Daikaijû kûchûsen: Gamera tai Gyaosu

GAMERA VS. GAOS (1967) **1/2 (D: Noriaki Yuasa) Gaos proves a tough opponent, a Rodan-like bird with a laser breath capable of cutting planes in half (and Gamera's leg!). A fun entry in the series, as Gaos is not easy to overcome and one wonders how Gamera will be able to defeat him.

I really wish people would stop comparing Gamera & Gojira.I would like to see a movie with Gamera,Giant Robot,The original Ultraman & Gojira team up as the Kaiju version of the fantastic 4.All of these took some serious hits to save mankind from danger.A true Kaiju fan would not put down all films.In this film Gamera gave fans what happens when Monsters really go at it.They were literally trying to kill each other.I thought this was an awesome film.The special effects in this film were very good.The details in this film were good even in the scene where the reporters were trying to get Gyao's picture and he cut the car in half with his sonic beam.The mid air battle over the baseball stadium.Those earthquakes at the beginning of the film.Let's face it for a film made in the 60's this was probably the best Kaiju films in that era.

The dubbing for this one is pretty decent, but for some reason everyone pronounces Gamera like Gomorrah. Anyways, it's 1967 and this year "Son of Godzilla" and "Gamera vs. Gyaos" go head to head. Like "Gamera vs. Barugon", the story's focus is on everyday characters in the wake of a crisis. A child does get involved, but not in the overly-campy-pain-in-the-ass way, unlike the next one "Gamera vs. Viras". Now "Son of Godzilla" isn't all bad and I actually enjoy that G-film, but it is one of the more child-friendly ones. This Gamera movie however is for the most part darker than most 60s or 70s Gamera. It's this one where Gamera really becomes the "friend to all children", but he has an awesome opponent: Gyaos. Probably inspired by Rodan, but with a different, sleeker design. Gyaos is a classic kaiju, the only one to reappear in more recent films the 90s and even in the latest movie, "Gamera the Brave".

Gyaos spends a lot of the movie eating innocent people, regenerating lost body parts and blowing up cities, awesome. There's even a scene where he drinks blood. The battles are bloody and quite fun, and the score is nicely done. This is definitely one of the better vintage kaiju movies and one I recommend to fans of classic sci-fi cinema.

The world of Gamera has seen this flying turtle battling many different types of creatures and Gaos is a very powerful enemy. Gaos flies and has a supersonic beam of sound that can slice any substance in the world. Gaos has one very bad habit, he likes to chew and feed on people. Gaos has one big weakness, he cannot stand being in the light of the sun. Gamera, our hero does his best to keep Gaos in the morning sun but sadly for us, fails. What can stop such a powerful enemy? Has Gamera finally met his match?

Gaos is my all-time favorite enemy of Gamera. A giant bat from a volcano who can fire lasers from his mouth, this wedge-headed critter can slice through anything but Gamera's carapace. Why do I like Gaos? He's virtually indestructible, mean and he looks great!

Gamera comes spiraling down to earth as a series of devastating volcanic eruptions are occurring. Out in the countryside, near a volcano, a road is being built through a farming village and the farmers are threatening a violent protest. out of the volcano flies Gaos - the biggest, nastiest, laser-firing bat you have ever seen. Almost immediately, Gaos chews up a newspaper reporter (who we didn't like anyway) and abducts a little boy. What is Gamera going to do?

The cinematography and effects are a touch above average for the late 60s, and, as with the classic Destroy All Monsters, the subplots add nicely to the main story. Though this is one of my favorites in the Gamera series, it does drag a bit at times.

Recommended for Kaiju fans. Also recommended for evenings of massive intoxication.