all of mankind.

Gamera vs. Zigra is the bottom of the barrel when if comes to Japanese monster movies. Everything that makes Gamera so inferior to Godzilla is here: the annoying children, the ridiculous Gamera theme song, the ineffective defense force taking its lead from a 6 year-old, a woman in a mini-skirt chasing kids through Sea World, Kenny (Is there always a kid named "Kenny" in one of these movies?), and the worst looking monsters put on film. I realize these movies were aimed at a much younger audience (remember, "Gamera is the friend of all children!"), but do they have to be so stupid? I'm afraid my head might explode if I think about it too much. I could go on and on, but I'll limit this to two surreal moments that are so silly they almost defy description.

First, with the entire planet facing the threat of being conquered by Zigra and Tokyo preparing for a magnitude 18 (whatever that means) earthquake, an argument over fish takes center stage for better than 5 minutes of the movie's runtime. The man responsible for feeding the dolphins at the Tokyo Sea World and the manager of a swanky hotel get into a heated argument with a fishmonger over a crate of fish. Mankind is on the verge of extinction and all these people seem to be worried about is fish. As I indicated, I really can't do it justice. You'd have to see it to believe it.

Second, having just defeated Zigra (not really a spoiler -- did you think Gamera was going to lose?), Gamera uses Zigra like a xylophone to pound out a tune. Yes, that's right -- Gamera uses a club on Zigra's dorsal fin to play the first few notes of his theme song. And if that weren't ridiculous enough, Gamera follows it up with a few dance steps. This is surely one of the proudest moments in Japanese film history.

See what I mean? My head hurts just thinking about it.

Channel: Film & Animation
Uploaded: April 2, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Author: billdancourtney

Length: 00:02:33
Rating: 4.86
Views: 17417

Tags: japanese sci fi

Video Comments:
PowernutX032 (November 3, 2008 at 3:29 am)
lol how such a ridiculous monster with anal impulse is able to do only such a fame have attained... especially the title song is absolutely gay. Godzilla is and remains the true king of the monsters... Amen!!!!
Masoukishin (October 6, 2008 at 8:01 pm)
hahahah rofl i cant believe people used to watch this crap and say it was good.
xinvaderinuyashax (October 14, 2008 at 12:09 am)
Gamera is awsome you bitch
Masoukishin (October 15, 2008 at 12:17 am)
well i'd rather see your mom in a threesome with some black guys, you bitch!
xinvaderinuyashax (October 31, 2008 at 12:38 am)
RACIST BASTARD!
Masoukishin (November 11, 2008 at 2:46 pm)
hahahahah i aint racist im making fun of you homo.
megatrends (September 8, 2008 at 11:51 am)
AWESOME!!!
vfmc77 (July 24, 2008 at 8:25 pm)
That was a trailer?! o.0
godzillafreak11 (July 3, 2008 at 12:30 am)
thats cause its a trailr.
flitz0Prinze (June 24, 2008 at 9:37 pm)
More than half of this video was just people talking.