Reviews

This movie is pretty good for what it is: a low budget, predictable alien movie with horrible acting. Really people, the acting was better in the American Godzilla. However, they do manage to make one of the best aliens I have seen in a movie of this type. People compare Predator and this movie, and yes it's true, it is a complete rip-off of Predator. However, it is a low-budget monster flick, and it is a lot better than a ton of movies I could mention.

This is, in my opinion, the worst Godzilla movie in existance, with the possible exception of the American Godzilla. A huge part of the movie is stock footage; Gabara is a boring monster; the title is incredibily misleading. . .it goes on. The parts in 'real' time with the kid and burglers are more entertaining than the kaiju scenes. I am a huge Godzilla fan but. . .only watch this movie if you either are a Godzilla fanatic or have a very young child. They are the only ones who could like this movie.

This film will go down in history as one of Godzilla's greatest movies. Pure fun. . .for about 30 seconds. The credits exceed the movie's actual length. All I want to know is: When are they making a sequel?

Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe is a pretty good movie, I would have to say just about on par with the Godzilla films from the Hesai series. It has more plot than most kaiju flicks, and has pretty good suits. If you view it as what it is (namely, the first in a trilogy) then it is a pretty good first part. It develops the theme that will continue with the next two instalments, and does a good job of convaying the many plot twists and new developments. While both of it's sequals surpass it in almost every way, this is still a very good movie. Another plus is that it is the only one of the trilogy that has aired on TV, albeit in a cropped and dubbed version.

This movie is one of the rare low-budget horror flicks that are actually good. The basic plot is that little furry monsters (kind of like hairy kirbys with teeth) land from outer space and begin to eat the town they land by. Pretty basic storyline, but this is a monster movie you know. The Critters (or Krites, to be precise), are, while obviously puppets, very cool and well done. The human actors on the other hand...well, they are terrible. The dad, his shoulder and leg practically gnawed of by critters, remains alert and vigilant, even though he's covered in blood. The boy is average, at best. The bounty hunters are alright. The best actor is Charlie, the drunk. He pulls off a very good performance.

Ok, so this movie won't make any headlines, or be famous. But if you are looking for a late night horror movie, with a dash or two of humor, Critters is a good choice!

As a long time kaiju (giant monster in Japanese) fan, I have watched well over 20 kaiju movies. And I can say without a doubt, that this is the best one I have ever seen. It has (are you ready for this) a PLOT!! Yes I know, Godzilla and Gamera have all had plot before, but it was generally the same plot throughout all their many movies. This film features characters that you really care about, not just some people standing around gaping. The monster costumes are superb, and the CGI are astounding. While by now the special effects have been surpassed by quality and quantity (Godzilla '98) they have never been surpassed in coolness. The battle above the clouds, while not entirely CGI, is amazing, and I always look forward to this part. The ending, which I will not give here, is anything but the usual predictable monster-movie ending.

If you are just getting into the kaiju genre, I do NOT recommend this movie just yet. The reason is that you will find very few monster movies that will surpass it. Also, to understand the story completely, it is best (although not necessary) to have seen at least the first movie in the trilogy, Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe. If you are a long standing kaiju fan however, this should be your very next purchase. Note however though that only Gamera 1 has been released in the US. You will have to order the other 2.

Gamera 2: Advent of Legion is really good. Not perfect, and not as good as Gamera 3, but still pretty good. The movie uses several innovative techniques new to the kaiju world. For example, the movie introduces the human-sized legions as a horror element. They attack (and actually kill, something rare in kaiju films), the people on a commuter train. And it has pretty good marionetes. The mother Legion itself looks pretty good and has remarkable mobility for a creature of its size. If you compare it to Destroyah...well, no contest. Gamera looks different too, and has a new mode of flight. His hands transform into flippers when he flies. This is a controversial change, to say the least, but I think it looks ok. Anyway, I think there is enough good stuff about this movie to purchase it. A step up from Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe and a step up from the Godzilla series. Don't worry Godzilla fans, Godzilla can still make the best destruction films, but for an actually GOOD kaiju movie, check this one out. But if you want the best go for Gamera 3...