12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Long Time Coming, March 3, 2004
This review is from: Gamera vs. Monster X / Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (DVD)
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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS....., November 29, 2004
This review is from: Gamera vs. Monster X / Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (DVD)
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.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly fun Gamera flick, but Gappa..., February 24, 2006
This review is from: Gamera vs. Monster X / Monster from a Prehistoric Planet (DVD)
Gamera flicks have rarely been known to be good movies, but Gamera vs. Jiger (or Monster X) isn't half bad...of course, it isn't half good, either, but it's entertaining enough for the kiddies, and has some rather creative elements, but, like all of the Showa Gamera R1 dvd's, the transfer is absolutely horrid, but the dubbing is only somewhat painful. Get it to complete your collection.
As for Gappa, aka "Monster From a Prehistoric Planet," it's a nifty extra treat for kaiju fans...if you enjoy absolutely awful dubbing and rather sub-par SPFX. The Gappa monsters themmselves are basically combinations of Godzilla and Rodan, but they're still pretty creative (especially their roars).
Overall, a decent disc, considering that it's the best that we're going to get here in the US.
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