Rating: 
Summary: A new approach!/Looking for Gamera 2 & 3?
Review: This 1995 film is as I see it a totally new approach, to the Japanese giant rubber monster genre. This film has a tight script, a heavy soundtrack and is cut in a faster pace than the Godzilla films of the 90s (And Godzilla 2000 for that matter). I've watched this film over and over, and I still enjoy it as much as the first time I saw it!
The origin of Gamera has been rewritten in this first film in the new series (G2 1997, G3 1999); Gamera is not an ancient race of giant turtles, that has accidently been awaken by nuclear testing - He's/She is some leftover biotech weapon from the anchient civilazation of Atlantis! He's left as an guardian against the people of Atlantis biggest biotech blunder; The Gyaos!
The story; A population of Gyaos have hatched on a island. The islanders and a professor and his team gets eaten. A huge floating atoll is found in the pacific - Is there a connection?
The Gyaos move in towards the Japan mainland, and attempt is made to capture the creatures. The Atoll inreases speed towards this location, Gamera arises in the harbour - The battle can begin!
A very enjoyable movie! Contains not so much digital effects as the later Gamera films - The gyaos for instance look very rubbery. But Gamera new "flame trower" is impressive. It's also fun to see him do the real Kaju thing; Wreck the tokyo tower...
The most remembered line in this film; "I would like to take you out, in a monster free Tokyo..."
This dubbed version has a more pumped up sound track then the subtitled version.
Looking for Gamera 2 and 3?
In Japan a Dvd box has been released, containing G1/G2/G3 that carry English subtitles. Japanese Dvd:s does however have a region 2 coding. Try to find Cd Japan, Japanese site, in English - That's all info I can give here
Rating: 
Summary: The triumphant return of Gamera
Review: Gamera began his cinematic life in the 1960s, in a series of kid-oriented Japanese monster movies. A giant, jet-powered, flying, saber-toothed, fire-breathing turtle, Gamera may sound like a ridiculous concept to some, but to others (like me!) he's a beloved film icon.Well, Gamera is back in a big way in "Gamera: Guardian of the Universe," a 1990s update of the classic character. Remakes and updates are always tricky undertakings, but screenwriter Kazunori Ito and director Shusuke Kaneko have done an excellent job. The secret of their success is simple: they remain true to the original concept and characterization of Gamera, while bringing a high-tech 90s sensibility to the execution. In this film, ancient monster Gamera is reawakened to the contemporary world. He forms a telepathic bond with a young woman, and engages in fantastic battles with a species of predatory flying reptile known as Gyaos. This new "Gamera" is an exciting, superbly made film. A coherent script, good performances by an engaging human cast, effective special effects, and a thrilling musical score all contribute to the film's overall success. The filmmakers have expertly blended the excitement of an action film with the timeless feel of myth. And most importantly, this new Gamera retains the quirky charm that made his earlier incarnations so memorable. Fans of Japanese giant monster films will be in heaven when they see "Gamera."
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful New Beginning!!
Review: This is the first of the newer movies starring our favorite flying turtle. The first thing you should notice is the special effects have greatly improved since the days of Zigra. The camerawork is great. I love how the shots within the scenes are pieced together. I'm mainly thinking of Gamera's first major appearance in the movie involving the baseball stadium. The scenes move along well with different angles being used. The editor switches between shots of the monsters and the crowd at an appropriate pace. With some exceptions, a certain other kaiju series holds the shots for too long during an action scene - slowing things down too much. When Gamera is shown flying, it proves how much things have improved. (It's even more incredible in Gamera 3!) Gamera is one of the few kaiju series where you can see the special effects evolve. These newer movies show a much more serious Gamera. He is no longer shown as the protector of children - although a few scenes in these newer films may hint at that. I have seen all three of the new Gamera movies, and they have totally changed my opinion of this type of movie. I have serious trouble watching the newer Godzilla movies because of the new Gamera. I see what can be done now. I cannot wait for ADV to finally release Gamera 2 and 3 in English. I'm sure everyone is going to have different opinions on the dubbing job. Fortunately, ADV has much experience with dubbing Anime so you have professional actors doing the voices. (...including at least three who did the English dub for Neon Genesis Evangelion. All three are not doing major roles. Tiffany Grant is a personal favorite though. She did Asuka's voice in Eva.) Besides, how many giant monster movies have you seen with good quotes on the package? You have Roger Ebert and The New York Times quoted.
Rating:
Summary: Both a tribute to the old and very new
Review: Gamera:GOTU is wonderful, modern approach to the monster movie. By starting with the first discovery of the monster, it allows the world to be much closer to ours. There is no 50 year history to reinvent or rewrite. There are no Maser Beam Tanks to be destroyed. The movie is about what happens to people when monsters are discovered today. This movie has a great attention to detail: all of the hardware used by Japan is accurate and modern, monsters showing up effecting commodities and stocks, background characters, the construction of the miniture buildings, etc. The special effects are second to the story, and not the reverse. This is a great improvement over many modern Hollywood movies. For those curious if Gamera or Godzilla is the better series, the answer is simple. Take a Saturday and rent this movie and Godzilla Vs. Destroyer or Godzilla Vs. MechaGodzilla. With this fine double feature, comparing the least of the modern Gameras movies vs the best of the modern Godzillas, a personal preference will develop. My money's on your money going to the turtle.
Rating:
Summary: This is the Best.
Review: Those who like Gamera films will LOVE this! Gamera comes back with a new look. He is Mean and Bad-ass. This film gave Gamera hope in his fight against godzilla films. The acting and effects are what you'd expect from either monster, and some of the Gyaos vs. humans fight scenes go on for a little long, but The over all story ROCKS! It's just too bad that none of Gamera's films are out on DVD. :(
Rating: 
Summary: These are the FX that I've been hearing so much about?
Review: Basicly this was just the Japanese version of ET the Extra Treastrial. A little girl (Elliot character) has some sort of conection with Gamera (ET character). This also had some spoofing of Jurassic Park, AKA Gyaos (Rodan wanabe) doodoo being inspected by some woman. And now the special effects (which wern't anything that special), it seemed like the only thing payed attention to in this movie was the Gamera Fire Ball. The flying turtle sceans looked like they were just guys in rubber suits in front of a set paineted on paper. And the missles use to shoot the monsters looked like they came strait out of a Disney/Pixar movie (you know, Toy Story, A Bug's Life). And maybe the monster fighting sceans would have been more realistic if the monsters weren't dileberetly missing each other. I may be a Godzilla fan (I'm not saying I'm not a Gamera fan, and I'm not saying I am a Gamera fan), but I'm not leting the fact that I own every Godzilla movie (exept Godzilla 2000, which I saw in theaters yesterday and it was GREAT) interfier with this review. I'm not comparing it to Godzilla (but if you do want my opinion, check out Godzilla vs. Destroyah, way better FX than this). I'm not saying that you shouldn't see this movie, (because I would see it again if I got the chance) so if you iterested in seeing this, rent it before you buy it, because it's your opinion, not mine.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre Effects for a Mediocre Monster
Review: The original Gamera films were ok. The human plots were horrendous and uninteresting except maybe Gamera vs. Barugon. The monster scenes were pretty good, not the best. Overall they were good or really bad, but not as good as Godzilla (he IS the King of the Monsters). Anyways, Gamera has been revived in a trilogy of movies that have been widely praised. This movie makes me wonder why the movies are so highly liked though. Gamera and Gyaos aren't that cool. The fights are adequate. The effects vary from good to bad. And the human drama equals that of any 60's-70's Godzilla movie. It could have been really good, but the monsters aren't that interesting, and that's what counts. My guess is Gamera 3 is the only one that's really good (although I have serious doubts about it) and for some reason they started giving accolades to the whole trilogy. Gamera 2 and 3 are planned to be released by ADV Films in 2001, by the way. So, until then, I'm taking the raves of the new Gamera trilogy with a grain of salt. I will however keep an open mind when watching the movies.
Rating:
Summary: WHY CAN'T I GO OVER 5 STARS!
Review: I am right this film is cool but proable not as great as G2:Gamera Vs. Legion. The effects are great ecesept some minor problems but briwent. If you haven't seen it yet, shame on you!
Rating:
Summary: Watch out Godzilla...
Review: Let me first say, I am an enourmous Godzilla fan. I own almost all of his movies, good or bad, and a multitude of books, figures, posters and comics. However, I am also a fair critic, and I cannot deny that Gamera: Guardian is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Most of the concepts that were originated in the Heisei Godzilla movies, but never fully developed, are beautifully done here, and the visual effects are some of the best ever in a kaiju movie. Shusuke Kaneko crafts a story that never loses it's momentum and is at no point ever unengaging. The score is also excellent, worthy of some of Akira Ifukube's better work. If you think this movie is good, however, watch Gamera 2: Advent of Legion and Gamera 3: Awakening of Irys. They must be seen to be believed.
Rating:
Summary: Gamera, the Invincible
Review: Plan "Z" couldn't do it. Barugon couldn't do it. The first Gaos couldn't, ditto for Jiger, Zigra, Viras, and Guiron. Daiei's bankruptcies and subsequent takeover by Toho couldn't do it. Gamera is invincible and cannot be killed off. He lives on in the hearts of his fans. And seeing this movie and his new origin, his first movie with a decent budget and the benefit of CGI leave a viewer with only one word on their lips: WOW! An ancient race (supposedly Atlantis) accidently created a race of monsters called Gyaos. To exterminate them, they created the ultimate Orkin Man: Gamera. But the people eating Gyaos managed to kill the Atlaneans before Gamera could finish them. Now, years later a hidden clutch of Gyaos eggs hatch. And mankind needs Gamera the Invincible Guardian of the Universe to save them.
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