BMC (BIG MONSTER CINEMA): Gamera The Brave
Welcome to BMC: Big Monster Cinema! This is a new little segment I am starting up on my blog so I can gush and spew information about one of my favorite subsets of genre film, giant monsters! Im talking about everything from the big boys such as King Kong and Godzilla to some on the smaller scale. Tremors is a giant monster movie, fight me. While the impulse is to start up this segment with a Godzilla film, I figured we should dip our feet into something that is a little more accessible to someone who is unfamiliar with giant monster/ Kaiju films and start with Gamera the Brave.
Gamera the Brave is a 2006 Japanese Kaiju film written by Yukari Tatsui and directed by Ryuta Tasaki that follows the young boy Toru as he comes across a baby turtle whom he names "Toto". We come to find out that Toto is no ordinary turtle as he grows exponentially over the course of a few days and begins to exhibit powers such as fire breath and flight. Soon, a large alligator-esque Kaiju by the name of "Zedus" emerges from the sea to lay waste to the city and it's up to Toto to protect the city and defeat Zedus.
If you are unfamiliar with Gamera, here is a bit of a backstory. Gamera, while not that well known in the United States, is a Japanese Kaiju film series from Daiei Film that was created to rival Toho studios Godzilla series and has gained a large fan base in its own right. Gamera is a large bipedal turtle with the ability to breath fire and fly via some jets that ignite from his shell when he retracks inside. Gamera's first film shared similar themes with the original Godzilla film, but the character transformed into a "hero" monster that protects Japan, especially the children. The film series has had an extensive amount of films beginning in 1965 up to the last one (as of this writing) coming out in 2006 with Gamera the Brave. New viewers and Mystery Science Theater 3000 lovers may recognize the loveable reptile from classic seasons.
Gamera the Brave is a film that serves as a great introduction to the Kaiju genre of films as its a family adventure film in the same vein as E.T. The film even treds on a lot of themes of family adventure films. The film begins in the past when Gamera has to self-destruct to destroy a series of bat-like monsters (Gyaos) to save Japan, we then jump forward to present day (well, 2006) as people go about their lives with a deep respect for Gamera and what he did to save them all. When we are introduced to Toru, its a short while after the death of his mother and how he still processes it. While Toru is liked and has friends, the loss of his mother has made him fear the loss of anyone else and being alone. The is exemplified when he finds out his friend Mai has to go through a very dangerous medical procedure and he is worried he will lose his friend as well. This is when Toru finds a glowing red stone with an egg upon it that hatches a baby turtle that Toru names Toto.
Gamera the Brave juggles the themes of loneliness and loss through its entire run time and presents it in a way that is neither pandering or lost upon young viewers and, in fact, can even introduce themes that we all have to face in life about growth and loss. After Totu grows to his huge height and begins to fight the films big bad monster, Zedus, Toru has to grapple with the very real fear that either Toto will be killed by Zedus or made end up sacrificing himself (as the original Gamera did) to save the population.
Speaking of Zedus, I am going to point out that I am a huge fan of the monsters design. Gamera monsters have a history of either being too complicated in design or a charming 60s/70s goofy design.
Zedus looks like a dog mixed with a bipedal alligator and these strange quills that cover his back give him this gross intimidating look. He even has these big floppy dog ears that he puts up much like a frilled lizard. The way that Zedus walks through the city and goes toe to toe with Gamera you can't help but feel that our turtle hero is out of his pay grade, especially seeing as Zedus towers above him. This set up also gives the film a sort of underdog tale where Gamera has to go up against a foe that, it seems, he cannot match up against. This leads us into the magic stone that is presented in the film.
The children come to find that Toto (Gamera) is not fighting with his entire strength and that he needs the glowing stone that his egg lay upon to fully power himself up. The entire third act is just monster's slamming into each other as Toru tries to make his way to Toto. We are also gifted with a montage of the city's children passing the stone from one after another, like an olympic torch, to get the stone to Toru.
When Toru finally reaches Toto, he gives him a speech about how much he cares about Toto and feeds him the stone, trying to have Toto promise he will not self-destruct to save them all. Toto then gains his full strength and he is able to step up and fight Zedus (cue the rocky music) with all his powers of flight and fire breath. Zedus is destroyed in a manner fitting of all the best Kaiju films and Toto flies off into the sunset while Toru whispers "Goodbye, Gamera."
Gamera the Brave has a lot going for it that will entertain both the older Kaiju fan and the young newcomers. Even if Kaiju movies are not your thing, the film comes across as a great family drama/family adventure film as well that has some life lessons about loss and grief that I feel not enough family films explore.
Gamera the Brave earns 4 out of 5 glowing stones.
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