Movie: (1965) In the first of a long-running Japanese movie series, a giant mutated turtle with super powers is accidentally revived from eons of hibernation and, of course, attacks Japan. Authorities, there and in the U.S., work to stop it. Meanwhile, young Kenny is fascinated by the beast.
First shown: 6/8/91
Opening: Tom leads some warmup exercises
Invention exchange: Crow tricks Tom into the old “trust exercise” prank; Joel shows off his endless salad takeout container, but Frank’s birdcage vacuum malfunctions
Host segment 1: Tom sings “Tibby, Oh Tibby”
Host segment 2: Crow and Tom hate Kenny, but Joel suggests a positive outlook, and proposes a contest
Host segment 3: The bots are playing beauty salon when Gamera visits on the Hexfield
End: Another look at the cast of the film, Joel reads some letters
Stinger: Eskimo says: “Bye…”
(152 votes, average: 4.30 out of 5)
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• One of the things that this episode-watching process does is compress the whole evolution of the show. It has only been a little over four months since we watched episode K05- GAMERA, but for the Brains it had been two-and-a-half years since they watched it. But, wow, what a long way they have come in that time. This one, like last week’s episode, is chock full of things that would be revisited again and again. The riffing is very funny and the movie is, well, it is what it is. Either you like this sort of movie or you don’t. The segments are all at least good, and that brings the rating up a bit further. So this one may not be a home run, but it’s a solid stand-up triple.
• With this movie we get Kenny, the prototype of the whiny, privileged, tiny-shorts-wearing grade schooler who demands to be heard and obeyed. Enjoy.
• Yes, Joel saw this movie during the KTMA season, but remember, this is all new to Trace. He was out of town last time. It’s possible Kevin had to sit through some or all of this, I suppose.
• With this episode, season three begins its odd see-saw rhythm: first a Japanese import, than an American film (mostly classic 50s sci-fi), then back to a Japanese import and so forth.
• And although he was mocked a bit during the KTMA days, it’s with this episode that we really begin the troubled relationship with one Sandy Frank.
• I believe both inventions are from Joel’s standup act.
• The next episode, “Pod People,” is famous for its “Chief? McCloud!” riffs, but did you catch the one here? “Goodbye, Chief.” “Goodbye, McCloud.” So it’s clear this was a concept that was already percolating in the writing room.
• Callback: “No!” (Cave Dwellers). “No dancing, not allowed” (The Crawling Hand).
• The phrase “In fear and hot water” is a Firesign Theatre reference.
• We haven’t really had a complete song from Kevin since “Creepy Girl,” and he’s terrific once again — although Crow steals the show.
• Joel is carrying, and drinking from, a soda can during Tom’s song.
• Watch Joel and Crow exchange “oh brother” faces during Tom’s song. Trace’s puppetry is has gone from good to great.
• Following the song, back in the theater, Crow mercilessly pummels Tom with Tibby jokes and then Joel joins in, upsetting Tom so much he tries to leave–and he runs left! Where does he think he’s going?
• Did anybody ever send replies to “Kenny! What Gives?” If so, apparently they weren’t funny enough to be included in a later show. It never comes up again.
• Goof: Tom Servo mentions Kenny’s rocks before the “Kenny’s rocks” scene in the movie. A lot of times they do a host segment that might have been more effective if it appeared later in an episode, after whatever they’re referencing takes place in the movie. This is one of those. But, in their defense, I suspect when you watch a movie five or six times in a given week you can lose track of when stuff happens.
• Then-current riffs: Tom does a Robin Leach impression. At the time Leach’s show, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” was all the rage. Not so much, now. Also: Crow notes that the other international leaders are likely to listen to Japan “since you own their countries.” Japan’s “lost decade” put an end to jokes about how the uber-wealthy Japanese were buying up everything.
• I asked these questions when we did the KTMA version of this movie, and got some pretty good answers, but I want to ask again anyway. Questions for the movie: 1) So, the old eskimo is the latest in a long line of keepers of the ancient Gamera stone that’s been handed down in his tribe for thousands of years, right? Then these complete strangers show up in his village and he happily hands it over to them? “Now son, guard this sacred stone with your life, um, unless somebody asks to have it.” 2) What’s with Dr. Hidaka pretty much lying through his teeth when he vouches for the reporter? Is he just doing him and Catherine a favor so they can continue their tepid romance? He says the reporter has extensive knowledge of Gamera. What does the reporter know that Hidaka and Catherine don’t know? He never demonstrates any real knowledge of the situation, that I noticed. 3) This is really another angle to the question of “Kenny: what gives?” Kenny behaves as if he has some sort of psychic connection with Gamera. But the movie never presents any evidence that this is actually the case. Yes, Gamera doesn’t kill Kenny when he has the chance, but that could have just been luck. (Some commenters said it’s a “lost in translation” thing with the dubbing. One commenter suggested Kenny has a form of Asperger’s. Most said he’s just crazy.)
• Mike is hilarious as a smarmy Gamera, but unfortunately the gag “You’d know about pain–you’ve seen Spalding Gray” isn’t quite as funny since Gray’s death.
• Crow makes a bad pun about midway through the movie, and Joel casually rips Crow’s arm off and tosses it across the theater!! He doesn’t even let Crow retrieve it at the end of the segment! Later, he does it again! He’s so strict!
• What causes him to do it a second time is when Gamera is being blasted off against his will, and Crow says, mockingly “Hey Joel, remind you of anything?” He and Tom then begin singing the opening theme song! This seems to enrage Joel.
• The Brains make no attempt to hide the fact that Tom’s hand is taped to his head in the last segment. He even yells “Yowch!” when Joel pulls it off.
• In episode 208- LOST CONTINENT, when Joel gets “movie sign against my will” the official FAQ stated that the Mads gave him a “shock to the shammies.” But that phrase wasn’t used in that episode, and didn’t appear until this one.
• “Gammera the Invincible” was the USA-released version of this movie, which included extra scenes with an American cast (Albert Dekker, etc.) filmed in America. The scenes added nothing … just more people talking about Plan Z. They’re not included in the Sandy Frank version.
• Cast and crew roundup: If you’re looking for somebody to blame for the entire Gamera oeuvre, look no further than Noriaki Yuasa, who directed this and three other MSTed Gamera outings (for brevity’s sake I am just going to refer to these movies by the name of Gamera’s opponent): “Gaos,” “Guiron,” and “Zigra.” Plus he supervised the special effects for “Barugon.” Then again, you could also blame screenwriter Fumi Takahashi, who wrote all five of the MSTed Gamera movies. Exec producer Masaichi Nagata also had that role for “Barugon,” “Gaos,” “Guiron” and “Zigra.” Producer Yonejiro Saito was the planner for “Barugon.” Editor Tatsuji Nakashizu also worked on “Barugon” and “Gaos.” Score composer Tadashi Yamauchi also worked on “Gaos.” In front of the camera: Eiji Funakoshi also appears in “Guiron.” Yoshiro Kitahara also appears in “Barugon” and “Gaos.” Koji Fujiyama also appears in “Barugon,” “Gaos” and “Zigra.”
• Creditswatch: One Lisa Sheretz is listed as a contributing writer for this and the next two episodes. Maybe she was a tryout that didn’t take? Also: Colleen Henjum begins a contributing writer gig that will continue into season six. Along with Bridget Jones, Henjum was a “home writer” — they sent her a copy of the movie with the time codes and she would fax in jokes. Audio was a rotating job this season: Fred Street did it in the last episode, John Calder did it this time and in the next two.
• Fave riff: “Oh…this is Pearl Harbor…how’d THAT get in here?…” Honorable mention: “So, extra crispy or regular?”
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This one starts out with the light and whimsical wacky that I associate with the golden era of the show. Tom’s warm-ups remind of any exercise show I’ve ever seen. Joel does an invention that I have to assume is from his stand up act and the Mads are flashing plenty of chemistry. And finally riffing during the credits have those light word plays I love so much.
Clayton sure looks strange without the lab coat in the invention exchange segment.
Frank must be fan of the old Rocky and Bulwinkel show. He gives us a well delivered “and now here is something we hope you really like” and it isn’t the last time he’ll quote that show.
But in the end I’m going to give this episode the (used with implied permission) good by not great grade. The momentum of the opening just didn’t last. The riffing was again workmanlike and solid by not spectacular.
What’s the deal with the shadowramma? Joel and the bots seem thicker.
The Tibby sketch is fun. Tom really sells the sincere while Crow handles the irreverent. Meanwhile Joel just stands around mugging. And boy is that turntable going. I’ve seen racing engines turn slower RPM’s. But Crow sums the whole thing well. “Do you realize a robot just sang a love song to a turtle?”
And the episode ends with Clay giving Frank some filing to do. This of course was the traditional episode ending job of Larry.
Favorite Riffs:
During telegraph message: Joel “If you’re not wearing any underwear, ah smile.”
During teletype Tom “If you’re not… They pulled the underwear gag on us sir.”
Tom “He saw London, he saw France. He saw Rodan’s underpants.”
The movie shows a negative image during the Gamera rampage “Don’t get so negative.”
The scientists look back and forth. Tom “Hey are they watching tennis…See they are watching tennis.”
Tibby, oh, Tibby. This episode harkens back to the early carefree days of Catalina Caper. I find the movie a bit much to take over and over again, but the host segments are very fun.
Right before a commercial break (the one with no bumper, about half way through the episode) Kenny is in bed whimpering. The final line is a riff. Early Comedy Central airings have the riff, “You will perish in flames”; later airings omit that riff.
>>>[Tom] runs left! Where does he think he’s going?
To the other door?
A door on the left definitely existed in Season Eight’s “I Was a Teenage Werewolf”, when Tom enters from the left following Host Segment 2 (“Thanks a lot, you knobs!” ); I don’t know which episodes it might have “appeared” in before that.
“percolating”? Good stuff.
I don’t think this is the “most mature” of the Gamera movies. It’s got an adult subplot (the budding romance between Catherine and creepy stalking reporter) and a kiddy subplot (the troubled Kenny) added more for pathos than for comic relief. However, Gamera v Barugon is much darker with the drinking, revenge, greed, murder, etc., not to mention the arm-blood-sucking. I do love the many riffs about the pork chop/liver slab they carry around with them. This is also probably the last time we see Gamera killing thousands and leveling cities by himself; after this, he’s just killing monsters.
“Kenny, although considered ‘husky’, is quite agile.”
302- Gamera
Plot: Gamera, a giant turtle, fights and stuff.
Host Segments:
Intro: Warmups on the SOL.
Invention: Joel presents the endless salad bar. Spring cleaning at Deep 13 and Frank vacuums up a bird cage.
Segment 1: Tom’s song to Tibby.
Segment 2: The bots hate Kenny but Joel teaches tolerance. Segment 3: Gypsy’s beauty parlor and Gamera stops by. End: A retrospective on the actors.
Stinger: Eskimo say’s “Okay, bye”.
Memorable Riffs:
Servo: “Hey, Sandy Frank. Isn’t that when you drop your hot dog on the beach?”
Eskimo: “This is the legendary stone.”
Joel: “You passed THAT stone?”
Teacher: “The other students make fun of him; they think he’s strange.”
Crow: “Kids are perceptive that way.”
Doctor: “It has the power to convert organic matter into inorganic matter.”
Joel: “Like McDonald’s?”
(Gamera gets sent to outer space)
Crow: “Hey, Joel. Look familiar?”
Fav. Riff:
Crow: “Oh…this is Pearl Harbor…how’d THAT get in here?…”
(This is Sampo’s fav riff from this episode too. What can I say? It’s hilarious)
Comments:
-Poor Tibby, must be damn dizzy in that spinning bowl Servo had set up for him.
-The only instance where either of the robots did that “Look familiar?” joke on Joel. They did it plenty with Mike.
Best segment: Who doesn’t like the Tibby song? It rivals the Creepy Girl song.
Worst segment: The “hating Kenny” segemnt was just too mean-spirited IMO.
Overal: I had high hopes this would be a good episode, and it is, but I think it’s slightly over-rated. Or maybe I was just tired. **1/2
This really isnt that bad a film compared to the last Gamera movies…
And the episode is a goodie..
The Tibby song is fabulous. When my fish died I was going to play the song …
Joel’s Hair Observation – it appears sort of lopsided in this episode, parted way over…it still looks like he hasnt cut it
Joel would rip Crows arm off again and again..
Joel’s Hair
Joel’s Knees
Playing Tibby over the accidental death of my fish
Crow’s flying arm
As I roll my eyes…Im going back for more therapy…
At one point Gamera rips open an office building and roasts the hundreds of people inside alive. I’d say that’s quite a contrast in tone to the later movies. Although, I remember seeing Gamera vs Barugon as a kid and being a little creeped-out when the space bimbos shaved the little boy’s head in preparation to eat his brains. Kinda perverse, at the time.
Castle Monster, I believe the brain eating movie was “Gamera vs. Guiron”.
>>>Gamera killing thousands and leveling cities by himself
Wonder how those people’s next of kin felt about Gamera’s subsequent status…
@11 touches no one’s life…
If they were young boys wearing hot pants, I’m sure they didn’t care.
I met director Noriaki Yuasa at G-Fest 2003. He was a very kind man who truly loved making children happy, and while his Gamera movies are far from cinematic perfection, the child in me enjoys and appreciates them.
Now, that said, three of the five Gamera episodes of MST’s third season are some of my favorites (they cut way too much of BARUGON and GAOS is actually one of my least favorite giant turtle flicks). This one isn’t as silly as the later movies, but I wish Yuasa and Takahashi (the screenwriter) had settled on a tone – serious or fun.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen this (probably about a year), so I’m waiting until the Shout discs come out. Hopefully this thread will still be open at that point.
Haven’t seen any of these and Volume 21 is the least
interesting of any released so far—unless you want
to od on this series, so I’ll skip any commenting on
any Gamera films.
Move along, nothing to see here.
#10 Ah, right. I wasn’t sure but I was too lazy to look it up.
I think I will re-open this thread (if it has closed) when Vol. 21 comes out.
The greatest achievement of this episode is how they basically rewrote Kenny. The running jokes all build up to a coherent picture of a thoroughly evil, daemon-spawned little monster who rejoices in the destruction that Gamera wreaks. Some highlights:
“Those kids at school, they tease you Kenny…because they have never tasted Hell!”
“What are you doing with that Kenny?” “Evil things. Horrible things.”
“I am your bride!”
“Your passing will be painless, doctor!”
(to the kid who throws away Kenny’s stones) “DIE DIE DIE!” followed by diabolical chanting, as if Kenny were star of The Omen.
I really wonder what the makers of Gamera thought they were accomplishing with Kenny; if they were hoping that we’d sympathize with the monster a little because of Kenny they were dead wrong. Even without MST3K’s help he comes across as a full-blown psychopath. The Kenny-hating segment was if anything not mean enough for the noxious little snot. Fortunately, MST3K supplies the best possible parting shot: “Hey Kenny, get bent!“
I know there are MSTies who love the Gamera series. Heck the entire works are a boxset of their own, or will be shortly if it hasn’t been officially released yet. Still, I concur with Dan in WI’s take on this episode. The opening host segments and I’d say the first half hour of the movie are the Brains at their best, but things just seem to run out of steam half way through and doesn’t finish as strong. Perhaps it’s the movie itself, or maybe because they’re going over the same ground again, having previously riffed the Gamera films during the KTMA years, but it just didn’t finish well for me. Granted, they’ve come a long way, as Sampo pointed out, in the two-plus years since they first riffed on “Gamera”. The improvement is definitely there in the overall presentation, acting, characters and riffing. Still, this one ranks as “good” but not “great”. 3.5 stars out of five.
This is probably my least favorite of the Gamera episodes. The original Gamera film is probably the best of them quality-wise (though Vs. Barugon gets my vote for most serious, for the reasons Fred Burroughs gave), but I think this makes it less suited for MST3K. My favorite is Vs. Guiron, which is just so completely out there, and has what is surely one of the least competent English dubs in history, that it’s hysterical even without the riffing. In fact, I almost prefer the KTMA version of that one, if only because all the unfunny Richard Burton jokes in the Season 3 version annoy me to no end.
Speaking of KTMA, have the Brains ever commented on why they revisited the Sandy Frank films for the national broadcast? Or on the flip-side, why they never re-did any of the other KTMA-era movies?
5 out of 5 for me, one of the top 10 episodes of all time IMHO. I have used this to introduce people to the show and it never fails. The Tibby song, Crow’s reaction afterwards (SQUISH!), the hating Kenny host segment, the riffing, everything just absolutely clicks for me in this episode. I am waiting for the box set to come out so I can see this episode again at its finest.
I plan on doing a vol XXI marathon, all five disc in one day!
swh1939 #3: Early Comedy Central airings have the riff, “You will perish in flames”; later airings omit that riff.
Any word on whether or not it’ll be reinserted in the Shout DVD set?
Though apparently beloved, I don’t care for Tom’s song about Tibby the turtle. Crow’s barbs at Servo’s expense during the song are the only thing that makes it tolerable.
I liked this episode. I agree that the riffing was very good but it seemed to me, at times, the screen seemed to bog down the humor.
What caught me most about this episode is that the Bots seem to start to get darker with some of their comments. Well, time to go play with my rocks.
I especially like how Joel thanks his captors for sending him not such a bad movie this time. This episode is pure pleasure! I even like the movie without the riffing. It’s so dumb, and Sandy Frank made it twice as dumb!!!
So there’s glitter sprinkling on Tom during his song? Huh. Maybe these sparkles Sampo speaks of will actually be visible on the Shout DVD. “Your blood may be cold but I know that your heart burns as hot as a coal.” :-D
Random question – is there any info on who did the actual dubbing for the Sandy Frank films? Seems like the guy who did the voice of Captain Joe pops up a whole lot. I always wondered who that chap is.
I think this may have been my first episode. Its been so long and I tend to get my Gamera episodes mixed up.
I remember flipping through the channels one day, we had just gotten cable and seeing this old black and white movie. I started to go right past it when I noticed this giant turtle knocking over an iceberg and heard a voice say “Gentlemen, let me break the ice”. That was my first MST experience. I was hooked from then on. Can anyone tell me which Gamera this is?
I also remember one where the turtle is spinning, but I know this isn’t the one with the gymnastics.
Can’t wait for the Shout Gamera collection :)
The first episode of MST3K I ever saw was a Gamera episode. Haven’t seen one since, and it’s been so long I don’t remember which one it was. I started taping eps after this one had gone out of rotation on CC.
I’m patiently waiting for August and the new Gamera set to come out to see this and all the others. :-D
Can’t wait for the DVD collection either! Haven’t seen these episodes in ages, and Season 3 was really enjoyable as far as i remember.
@ Senorpogo (26)
I don’t know any of the names of the Sandy Frank dubbers, but I know the same group of people (or at least, most of the same people) dubbed all the Sandy Frank films except for BARUGON and GAOS (both of which were dubbed in Hong Kong in the 60s), and maybe GUIRON. I think LEGEND OF THE DINOSAURS might have been dubbed by another group too.
There’s a guy named Ted Thomas who ran his own dubbing studio in Hong Kong in the 50s – 80s. He dubbed several characters in GAMERA VS BARUGON, VS GAOS and GODZILLA VS MEGALON. You can hear Thomas interviewing Bruce Lee here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf4z2Vqt0bw). However, Thomas and his group definitely didn’t dub the rest of the Sandy Frank films (or GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER).
“It burns with the love only *turtles* can feel
Tibby, is our love real?”
#30: Guiron sounds like it was dubbed in ol’ Alabammy!
I don’t have much to say about this one. I consider it a fair-to-middlin’ episode. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing that really shines.
Probably a big part of that is the movie, which lacks the instant kitsch of the other Gamera movies, for pretty obvious reasons. But I was always puzzled by comments that this is actually a decent movie on its own terms. Maybe it’s that I look for the camp value in kaiju movies (with the original Godzilla being the only exception that comes to mind). I think the Maltin guide had good things to say about this, and if memory serves, Crow thanks the Mads for ‘not sending such a bad movie this time.’ But when you remove the goofy spectacle, elaborate (and wildly implausible) plans to foil a giant monster via oversized props just don’t work too well. Not to mention the fact that campiness mitigates how dark some of themes in these movies can be– poorly socialized Kenny being bullied, the head-shaving in Guiron, etc. Actually pretty creepy if the laughs aren’t there. And in this one, they aren’t there (and I’m referring to the movie itself, not the riffing).
I think I’d call this a lesser episode in a great season.
I have tried to watch this eight or nine times now, and fall asleep every single time. It’s not the fault of the Brains, but of the movie itself. I just find little butterball Kenny dull, and find myself nodding off around the time when Kenny loses the stone, or goes after the stone in the street, or is bullied by the other kid who takes away the stone, or whatever it is that happens.
Unfortunate, because there’s a great deal that I like here; the Tibby song is one of my favorites, I enjoyed Mike as Gamera, there’s some strong riffs. And in the first part of the movie itself, there are a couple of moments that I dearly love: the whole “That must be one of those flying saucers I’ve…heard…so…much…about…lately!” line that the Brains use as a callback frequently, and the bit with the Eskimo, used for the stinger. Great stuff.
@30 – Thanks for the info. At least it’s something.
I’m with those who dislike the Tibby Song. FFWD right past it.
But then I’m often the killjoy on this board.
Otherwise, long live Gamera, I guess.
I watched this episode earlier this week to catch up on anything I might have missed. Before MST3K, I had never heard of Gamera. This is one of my favorite Season 3 episodes (from War of the Colossal Beast). The Tibby song is one of the strangest from the show. How a small, red robot falls in love with a reptile I’ll never understand. My favorite line from the song is when Crow mentions the turtle making everyone sick. Tom’s reaction is priceless! Kenny is the most irritating Japanese kid in the history of mankind. Roxa from “Godzilla vs Megalon” is only less irritating.
I also love when the Bots comment on when Gamera is being prepared to be shot into space. “Hey Joel, look familiar?” Servo even sings part of the theme song. Love it.
Favorite riff:
Kenny (as he’s looking for his turtle): “TIBBY!”
Crow: “SQUISH!” Cracks me up every time.
I also watched some of the original version released by Shout Factory!. Toshio (Kenny in the dubbed version) is not that much irritating. He’s still a turtle-loving freak. There is also a huge translation error that really rankles me. When Toshio (I really can’t say Kenny anymore, sorry) is walking on the rocks looking for his turtle, he is clearly saying Tibby. However, whoever translated for Shout Factory!, says PeeWee instead. I wish I was kidding.
Also, in case anyone is curious, the Americans in the beginning of the film are also in the original. That wasn’t a Sandy Frank addition. Surprised me too.
Good episode although I prefer the later, goofier kid-friendly Gamera movies for MST3k riffage.
“Early Comedy Central airings have the riff, “You will perish in flames”; later airings omit that riff.” (swh1939)
Well that sucks. The only other riff censoring I can think of is in Future War during the credits. Crow says “Arlan H. Bollsh–” and is stopped before he can finish saying it. On my old broadcast recording he only says Arlan H. Boll[muted] whereas in the DVD it’s not muted.
Lots of the earlier episodes had a few minutes later cut for time by CC. I don’t know if that’s the reason for the cut here before the commercial, or whether it was censored.
But it’s far from the only time it happened.
This episode is a middling one for me. I’m not really a fan of the Gamera movies, but I’m a fan of the whole MST3K series, so I still enjoy these episodes.
Another great episode. I love all the Gamera episodes but this one I think is my favorite. Mostly for Kenny and Joel and the ‘bots reaction to him.
I did see one Gamera movie prior to MST3K getting a hold of them. One they didn’t riff: Gamera vs. Viras (or Destroy All Planets in the U.S.).
This movie. Wow. Kenny is one disturbed kid. He’s either got Gamera Stockholm Syndrome or is evil incarnate. Calling Gamera good all while the giant turtle tears up Japan. I can only hope that there was an unmentioned portion of the Z-Plan that would see to it that Kenny is institutionalized for his sake and ours. Hilarious movie even without the riffing.
Some of the best riffing during the run of the show happens here. All the remarks about Kenny’s devilish support of Gamera were spot-on. The fourth wall break at the end with the acknowledgment of the theme song was really funny as was Joel’s reaction to tear off Crow’s arm for a second time.
Host segments were pretty good. Gamera’s visit and Tom’s love song to Tibby most notably.
I’ll be glad to finally get this episode along with the rest of the Comedy Central Gamera eps on DVD when its released in August.
@36
I haven’t checked the original, but “tibi” is a strict romanization of “chibi”, meaning tiny. It’s a little archaic these days, but even as late as the 90s you’d see it for stuff like Chibi-Usa from Sailor Moon.
Chibi means small, so it would be an equivalent of Tiny or PeeWee.
Huh. I never realized Tibby was derived from chibi, though it makes perfect sense. Thanks for pointing that out (and making feel dumb for not putting it together myself).
I have to reserve my comments for 2-3 months.
To paraphrase from the film, “This must be…that Godzilla-like knock-off film…I’ve…heard…so much about…lately.” But seriously folks, Gamera is an awesome episode of MST3K. It’s worth it just to hear Servo sing Tibby, Oh, Tibby, but the whole thing is awesomely funny. I suspect I’ll be watching this episode many, many times again once the DVD is released in August. Another 5-star episode for me.
#39 – They also never did Gamera vs Monster X aka Gamera vs. Jiger or the worst Gamera movie – Gamera super monster which was 99% stock footage of all the Gamera movies…utterly unwatchable
Sampo@15 – strangely enough, this thread closes the day before Gamera comes out. Reopening it then would be cool, since I, like several others, have the Gamera flicks on viewing moratorium until the box set comes out.
Actually, the deleted riff is probably no more than simple time editing. If you notice from the Rhino and Shout DVDs, the early MST seasons have eps running 97 minutes or so. By the end of the CC era they’re down to 92 or even 90. That’s 5 more minutes of commercials, and on reruns the early eps wouldn’t allow those extra ads without cutting. The host segments were too obvious to cut from, so the place to trim was before/after commercials that were not involving host segments.
I’m sure the CC program directors didn’t give a crap about cutting the shows down for a rerun, but it’s a reason why I’ve been so keen to get the early CC eps on DVD as many of my early ones were from reruns later in the CC era when they were cut down.
That’s also why the original ST episodes (running 50 mins) were not seen “unedited” on regular TV for years. They also needed another 5 minutes trimmed to get the then-standard 15 mins of ads in. Now of course you’re lucky if an “hour” show exceeds 42 mins.
Was Gamera supposed to be evil in this movie? He seemed more indifferent to humanity than antagonistic, Like an elephant that steps on an anthill while trying to get to some food. Not that that is any comfort to the millions crushed and incinerated while Gamera pursued energy sources to consume.
The last time (Season K) we discussed this movie, did we come to any concensus as to whether Kenny and Gamera are actually friends? It seemed like Gamera saved Kenny on a whim (after almost killing him) and went on his way, leaving lonely, turtle obsessed Kenny convinced he had the best best friend ever.
Was Kenny supposed to be this annoying and mental in the original pre-dubbed version. Any Japanese speaking fans out there that know?
Good question, Cornjob. Is Gamera evil? Is Kenny? Gamera ends up showing very little feeling at all, he is just too big for his own good, and searching for energy to consume, while destroying the countryside. He shows little malice, but he does inexplicably save Kenny’s life. Yes, sandy Frank, why? But Kenny is another story; he is genuinely twisted, and his teachers, parents, and schoolchums all shun him. Who can blame him that his turtle-obsessed mind interprets that Gamera is a true friend? We can. And at the end we are supposed to feel relief and joy that Gamera has been spared, ’cause after all, it wasn’t his fault. I think even the scientists behind Z-plan are frightened when Kenny’s in the room; he’s truly psychotic, but too cute to challenge openly.
In previous discussion it’s been mentioned, if I remember rightly, that in the original movie Kenny (or “Toshio” rather) believed that Gamera and Tibby were actually the same turtle. That puts a somewhat different color on Kenny’s fanatical insistence that Gamera was his friend. Only traces of this idea survive in the Sandy Frank version, with Kenny’s repeated belief that “Gamera is in Tibby’s family” not being quite sufficient to explain his weird behavior.
Or maybe it makes little difference. Even if Kenny really thinks that Gamera is Tibby transformed, it’s not enough of an excuse to overlook Gamera’s murderous rampage.
The early seasons (2 and 3) had longer running times when shown in later years because CC wanted to jam in more commercial time (“what do you expect, they’re evil, EVIL” to paraphrase Frank). I remember the midnight showings when they cut the episodes to allow for this and the huge backlash (remember the stink over Penn Jillette’s voice overs?). For a while they restored the longer versions and the show ran from midnight until about 2:05 a.m. I was fortunate to get the longer versions on tape, and eventually transferred the longer versions onto DVDs. I rewatched Gamera last night for the first time in about 5 years–needless to say it is not one of my favorites. I liked the running gag about the eskimo “stone” looking like a porterhouse steak. I think their revised summary and biographies (Col. Sanders-san is a perfect description) of the characters of the movie with stills at the end was genius.