"GAMERA 3: THE ADVENT OF LEGION" review by R.L. Strong The Dungeonmaster's Cornucopia of Film 3 ½ stars Not rated - contains scenes of destruction and violence. Some human bloodshed. May be too intense for younger children.
Directed by - Shusuke Kaneko Writing credits - Kazunori Itô Staring: Akiji Kobayashi, Ayako Fujitani, Miki Mizuno and Toshiyuki Nagashima Produced by Miyuki Nanri, Naoki Sato, Tsutomu Tsuchikawa Cinematography by Junichi Tozawa Film Editing by Shizuo Arakawa Production Design by Hajime Oikawa
It stands fifty meters tall! It can fly up to speed of mach 3, and can expel bursts of flaming plasma from its mouth. It is also.. a turtle. That seemingly absurd description belays the marvelous construction of the creature known in Japan as Gamera. Originally conceived by Director Noriaki Yuasa back in 1965, Gamera was a protector of children, defending his young fans from all sorts of ridiculous creatures from space. One has only to envision a Ginsu knife walking on four legs to appreciate (or deride) the silly concept on display in these early films. But that is not the case here. While those films made during the 1960's had budgets equal to a Roger Corman production, this new film has much more generous bearing. While far from being a Special Effects extravaganza, "Gamera 3: The Advent of Legion", is a remarkably exciting and deft exercise in fantasy film making. One that both hearkens back to a form of simplicity and extends and redefines those techniques into something wholly new and wondrous.
A sequel to 1994's "Gamera, Guardian of the Universe", 'Gamera 2' starts off with a unique approach in that Gamera is viewed by Japan as a hazard that must be countered against. While varying political and scientific groups grouse and argue amongst themselves, other events transpire to bring about even more destruction to Japan and to Earth itself.
A meteor shower occurs over Hokkaido. Yusuke Watase and Mr. Hanatani from the Japan SDF science team are sent to investigate. They are met by Midori Honami of the Youth Science Museum who finds the area bathed in a strange blue light. Also discovered is an increases in oxygen in the area (discovered when one soldier tries to light his cigarette). Finding no sign of the meteor, the team is dumbfounded. Midori exclaims, half jokingly that it seems as if the isotope has been moved.
Situations develop. In Sapporo, communications are interrupted, the fiber optics cables are being destroyed. A bottling company is robbed of all of its bottles. Finally, the reason is discovered when the underground subway system is attacked by a swarm of strange insects, each over seven feet in length. The creatures consume the glass windows, and lights, finally attacking the passengers. As the military starts to devise an attack on the creatures, a huge plant erupts from underground. Buildings crumble and crash as the plant sprouts up growing in seconds to a height of 150 feet. The military starts to destroy the plant as it starts to flower. It is found that the oxygen levels in the city have increased to a level that any military attack could level the city.
Suddenly, Gamera appears. The huge turtle topples the plant, crushing it before it can eject its seeds. Gamera is attacked by a swarm of insects which engulf the creature. Unable to defend itself, Gamera collapses. The giant turtle is able to retreat when the insects disengage from the leviathan to attack a nearby electrical plant. Gamera takes flight, spinning like a flying saucer, it's blood splashing against the buildings as it retreats.
It is discovered by the JSDF (Japanese Self Defense Force), that the insects, now identified as Legion (named by a soldier in Sapporo based on a biblical scripture), has a symbiotic relationship with the plant.
The plant can only live off of the waste product created by the insects, and the insects can only survive in an oxygen rich atmosphere. The insects are also a silicon based life form, their basic diet consisting of silica and carbon. Identified as a threat to life on the planet, the Japanese government enlists the aid of the United Nations Defense Force in helping to find a defense against the creatures.
This first act of the film (as well as the remainder) is marvelously constructed. The suspense and tension of the film is enthralling. U.S. film goers haven't seen a film like this in quite a while and it is refreshing to see this kind of depth of story telling on the screen. This may seem like a misnomer, coming in a review for a Japanese monster film. But, believe me. While the film is fanciful and far fetched, it is engrossing and very enjoyable. There is a nostalgic quality here that is not lost on the audience. We can all remember watching those beloved sci-fi thrillers from the 1950's with their quaint effects and plotting. Some of those films are rightly considered classics, and it's is those films that "Gamera 2" reflects on. While far from being a classic itself, "Gamera 2" is a masterly made and deftly plotted film.
The performances are all on the money here. Ayako Fujitani returns from 'Gamera: Guardian of the Universe' as Asagi Kusanagi, the young girl with the psychic link with Gamera. While only appearing in what amounts to a cameo, Ms. Fujitani gives a nice performance as Asagi. Also returning in a cameo is Yukijiro Hotaru as Osaka, former police inspector from the previous Gamera film, now working as a security guard for Kirin Beer. His inclusion adds the right touch of nostalgic comedy to the film, it's a shame that his part is over so soon.
Miki Mizuno as Midori Honami is charming in her portrayal of the young scientist who comes to identify the threat of Legion. Akiji Kobayashi as Colonel Watarase is appropriately stern in his performance. It's a shame that the other credits in this film are not translated from their Japanese characters, as it makes identifying the many performers difficult. Suffice to say, that the film is well performed and that nothing is played for camp. This is an earnest thriller, comedy is only a sporadic commodity here, and never used to detrimental effect.
The plotting and story construction of the film plays like a modern day disaster film. The most immediate example that comes to mind would be (unfortunately) "Armageddon", in that both films deal less with their characters individual conflicts than with the larger, more global problems in the plot. A better (and more nostalgic) template would be the 1965 film "Crack in the World" (a fun programmer in it's time). "Gamera 2" moves at a fast clip, not leaving the audience time to question it's plot holes (of which there are a few but minor ones). The tension and suspense are on the level of a national disaster, almost documentarian in its approach. Emotionally, the film is weightless, but on the level of escapism, the film shines above anything done stateside in the past 10 years.
The special effects of 'Gamera 2' are it's reason 'd aire. And to say that they are impressive is to give too light of an image. While the monsters are performed by men in intricately designed suits, the method of the photography and miniature work is so marvelous as to help one suspend their disbelief for a moment.. enough to become absorbed into the film. The inclusion of computer effects is a welcome change for the genre and bodes well for the future of Japanese Kaiju (strange beast) films. With 'Gamera 2', one can truly witness a wonderful amalgamation of both past and present effects techniques that combine to create an enchanting, exciting and fresh look.
In conclusion, if giant monsters are your bent, or if your just curious enough to try it out, 'Gamera 2: The Advent of Legion' is a fine modern day introduction to the fantasy world of Japan. While a little too light on character (human) involvement, the film more that delivers in the action and monster quotient. An enjoyable film with enough action to keep those explosive addicts placated until the next Michael Bey extravaganza.
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