Gamera the Brave (2006) Movie Review

[@Weiselberry]

NOTE: In this video, I state that Toshinori Sasaki (who plays Gamera and Toto in this film) played Baragon in GMK. I found this information on three different websites, each one specifying parenthetically that he did stunts. I should clarify, however, that he is not the actor associated with that role in GMK (that's Rie Ôta), and I don't know to what degree he was involved with the making of the film, if he was indeed involved. Personally, I'm not inclined to dispute his own IMDb page or the info posted on Wikizilla and Gojipedia, but I don't care to have a debate about it. My purpose in bringing it up was merely to note an interesting detail that the two suit actors from this film also worked on the same Godzilla film. For any kaiju trivia aficionados bothered by my statement in the video, that's the story behind it and I apologize for any confusion.

[@orinanime]

Great video! Great review! I love Gamera the Brave. In answer to your observations/ponderings: There aren't really any specific references/callbacks. But there are thematic callbacks. The red stones are kind of a reference to the magical Magatama beads in the Heisei Gamera trilogy. They have a spiritual connection to Gamera's life-force and energy. The whole "kids seemingly psychically knowing what to do" thing is a two-fold reference. In the Showa era movies, Gamera is called "A Friend to All Children". And the child characters always seem to know just what to do with/for Gamera. And in the Heisei trilogy, the young main characters (late teens - early twenties) have a psychic connection with Gamera. The "giant monster committee" thing is a new creation for this movie, not a carryover, so you're not missing anything. Hope that gives you some info.

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks for the information!

[@TheKKVB]

It's a sad shame Gamera The Brave bombed at the box office. Failing at the box office gave Kadokawa Daiei cold feet from doing more Gamera films. Hopefully Gamera comes out of retirement in the future.

[@monicagarcia3026]

I love Gamera the brave ❤🐢 thanks for the review

[@sumo0172]

Having not seen this movie and not being the biggest fan of Gamera I wasn't going to comment on this video but your rendition Les Poissons deserves a bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! Thank you for this review, I'll give this movie a shot now because of your recommendation

[@Weiselberry]

Haha, I'm glad you liked that! ;)

[@legendre007]

Thank you for reviewing this and other kaiju eiga. 😊 This entry returned to a convention from the Showa-era Gamera movies that the Heisei ones largely abandoned, where adults in general are depicted as cynical or corrupt or clueless and it's only the children, in their innocence, who understand what is going on.

[@RSEFX]

Never having been much into the Gamera movies, well, this review convinced me to seek this one out. That there seem to be genuine human values, personal bravery and the "all pull together" factor involved is very persuasive (plus I'm always fascinated by what can be done with elaborate physical suit constructions).

[@Chase0420]

I so enjoy your STORY time. PLEASE keep going! You're AWESOME

[@robertrodriguez7087]

Funny review. "This is not the Gamera review you were led to expect..." Haha! You reviewed the one Gamera movie I have not seen. I will say that you made it sound better than the impression I had of it. And you're probably the only person to watch them in the order you are watching them in. But that's fine. Looking forward to the next one!

[@feslenraster]

lol "except that one scene at the beach" indeed.... great review, J. thanks so much for this. I loved Gamera movies I hope they get rebooted.

[@noahlittle1219]

Thanks for the review! Gamera The Brave is a wonderful and heartfelt take on the Kaiju genre. I love this movie. I'm also a huge fan of the Heisei Gamera trilogy and I look forward to your next review. ☺👍

[@chrisdigitalartist]

Looks like an interesting movie! I always love hearing what you have to say about films. =)

[@dusterrant9332]

Gamera the Brave is actually a stand alone movie that isn't connected to the Heisei Trilogy. It's an interesting film. I think it's good for what it is, even if I have a few problems with it.

[@Weiselberry]

Yeah, ha, I figured that out pretty quickly after the fact.

[@winterburden]

Thank you for this delightful unexpected Gamera review! 🙆‍♀️

[@ryanburns6284]

Love this channel .... thank you

[@Weiselberry]

Thank *you*!

[@bartolomeuomacduibheamhnad6855]

Gamera the Brave actually looks very appealing to me, from the imagery it does look to have an almost Spielbergian feel as you've pointed out with the ET comparison, if you enjoyed it and reviewed it positively I'm sure I'd enjoy it a lot. ~ Thank you Ms Weiselberry ~ Please excuse all the posts at once, I've had a bonkers December and I'm catching up lol, please don't feel pressure to reply or like any of these as I know it must be a tad overwhelming at times, have a wonderful day :).

[@Weiselberry]

Good to hear from you! I know what you mean about a bonkers December. I don't remember the last time I had a calm, uneventful one...

[@marbanak]

Nice recovery, Jerome. Now even *I* am interested in this film. That bit you did with the French accent was a nice surprise. Just imagine, now, if aliens captured these Gamera films, for analysis of life-on-earth. What would they think? They would think Dinosaurs are still running amuck. Bye!

[@kaijuar2003]

The part that made me sad was the opening when Gamera, alone, fought the Gyaos to let the humans escape and evacuate before getting overwhelmed by the giant birds and ultimately sacrificing himself. The fact that the Elder Gameras(I love calling the Gamera that sacrificed itself in the opening Elder Gamera since the design makes it look ancient and how it was able to accurately use its fireball attack) death is mentioned multiple times packs a punch since when Toru's father tells him that the previous Gamera died fighting a flock of Gyaos, it reminded Toru of the death of his mother. And he doesn't want to see Toto die because he can't handle losing another that he is close to. The fact that this film states that this incarnation of Gamera fights to let humans evacuate and until it dies and is reincarnated after a death is just so darn depressing and sad, even more so than Mothra since this incarnation of Gamera solely exists to die and sacrifice itself for humanity. I first came across this movie years ago in a Walmart, I got excited because it showed giant monsters but it was a Blu-ray copy I believe of it or the employee there told my mother that it was a "bad film" and she didn't buy it. I forgot about it for years until two years ago maybe three that I finally saw a clip of it from a Gamera or other Kaiju music video. I was so excited when my mother and I a year ago got Prime Video and that I signed up for Tubi(you can watch movies on Tubi for free all you need to do is sign in with your email) and finally was able to watch it. And I loved it along with the Heisei trilogy, all four are better than the Showa films, but the Showa films I still like since the nostalgia always kicks in. Edit: And I'm still trying to get my dang family to watch Gamera The Brave with me, I want to see their reactions to it and what they think of the film. Comment made: 10:35 PM Monday, July 4 2022

[@alexshadowfax1119]

I have not seen this movie yet, but I plan too. On a side note, the snowman stocking you have in the background is an awesome stocking, my wife has the same one, its a great design!

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks! It is a nice one! I think my brother picked it out, actually.

[@andrewpragasam]

Fans of the Heisei trilogy tend to knock this one. Quite unjustly i.m.o. I agree that the child actors are outstanding and the emotional beats ring true. In some ways Gamera the Brave feels like a stylistic and tonal merger of the original films with the Heisei trilogy. Great review! Oh, and I love the climactic child relay race too. It's one of my favourite sequences in any monster movie.

[@ChristopherElli-cc1ly]

Even after the Gamera trilogy, i like this movie. I felt for the kids, liked the humor. The pacing is good. Monsters fights is good. A good Kiaju movie to introduce to children. I love the reply race scenes.

[@Wisconsinmom82]

I have really been enjoying your channel! I have a question on finding movies. I do not have cable or a satellite plan. I do have Amazon Prime, but I don't currently have a Netflix subscription. My library does not have very many classic films, and our library inter-library loan pool is small. Any streaming services that are worth it for classic films? I have wondered about Criterion, but it is pricey. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!😄

[@Weiselberry]

Thanks! Hm, all I have access to for streaming services currently is Prime and the Watch TCM app. Unfortunately, without a cable subscription and access to the Turner Classic Movies channel, I don't think you can download the app. (I'm hoping they change that policy someday.) I've heard good things about the Criterion service but haven't checked it out myself. Perhaps someone else here can give you some suggestions...?

[@damianstarks3338]

Great review of this gamera movie.

[@kaioken654]

Awesome Video Great Job!

[@mgkiryuu]

I don't really hear too many people complain about this Gamera film, (as far as the kaiju community is concerned). They just sort of go..."Meh, it's not as good as the 90's" flicks. Which...it's not, but I still find a lot of enjoyment in Gamera The Brave. Zedus is a cool monster design that thankfully is not Gyoas (yes I know there were Gyoas in the start of the movie lol). And I really cared about Toto a lot. He has that Harry and the Henderson like quality to him. If I had a complaint about the movie, it would be the fact that they changed the Gamera roar to that stock American 80's monster roar that you heard from shows like He-man or the 80's Kong flick. It just never suited the character. I still have no idea why they would change it from something so iconic. Don't think anyone has ever stated why either, at least nothing that I have read.

[@Videogamelover58]

Nice review!

[@japants8566]

Hi! Did you see " Daimajin"? It is a series of Japanese "tokusatu (special effects) films pruduced by Daiei. In the movie, a giant stone statue comes to life to protect the oppressed peasants of a small village against an evil warlord. Daiei also produced "Gamera" movies, but I'm sure " Daimajin " is much better. "Daimajin", whose story strikes a chord of Japanese "tokusatu" film fans, has been loved by many people for a long time.

[@Weiselberry]

I have not seen any of the Daimajin films, but they've been recommended to me!

[@happyman_smiling]

Please review movie of famous director satyajit ray called pather panchali

[@13down13]

Glad you watched this movie and liked it. I like it too; although it's not as good as the Heisei series. However, I fear you may enjoy this movie more than those because myself and others have built them up so much, you will probably be a little let down. The Heisei Gamera movies are, in my opinion, some of the best monster movies of all. But they are not perfect and I'll discuss why I think so in those reviews if you don't hit upon those flaws yourself. You do usually find the same weaknesses that I do - but, of course, not always. I wish they could have continued this movie in a series, but it was not to be. The kids were fine in this - I particularily like the girl getting the surgery. It's funny you are comparing this to the Godzilla series and how they treat kids. Of course the Showa series is a big offender; however, the Showa Gamera movies are the worst of all. That's were the term "short-cap brat" came from. Showa Gamera wears the crown of annoying kids, although Godzilla does have a few. Hopefully you get to watch the first Heisei Gamera movie because they form a definite trilogy and the viewing experience would not be the same. This movie, alternatively, completely stands alone and is not connected to any other Gamera movie - so I don't think you are missing any "easter eggs". Literally nothing except the name "Gamera". I believe in pronouncing Gaos, it's like this: first part, "gay", second part "ouse" as in "house". Put that together so that you say it in almost one syllable.

[@EverydayIsNow]

Cool beans 😎😎

[@J.e.a.n-Luc]

oh

[@analysisofscifi6051]

I saw this one and I didn't care for it is a Kids film though unlike the Heisei Gamera which is more adult, the JSDF is not an invention of Toho pictures but the de-facto military of Japan kinda Japan has article 9 of their constitution they cannot have a military but they do have the self-defense forces doesn't case and I will Japan's ever attack what you're thinking of is G-force easy mistake to make

[@Weiselberry]

I was referring to the JXSDF, the Japanese Xenomorph Self-Defense Force. It's introduced in one of the Millennium-era Godzilla films (I forget which one) as a branch of the SDF intended to combat kaiju specifically.

[@analysisofscifi6051]

​@@Weiselberry oh okay I'm sorry I said I thought that right off the bat sorry I'm Heisei era person my self

[@Weiselberry]

That's okay! :) It is good to know that contextual information when watching these movies. I've noticed the Heisei Gamera movies deal a lot with the SDF too.

[@analysisofscifi6051]

@@Weiselberry yeah the heisei Gamera does feature the sdf alot

[@Godzilla-tu2cd]

Lol really you jumped too far ahead. 3:59 you haven't seen the later Showa Gamera movie's those kids get annoying. 7:09 again Jerome watch the Showa Gamera movie's starting with gamera vs barugon. Those movie's will give you weird monsters with crazy abilities.