Gamera vs. Barugon DVD Review

1godzillafan · 07-11-2010, 10:49 AM

DVD Review

The Feature
4/10
Would you like a side of Gamera with your Barugon?

The Extras
6/10
Historical commentary, a few scans, and a booklet.

What You See

I've made it no secret that I'm not a Gamera fan, so I guess I best make this review short and sweet.

Gamera vs. Barugon is hands down one of the better films in the Gamera library, and probably the best of the Showa era films (I need to rewatch Gamera vs. Jiger in order to back this claim up, since I remember having a more positive reaction to that film as well). It is the only film in the series that doesn't follow one or more children around to move the plot, and has a more adult tone than any film in the series until the mid-90s making it the most dramatically triumphant film of this era.

That's not to say it's a particularly good movie, but it's got something in its favor.

The film starts with Gamera all comfy in his rocket after the events of the first movie, being sent to Mars. However right afterwards, Gamera's rocket is hit by meteors and blown up, sending him right back to Earth (aint that a kick in the nuts?). Gamera attacks a dam then kind of disappears. Meanwhile treasure hunters in New Guinea discover a giant sized opal and take it back to the mainland. The opal turns out to a monster egg that hatches into a monstrous sized gecko, Barugon.

Know Your Monsters: Deiei's Barugon is not to be confused with Toho's Baragon, which premiered a year prior to this film in Frankenstein Conquers the World and went on to other appearances in Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla; Mothra; King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. Deiei's namehood brother to the creature only reappeared in stock footage recaps in further films in the series, though he is obviously the inspiration for Jilla, Gamera's foe in the failed 2006 series reboot Gamera the Brave.

Barugon attacks Japan with his giant tongue with a built in freeze ray (...uhuh...) and a disastrous rainbow beam that springs from his back (you heard me!). Gamera challenges Barugon, but is frozen solid. Military takes on Barugon, until Gamera thaws out and saves the day. Basic stuff.

Gamera is barely in the movie, confined to brief appearances in the beginning, middle, and end of the feature. Barugon hogs all the screen time making Gamera vs. Barugon more of a "Monster Attacks Japan" kaiju film than a true Versus movie, though there are a few brawls sprinkled in for good measure. Deiei's monster designs are usually poor and their execution even worse, as the overly plastic Gamera and Barugon crawl around with their jaws agape, and shoving each other around. There's even a scene of both late in the film where they're underwater. Since water was murder on these suits in these movies, the scene plays out with two motionless hand sized models with very little effort used to disguise the monster toys swimming around.

The films more adult tone makes the film a more watchable movie than the previous one, and in spite of the special effects weaknesses, the monster scenes are fairly well made. This is only enough to make Gamera vs. Barugon on a par with some of the weakest Godzilla movies, such as Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster or Godzilla vs. Megalon. If I were to casually throw in an oldie Gamera film for the hell of it, it would most likely be this one, though.

What You Get

Apparently Shout Factory's original Gamera the Giant Monster disc sold well enough to continue the run, but not well enough to merit giving the sequels individual releases, with the exception of Gamera vs. Barugon, which was announced before Gamera the Giant Monster was released. In September, two double feature discs will be released, one featuring Gamera vs. Gyaos and Gamera vs. Viras and another featuring Gamera vs. Guiron and Gamera vs. Jiger. No word on whether this means the extras have been cut as a result.

I'd enjoy more of August Ragone's commentaries, especially if he has a partner. August's commentary with Jason Varney is an improvement over his commentary for Gamera the Giant Monster, as he has a tag team partner to make it sound livelier. I give this one a thumb's up.

Other features on the disc include image scans, one of which is from an original theater program which is entirely in Japanese. There's also a booklet with an interview with Kojiro Hongo, a Judo expert turned actor who plays the main human character in Gamera vs. Barugon, and would appear in further Gamera adventures Gamera vs. Gyaos, Gamera vs. Viras, and a short cameo in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. He even relates an amusing story of how he was so embarrassed about getting cast in a monster movie that he faked an illness which delayed the production for a month, but ultimately warmed up to his roles in such films.

Final Verdict

A good Gamera movie doesn't necessarily make it a good movie, but monster fans will definitely get their kicks with Gamera vs. Barugon.

07-11-2010, 10:49 AM	#1
1godzillafan dolph lundgren penis Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Emmett, Idaho	Gamera vs. Barugon DVD Review DVD Review The Feature 4/10 Would you like a side of Gamera with your Barugon? The Extras 6/10 Historical commentary, a few scans, and a booklet. What You See I've made it no secret that I'm not a Gamera fan, so I guess I best make this review short and sweet. Gamera vs. Barugon is hands down one of the better films in the Gamera library, and probably the best of the Showa era films (I need to rewatch Gamera vs. Jiger in order to back this claim up, since I remember having a more positive reaction to that film as well). It is the only film in the series that doesn't follow one or more children around to move the plot, and has a more adult tone than any film in the series until the mid-90s making it the most dramatically triumphant film of this era. That's not to say it's a particularly good movie, but it's got something in its favor. The film starts with Gamera all comfy in his rocket after the events of the first movie, being sent to Mars. However right afterwards, Gamera's rocket is hit by meteors and blown up, sending him right back to Earth (aint that a kick in the nuts?). Gamera attacks a dam then kind of disappears. Meanwhile treasure hunters in New Guinea discover a giant sized opal and take it back to the mainland. The opal turns out to a monster egg that hatches into a monstrous sized gecko, Barugon. Know Your Monsters: Deiei's Barugon is not to be confused with Toho's Baragon, which premiered a year prior to this film in Frankenstein Conquers the World and went on to other appearances in Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla; Mothra; King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. Deiei's namehood brother to the creature only reappeared in stock footage recaps in further films in the series, though he is obviously the inspiration for Jilla, Gamera's foe in the failed 2006 series reboot Gamera the Brave. Barugon attacks Japan with his giant tongue with a built in freeze ray (...uhuh...) and a disastrous rainbow beam that springs from his back (you heard me!). Gamera challenges Barugon, but is frozen solid. Military takes on Barugon, until Gamera thaws out and saves the day. Basic stuff. Gamera is barely in the movie, confined to brief appearances in the beginning, middle, and end of the feature. Barugon hogs all the screen time making Gamera vs. Barugon more of a "Monster Attacks Japan" kaiju film than a true Versus movie, though there are a few brawls sprinkled in for good measure. Deiei's monster designs are usually poor and their execution even worse, as the overly plastic Gamera and Barugon crawl around with their jaws agape, and shoving each other around. There's even a scene of both late in the film where they're underwater. Since water was murder on these suits in these movies, the scene plays out with two motionless hand sized models with very little effort used to disguise the monster toys swimming around. The films more adult tone makes the film a more watchable movie than the previous one, and in spite of the special effects weaknesses, the monster scenes are fairly well made. This is only enough to make Gamera vs. Barugon on a par with some of the weakest Godzilla movies, such as Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster or Godzilla vs. Megalon. If I were to casually throw in an oldie Gamera film for the hell of it, it would most likely be this one, though. What You Get Apparently Shout Factory's original Gamera the Giant Monster disc sold well enough to continue the run, but not well enough to merit giving the sequels individual releases, with the exception of Gamera vs. Barugon, which was announced before Gamera the Giant Monster was released. In September, two double feature discs will be released, one featuring Gamera vs. Gyaos and Gamera vs. Viras and another featuring Gamera vs. Guiron and Gamera vs. Jiger. No word on whether this means the extras have been cut as a result. I'd enjoy more of August Ragone's commentaries, especially if he has a partner. August's commentary with Jason Varney is an improvement over his commentary for Gamera the Giant Monster, as he has a tag team partner to make it sound livelier. I give this one a thumb's up. Other features on the disc include image scans, one of which is from an original theater program which is entirely in Japanese. There's also a booklet with an interview with Kojiro Hongo, a Judo expert turned actor who plays the main human character in Gamera vs. Barugon, and would appear in further Gamera adventures Gamera vs. Gyaos, Gamera vs. Viras, and a short cameo in Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. He even relates an amusing story of how he was so embarrassed about getting cast in a monster movie that he faked an illness which delayed the production for a month, but ultimately warmed up to his roles in such films. Final Verdict A good Gamera movie doesn't necessarily make it a good movie, but monster fans will definitely get their kicks with Gamera vs. Barugon. __________________ The Los Angeles Times states that 63% of families in America are now considered dysfunctional. That means we're the majority. We're normal. It's the people that had the mom, dad, brother, sister, little white picket fence...those people are the freaks! Listen kid, there are two things you don't know about the Earth. One is me, and the other is...(dramatic pause)...Godzilla. Last edited by 1godzillafan : 07-11-2010 at 10:50 AM.