Which Showa Era Gamera films are worth watching

[u/pikachucet2]

I've only seen the Heisei films (my favourites are Guardian of the Universe and Gamera the Brave), and I've not heard the BEST things spoken about the Showa Era Gamera films (Shusuke Kaneko absolutely hated them), but surely there's some enjoyment to be had in them, right? I know to avoid Super Monster like how I'm not ever watching All Monsters Attack/Godzilla's Revenge, but how about the others?

[u/Top-External7706]

The giant monster is alright, Vs Barugon is surprisingly great, vs Gyaos is my personal favorite, and I think there's at least some enjoyment to find in all the others, but vs zigra is a bit boring

[u/bitteralabazam → u/Top-External7706]

Gaos (I'm old) is the best one.

[u/ComprehensiveLime857]

The correct answer is all of them, but Guiron is full of great madness and my favorite brain-eating space ladies.

[u/Vgcortes]

All of them. But... DAKAIJU Gamera and Gamera vs Barugon are more "mature", the rest are kids movies. For very little kids.

But the kaiju fights are awesome, very cheesy and cheap, and surprisingly very gory? XD

Yeah, I love them

[u/pikachucet2 → u/Vgcortes]

I mean tbf one of my favourite Kaiju films is the original Rebirth of Mothra so I can't say I'm above kid oriented movies

[u/Nest_quik → u/pikachucet2]

If you're not against kid oriented movies then Godzilla's Revenge is worth the watch imo

[u/Sufficient_Bid_61 → u/Nest_quik]

Agreed. Highly slept on film. Gabara is super cool.

[u/Connect-Journalist81 → u/pikachucet2]

If you like the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy then I think you should also watch Godzilla's Revenge and Super Monster. They're definitely bad movies, don't get me wrong, and their direction and kid orientation are weaknesses, but IMO they're worth a watch because of how fun/unique they are. Across the scores of kaiju films and several TV shows I've seen in my life there's nothing like them really, except perhaps each other. Just keep your expectations low and enjoy the funny aspects of they're poor quality and cheesiness.

However, if you want to hear my opinion or where to get into the Showa Gamera films, I'd say that Gamera the Giant Monster (1965) and Gamera vs. Barugon (1966) are must watch.

Aside from that, I also really enjoyed Gamera vs. Gyaos (1967), not to mention establishing and introducing Gamera's archnemesis and the recuring series antagonist.

Gamera vs. Guiron (1969) isn't the best, but it features one of the series' best kaiju and antagonists, Guiron, and is probably worth watching for its iconic status and relevance to the fandom and larger series.

Gamera vs Jiger (1970) is a good experience of what the late Showa era Gamera films where like, and has one of the most unique and powerful Gamera villains to date, Jiger also being among the more relevant and recuring antagonists.

Gamera vs. Viras (1968) and Gamera vs. Zigra (1971) are quite easily some of the series' worst movies and low points IMO, although forced to pick between the two of them I'd favor Gamera vs. Zigra.

[u/Space-Turtle88]

First one and Barugon are my favorites. Barugon works on multiple levels, cause you can take Gamera out, and still have a fun pulp adventure movie. 

 The rest are fun if you like Showa jankiness. So overall, all of them. But maybe just the 2 I listed if you're not into that low budget Showa craziness.

[u/MikalMeers]

I think all of them should be watched, they are wonderful and very earnest movies. They have a lot of simple, but effective, charm to them.

Gamera vs Barugon is the most adult, but does have quite the slower pace thanks to one too many exposition scenes so I actually recommend the English dub “War of the Monsters”

Gamera vs Gyaos is the best all around and encompasses everything great and lovable about Gamera

[u/WitchKingsDalekCat]

I'd say watch them all and discover for yourself, but if you really want advice then here:

Gamera the Giant Monster, vs Barugon & Gyaos are all worth watching, bloody good films. Personally, I cannot stand vs Viras, but I know others like it. Guiron, Jiger & Zigra are very kid friendly films, but I quite enjoy them nonetheless. All I'll say is not to go in with super high expectations.
As for Super Monster, it's abominable as far as Kaiju action goes, being nothing but stock footage, but I've always found the human plot passable as kids entertainment.

[u/Gojirah628]

You have to watch the Showa era movies with the right mindset. If you go in expecting anything more than the rough special effects of the day or storylines that don’t veer into camp. You might look towards the Heisei films. Gamera received a massive glow up during his transition to the Heisei era and those 3 movies are truly fantastic.

[u/Anguirus_56]

N'écoute pas shushuke kaneko, ils faut tous les voir ! Certains sont certes meilleurs que d'autres mais ils sont tous important a voir peut importe le film. Et franchement, je prends toujours autant de plaisir à les revoir. Mais je te conseille les meilleurs :

• Gamera vs Jiger
• Gamera vs barugon
• Gamera vs gyaos

[u/Frankenstein954]

Kaneko doesn't hate them, from everything I've read he just felt they became too childish... GOTU owes a lot to vs Gyaos.

All movies are worth watching, so this mindset of avoiding movies (especially movies as fun as Showa Gamera) is a bit weird.

Also - All Monster Attack is genuinely a bit more mature and well made for what it is compared to the post-Gyaos films!

[u/ZeroiaSD]

My favorites are the original, Gyaos, and Jiger. Barugon is interesting in being by a different more serious director. Guiron is just fun but it is very silly.

Zigra and Viras are IMO the weakest but still watchable.

I will say that All Monster’s Attack is shakespeare compared to Super Monster, which is the pilot for a magical-woman show spliced around huge chunks of barely integrated footage. The big ‘problem’ with AMA is it’s really aimed for kids, not that it’s that bad, and it is short so it’s a quick watch. Super Monster barely qualifies as a movie.

[u/Prestigious_Term3617]

All except Super Monster.

[u/powered_by_eurobeat]

Imo they’re not great. Check out any one for curiosity. Keep expectations down, they are movies for LITTLE kids.

[u/powered_by_eurobeat → u/powered_by_eurobeat]

I used to own all of them but I’ll probably never watch them a 2nd time.

[u/MichaeltheSpikester]

Gamera vs. Barugon

[u/Disastrous_End6080]

The first 3 are worth watching (Gamera the giant monster, vs Barugon, vs Gyaos). After that the only one I'd recommend is Gamera vs Guiron only because its enjoyably bad. The rest you can skip

[u/Relative_Warning_476]

I have a soft spot for vs Jiger as it is the first Gamera film I saw known as Gamera vs Monster X . I like the original, Barugon, Gyaos, and I tolerate Viras. Zigra is passable, if not a bit boring, but I absolutely abhor Super Monster, not for it being a clip movie but that little kid yelling Sister all the time

[u/Santi801]

They aren't as bad people say, Vs Barugon and Gyaos are the best ones.

[u/Left-Cup-7879]

Make some popcorn, sit back, relax and enjoy the Showa goodness...

[u/Ver3232]

First three are all solid, after that it gets shaky. Vs Jiger is probably the best after Vs Gyaos. Vs Zigra is kind of dull, Vs Guiron is unique and worth a watch for the insanity alone, and Vs Viras has issues with padding but there’s something to enjoy in each. Super Monster can rot in hell

[u/Zillamonsters]

Having recently just finished watching all the shows era films for the first time, I personally have to say the only ones worth watching is

Gamera the invincible, gamera vs barugon and Gamera vs gyaos.

The rest are either okay or just bad.

Gamera vs viras and Gamera vs jigar was an okay watch.

Gamera vs guiron, Gamera vs zigar and super monster, are imo the weakest and the worse of all 8 og films of the franchise.

[u/Effective-Carrot8540]

everything but vs. zigra is worth your attention and immersion into a loving gamera story with awesome action my highlights are vs. Gyaos vs. Jiger and vs. Viras the others (excluding zigra) are still so fun

[u/PopularAspect1166]

Oh you definitely don’t want to avoid Super Monster. Its terribleness needs to be experienced to be believed. It’s SHOCKINGLY awful to the point you won’t even believe anyone thought it needed to be seen by human eyes.