Godzilla buyers guide
 

Does anyone know where to find information on what all the best versions of the Godzilla dvd's are. I only have about five Big G flicks right now, including the excellent two discer of the original, I heard Classic Media is planning the next two in Nov, and then three more to follow after that, (then a boxset, dammit, I don't want to wait that long)
So if anyone has a breakdown of them all, please let me know.

Do you mean R1 only or any region?

If R1, yes, definitely get the Classic Media titles that will be coming out (and not the previous P&S CM releases, or the Simitar releases).

With the exception of the Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah/Mothra and Godzilla: The Battle for Earth and Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla/Godzilla vs. Destoroyah twin movie releases, the Sony/Columbia/TriStar discs are quite nice. All have Japanese tracks w/subs (although a few unfortunately use the dub script for the subtitles).The "classics" in their library look REALLY good.

As for King Kong vs. Godzilla, your only option is the Universal release that only has the heavily edited U.S. version. Note: there was a GoodTimes P&S in the past, long since OOP.

Destroy All Monsters, released by ADV, is also English-dub only (Dolby 2.0), has no chapters, and does not match the video quality of the Sony titles.

With the forthcoming Classic Media titles, only Godzilla 1985 and Godzilla vs. Biollante have no R1 release of any type.

I should also say that Godzilla vs. Megalon was only put out on (assumed) public domain crappy P&S releases, long since OOP.

Excellent information, I'm cool with any region, so where are good quality copies on Godzilla 1985 and Godzilla vs. Biollante available.

Where is this list of Classic Media titles to be released?

One more correction: the R1 Godzilla 2000 has the English dub track only. The commentary track alone makes it worth buying however.

I've heard that the Australian Region 4 PAL releases from Madman are good. You can see what's available at this site: ezdvd.com. Browse the sci-fi section. Keep in mind they use the international titles (i.e. Godzilla vs. Monster Zero to us is Invasion of the Astro Monster to them). I've never watched any of these discs myself.

Classic Media's catalog:
Gojira/Godzilla King of the Monsters
Godzilla Raids Again (aka Gigantis the Fire Monster)
Mothra vs. Godzilla (aka Godzilla vs. The Thing)
Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster
Godzilla vs. Monster Zero
Godzilla's Revenge
Terror of Mechagodzilla

After they take care of the Godzilla titles, they will release:
Rodan
Frankenstein Conquers the World
War of the Gargantuas

dvdcompare.net is always handy.

I did one in another thread: but here's the list, as it's got one or two updates. Sadly the Biollante film is the most troublesome of them. Note that the Classic Media releases were originally for a box set in September, but this is now changed to individual releases over time with maybe a boxset next year.

Godzilla - due September, Classic Media (as Gojira)

Godzilla Raids Again - Due Novemeber, Classic Media

King Kong vs. Godzilla - Released

Mothra vs. Godzilla - Due November, Classic Media

Ghidora The Three Headed Monster - Due , Classic Media

Invasion of the Astro Monster - Due , Classic Media

Ebirah, Monster of the Deep - Released (as Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster

Son of Godzilla - Released

Destroy All Monsters - Released (ADV - not a particularly good one though; the r4 edition by Madman is much better)

All Monsters Attack - Due , Classic Media

Godzilla vs. Hedora - Released

Godzilla vs. Gigan - Released

Godzilla vs. Megalon - Released, but only as horrid pan-and-scan cheapies in R1; proper OAR editions in Germany and France, but no English tracks or titles; proper OAR r4 edition by Madman

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla - Released

Terror of Mechagodzilla - Due , Classic Media

Return of Godzilla (Godzilla 1985) - no release

Godzilla vs. Biollante - r2 (France), forced subtitles; r2 (Sweden) with Swedish, Danish, Finnish subtitles (don't know if they are forced or not)

Godzilla vs. King Ghidora (1991) - Released, but pan-and-scan in r1 as double bill with

Godzilla vs. Mothra: The Battle for Earth (1992) - Released but pan-and-scan in r1

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II - Released

Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla - Released as double bill with

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah - Released

Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack - Released

Godzilla 2000 -Released, shorter US edition in r1

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus - Released

Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) - Released

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. - Released

Godzilla: Final Wars - Released


Except where shown otherwise, releases are r1, and are from Columbia-Tristar, or later Sony, after they took over. Releases are OAR unless otherwise stated. DVD releases have been under the titles indicated, which means that most have come under the "original" rather than the US alternates (the most notable exception being the Ebirah film, one assumes they wanted "Godzilla vs" in the title! Note that Classic Media distributes under the Sony label, so their titles will appear under "Sony" or "Sony Wonder"

The list excludes the r2 Japanese releases, since they don't have any English track, and are difficult and expensive to get hold of.

That's as far as I can make things out, anyway. So the majority of the movies will be out , with a couple of notable exceptions, but it's a pity that several of the Columbia/Sony ones are pan-and-scan jobs.

I'm not a Godzilla expert by any means, so corrections are welcome.
And now my brain hurts and I'm going to have a little lie down somewhere!

Wow, you should create one of thoose DVD aficionado lists to go along with this, I think it's justified. Accourding to the website, Classic Media will be releasing them all in a boxset, once the individual releases are over with.

The only truly complete Godzilla release was the awesome Japanese "Godzilla Final Box" with 30 discs in a Godzilla head shaped box. Limited edition from Toho - with an equally awesome price-tag.

The boxset from Classic media will contain the titles that they are releasing over the next few months as listed above, possibly with additional extras. This was originally planned for this September with individual releases to follow, but they've switched the strategy around.

The Sony release of Space Godzilla/Destoroyah was at least anamorphic OAR, unlike their Ghidorah/Mothra double bill.

And as I've noted, the ADV release is a poor one; it's almost, but not quite, OAR, and it's a rotten transfer.

The r4 edition from Madman is much better.

http://img420.imageshack.us/img420/7...dzilla1vn2.jpg

Oh man, I came close to buying that thing a couple of times. It's bigger than it looks though, and I'm not sure where I would have even put it . . .

Well, the hug boxset, well boner-riffic looking for the typical member of this forum, does not include English subtitles, from what I understand.
A cool note I heard about this box: it came out before Final Wars, so there is actually a blank spot on the box, where you could put it when it was released. To me, that's just awsome.

I offered to do that at one point, but I was told they stopped doing it because too many people that start them don't maintain them.

Is there someway to make a forum of just sticky threads, with DVD buyers guides for stuff like Godzilla, James Bond, different directors and so on, with information on all the different releases they have had. Then if someone fails to update it, the mods could just let someone else take over.

But still available in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection Volume 10...heh heh!

Right on both counts; but English is hardly necessary to follow a Godzilla movie... :-)

And yep, the boxset had space for the Final Wars disc.

And you can also get a very good Megalon release in r4 from Madman, which is anamorphic OAR with English and original Japanese tracks.

Remember, a multiregion player is your friend for life.

I'm torn between waiting for a box set and getting them as they come out. I bought the one that just came out, not realizing there were so many more to follow.

Well, Classic Media is only doing six Big G flicks for right now, and then the box set, so it probably won't be that big of a saving to wait for it. I guess the big decider on to wait for the box or not, would be if they released any info as to if it will just be a slipcover over the six releases or if it will be some extrodinary box, at a super saver price.

i never saw the appeal in buying huge sets that are just dvds bundled with a statue/model etc.. wasnt that set about $900? for 30 discs thats alot.

Yes, but the exorbitant price is more because it's Japanese than because it's a boxset.

True, "fancy" boxsets do tend to cost more than "plain" ones but this one is expensive both because of what it is and where it's from.

Personally, I love boxsets, but only plain(ish) ones; plastic Alien heads or Chimp heads with bad wigs hold little attraction, and take up inordinate amounts of shelf-space.

The Classic Media boxset was due in September, but they've decided to go for individual releases first. It remains to be seen whether the boxset, for which there is no release date, will come with significant additional extras or a cheaper pricetag.

In any case, as I live in the UK, it will be individual releases for me, since even a discounted boxset would almost certainly be over our tax-free import allowance so the extra tax payments would cancel out the discount, and then some.

Excellent news that they are releasing Furankenshutain tai chitei kaijû Baragon (Frankenstein Conquers the World) and Furankenshutain no kaijû: Sanda tai Gaira (War of the Gargantuas).

I didn't know they were due to release Sora no daikaijû Radon (Rodan) though. Anyone got a link to confirm this?

Yeah, I debated getting this monster, too. Then I asked myself, would I really watch all those Godzilla movies without subtitles? Unfortunately, my answer was: Yes, I would. Still, even with the wife's permission, I decided not to drop nearly a thousand bucks for the big green lizard.

On a happy note, my other half bought me the Japanese Alien head for a Christmas present.

That was my feeling as well. I came so close when I actually saw it in person; it is much more impressive than seeing it online. I almost ordered it after that, but couldn't bring myself to do it. The qulity releases we have been getting recently helped that decision.

Now, maybe if I could have worn the Godzilla head (it was certainly big enough). . . ;)

Where did you see it in person?

Wearing it would be awsome. I would love to get my hands on a full Godzilla suit, I have a dream, that for Halloween one year, I'll dress up my kids and nieces (all in the 1-4 range) and nephews as little Asian buisness men, then send them to ring doorbells. Once someone answers, I'll come stomping around the corner as Gin costume and they can all run around like crazy shouting "GODZILLA!, GODZILLA!"

Godzilla has a "deer head mounted on the wall" look to him.