Shusuke Kaneko's Gamera III has all the best ingredients that make a great kaiju movie. This movie shows how it's supposed to be done. Having seen more than 25 Toho films (Godzilla series, Mothra series, etc), all the King Kong films, a few giant monster spin-offs made from all over the globe, not to mention the horrid 1998 American Godzilla and many other disaster movies, this one takes the cake. Gamera III outdoes them all with a solid, earthly story complete with humanity and heart. Also, the use of special effects is absolutely fabulous; they do not take over the film like the excessive CGI used in Hollywood. I must say that Gamera III has some of most exhilarating monster fights ever put to the screen.Gamera III is a direct sequel to the first film in the trilogy, Guardian of the Universe. A girl lost her parents during Gamera's final battle with the last Gyaos, and garners a hatred for Gamera. She enounters a tentacle creature whom she names Iris, and it is eventually nurtured to become the monster who faces off with Gamera. What was striking about this movie was how surreal and poetic it was. The story flows brilliantly and sensibly, as the roles of human and monster come together so good. Gamera III is a movie all about personality, something that many monster movies lack. The human characters are wonderfully integrated in the story without their roles becoming too cheesy. Also, Gamera and Iris are enigmatic monsters with true character. They are not mindless, menacing beasts whose purpose is to execute showtime destruction.
Speaking of destruction, Gamera III's fight sequences are some of the best you'll ever see. The special effects are such a huge improvement over the first two Gamera films in the trilogy. They also shame anything attempted by any Godzilla movie of recent times, even Shusuke's own GMK. Adding to the special effects is the showing of the human side of the fights. The battle in Shibuya is one to mention. I was in awe of such a brilliantly staged battle, and also how the film showed the human suffering coinciding with the destruction. Most monster movies sacrifice too much of one side for the other. Gamera III does not.
And finally, one thing that carries this film (and the rest of the series) was the character of Gamera himself. How can the population care so much for such a destructive monster? Does he do good or bad to the people? What constitutes which? After watching Shusuke's Gamera trilogy, you realize how much more personality Gamera has than Godzilla.
Gamera III is such a special movie for its genre. Along with the first two films in the trilogy, it shows that the kaiju genre is here to stay. It ranks up with the best of Godzilla such as Godzilla vs. Destoroyah and GMK: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, perhaps even surpassing them. This is a true kaiju treasure.
Buy Gamera 3 - Revenge of Iris - Blu-ray (1999) Now
This, without a doubt, is a masterpeice of, not just the giant monster genre, but films in general. Gamera started back in the 60s with more horrible FX and worse storylines than the infamous later movies of the Showa Godzilla series. However, in 1995, Gamera was resurrected as his main competition died out (seemingly) in "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah." The Heisei Gamera trilogy was a fine example of how good japanese monster movies could be if time and initiative are put into them. This film is the best of the trilogy, and shows just how great it is to be able to enjoy kaiju. The SFX are nearly flawless, and even the monster suits portray believable movements, showing that suitmation isn't as terrible as it is so claimed to be. The story of this film makes sense, and one can actually care for the actors. It's a shame that the Shinsei Godzilla series (99-03) didn't take an example from this film. "Godzilla 2000," the reintroduction of the Godzilla series while Gamera was ending, was a major disappointment compared to this film. If you are unsure about the giant monster genre, watch the Gamera trilogy (in order preferably, or else some parts of G3 won't make since) before looking at the Godzilla and Showa Gamera movies (but don't expect anything better unless you are watching the original uncut Japanese 1954 version of "Godzilla").Read Best Reviews of Gamera 3 - Revenge of Iris - Blu-ray (1999) Here
This movie is absolutely mind-blowing in so many ways. It wasn't until I watched the interview with the film's special effects director (I apologize for forgetting his name) that I developed my deepest love for Gamera 3. The cinematography is haunting, the special effects are incredible (and believable), and the story is fascinating. At the ripe old age of thirty, I have re-entered the world of having nightmares from watching a movie....and that's a great thing. I just can't stress enough how much I LOVE this film and the other two recent Gamera movies.Want Gamera 3 - Revenge of Iris - Blu-ray (1999) Discount?
After rising the visual bar with Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, director Shusuke Kaneko surpasses himself with the third, and reportedly final, Gamera movie, Gamera 3: Revenge Of Iris. A young girl loses her family during the first movie when, in the midst of battle, Gamera slams into their building and crushes them. Filled with anger and a lust for revenge, the girl uncovers a new monster she hopes to unleash on the world's so called 'guardian'. One of the most impressive things about Gamera 3 is how it shows the horrible fates of the poor humans caught in the middle of the monster battles. The effects are stunning, the story solid and well mounted enough to deserve a theatrical release in America. Since foreign genre movies are usually mocked and ridiculed, it is no surprise that Gamera 3 went direct to DVD. Pity, for this would have looked impressive on the big screen. Kaneko is truly the Honda of today, every kaiju movie he has made has been an intelligently handled genre film, and Gamera 3 is the best of them. No fan of Japanese cinema should be without it. Highest recommendation.Save 40% Off
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