Rating: Summary: I wanted to like this more... Review: ...but the movie feels like a rush job. The special effects did not impress me all that much and the characters spent most of the movie running after or from the monsters. This entry sadly lacks a human element and the Gamera Girl from the first is utterly wasted here. Yes the movie has some nifty moments in it, but after seeing the first Gamera and how well its director Shusuke Kaneko handled his take on Godzilla, I was expecting so much more. On a more up positive note, the disc is crammed with juicy extras. Kaiju fans will enjoy it, just keep in mind that its just another sequel that is not equal to the first.
Rating: Summary: I wanted to like this more... Review: ...but the movie feels like a rush job. The special effects did not impress me all that much and the characters spent most of the movie running after or from the monsters. This entry sadly lacks a human element and the Gamera Girl from the first is utterly wasted here. Yes the movie has some nifty moments in it, but after seeing the first Gamera and how well its director Shusuke Kaneko handled his take on Godzilla, I was expecting so much more. On a more up positive note, the disc is crammed with juicy extras. Kaiju fans will enjoy it, just keep in mind that its just another sequel that is not equal to the first.
Rating: Summary: Hilarious! Review: And by that I'm not talking about the fact it's guys in rubber monster suits, because I always take the movies seriously. I'm referring to some of the more unique extras on this disc. ADV has some interesting "Outtakes"... which are actually select scenes with alternate dubbing in areas. Such scenes are Gamera commenting on his accidental building smashing, and the last scene with several takes. Also included is an approx. 12 minute long alternately dubbed "Lake Texarkana Gamera" where a lot of the military scenes have been taken and made into a short where most of the voices make the characters sound like hillbillies. Very funny. On to the rest of the disc, plenty of other extras which prove to be quite interesting. The movie itself keeps all the Japanese text for the title, credits, etc. unlike ADV's last release. Let's hope G3 meets or goes beyond the quality of this DVD.
Rating: Summary: Just Keeps Getting Better And Better! Review: Gamera 2 is superior than the first! But the entire series has been getting better with each new film! The special effects, acting, and story are top-notch! A must have for any fan of giant monster movies!
Rating: Summary: Legion of Quality Review: Gamera: Guardian of the Universe vastly improved upon the poorness of the old Gamera films. This second film in the new series continues to do that. Shusuke Kaneko continues his work, taking place two years later, with the decision to return to the alien-invasion roots of the older 60's and 70's films. It might be considered a gutsy move, but it pays off.This film is much less disjointed than the beginning of the first one. It begins with an American weather station noting some unusual activity that they label a freak meteor shower. On the night of the shower, one large meteor creates a trail through the trees and disappears. It's tracks appear to be slowing down. Soon after, various incidents are reported with transmissions problems and sightings of strange creatures, including an attack on a subway car, that culminates in a giant flower-pod emerging in a tall building. The oxygen in the area becomes dangerously flammable, giving the army little ability to stop the strange invasion until Gamera appears to combat the flower, as well as the invaders known as Legion. There's a lot of science and figuring when it comes to the aliens in this film. While it's very easy for that to become boring, it's very interesting the first couple times through. The aliens are insect-like by nature, and there are both small ones, and a big one, for Gamera and the army to deal with. Of the trilogy, this is the only one where the plot isn't disjointed at the beginning, and it's also the only one where Gamera and the Japanese military are not disjointed. They actually work together here against a common threat from outside Earth. The special effects improve upon the previous film. While the full-CG Gamera looks very bad most of the time, it's not used often, and CG is used mostly as an assisting tool, like it should be. The suits look excellent, and they managed to find a way for Gamera's "jet" flying to look better by giving him gliders on his arms that morph away when he no longer needs them. The battles are exciting, with a combination of flashy fights and suit brawls. As with the first movie's DVD, this one comes loaded with extras. Featurettes, documentaries, etc, and of course, the Japanese language track. The movie is somewhat less emotional than it's predecessor (or it's follower), but it's still an entertaining movie, a great middle-path in the new Gamera trilogy, and an excellent kaiju film overall.
Rating: Summary: Amazing, But Not The Best Review: I got Gamera 2 and 3 for my birthday and I was so happy! When I saw this tape I was very satisfied with it. This movie and DVD is great! I like this movie still, but it never was the best. I mean it was good but the worst of the new Gamera series. One thing that helped it amazingly is that Legion was not just cool looking is very inventive for a space monster! It's like an exact insect version of Gayos. This is my rating for it. Gamera Costume:A- This suit is great but the head's too small. Enemy Costumes:A I would put plus but I don't have that key on my computor. Enemy Origen(s):A Like I said for costumes. Plot:B Good but has been used before. Effects:A- Good but the worst in the series. Actors:A You could really get that feeling from them. Final Grade:A-
Rating: Summary: The best monster series ever. Review: If you think this is the best, wait for Gamera3, that movie has some of the best cg I've ever seen in this type of movie, with a compelling story too. It's terrific that Gamera2 is finally coming out in America, I knew there was a reason I didn't buy the bootleg on ebay. The great thing about Gamera (besides the excellent effects) is that it's a monster movie that you can take seriously, it doesn't go for the cheap and cheesy thrills like most of the Godzilla films, but wraps up the impressive action in a compelling story. This is definitely one of the most fun movies I've seen, and thank god it comes with a Japanese language track on the dvd.
Rating: Summary: Been there, done that. Review: It is amazing how the japanese do not improve the plot, the acting and the overall special effects to make a movie up to standards. Gamera 2 is better (in the FX department) than older versions, but still behind the times. Overall: MEDIOCRE.
Rating: Summary: Good but NOT the Best Kaiju Review: It's about time ADV got around to releasing Shusuke Kaneko's trilogy of Gamera films. If you want an above-average giant monster fest, by all means check out Gamera 2. Like all other films in this genre including Godzilla, the insistence on using rubber suits and model miniatures limits the believability and increases the campiness. But if you want to experience the pinnacle of kaiju, you have to wait for Gamera 3, Revenge of Iris. It is, by far, the best giant monster movie made.
Rating: Summary: Good but NOT the Best Kaiju Review: It's about time ADV got around to releasing Shusuke Kaneko's trilogy of Gamera films. If you want an above-average giant monster fest, by all means check out Gamera 2. Like all other films in this genre including Godzilla, the insistence on using rubber suits and model miniatures limits the believability and increases the campiness. But if you want to experience the pinnacle of kaiju, you have to wait for Gamera 3, Revenge of Iris. It is, by far, the best giant monster movie made.
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