This is Gamera Vs. Zigra! This era of Noriaki Yuasa Gamera movies is one that I would be totally happy to just have like, an infinite number of, to dip into whenever I wanted to. So this one’s a bit bittersweet since, as the informative introduction on the blu-ray made clear, Daiei was pretty much actively collapsing around everyone at the time, and so the result is compromised by budget constraints and this is the last Gamera movie until 9 years later. (Amusingly though, still nothing felt as egregiously cost-saving as that ‘let’s all watch Gamera stock footage’ bit from Viras). But for now though, it’s that familiar formula that frankly I love to bits! I still am very happy any time Gamera is on screen, especially with how great he looks in restored editions like this. And I’m endeared to the villains in these movies since they always seem to represent world-scale threats, while also being easily bested by small children. I think that gives the movies a fun like, children’s make-believe kind of vibe. And I always appreciate that kids in these movies all think Gamera is extremely cool (because he is). Presumably because of the studio’s issues, there’s no setpiece moment like the Fantastic Voyage sequence from Jiger, and instead there’s a very, very low-budget feeling foot chase between the villain and the kid protagonists through an aquarium (Sea World sponsored the movie this time, it seems like). Honestly though, I was endeared to it. And hey – Zigra’s pretty neat too. I don’t know how different or not different Gamera: Super Monster is from the run of movies that ends here. Nor do I know what I’m hoping for. But I bet it’ll be fun in its own way, anyhow.