- Note: Blu-ray discs are in a high definition format and need to be played on a Blu-ray player. To find out more about Blu-ray, visit our Hi-Def Learn & Shop store.
- Important Information on Firmware Updates: Having trouble with your Blu-ray disc player? Will certain discs just not play? You may need to update the firmware inside your player. Click here to learn more.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
It's a strange and almost unnoticed fact that the two Japanese films of 1954 that put Japanese cinema at its most poetic and its most populist on the international map both starred Takashi Shimura. The same year he led a group of Ronin to defend a poor village for Akira Kurosawa he was also trying to unravel the mystery of Gojira, only to get sidelined in the US version of the film in favor of a not exactly seamlessly edited in Raymond Burr. Criterion's Region A-locked Blu-ray and Region 1 NTSC DVD edition of Godzilla in both its incarnations is a nice presentation of a movie that isn't quite as good as you'd like it to be but still isn't bad for all that.
While the Japanese version, with its heavy Hiroshima and Nagasaki allegorical overtones, is the better film, the American version isn't exactly negligible. Restructuring the film's timeframe, beginning in the aftermath of the destruction of Tokyo and framing much of the film as a flashback to explain the need for narration, it sidelines the nuclear subplot and Shimura (who is badly dubbed by an actor who can't pronounce `phemonenum' in his few surviving scenes) but still offers much of the flavor of the original, as well as offering a couple of bizarrely charming moments of camp from Raymond Burr: it's almost worth it for the little look he gives the security officer in the helicopter.
Both films were previously available in a decent edition from Classic Media in the USA, ], and despite the great claims made for Criterion's new release the picture quality is not that big an upgrade over their DVD version because they're clearly working with the same master material (though it definitely has the edge on Classic Media's disappointing 1081i Blu-ray release, Gojira [Blu-ray] [1954] [US Import], which only included the Japanese version). Where Criterion's edition scores is in an excellent selection of extras, including two audio commentaries by David Kalat on the different versions which veer more to the political and intellectual than Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle's enthusiastically fan-friendlier commentaries on the Classic Media release, as well as an impressive array of interviews with actors Akira Takarada (who recalls introducing himself on set as playing the lead only to be told by a technician "Godzilla's the lead, you idiot") and the man in the suit himself Haruo Nakjima (who recollects the crew's sweat dripping down like rain from the gantries of the unairconditioned set onto the costume), special effects men Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai, composer Akira Ifukube (running an impressive 50 minutes and the most detailed on the disc) and film critic Tadao Sato. As if that wasn't enough there are also a couple of featurettes on the Photographic Effects and some unlucky Japanese fishermen whose exposure to radiation were one of the inspirations for the film, The Unluckiest Dragon, the original Japanese and US trailers and a booklet.
On the minus side, some of the white subtitles aren't as easy to read against the lighter backgrounds as they could be and the Blu-ray, as per all of Criterion's discs, is incredibly slow to load. If you have the Classic Media DVD, it's worth holding onto that for its exclusive extras, but the extras package alone makes this well worth an upgrade for fans. Read more ›
While the Japanese version, with its heavy Hiroshima and Nagasaki allegorical overtones, is the better film, the American version isn't exactly negligible. Restructuring the film's timeframe, beginning in the aftermath of the destruction of Tokyo and framing much of the film as a flashback to explain the need for narration, it sidelines the nuclear subplot and Shimura (who is badly dubbed by an actor who can't pronounce `phemonenum' in his few surviving scenes) but still offers much of the flavor of the original, as well as offering a couple of bizarrely charming moments of camp from Raymond Burr: it's almost worth it for the little look he gives the security officer in the helicopter.
Both films were previously available in a decent edition from Classic Media in the USA, ], and despite the great claims made for Criterion's new release the picture quality is not that big an upgrade over their DVD version because they're clearly working with the same master material (though it definitely has the edge on Classic Media's disappointing 1081i Blu-ray release, Gojira [Blu-ray] [1954] [US Import], which only included the Japanese version). Where Criterion's edition scores is in an excellent selection of extras, including two audio commentaries by David Kalat on the different versions which veer more to the political and intellectual than Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle's enthusiastically fan-friendlier commentaries on the Classic Media release, as well as an impressive array of interviews with actors Akira Takarada (who recalls introducing himself on set as playing the lead only to be told by a technician "Godzilla's the lead, you idiot") and the man in the suit himself Haruo Nakjima (who recollects the crew's sweat dripping down like rain from the gantries of the unairconditioned set onto the costume), special effects men Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai, composer Akira Ifukube (running an impressive 50 minutes and the most detailed on the disc) and film critic Tadao Sato. As if that wasn't enough there are also a couple of featurettes on the Photographic Effects and some unlucky Japanese fishermen whose exposure to radiation were one of the inspirations for the film, The Unluckiest Dragon, the original Japanese and US trailers and a booklet.
On the minus side, some of the white subtitles aren't as easy to read against the lighter backgrounds as they could be and the Blu-ray, as per all of Criterion's discs, is incredibly slow to load. If you have the Classic Media DVD, it's worth holding onto that for its exclusive extras, but the extras package alone makes this well worth an upgrade for fans. Read more ›
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Enraged Monster Wipes Out An Entire City! (While Perry Mason watches on for America).
9 Mar 2013
By Spike Owen
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well it literally is a different animal from Ishirō Honda's seminal 1954 movie about the giant atomic lizard who wakes up in a bad mood. Here the American version clips the atmosphere considerably (and the running time), craftily edits Raymond Burr into Honda's movie and of course removes the anti-American sentiment that once existed. Yet the film did prove to be very popular with English speaking film fans and further enhanced the growing appeal of all things Godzilla like.
As it is it's a decent enough film, especially if you have never seen Honda's original. For sure it's still creaky in that "man in rubber suit" way, but the iconic creature is still thrilling as it goes about its merry way destroying some carefully constructed model workings. The nuclear war heedings are still there and there's much fun to be had, intentional or otherwise. Its pale in comparison to the original, but it's not a stinker either. 6/10
As it is it's a decent enough film, especially if you have never seen Honda's original. For sure it's still creaky in that "man in rubber suit" way, but the iconic creature is still thrilling as it goes about its merry way destroying some carefully constructed model workings. The nuclear war heedings are still there and there's much fun to be had, intentional or otherwise. Its pale in comparison to the original, but it's not a stinker either. 6/10
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gojira never goes out of style from Wednesday night drive-in to Blu-ray
2 May 2010
By bernie
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Blu-ray
As with many here I have several versions of Godzilla on different media. I could not resist the Blu-ray offer. It is the original with an English subtitle option and a few DVD extras. But there was no effort to clean up the scratches from the old film. The scratches are clearer and sharper. There is the obligatory overlaid commentary.
"He wanted us to be happy..."
We get a full Godzilla with the warning about what happens if you didle around with the bomb. The anticipation of the big lizard is lots of fun but if you have not seem the film before you will have to read the subtitles fast. Then you will need to re-watch the film to see the acting.
If you watch many Japanese movies you will notice that many of the actors are majors in other movies. Emiko Yamane is played by Momoko Kôchi one of my favorite from "The Mysterians" (1957). The paleontologist is played by Takashi Shimura from "The Seven Samurai" (1954).
The Mysterians ~ Momoko Kôchi
"He wanted us to be happy..."
We get a full Godzilla with the warning about what happens if you didle around with the bomb. The anticipation of the big lizard is lots of fun but if you have not seem the film before you will have to read the subtitles fast. Then you will need to re-watch the film to see the acting.
If you watch many Japanese movies you will notice that many of the actors are majors in other movies. Emiko Yamane is played by Momoko Kôchi one of my favorite from "The Mysterians" (1957). The paleontologist is played by Takashi Shimura from "The Seven Samurai" (1954).
The Mysterians ~ Momoko Kôchi
4 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By M. Locke
Format:DVD
Godzilla King of thge monsters hould be re enitiled king of the recuts since this American version is just a recut version of the Japanese original with an added cast member to make it more palatable for American viewers.
Big man, Raymond Burr plays pipe smoking reporter Steve Martin ( a small link to the wild and crazy funnyman re "Dead men don't wear plaid" )who stops off in Tokyo to puruse some hunch and ends up hunting down a creature known as Godzilla.
The problem with this film is that it isn't so much a film as much as a collection of footage from the orignal Japanese Gojira cobbled together together with a voice over and scenes of Raymond trying to figure out the mystery of the monster and therien lies the problem. Since it is impossible to look at this film without being reminded in some way of the Japanense original. Imagine Star Wars recut in a way that it is seen through the eyes of Jar jar bing or imagine footage of the Godfather being used to bulk out a feature length movie which stars a character that is supposed to be connected to that original movie but in no way is and you have what is Godzilla King of the monsters.
This style of film is probably most successful when played as a comedy. As evidence I offer up Woody allens "What's up tiger Lilly" and Steve Martins "Dead men don't wear plaid" in which the lead characters cut either themsleves or a voiceover into an already made film to achieve comic effect. But when tried to do seriously this creates more of an Ed Wood or " they stole hitlers brain" effect.Silly and stupid.
At it's best this movie could be considered inventive and creative at it's worst. It's poxy.
Big man, Raymond Burr plays pipe smoking reporter Steve Martin ( a small link to the wild and crazy funnyman re "Dead men don't wear plaid" )who stops off in Tokyo to puruse some hunch and ends up hunting down a creature known as Godzilla.
The problem with this film is that it isn't so much a film as much as a collection of footage from the orignal Japanese Gojira cobbled together together with a voice over and scenes of Raymond trying to figure out the mystery of the monster and therien lies the problem. Since it is impossible to look at this film without being reminded in some way of the Japanense original. Imagine Star Wars recut in a way that it is seen through the eyes of Jar jar bing or imagine footage of the Godfather being used to bulk out a feature length movie which stars a character that is supposed to be connected to that original movie but in no way is and you have what is Godzilla King of the monsters.
This style of film is probably most successful when played as a comedy. As evidence I offer up Woody allens "What's up tiger Lilly" and Steve Martins "Dead men don't wear plaid" in which the lead characters cut either themsleves or a voiceover into an already made film to achieve comic effect. But when tried to do seriously this creates more of an Ed Wood or " they stole hitlers brain" effect.Silly and stupid.
At it's best this movie could be considered inventive and creative at it's worst. It's poxy.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 235 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Film & TV > Blu-ray
- Film & TV > Classics > Drama
- Film & TV > Classics > Horror & Suspense
- Film & TV > Classics > Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Film & TV > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
- Film & TV > Drama
- Film & TV > English Subtitles
- Film & TV > Horror > Asian Horror
- Film & TV > Horror > Foreign Horror Films
- Film & TV > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy & Futuristic
- Film & TV > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
- Film & TV > World Cinema
- Music > Soundtracks & Musicals
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
