150 Movies You Should Die Before You See - Miller Steve [56]
Why It Sucks
To remind you, Gammera is a giant turtle with two rocket engines in his ass. He also breathes fire … or radioactivity … or gas (understandable, given where the two rocket engines are). That alone files this movie in the cinematic disasters folder. Gammera's name also changes in spelling, between this film and those that follow, as one of the “m”s vanishes. (Now that is some serious budget cutting.)
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Worst Soundtrack Award goes to … Artie Butler for “The Gammera Theme.” And it lodges itself in your head and stays there for weeks.
And the Cynical Ripoff Award goes to … Masaichi Nagata, who created Gammera to cash in on Godzilla's popularity. As it happens, Gammera trancended his roots, partly due to the inexplicable scene where he chooses to not kill an obnoxious brat.
They Really Said It!
Dr. Hidaka: Evacuate the area, or at least the civilians. And call me a car.
Betcha Didn't Know
Gammera is an enduring Japanese pop culture icon (at least when his name is spelled with one m). The 1966 film has spawned thirteen sequels to date.
Much like Godzilla was Americanized for release in this country, so was Gammera. With an extra m added to his name, new scenes featuring B movie mainstay Brian Donlevy, and recutting of the existing footage, Gammera hit the American shores in 1966 and captured the imagination of kids and geeks everywhere.
Trivia Quiz
Who was the first giant monster to trash cinematic Tokyo?
A: King Kong (in 1933)
B: Gigan (in 1953)
C: Godzilla (in 1954)
D: Gadzooke (in 1956)
Answer: C. Godzilla, the original stomper of Tokyo landmarks, breathed his first gout of flame in 1954.
KUNG FU HUSTLE
Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Classics, 2004
PRODUCERS Bill Borden, David Hung, Zhonglei Wang, and Hai Cheng Zhao (executive producers), Stephen Chow, Po Chu Chui, and Jeffrey Lau (producers)
WRITERS Stephen Chow, Xin Huo, Chan Man Keung, and Kan-Cheung Tsang
DIRECTOR Stephen Chow
STARS Stephen Chow (Sing), Danny Chan (Brother Sum), Wah Yuen (Landlord), Qiu Yuen (Landlady), Suet Lam (Axe Gang Vice General), and Siu-Lung Leung (the Beast)
In 1920s Shanghai, an underachieving con man and could-be martial artist (Chow) finds himself in the middle of a gaggle of kung fu masters and a final showdown with the brutal Axe Gang.
Why It Sucks
It has the feel of an old Shaw Bros. martial arts flick crossed with a Warner Bros. cartoon. Like all of writer/director/actor Stephen Chow's pictures, it leans heavily on Chinese pop cultural references for much of its humor. The silliness translates to an international audience, but many of the actual jokes do not. Still, if you enjoy over-the-top action scenes, this might be for you.
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Worst Writing Award goes to … Stephen Chow, Xin Huo, Chan Man Keung, and Kan-Cheung Tsang for writing a story as unfocused and aimless as those featured in the 1970s kung fu films it echoes.
And the Strangest Use of a Musical Number Award goes to … Director Stephen Chow for including a large-scale dance production number performed by the psychotic leader of the Axe Gang and his minions.
They Really Said It!
Landlady: You may know kung fu, but you're still a fairy.
Betcha Didn't Know
Many of the films characters and martial arts styles are based on or inspired by elements and characters from novels by popular Chinese pulp fiction writer Louis Cha.
Stephen Chow draws on his own impoverished childhood and youth for many of the characters and story elements featured in his films.
Trivia Quiz
What leisure activity/sport has not yet been used as a backdrop for a Stephen Chow film?
A: Soccer
B: Cooking
C: Fly-fishing
D: Judo
Answer: C. Fly-fishing. Soccer was the center of