2
(nothing substantial)
7
(some mild language and violence)
3
(see this one only if you have a very strong interest)
I'm listing "Gammera the Invincible" under the title with two M's even though the correct spelling of the famous Japanese monster is “Gamera.” The film does go by the proper spelling sometimes but evidently NOT in the U.S. It's also known as just “Gammera” and doesn't have an original Japanese title.
You know WHY this movie doesn't have a Japanese title? Because it is basically stolen from the original movie called “Daikaiju Gamera” AKA “Giant Monster Gamera.” The original had no English cast. New scenes were filmed with Brian Donlevy, Albert Dekker, and other actors I assume to make this more accessible to English-speaking audiences. I guess they figured people back then didn't want to see a purely Japanese movie.
This is very much a Godzilla type story. A nuclear explosion awakens the giant turtle Gamera who proceeds to tear apart Tokyo in classic Japanese monster fashion. Some little kid that likes turtles goes to obsessive lengths to serve Gamera as the military desperately tries to stop him. Meanwhile, flying saucers!
I get the appeal of these old I-ate-Tokyo monster movies. I enjoy a good Godzilla flick from time to time, but they are a far cry from great productions. There isn't much of a real story, the monster is an obvious rubber suit, and the effects aren't what I would call “impressive” or “adequate.” It doesn't help, in my opinion, that this is redressed from the original Japanese movie. Why Americanize it? Still, seeing as how the voice acting in the English dub is so comically bad, I guess they didn't feel like people wanted to sit through 1.5 straight hours of it. I suppose I can't blame them for that.
This is the only black-and-white Gamera movie. It shows its age and its low-tech capabilities. It's fun in a quaint sort of way.
Morality
There is a small amount of mild strong language but no sex or nudity.
The violence amounts to a giant turtle wrecking up the place and the armed forces trying to shoot him down.
Spirituality
Umm.... don't use atomic bombs or you'll get squashed, too?
Final Thoughts
If you're a big fan of these old Japanese monster movies it might be fun to have the American version to compare against the Japanese original. Otherwise I would suggest sticking with the original. If you aren't sure you like these old monster flicks know what you're getting yourself into before you get excited about them.
Buying Guide
Here are a few details on the first Gamera movie which I own under the title “Gammera the Invincible.”
As best as I can tell, since I am far from being a Gamera expert, this Americanized version is available on DVD by itself and in several multi-packs, one of which I'll detail below. The original movie is also available in a robust release by itself under “Gamera The Giant Monster.”
“Gamera The Giant Monster” from Shout Factory is by far the best release. It offers a vastly cleaner transfer (based on the screenshots I saw) plus some extras. However, it's not going to offer you the Americanized version of the movie if that is what you're looking for.
For that you will need to get “Gammera the Invincible” from Alpha Video or Synergy. It is 1.33 full-screen, does not mention any remastering, and lists no extras. There are no audio specs given either, so I assume it is plain mono.
None of the multi-packs appear to offer anything more than the 20 pack I have.
Final Recommendation:
If you're looking for the Americanized version specifically then just go with whichever deal offers you the best bargain. If you want the best possible version of the original film then definitely go with the Shout Factory release.
I got mine in the Chilling 20 pack.
Video
1.33:
This is the TV standard ratio. The image is rough being trashy, fuzzy, washed out, and very grainy.
Audio
2.0 mono:
You'll have to put up with some humming, crackles, pops, and skips. The dialogue boarders on distorted because of the poor levels.
Packaging
The disc comes in a paper sleeve that lives in a plastic case. You can get more details about the set as a whole by checking out the Chilling (20 pack) guide.
In case I wasn't clear before, this is the Americanized version of the original film.
Extras
There are none.