Rating: 
Summary: Excellent creature double feature!!!
Review: Finally these classic treasures arrive on dvd! The pictures are not the greatest quality, especially DESTROY ALL PLANETS, but they are EXACTLY as I remember them from TV 20 years ago! Always my favorite Gamera film, DESTROY ALL PLANETS does use a lot of old scenes from the previous three films in the series, but they are cleverly used as a flashback sequence, and just make the movie more fun. ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS is a crazy adventure, almost as fun as the previous film. If you have kids, they will love this dvd, and adults will too, if you dont try to make sense of the stories!
Rating: 
Summary: Let the Battle Begin
Review: First off for 6-8 dollars for this dvd the really is nothing to complain cus your getting an gamera vs viras which is kinda rare due it never been release before.GAMERA is back again when he runs into you can say a ALien ship which they want to invade earth to steal its resources and claim it as there own.Gamera destroys the first ship but they sent another ship to complete the mission but when it comes down to it the leader has to take care of the situation itself and fights gamera to the end.Basically the showa series showed more action and not a lot of kid action as in some other gamera flicks.The monster action was very great and showed good special effect even they look cheesy you have to remind yourself that this was made a long time ago.The showa gamera series mark it self as entertaining the kids rather then a mature older audience thats why you see alot of kids acting a big part in every gamera series.This was indeed one of the best Gamera series to get so I would highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Gamera Film, Here's Why:
Review: Gamera vs Viras is generally regarded as an average - if not subpar, entry in the 60's showa era of Gamera films. I disagree, I consider it tied for 1st with Gamera vs Monster X, which contains an excellent "Fantastic Voyage" inspired fantasy sequence. After Gamera vs Baragon, the showa series directed its efforts toward making science fantasy for children. Yuasa blazed a trail in developing this unique genre and in this film he hits his stride. Measured against this objective, Gamera vs Viras is both unique and effective. Watch it with an 8 year old and you'll see what I mean, the sense of wonder when viewed by its intended audience has not diminished over time. The film is probably 80% special effects, and the action starts in the first frame. The non-effects sequences are not over-long and do not tax the attention span of a child like many Toho efforts of the era. The children are not annoying and are resourceful and mischievious, children still relate to these characters. Don't laugh - Speilberg, I think, might have been influenced by many of the elements in films like this. Like Speilberg, Yuasa was one of the originators of shooting his films from the POV of a child. It's brilliant, effective, and he blazed the trail that other filmmakers followed. There's a reason why these films are still remembered fondly and are still effective with kids 40 years later, and their crude effects and low budget do not diminish their effectiveness. Do you think the filmmakers of today didn't run home to watch Gamera flicks as kids and weren't influenced by the techniques created by Yuasa? I do. However, what sets this film apart are the sequences aboard the alien ship. I find these sequences imaginative and display the bargain basement resoucefullness of Yuasa. These scenes, and the film as a whole, has a surreal dream-like quality that I believe Yuasa intended. It's like stepping into a child's giant monster fantasy, and succeeds in this regard far more than Honda's attempt in Godzilla's Revenge. Although a great deal of the film is padded with stock footage - particularly the scenes where Gamera's memory is scanned by the aliens to determine his weakness - and the complete battles with Baragon and Gayos are shown, it's a good way to see these other films if you don't want to purchase the collection. The incorporation of these flashback elements are done sensibley within the context of the plot. The effects are a mixed bag in terms of realism, as always. But - also, as always, are vivid and entertaining. There's some nice traveling matte work as Viras is shown growing form human size to a giant, and a particularly nice minature work of Gamera's destruction of a dam is included. It's nice to see Gamera destroying some cities while under alien control. And the film has a surprising number of reasonably effective composite shots. As typical in a Gamera film, Viras is an unusual, imaginative Kaiju - a cross between a space squid and a banana. The final battle between Gamera and Viras is one of the more epic Kaiju fights. The impalement sequence - which Gamera somehow survives, pushes the envelope in terms of intensity (and surrealism) for kids. The "water skiing" scene is a classic of kaiju silliness. Anyway - great underappreciated 60's kaiju flick. Well worth the bargain price of 8 bucks for the DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Gamera double feature ...could be better.
Review: I was glad to see "Destroy All Planets" (Gamera Vs. Viras) finally get released to video for the first time,
but disappointed with the quality. The film print has yellowed and the hue has shifted slightly red.
Bit of a drag, because it's the better of the two movies.
"War of the Monsters" (Gamera Vs. Guiron) the second film, was taken from a good quality print.
The colors are rich and vibrant, and the transfer is very sharp.
Both movies are on the same side of a dual-layered disk.
Each flick has six chapters, and amusing menu screens.
As an extra perk, there are two collections of promotion stills and Japanese movie posters. Both films have the original A.I.P. soundtracks, which are far superior to the versions re-dubbed by Sandy Frank in the 1980's. Unfortunately, these movies were released directly to television and mastered on 16mm, so the prints are somewhat grainy, and not widescreen. But what do ya want? We're talking about a giant fire-breathing, saber-toothed, prehistoric, flying turtle here. I predict this disk will end up being a collector's item, like the Simitar-Godzilla DVDs that sold out. If you're a Gamera fan, get this before it disappears.
Rating:
Summary: Best Gamera movie!
Review: It is great to see these old Gamera movies on dvd! This one has always been my favorite of the series, and is an excellent film for kids. If you can find the retromedia double feature disc, which includes ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS as well, I recommend that one instead. The picture is much better, not as blurry and faded, and the menu is not just a still picture like this one. But this edition is ok for the price!
Rating: 
Summary: The Worse of the Worst
Review: Okay, this is a distgusting and sickening film! Aliens invade earth and somehow offspring a octopus creature that was created from the ocean. Supposeldy the aliens reproduced and had the creature. I don't want to know how. Then the monster destroys the rest of Japan, and China. He is almost invinciable. Then Gamera decides to kill the aliens in space. gamera kills them which triggers the monster on earth to die. Gamera goes to earth and he begins to save three kids named Tomo, Sika, and Inoshiro. Gamera almost kills the kids by steping on their house and then he burns woods to ge to another city. Gamera also finds the octopus' offspring and it is exactly the same. Gamera eats it and i beleive by my eyes i saw him pee on its carcas. What the??!!!Gamera even tears his suite and i see the actor. Its horrible! Then about hundreds of alien ships come and Gamera uses one fireball and kills them all. He then dances! What the! He dances and he sings some stupid song and the government sign a treaty with Gamera! What the hell? That is stupid! Then the end! After that i just did an outline in lame terms: ALiens make their offsrping. Japan burns. Gamera kills the monster in Yokohama. Gamera saves the kids almost merely killing them. Gamera pees on the monster's carcas. Gamera kills the offsrping of the octopus. Gamera burns the alien ships. Gamera sings and dances. Gamera signs a treaty and uses a pen! Gamera then flys to the sun! The End Good i hope he burned!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent creature double feature!!!
Review: The fifth entry in the showa (1960s - 1980s gamera films) Gamera series, Gamera vs. Viras (Destroy all Planets as it was released in the US) is a most enjoyable, although juvenille film. In the movie, two prank-loving boy scouts are kidnapped by aliens looking to take over the world. Gamera attempts a rescue, only to be put under the Virian's (the aliens) control and forced to attack Japan. The two boys find a way to put an end to the Virian's mind control and escape. The Virans, in a last-ditch effort, fuse together into a gigantic, silver squid monster. Can Gamera defeat Viras and save the earth? (well, i can't give away the ending, now can I?) The quality of the print used is subpar, presenting a slightly faded picture and several scratches. However, the film is still completely enjoyable in this form and could be a lot worse . . . trust me. The audio is generally clear and crisp, showing little problems. The DVD itself has little to show. The menus are still images, with no music. There is however a picture gallery and a chapter index. As a hardcore kaiju (japanese monster movies) fan, I strongly recommend this DVD, even though its not in the best possible quality.
Rating:
Summary: Gamera (and two boy scouts) vs. Viras (and stock footage)
Review: The fifth entry in the showa (1960s - 1980s gamera films) Gamera series, Gamera vs. Viras (Destroy all Planets as it was released in the US) is a most enjoyable, although juvenille film. In the movie, two prank-loving boy scouts are kidnapped by aliens looking to take over the world. Gamera attempts a rescue, only to be put under the Virian's (the aliens) control and forced to attack Japan. The two boys find a way to put an end to the Virian's mind control and escape. The Virans, in a last-ditch effort, fuse together into a gigantic, silver squid monster. Can Gamera defeat Viras and save the earth? (well, i can't give away the ending, now can I?) The quality of the print used is subpar, presenting a slightly faded picture and several scratches. However, the film is still completely enjoyable in this form and could be a lot worse . . . trust me. The audio is generally clear and crisp, showing little problems. The DVD itself has little to show. The menus are still images, with no music. There is however a picture gallery and a chapter index. As a hardcore kaiju (japanese monster movies) fan, I strongly recommend this DVD, even though its not in the best possible quality.
Rating:
Summary: FINALLY... AVAILABLE FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT
Review: This is the fourth in the GAMERA/GAMMERA series. Its pretty clever in its plot. It is also the first movie in this series to be aimed squarely at children. And children will certainly enjoy it the most. The original
title was GAMERA VS. SPACE MONSTER VIRAS But the title was
changed to DESTROY ALL PLANETS when American International
sold the film to TV in a package deal with DESTROY ALL MONSTERS.
No planets get destroyed at all, but we do get to see three lengthy
flashbacks to the monster battles from the previous movies. You will either love or hate this. Much of the destruction is also made up of stock footage from the first two films, some is even in black and white (its supposed to be tinted sepia or pink and orange during the fire scenes, but since this is a faded print it just looks B&W) You will probably hate
this. Much of the real fun involves two boyscouts having an adventure while trapped on an invading alien spacecraft. They discover all kinds
of weird things. Overall, an OK movie but great fun for your younger kids.
Rating:
Summary: weee... its sunday afternoon in the 1970's. ..errr.. oops
Review: Wow, this one took me back. That was great. I remember this one from a sunday afternoon one summer in the 1970's. KSTW 11's Sci-Fi Theater. Hahahaha. Anyways... The picture quality on this DVD was better then I expected it to be after viewing the crappy print used on the War of the Monsters DVD from the same company. This one is much better. The colors are pretty good considering the print used. I also picked up Gamera: Attack of the Monsters, which looks pretty good also...considering the budget release it is. Unfortunatly, its full screen, instead of the original widescreen aspect ratio, which IS available on VHS! (that sucks weiners IMHO, why are we taking backwards steps here people?!? heheh) So, if you like sci-fi flicks that remind you of weekend afternoon tv when you were a kid, or latenight tv when you were in college, or if you're just a fan of rubber monster movies, then grab this DVD while its out. And... keep those fingers crossed for some widescreen attention to be paid to gamera!!!
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