Godzilla on DVD and Blu-ray

Discuss North American DVDs and Blu-rays or other DVD and Blu-ray-related topics.
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
HerrSchreck
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am

Godzilla on DVD and Blu-ray

#1 Post by HerrSchreck » Mon Sep 04, 2006 1:47 am

I have a slightly early copy here. They really gave this the nice treatment with handsome packaging, 2 disc set it looks like a hardcover book, the full booklet, all the extras on the bfi & aussie releases. The image looks, essentially, as handsome as the bfi without the slight touch of chroma. But what is totally mystifying me is why, since the disc w the Japanese version is on a dual-layered disc with the same features as the first disc of the bfi... the transfer appears to be interlaced.

Was the bfi & r4 fully progressive for the original Japanese version? I'd like to say I'm not surprised (lazy dweeb I am I never got around to grabbing the R2) that it's interlaced, being Sony Classics... but even the previous release of the Burr version in the same line, despite being analog sourced, was itself progressive.

I'm just baffled they went whole hog on the masterpiece presentation/packaging... but went interlaced on the actual encoding.

User avatar
manicsounds
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:58 pm
Location: Tokyo, Japan

#2 Post by manicsounds » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:43 am

What about the sound? on the bfi disc, there were a lot of pops and crackles. Also, reel change marks were visible too. Any of that on the US disc?

User avatar
HerrSchreck
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am

#3 Post by HerrSchreck » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:47 am

Ditto-- very little MTI manual spot-work if any on the image, and same goes for the sound. Reel changes, tears, dust speckles, sound crackles. On the other hand the greyscale seems very true on both JVC IArt large crt and sony LCD wega, with clean chroma free b&W, with very rich blacks. The masters are all probably identical-- checking Gary's caps of the R1 & 4, that's my educated guess. I'm sure he'll give it a look soon.

User avatar
Cinephrenic
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:58 pm
Location: Paris, Texas

#4 Post by Cinephrenic » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:16 am

This is being released with the American cut of the film, Godzilla, King of the Monsters.

User avatar
HerrSchreck
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am

#5 Post by HerrSchreck » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:23 am

Was that not clear in my post? I have it-- yes, it has both versions.. a 2-disc set, like the Aussie.

User avatar
Fletch F. Fletch
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:54 pm
Location: Provo, Utah

#6 Post by Fletch F. Fletch » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:49 pm

I thought that extras were pretty good.. with the featurette, “Making the Godzilla Suitâ€

User avatar
HerrSchreck
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am

#7 Post by HerrSchreck » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:30 pm

Fletch F. Fletch wrote:the torture that the poor guy who wore the suit had to go through. It was so hot that he could only do one take at a time before passing out and they had to take him out of the suit!

.
How about the fact that they hadta drain the suit of a literal cup (as in One Measuring Cup) of sweat after each take!!?. The guy lost an enormous amount of wieght via sweating... under the lights, in already generally un-air-conditioned Japan (hand fans play supporting roles in so many contemporary-- i e then present-day-- Japanese films leading up to the 60's), the temperature inside the suit went up to, they said, 135 degrees, with the only ventilation being the little sight holes punched thru the monster's neck (the head sat on the actors head) so the actor could see where he was going.

User avatar
Fletch F. Fletch
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:54 pm
Location: Provo, Utah

#8 Post by Fletch F. Fletch » Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:43 am

HerrSchreck wrote:How about the fact that they hadta drain the suit of a literal cup (as in One Measuring Cup) of sweat after each take!!?. The guy lost an enormous amount of wieght via sweating... under the lights, in already generally un-air-conditioned Japan (hand fans play supporting roles in so many contemporary-- i e then present-day-- Japanese films leading up to the 60's), the temperature inside the suit went up to, they said, 135 degrees, with the only ventilation being the little sight holes punched thru the monster's neck (the head sat on the actors head) so the actor could see where he was going.
Oh, I know! It's crazy what that poor guy had to endure. He certainly earned his paycheck on that one! I also love how the suit was so stiff that when no one was using it they could just leave it standing up somewhere!

User avatar
manicsounds
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:58 pm
Location: Tokyo, Japan

#9 Post by manicsounds » Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:34 am

http://www.godzillaondvd.com/

No discussions on these? I just got Invasion of Astro Monster and awaiting for Ghidorah to arrive in the mail.

These guys at Classic Media have done great work on the titles,
2 cuts of each film, commentaries loaded with great info, bonus materials,
and handsome slim packaging too.

After the first film, the Godzilla series just goes into camp category,
but still. They are loads of fun and are at a very reasonable price
(especially compared to the Japanese DVD versions)

so far: Godzilla 1954, Godzilla Raids Again 1955, Mothra VS Godzilla 1964, Ghidorah The Three-Headed Monster 1964, Invasion Of Astro Monster 1965

coming september: All Monsters Attack 1969 and The Terror Of Mechagodzilla 1975

I hope more and more come along

patrick
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:15 pm
Location: Philadelphia

#10 Post by patrick » Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:58 am

I've only seen the new Gojira DVD, but I love the packaging on the further installments in the series. I'll probably pick up the two coming out in the fall - it's a shame that they're not going to be releasing Destroy All Monsters.

User avatar
Cosmic Bus
Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 10:12 pm
Location: Seattle, WA
Contact:

#11 Post by Cosmic Bus » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:53 am

I've been debating whether or not to pick these up or just wait for the supposed boxset. I've already got the BFI release of the original, which is excellent, so perhaps I'll spring for a few of these today...
After the first film, the Godzilla series just goes into camp category
That's when they are at their best! =D>

User avatar
dx23
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:52 pm
Location: Puerto Rico

Re: Gojira (1954, Honda) R1 Sony Classics

#12 Post by dx23 » Thu May 07, 2009 12:58 pm

Original Godzilla Stomps onto Blu-ray in September

Posted May 7, 2009 06:50 AM by Juan Calonge

Blu-ray Movies Independent studio Classic Media enters the high-definition arena with its digitally-remastered release of the original 1954 Japanese big-monster classic 'Gojira' (also known as 'Godzilla, King of the Monsters') on Blu-ray on September 22. No detailed specs were given at this time.

The disc will include both the original Japanese version and the heavily-edited US version, for which the distributors worked actor Raymond Burr in the movie, by using doubles and new footage to make it look like Burr was interacting with the Japanese cast.

Extras for this release include:

* Audio commentary by Godzilla experts Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski
* 'The Making of the Godzilla Suit' and 'Godzilla: Story Development' featurettes
* Theatrical trailers

User avatar
HerrSchreck
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:46 am

Re: Gojira & Godzilla, King of the Monsters (Honda, 1954) Sony

#13 Post by HerrSchreck » Thu May 07, 2009 3:00 pm

Looks like your standard BD upgrade of the SD release. Great set, though.

User avatar
Matt
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm

Re: Gojira & Godzilla, King of the Monsters (Honda, 1954) Sony

#14 Post by Matt » Mon May 11, 2009 12:17 pm

HerrSchreck wrote:Looks like your standard BD upgrade of the SD release. Great set, though.
Not anymore. Hang on to your DVD edition.

User avatar
Tom Hagen
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:35 pm
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Re: 594 Godzilla

#15 Post by Tom Hagen » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:40 pm

Do you guys remember Godzuki?

User avatar
knives
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm

Re: 594 Godzilla

#16 Post by knives » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:45 pm

God yes, that was my favorite cartoon as a kid. I was one dumb schmuck.

User avatar
Tribe
The Bastard Spawn of Hank Williams
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:59 pm
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Contact:

Re: 594 Godzilla

#17 Post by Tribe » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:48 pm

What decade did that cartoon run? The closest thing thing to Japanese animation for me when I was a kid was Astro Boy.

And I remember my mom taking me to the movies when I was kid, too young to go alone, to see all those Godzilla movies in 1964-1966 Cleveland. In fact, she took me to see Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster when it had its first run in the US back then. I know she did it grudgingly, but still.

User avatar
knives
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm

Re: 594 Godzilla

#18 Post by knives » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:49 pm

The show wasn't Japanese. It was a '60s cartoon by Hana-Barbara.

User avatar
SpiderBaby
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 6:34 pm

Re: 594 Godzilla

#19 Post by SpiderBaby » Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:58 pm

knives wrote:The show wasn't Japanese. It was a '60s cartoon by Hana-Barbara.
late 70's I thought. you can tell by the clothing.

Either way I wasn't born yet, but these always came on as a kid, along with Super Friends.
Last edited by SpiderBaby on Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
knives
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm

Re: 594 Godzilla

#20 Post by knives » Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:00 pm

The Internet says 1969.

User avatar
SpiderBaby
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 6:34 pm

Re: 594 Godzilla

#21 Post by SpiderBaby » Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:01 pm

knives wrote:The Internet says 1969.
We are prob talking about 2 different cartoons, but that link Tom posted was for a 1978 cartoon.

User avatar
knives
Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm

Re: 594 Godzilla

#22 Post by knives » Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:02 pm

That's what I get for trusting the Internet.

User avatar
SpiderBaby
Joined: Wed Dec 15, 2010 6:34 pm

Re: 594 Godzilla

#23 Post by SpiderBaby » Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:03 pm

knives wrote:That's what I get for trusting the Internet.
I think Bambi meets Godzilla was 69'.

User avatar
htshell
Joined: Sun Jul 24, 2011 4:15 pm

Re: 594 Godzilla

#24 Post by htshell » Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:43 pm

*CG* wrote:
knives wrote:That's what I get for trusting the Internet.
I think Bambi meets Godzilla was 69'.
Would have been an awesome extra...

Orlac
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:29 am

Re: 594 Godzilla

#25 Post by Orlac » Thu Sep 05, 2013 6:26 pm

Given Criterion has in the past licensed titles from Universal and Toho, I really want them to do King Kong Vs Godzilla.

Post Reply