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"Derek Janssen" wrote:

> Since I don't know which other sympathetic ear will listen (no, sit down,
> Ethan, you're not worth the trouble), I had to say:
>
> If only one of the new "vintage" Toho Godzilla DVD's coming out from Sony
> this week after the new-generation ones (haven't seen "Son of" or
> "Hedorah", but just watched Ebirah aka "vs. Sea Monster", long famed for
> its crappy public-domain exile) are any indication, they look pretty darn
> GOOD. 0_0
> Restored print. Widescreen. AND original Japanese soundtrack with subs.
>
> Assuming that Sony now has an "in" connection with Toho, and a gradual
> softening of their no-R1 heart, anyone know whether there's any chance
> we'll see official versions of the "classic five" that Sony put out
> earlier (arthouse "Godzilla 1" reissue aside)?--
> Or are those still in Toho's cultural-pride reserve vault?

The US release rights are owned by several other studios at the moment. I
don't know who owns the rights for "King Kong vs Godzilla" although the
English language version was released by Goodtimes Video about 6 years ago
and is now long out of print. The original "Godzilla" and "Mothra vs
Godzilla" is currently available in it's original English language dub from
Sony Tri Star. Both are unfortunately fullscreen (although "Godzilla"
pretty much was originally projected fullscreen anyway) and fairly mediocre
looking prints.

There's a strong chance "Rialto Pictures" who ran a limited run of a
beautiful restored original Japanese language subtitled print in theaters
last year will release a new dvd of the original "Godzilla" in the new
future.

"Godzilla Raids Again" and "Ghidrah, The Three Headed Monster"US
distribution rights are currently owned by some small video company who's
name I forget at the moment and are slated for release later this year. It's
unclear if new or "International" English language dubs will be used instead
of the original Englsih language dubbed prinst.

I agree that the recent batch of Sony "classic" Godzilla dvds look great.
Even though it's regarded as one of the weakest Godzilla films, "Son of
Godzilla" looks as good as if not better than the original Japanese region 2
dvd.

It's nice they include the original Japanese language tracks and my only
complaint is that they couldn't use the original US English language dubbed
audio but I'm sure it's an unavoidable issue of distribution rights that
prevent Sony from using those versions. The old English language dubs just
have so much more character to them then the "International" dubs.

T.B.

Derek Janssen wrote on [Fri, 11 Feb 2005 13:22:18 -0800]:

Semi OTP??? One True Pair?

> If only one of the new "vintage" Toho Godzilla DVD's coming out from
> Sony this week after the new-generation ones (haven't seen "Son of" or
> "Hedorah", but just watched Ebirah aka "vs. Sea Monster", long famed for
> its crappy public-domain exile) are any indication, they look pretty
> darn GOOD. 0_0
> Restored print. Widescreen. AND original Japanese soundtrack with subs.
>
> Assuming that Sony now has an "in" connection with Toho, and a gradual
> softening of their no-R1 heart, anyone know whether there's any chance
> we'll see official versions of the "classic five" that Sony put out
> earlier (arthouse "Godzilla 1" reissue aside)?--

Godzilla 1 be damned. It's Gojira

For me I would rather get the Japanese language version with English
subtitles as many of these titles were edited timewise, had new scenes or
actors placed and even different musical scores for the USA releases.
"Justin" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Derek Janssen wrote on [Fri, 11 Feb 2005 13:22:18 -0800]:
>
> Semi OTP??? One True Pair?
>
> > If only one of the new "vintage" Toho Godzilla DVD's coming out from
> > Sony this week after the new-generation ones (haven't seen "Son of" or
> > "Hedorah", but just watched Ebirah aka "vs. Sea Monster", long famed for
> > its crappy public-domain exile) are any indication, they look pretty
> > darn GOOD. 0_0
> > Restored print. Widescreen. AND original Japanese soundtrack with
subs.
> >
> > Assuming that Sony now has an "in" connection with Toho, and a gradual
> > softening of their no-R1 heart, anyone know whether there's any chance
> > we'll see official versions of the "classic five" that Sony put out
> > earlier (arthouse "Godzilla 1" reissue aside)?--
>
> Godzilla 1 be damned. It's Gojira
>

Since I don't know which other sympathetic ear will listen (no, sit
down, Ethan, you're not worth the trouble), I had to say:

If only one of the new "vintage" Toho Godzilla DVD's coming out from
Sony this week after the new-generation ones (haven't seen "Son of" or
"Hedorah", but just watched Ebirah aka "vs. Sea Monster", long famed for
its crappy public-domain exile) are any indication, they look pretty
darn GOOD. 0_0
Restored print. Widescreen. AND original Japanese soundtrack with subs.

Assuming that Sony now has an "in" connection with Toho, and a gradual
softening of their no-R1 heart, anyone know whether there's any chance
we'll see official versions of the "classic five" that Sony put out
earlier (arthouse "Godzilla 1" reissue aside)?--
Or are those still in Toho's cultural-pride reserve vault?

Derek Janssen

TB wrote:

> The US release rights are owned by several other studios at the moment. I
> don't know who owns the rights for "King Kong vs Godzilla" although the
> English language version was released by Goodtimes Video about 6 years ago
> and is now long out of print. The original "Godzilla" and "Mothra vs
> Godzilla" is currently available in it's original English language dub from
> Sony Tri Star. Both are unfortunately fullscreen (although "Godzilla"
> pretty much was originally projected fullscreen anyway) and fairly mediocre
> looking prints.

Sony Music snapped up the vintage cheapie-dub "classic 5"--King of,
Revenge, vs. Mothra, Rodan, Terror of Mech--from (the marginally better)
Scimitar, to keep them under one brand name.
Don't know if those five are under any rights issues, but those, along
with the original Mothra and Ghidrah-3HM (which always seemed to be
passed over, not being properly franchise-promotable with *the* Big
Guy), are the current holy grails for restored dual-language versions.

> "Godzilla Raids Again" and "Ghidrah, The Three Headed Monster"US
> distribution rights are currently owned by some small video company who's
> name I forget at the moment and are slated for release later this year. It's
> unclear if new or "International" English language dubs will be used instead
> of the original Englsih language dubbed prinst.

If it's not Col/Tri (who does their own in-house dubs for imports), I'm
guessing just the existing dub--
Sony's the only one with the solid bi-Pacific connection, and part of
their deal may date back to when Sony was the studio that was going to
negotiate with Toho for that US-version mess.

> I agree that the recent batch of Sony "classic" Godzilla dvds look great.
> Even though it's regarded as one of the weakest Godzilla films, "Son of
> Godzilla" looks as good as if not better than the original Japanese region 2
> dvd.

I'd only seen "Sea Monster" on the muddy fullscreen PD versions (or
MST3K), and practically did a double-take at seeing it in clear
technicolor... 0_0
IIRC, that leaves only fellow exile "vs. Megalon", which's hardly one of
the prime entries, but it's nice to see ANYTHING rescued out of PD limbo.

> It's nice they include the original Japanese language tracks and my only
> complaint is that they couldn't use the original US English language dubbed
> audio but I'm sure it's an unavoidable issue of distribution rights that
> prevent Sony from using those versions. The old English language dubs just
> have so much more character to them then the "International" dubs.

They were the affectionately goofiness that we grew up on, but...well,
whatever pays the lawyer bills. :/

Derek Janssen

In article <fr7Pd.1654$>, Derek Janssen
<> wrote:

> TB wrote:
>
> > It's nice they include the original Japanese language tracks and my only
> > complaint is that they couldn't use the original US English language dubbed
> > audio but I'm sure it's an unavoidable issue of distribution rights that
> > prevent Sony from using those versions. The old English language dubs just
> > have so much more character to them then the "International" dubs.
>
> They were the affectionately goofiness that we grew up on, but...well,
> whatever pays the lawyer bills. :/
>
Many US releases of Godzilla films were edited in some way, and just as
in the case with classic anime shows you can either have the original
dub and not Japanese track or the original Japanese version and a new
dub, but not both. Unless you treat them as two different films and but
both on one dvd.

--
Chris Mack "Refugee, total ****. That's how I've always seen us.
'Invid Fan' Not a help, you'll admit, to agreement between us."
-'Deal/No Deal', CHESS

"Derek Janssen" <> wrote in message
>
> Since I don't know which other sympathetic ear will listen (no, sit
> down, Ethan, you're not worth the trouble), I had to say:

You are just jealous of my vicarious lifestyle.

> If only one of the new "vintage" Toho Godzilla DVD's coming out from
> Sony this week after the new-generation ones (haven't seen "Son of" or
> "Hedorah", but just watched Ebirah aka "vs. Sea Monster", long famed for
> its crappy public-domain exile) are any indication, they look pretty
> darn GOOD. 0_0
> Restored print. Widescreen. AND original Japanese soundtrack with subs.

I assume by the vintage ones you mean Godzilla King of the Monsters,
Rodan, Godzilla vs Mothra, Godzilla's Revenge, and Terror of Mechagodzilla.
I wish they would re-release them as well, as they are some of the best G
movies, except for Godzilla's Revenge. Sadly I don't think we will see
a decent release of any of them anytime soon except maybe for the original
Japanese version of Gojira.

I am picking up Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla II this week, the only form I
have it in is raw Japanese VHS.

> Assuming that Sony now has an "in" connection with Toho, and a gradual
> softening of their no-R1 heart, anyone know whether there's any chance
> we'll see official versions of the "classic five" that Sony put out
> earlier (arthouse "Godzilla 1" reissue aside)?--
> Or are those still in Toho's cultural-pride reserve vault?

I wish they would re-release all of the Hesei series with Japanese
dialouge and in widescreen.

--
All Purpose Cultural Randomness
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/apcr/index.html

I liked when they advertised the U.S. version of the origianal
"Godzilla" to be shown on one of my local tv stations. the announcer
said

"I don't know who's bigger, Godzilla or Raymond Burr".

I liked when they advertised the U.S. version of the origianal
"Godzilla" to be shown on one of my local tv stations. the announcer
said

"I don't know who's bigger, Godzilla or Raymond Burr".

While advertising Godzilla to be shown the next week, My local tv
station announcer said

"I don't know who's bigger. Godzilla or Raymond Burr"

and then started laughing, while still on the air.