This is confirmed when subway passengers are attacked by a horde of insect-like creatures. Soon, downtown Sapporo is shattered by the blooming of a huge flower that is tended by the creatures. Investigators correctly deduce that the flower pod is gathering oxygen to launch its seed into space. The force of this explosion will wipe Sapporo off the map, but it’s too late for the military to do anything about it! Luckily, the Earth’s guardian Gamera senses the threat and arrives in time to destroy the flower. Afterward, he is injured by the swarm and retreats back to the sea.

The insects (dubbed “Legion,” a Biblical reference) amass their forces for a second try. This time, the giant Queen Legion runs interference against Gamera. Against all odds, Gamera again destroys the flower, but at a terrible price. The city of Sendai is completely annihilated, with Gamera at ground zero! Can anything revive Gamera, or give the military the edge it needs, to stop the Legion’s relentless march towards Tokyo?

Gamera 2: Attack of Legion is the follow-up to 1995’s Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. The first film was widely hailed as one of the best kaiju eiga since Toho’s golden age in the 1960s. As such, it’s a tough act to follow, but Shusuke Kaneko and his crew do so brilliantly. G2 moves along at a quick pace. Despite the fact that Gamera doesn’t show up until the half-hour mark, the film never drags. In best X-Files fashion, the mystery of the Legion grows and develops ominously. When the monsters engage in battle, there is a real sense of urgency that is lacking in many monster films. Far from being merely a technical exercise, the fights are true struggles for survival. The overwhelming Legion needs to reproduce at any cost, and the audience gets a real sense of the painful sacrifices made by the noble Gamera to stop it. Legion is by far Gamera’s largest and most powerful opponent. Its strength is incredible, and it is able to neutralize Gamera’s attacks. It is a creature which neither Gamera nor humanity alone can destroy. Both must work together to preserve the planet.

There are great scenes in G2. It may seem like a simple thing, but snow is rarely seen in kaiju eiga. The winter setting serves to add some great atmosphere to the early scenes in Sapporo. Another memorable scene is when a group of people, mostly children, gathers in the ruins of Sendai to watch over the defeated Gamera. This reflects back on Gamera’s legacy as the “friend to children,” without descending into silliness or camp. The main characters (both new and returning) are still quite engaging. There are a few CGI shots that are pretty obvious. Ko Otani’s score is less memorable, but this may be because it is intentionally more low-key. Any problems with the film are very minor. Overall, G2 is a triumph. Grade: A