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Gamera vs Monster X
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Re: Gamera vs Monster X
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Hachigatsu
Re: Gamera vs Monster X
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Jun 22 06 7:59 PM
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I think that the late director, Noriaki Yuasa, put it best in the 1998 BBC documentary "Godzilla King of the Monsters", where he says the difference between Japanese and Western monsters is cultural. The indigenous Japanese religion is Shinto (Way of the Gods), which, simply put is what George Lucas originally conceived "The Force" to be. A divine power that exists in all things, animate and inanimate, and Japanese monsters are more mythical than their western counterparts, which are steeped in science and (western) principals of logic.
Gamera is one of these creatures -- like the Greek Gods and mythological creatures, they just *are*. For centuries, most eastern cultures have regarded the majestic turtles in a most profound and powerful way. The terrapin is considered strong (the Hindus believe that the World is carried on one's back), powerful (they are persistent), wise (through their longevity), and lucky (as they as symbols of good fortune in Japan and China). The head of the studio imagined an image of a giant tortoise flying through the clouds, and asked his planning staff to flesh this initial concept into something concrete, and they added the fire-spitting/eating (as an energy source to explain the flying ability).
The first film was produced as a B-Picture, but released as an A-Picture, and surprised everyone -- including the studio -- when it became a big hit. The next film, GAMERA VS. BARUGON (1966) was produced as an A-Picture, and was much more straight-faced, but failed to find an audience. So, after discussing the fact that children had taken to the character, but found the second film "boring", they decided to market the films that followed directly to children (foreshadowing what Toho did with Godzilla a few years later).
The original Gamera is an acquired taste; if didn't grow up with the films and liked them from the get-go, you might have fond memories of them, but if that's not the case -- proceed with caution and the eyes of a child. They are really neat little films and can be quite sweet at times, much like their director.
Director Shusuke Kaneko, whose DEATH NOTE is trashing THE DA VINCI CODE at the Japanese boxoffice, directed a trilogy of re-imagined Gamera films, starting in 1995. They are quite good and go through an evolution of budget and sophistication -- the visual effects in the third film are amazing. They are available on DVD from ADV Films in the States.
August Ragone
kaijupro@yahoo.com
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Welcome to the CHFB
Forum Guidelines
CHFB TURNS 20!
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
Universal Horrors
The Universal Monsters Blu-Ray Collection
Golden Age Horror
Kong - 8th Wonder of the World
Silent Horror
Poverty Row
The World of Sherlock Holmes
Murder and Mystery
Thrills and Chills
'50s Horror and Sci-Fi
'60s Horror and Sci-Fi
'70s Horror and Sci-Fi
Hammer Horror
The Psycho Ward
Foreign Horror
Japanese Giants
Horror and Sci-Fi of Recent Decades
Current Films
Second Takes on Films of the 2000s
Independent Films and Documentaries
Coming Soon
TV Terrors
Classic Horror on DVD, Blu-Ray and Streaming
Stream and Stream Again
Horror Film Books and Magazines
Horror by Candlelight
Horror Comics and Fantasy Art
Monster Toys and Collectibles
Classic Horror Movie Memorabilia
Horror Music
Old Time Radio and Audio Horror
Classic Horror Online
CHFB Member Reviews
Our Favorite Horror Hosts
Classic Disney Scares
Horror Film Stars
Men Behind the Monsters
Monster Kid Memories
General Horror and Sci-Fi
Horror Tech
Movie of the Day
Off Topic Discussions
Classic Horror News and Events
Birthdays and Holidays
DVR / TiVo Alert
Final Farewells
Classic Horror Polls
Classic Horror Classifieds
Monster Kids Helping Monster Kids
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