Gamera vs. Monster X / Monster from a Prehistoric Planet

Rating:
Summary: Gappa aka Monster From A Prehistoric World POOR Quality DVD
Review: ADV has a MUCH better widescreen version of Gappa aka Monster From A Prehistoric Planet-widescreen with subtitles which makes this release an embarrassment! If you want to continue to embrace the ruining of Kaiju films as silly dubbed kiddys films then buy away!
This is also not one of the best Gamera films but there are much better versions of this film on VHS with DVD to follow! EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS!

Rating:
Summary: A Long Time Coming
Review: Having very fond childhood memories of this movie, I have been waiting a long time for this film to arrive on VHS or DVD. Retromedia has kindly provided the film on DVD, and I am most grateful. (Now, I hope that Retromedia will release Gamera vs. Gyaos on DVD!)

1) Opinion of film: Several things stand out: a) a monster that reproduces via parasitic larvae--this movie was way ahead of its time--and shoots darts out of its head, which is really neat; b) I liked the fact that Gamera was a friend to children, and the children had exciting and (sort of) plausible adventures to save his life--as a kid, I was fascinated by the children taking a sub into Gamera to find out why it was sick and then saving it from the parasite; and c) I was also greatly amused by Gamera sticking telephone poles in its ears to protect them against loud noise.

Although the film looks very different to these adult eyes, I still enjoyed watching it, and my children did, too. The more recent Gamera films from the 1990s are far superior in most every way, but this film was a special treat for me as a child, and I'm glad to own the DVD of it.

2) Opinion of DVD: All of the DVD versions that I have seen of the old Gamera films look faded with poor color. Although you can tell the print is old, this one isn't as bad as some.

This movie is pan-and-scan; I have never seen a completely widescreen version of this or any other old Gamera film, though the fight scenes suggest that they were filmed that way. (Gamera vs. Barugon is a good example, and I can't help but remember seeing fight scenes of that in widescreen--none of the VHS or DVD versions of that film are widescreen, though, so I can't confirm that.) Nevertheless, this version does mirror what I saw on TV as a child, so I won't complain.

Although I would prefer a restored print in widescreen format, if available, with all of the bells and whistles of a modern release, I accept that this is a cult film with a relatively small following; I'll take what I can get. The price is a little high, but, because I've wanted to see this again for so long, I can't be too picky.

3) Overall: As old monster movies go, this is neither a classic nor a dud, so I should rate it 3 stars. However, it is one of the better installments of the old Gamera series (Gamera vs. Barugon--aka "War of the Monsters"--being the best and most dramatic, in my opinion, and Gamera vs. Zigra or Gamera vs. Guiron being among the worst), and it has been my sentimental favorite for years (definitely a children's film compared to Gamera vs. Barugon!). Since it is one of the better ones from the old series, I'm giving it 4 stars. Adult fans of the old series will mostly be grateful for this, and, if my children are any indication, kids who like monster movies will probably enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: A Long Time Coming
Review: Having very fond childhood memories of this movie, I have been waiting a long time for this film to arrive on VHS or DVD. Retromedia has kindly provided the film on DVD, and I am most grateful. (Now, I hope that Retromedia will release Gamera vs. Gyaos on DVD!)

1) Opinion of film: Several things stand out: a) a monster that reproduces via parasitic larvae--this movie was way ahead of its time--and shoots darts out of its head, which is really neat; b) I liked the fact that Gamera was a friend to children, and the children had exciting and (sort of) plausible adventures to save his life--as a kid, I was fascinated by the children taking a sub into Gamera to find out why it was sick and then saving it from the parasite; and c) I was also greatly amused by Gamera sticking telephone poles in its ears to protect them against loud noise.

Although the film looks very different to these adult eyes, I still enjoyed watching it, and my children did, too. The more recent Gamera films from the 1990s are far superior in most every way, but this film was a special treat for me as a child, and I'm glad to own the DVD of it.

2) Opinion of DVD: All of the DVD versions that I have seen of the old Gamera films look faded with poor color. Although you can tell the print is old, this one isn't as bad as some.

This movie is pan-and-scan; I have never seen a completely widescreen version of this or any other old Gamera film, though the fight scenes suggest that they were filmed that way. (Gamera vs. Barugon is a good example, and I can't help but remember seeing fight scenes of that in widescreen--none of the VHS or DVD versions of that film are widescreen, though, so I can't confirm that.) Nevertheless, this version does mirror what I saw on TV as a child, so I won't complain.

Although I would prefer a restored print in widescreen format, if available, with all of the bells and whistles of a modern release, I accept that this is a cult film with a relatively small following; I'll take what I can get. The price is a little high, but, because I've wanted to see this again for so long, I can't be too picky.

3) Overall: As old monster movies go, this is neither a classic nor a dud, so I should rate it 3 stars. However, it is one of the better installments of the old Gamera series (Gamera vs. Barugon--aka "War of the Monsters"--being the best and most dramatic, in my opinion, and Gamera vs. Zigra or Gamera vs. Guiron being among the worst), and it has been my sentimental favorite for years (definitely a children's film compared to Gamera vs. Barugon!). Since it is one of the better ones from the old series, I'm giving it 4 stars. Adult fans of the old series will mostly be grateful for this, and, if my children are any indication, kids who like monster movies will probably enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Survey says... X
Review: I don't expect the type of features I would see on a collector's edition of Citizen Kane when I am getting a dvd of a classic monster film, however some basic respect to the consumers' intelligence would be nice.

First, it would be nice if this were done in wide screen format, instead of the obvious pan and scan. It is easy to detect from the title sequences which are cut off at the edges. I am sure that the fight scenes in particular would be much more effective if we could see the entire picture the director intended.

Second, it would also have been nice if the transfer had been done in a professional manner. The prints have obviously not been cleaned, and the transfer equipment not maintained. At times I felt as if I was watching old home movies when I was a kid as flakes of debris traveled across the screen, occasionally staying around for a while, dancing on the screen.

As I said, I don't expect a digitally restored picture with a new soundtrack, but some basic standards would be nice.

Rating:
Summary: CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS.....
Review: I just saw this film for the first time ever. I am 33 and I never cought
this one when I was a kid. And boy oh boy I just cant say enough good things about this. This is on a par with RETURN OF THE GIANT MONSTERS and WAR OF THE MONSTERS. A decent and fairly realistic opponent for Gamera is featured and the plot is really clever.
Far better than the previous films, DESTROY ALL PLANETS and ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS and the awful one's that followed, GAMERA VS. ZIGRA and GAMERA SUPER MONSTER.
I WAS REALLY ENTERTAINED BY GAMERA VS. MONSTER X!!!!!
My only complaint about this disk is the awful muddy copy of MONSTER
FROM A PREHISTORIC PLANET. This same terrible print is also being offered by Alpha Video, Lazer and Brentwood. I like nostalgia, but I
never saw a print this bad on TV when I was growing up. Orion Home Video's VHS tape from about fifteen years ago was far superior. Other than that its a pretty good monster movie. It was originally called GAPPA- THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER or MONSTERS but American
International changed the title when the sold it to TV in a package with
VOYAGE TO A PREHISTORIC PLANET.

Rating:
Summary: Finally Monster X on dvd!
Review: Okay, the dvd is not good quality. But it isnt supposed to be. I think this is a cool look at these movies just as they appeared on TV in the 70's and 80's. After all the dvd is released by a company called RETROmedia right? So why would you look for widescreen and all kinds of modern features? If you enjoyed watching these movies back in the day on TV, you will probably like this disc. GAMERA VS MONSTER X is a rare treat, not seen on tv or an officially released video in years. MONSTER FROM A PREHISTORIC PLANET makes a cool bonus. Overall, an enjoyable journey into the past for me, but if all you care about is quality of the prints instead of the movies you should stay away.

Rating:
Summary: Gamera Vs Jaiger
Review: The removal of a statue from an Island releases Jaiger(monsterX). jaiger heads straight for the statue, now on display at the Japan Expo, to destroy it. Gamera intercepts Jaiger before it can do a lot of damage. Jaiger injects an egg into Gameras shoulder which grows into a parasite feeding on Gamera's blood from the inside turning Gamera white. Gamera is paralized until two brave boys take a minisub into gamera's lungs and kill the parasite by using the radio waves emmited by their walky-talky. Gamera attacks Jaiger and kills it by thrusting the Statue into Jaigers head.

Rating:
Summary: How in God's name?
Review: What is this garbage you call a film? I can see the guy in the suite through an open cut on gamera! When he is attacked by the monster called Xianga, he bleeds for about 5 minutes top and it is stupid. I saw the camera man in the window of a minature building! In one scene, Gamera trips and farts! What the? Why would a monster fart? You tell me? And the actors are in the movie for about 10 minutes and the other whatever minutes is Gamera, explosions, warfare, and boredum. Why does Rodan make an Appearance! Why! And the ending has Gamera eating sea weed after a great battle! Sea Weed! What the? And another thing: Why does Gamera laugh when he killed Xianga and Karon the Garbage Monsters. Why are they called the Garbage monsters? Probably because the movie is garbage! And another point i must make clear: I saw the Japanese DVD directly from Tokyo, and they makers of Gamera said, "Gamera is our god, and Godzilla is probably filth compared to our special effects." The makers are idiots and the story in lame terms is simply this: Scientist find out about Xianga, and Karon. Karon destroys tokyo. Xianga fights tanks. Gamera appears and kills Rodan. Gamera helps children from a burning school which Karon lits on fire. Gamera kills Karon, and Xianga is invinciable. Gamera nearly dies and the scene occurs where he farts. Xianga is killed by a missle called X- Xiangusm. Then gamera eats sea weed. The End. How boring and unorignal!