Gamera 2: Attack of the Legion
Director: Shûsuke Kaneko
1996
Action/Fantasy
This time the threat comes from outer space, a
gigantic insect like alien which in turn is built up by smaller units. The
government tries to fight it of but stands helpless (of course). Their only
hope is Gamera even if he’s still not considered an ally. Nevertheless, Gamera
takes on the fight with the gigantic creature from outer space.
The
bible basis is obvious and is even mentioned in the movie “we are legion
because we are many”. But I still wouldn’t consider this a biblical film or
something like that. The monster isn’t some kind of metaphor for something
else. Unless the whole story about the attacking monsters and the defending
Gamera is a metaphor for attacking Japan in any form, by monsters of by
military force. I know I always interpreted the Godzilla movies in that way. Why
shouldn’t this be the same?
But even
if there’s a hidden message in these movies the most important thing for me in
entertainment value. I don’t really care if Japan or any other country is
defeated by a monster or saved by one. The main thing is the fighting and how
good the special effects are. Here, they are somewhat better than in the
previous movie Guardian of the Universe. But that also makes it a less
entertaining film. I find it very amusing to watch rubber monsters fight each
other and I don’t really get that feeling here. The monster is kind of weak in
displaying personality and charisma and that ruins it a bit for me. There are more drama and less monsters in
this one than the previous and I’m not too fond of that.
What I
liked with the first one was that they tried to explain origins and such which
isn’t necessary here. Gamera simply exist and there’s nothing more to it. But I
guess it would be to repeat everything by going through it again. There was
however a touch of legend and mythology to it which is not present in the same
way here.
I found
this slightly less entertaining than the first but still interesting enough to
go forward with more Asian monster movies!
6/10
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