Daiei Company's Gamera: Revenge of Iris (directed by Shusuke Kaneko  from a screenplay by Kazunori Ito, with special effects by Shinji Higuchi) finally reaches American shores four years after its theatrical premiere in Japan. For the DVD ADV Films used the same transfer as The Gamera: The Box Set and is presented uncut in anamorphic widescreen (with 16:9 enhancement). Viewers can switch between the original Japanese soundtrack with English subtitles or decide to watch the films with a new English dubbed track created by ADV. Both the English and Japanese audio tracks are in Dolby 5.1 Digital.  Packed in a  clam shell case, the cover features a rather generic close-up of Gamera, unlike the first two discs, which used variations on the original Japanese posters.

As with their previous Gamera releases, ADV has included a wide selection of supplemental features, including an interview with special effects director Shinji Higuchi, who discusses the incredible “destruction of Shibuya” sequence. Other extra features include press conferences, behind the scenes footage, promotional events, opening night ceremonies, 5 theatrical trailers, and 15 television spots, all sub-titled in English.  ADV has also added some material of their own, including previews for other ADV DVDs including Gamera: Guardian of the Universe, Princess Blade, Andromeda and Farscape.  Strangely enough, there are no promotions for Gamera: Attack of Legion or the DaiMajin trilogy DVDs.  Other ADV "exclusives" include some silly out takes and a full-length commentary track by “Gamera“, “Iris“, and “Soldier #6.  Overall, despite the unnecessarily campy "extras", ADV's Gamera: Revenge of Iris is a welcome change in the face of kaiju DVDs released here in the U.S.

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Article © 2003 Robert Moore/Visagraph Films International

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