Now Playing: Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends

As of this writing, I've now seen "Mega Monster Battle" twice. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the genre, but be advised: this ain't your father's Ultraman.

That isn't to say that the series has taken a plunge into post-modern soullessness, but there is a heavier than expected emphasis on martial arts combat in this film, so much so that it can sometimes seem like the viewer is watching "Ultra Galaxy: The Video Game." Hong Kong-style wirework adds to an overall hyperkinetic feel to the battle scenes, which come one after another at a break-neck pace. In contrast to the previous two theatrical Ultraman releases (which had far more of a "relational" tone) "Mega Monster Battle" is a adrenaline-fueled drag race in which the thrill of the ride is the highest good.

Fans of the series will be rewarded with many "tips of the cap" to former stars, monsters, and Ultra "brothers." The movie itself is gorgeous and the visual effects are stunning (although I must say that I strongly prefer the CGI version of Ultras in flight, such as in "Ultraman Mebius and the Ultra Brothers," to the "lay-down-in-front-of-a-greenscreen" approach used here). The "Rayonix" concept of being able to control monsters in battle has a certain undeniable genius to it and hopefully will become an enduring element of the Ultra mythos. This is the "summer blockbuster" of Ultraman movies, and all the strengths and weaknesses implied by that description are indeed intentional.

A more comprehensive review of "Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends" (by your friends at Monsterland Ohio, of course) just might appear in the pages of a future G-FAN magazine. We'll have to wait and see!