Chīsaki Yūsha Tachi ~Gamera~ / Gamera the Brave (2006)

The most notable thing about the 12th outing of Japan's second favourite giant reptile is the truly staggering tonal shift between the classic, Disney-style "one boy and his magical pet" story, and the brutal and bloody violence of the monster fights, as the Gamera franchise is known for. Despite suffering the usual fairly slow pacing of the monster movie, the acting of the young protagonists is engaging enough to keep interest, and the special effects on the young Toto are silly enough to entertain us while we wait for the men in rubber suits to start beating each other into a pulp. The big bad Zedus is suitably evil-looking, appearing rather like a Rastafarian Gorosaurus, and provides an ideal challenge for this franchise reboot. And the main Chelonian himself, Gamera is entirely believable as the valiant underdog, and equally impressive when he finally achieves full power and opens up a can on the hapless villain. And I, for one, will sleep far more soundly tonight knowing that there is an underground network of endurance-running Japanese children keeping us safe from evil.


Toto's about to cook a fool.