"Gamera: Super Monster" (1980) [Kaijuly]

by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it’s Gamera: Super Monster which is part of our 2nd annual “Kaijuly” look at some giant monster films (of which we both love thanks to seeing them in our childhood of the 60s and 70s).

Synopsis

Using several clips from previous Gamera entries, this film deals with alien forces sending all the monsters Gamera has faced in one final battle to rid the planet of its last hope.

The Good

Joseph: You get to see monster fights between Gamera and his foes from the seven previous films featuring the giant turtle who is a friend to all children! In other words, you can sit through Gamera: Super Monster and save yourself a lot of time.

Mike: Unlike the Johnny Sokko movie we recently watched (Voyage into Space), Gamera: Super Monster actually has a story that unites all of the clips instead of just a shoddily edited series of segments. The story, while admittedly pretty basic, does feature an Imperial Star Destroyer stolen directly from Star Wars and a hot chick who is squeezed into a superhero-esque costume that seems one size too small. While she and her two fellow “spacewoman” cohorts pal around with a kid (of course) in a quest to stop the ~~Star Destroyer~~, er, “Zanon” while we get a best of series of fights between Gamera and all of his Showa era foes like Gyaos, Zigra, and Guiron (to name a few). The fights are brief, but entertaining with an ample amount of blue blood and buildings being toppled.

The Bad

Joseph: I knew there was a reason why I didn’t go back and rewatch those eight original Gamera films in adulthood. The kaiju fights barely make this film watchable, and they are more laughable than they are cool, with the cheesiest of efforts regarding special effects.

Mike: There’s a reason Gamera never achieved a level of success like Godzilla did and it lies squarely at the budgets of the films and the reliance on annoying little kids to drive the plots. Gamera: Super Monster doesn’t do the series any favors with its ridiculous plot involving space women superheroes who eschew violence, an evil space woman sent to destroy them in a plot to take over the earth, and a kid who wishes Gamera into existence.

The one-after-another monster battles, while entertaining in their own way, only serve to reinforce the low-budget effects of the films.

The Verdict

Joseph: If you have been hankering for a mash-up of Electra Woman and Dyna Girl style superheroine elements with Japanese giant monster action, or if you have never seen the early Gamera films, or if you want to remind yourself why you never rewatched them, Gamera: Super Monster may be for you. Otherwise, there are much more entertaining daikaiju films available.

Mike: A cornball plot barely saves this entry from a rubbish bin, and the best moments of that plot involve Mach Fumiake as spacewoman Kilara. Poor effects are on full display in a barrage of battles between Gamera and his arch enemies, which is a shame because taken individually the Gamera films can be fun, escapism.

If you’ve somehow never seen Gamera: Super Monster but have seen the various Gamera movies, this is probably worth a watch if for no other reason than to say you’ve seen it. Otherwise, you’re better off tracking down one of the superior Godzilla films.