After decades of derision as a childish Godzilla-wannabe, Japan's monster turtle Gamera roared back in the 1990s with a trio of well-crafted and exciting features that reclaimed the franchise from its threadbare '60s roots; all three films, directed by soft-core specialist turned sci-fi/horror auteur Shusuke Kaneko (Death Note), are featured in this two-disc set, along with a wealth of extras. Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995), which relaunched the Gamera series, and its sequel, Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996), are bundled on the first disc; the former reboots Gamera as an ancient savior of mankind, bioengineered to protect the planet from the pterodactyl-like Gyaos, an old foe from 1967's Gamera vs. Gyaos, while the latter pits him against a race of alien insects with plans for world domination. The trilogy closed with 1999's Revenge of Iris, where the title creature is spurred to defeat Gamera through a psychic link with a young girl whose parents were killed during the turtle's fights with Gyaos. All three films are remarkably sober affairs, on par with the creative scope of Toho's millennial Godzilla features in terms of dramatic storytelling and special effects, though the limitations of the miniature work and monster suits are often highlighted by the Blu-ray detail. The creature-on-creature action is plentiful and, on occasion, violent, and Kaneko's serious and respectful approach does much to relieve fans' concerns about a repeat of the original films' juvenile tone.

Mill Creek previously released Guardian and Legion in a bare-bones double-disc format, as well as a single-disc issue of Iris with several behind-the-scenes extras. The Blu-ray Trilogy set features extras from all three films, though for inexplicable reasons, they have been haphazardly loaded onto the Iris disc as one three-hour standard definition supplement (with chapter breaks). The extras, which include deleted scenes from Iris, location footage from Legion, and camera tests from Guardian, are interesting, but their presentation is cumbersome and, occasionally, incorrectly titled (Behind the Scenes from Guardian is actually the camera test, and so on), which might prove frustrating for viewers. However, the set's relatively low price might help smooth over any ill feelings. --Paul Gaita

Join Dr. Nagamine, Inspector Osako and the lovely Asagi Kusanagi as they attempt to unravel the mysterious and deadly monster attacks of both the Gyaos and the Legion. With the help of the military, the survival of the human race depends on them. And the fate of the world depends on a gargantuan, aeronautic and flamably breathed reptile - Gamera, the guardian of the universe! This limited edition box set includes all 3 feature films from the Heisei Gamera trilogy, all beautifully remastered in stunning high definition. Also included is a wealth of Bonus Features!

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe (1995) Color 103 mins Not Rated

That giant fire-breathing turtle you loved as a kid is back with a vengeance in GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE. The all-new science fiction spectacular has been hailed by critic and fans alike as one of the best monster movies ever! Under the guidance of acclaimed director Shusuke Kaneko (Necronomicon) and screenwriter Kazunori Itô (Ghost In the Shell), the lean, green fighting machine has been reborn with a whole new set of tricks under his 200-foot shell. Gamera is ready for the new century with stunning state-of-the-art computer animation and dazzling special effects. The super turtle combats both a misguided military and a hideous race of man-eating flying reptiles. Aiding Gamera in his fight are a courageous naval officer, an intrepid ornithologist and a beautiful young psychic. Don t miss the most incredible slam-bang, knock-down monster slug-fest ever filmed as Gamera turtle-waxes the evil Gyaos through downtown Tokyo in GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE!

Gamera 2: Attack of Legion (1996) Color 114 mins Not Rated

From the same crew who brought us the effect-juiced Gamera: Guardian of the Universe now comes an even more CGI-enhanced adventure for our tortugan hero. A freak meteor shower near Sapporo, Japan brings with it more than just a killer light how. Electrical problems, over-grown plant life and a whole slew of rather irritable critters also drop in to threaten the human race. Local science instructor Midori Honami (Miki Mizuno) is called to assist the brave Colonel Watarase (Toshiyuki Nagashima) in the military s oft-confused attempts to save mankind. They must find a way to successfully combine efforts with their reptilian protector, or both will face ultimate destruction from the Earth s bugged-out invaders. Join the battle as Gamera and his bipedal pals work to repel the Attack of Legion!

Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (1999) 108 minutes / Color / Not Rated

Still reeling after the hard-fought battle to repel Legion, Japan is now reminded of a deadly foe from the past. The Gyaos have returned, and this time the ornery man-eating birds have not only increased their numbers, but also added a menacing new member, Iris, to their destructive little club. Raised by a young girl whose parents Gamera accidentally squished, the flying blood-sucking squid monster Iris takes her learned hatred and goes out on the warpath. Dr. Nagamine and Inspector Osaka are reunited to help Gamera in his relentless quest to protect and save the human race. Can Gamera ground the Gyaos? Can the turtle tie up the terrible tentacles? Do the hapless humans and the rowdy reptile have what it takes to thwart the revenge of Iris?

This Limited Edition Box Set Includes All 3 Feature Films, All Beautifully Re-Mastered in Stunning High Definition!

BONUS MATERIALS: (HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO AND AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS DO NOT APPLY TO THE BONUS MATERIALS

Gamera 1: Gamera Behind the Scenes, Camera Test and Special Effects

Gamera 2: Uncut version of the The Salvo Scene, Behind the Scenes of the Kasum