Report: Sony will release a US/Japanese DVD of MOTHRA in 2009

I forgot, you spoke Japanese. Why not import directly from Toho? I assume their DVDs are of high quality, and you can obviously play all regions. The extras would also be something.

I'm still waiting for them to get some spine and release Jujin Yuki Otoko, complete, uncut, unedited, and in all its supposed Ainu-bashing glory. But this seems, to understate things, quite unlikely. That's one I'd love to have in its original form.

Well, Toho put a self-imposed ban on Half Human and Prophecies of Nostradamus so they will never release either of them. Nostradamus was considered offensive to survivors of a nuclear explosion. I have a bootleg of Nostradamus. I remember seeing my friends bootleg of the Japanese version of Half Human and I don't see what the fuss is about. It certainly isn't a great movie and possibly Ishiro Honda's worst.

I just thought you should know that the Austrailian and Hong Kong Godzilla DVDs have English Subtitles and are uncut if you ever buy any other Godzilla movies.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Yes -- what was the Jujin Yuki Otoko fuss about? What's in it that anyone (Ainu or others) find so offensive?

Of course the structure of the Americanized Half Human eliminates any hint of what the fuss was. But sight unseen as far as the original goes, I'd still like to see it. I rather enjoyed what I could see of it even in the US version.

Where and how did your friend get a bootleg? (Don't reveal any trade secrets!)

Toho's ban is, as you say, self-imposed, which means they alone could lift it if they so chose.

Well, I really don't see what the Ainu found offensive. I don't know where and how my friend got a bootleg but, I could ask him. I think he just downloaded a torrent. I don't think Toho will lift their ban on the film because there isn't a lot of Japanese people who really want the film on DVD. I personally would like to see them release Prophecies of Nostradamus. That film was banned because some people complained the film was offensive to survivors of a nuclear explosion.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

I think I'm only very vaguely familiar with Prophecies, but am not sure: in fact, is this a Japanese film or an import you're referring to? Is opposition based on the notion that it's supposed to be offensive because it claims Nostradamus predicted the atomic bomb attacks?

I am referring to a Toho Japanese film named Prophecies of Nostradamus. It was self-banned by Toho and it is interesting and entertaining. It is from Yoshimitsu Banno, the director of the bizare and crazy Godzilla Vs. Hedorah(AKA Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster). Banno will also be directing the upcoming IMAX film Godzilla 3-D.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

So why did Toho self-ban it? I assume this was some time after it received a release. Why were the A-bomb survivors (I assume it was they) upset about it?

Hedorah was, um, interesting. 3-D should be much more so!

A week after the films release in Japan, a member of "No Nukes" filed a complaint to the organization in charge of censoring films in Japan that the scenes with the mutants in New Guinea and the mutants after the nuclear war were offensive to surrviors of a nuclear explosion. Toho rushed to this complaint by telling projectionists to remove almost 2 minutes of "offensive" footage from new prints of the movie and dub in the line: "Don't shoot! They're Humans! Don't shoot!" said by Ryougen when he is being attacked by the New Guinea Mutants. Later, Toho pulled the film, then edited it down to 90 minutes(it was originally 114 minutes), and re-released it to finish it's theatrical run. Another 90 minute version was made with the "offensive scenes" when Toho made their International version of the film, which cuts out a lot of the plot before the disasters start to hit. In the 80s, UPA(who distributed Invasion of Astro-Monster, Terror of Mechagodzilla, and War of the Gargantuas in the US)made another edit of the film that was cut down to 72 minutes and they also added their own opening to the film. Sadly, this 72-minute is the only version that was released to home video, since Toho has banned the film in Japan. The uncut, 114-minute version was shown on TV in Japan in the 1980s but this would be the last time the film was shown.

I have a bootleg of the uncut version.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

I wonder if anyone at Toho stopped to think that none of this was worth all the effort. Too bad they cave so easily (and ridiculously) to the slightest protest by self-appointed pressure groups. The US film industry hasn't quite hit that level...yet. But we're probably well on our way. So much for freedom of expression.

Proof, you are a terrific fount of information, and I appreciate your kind replies to my many questions. Thank you so much!

Your welcome! I hope I don't get banned like "Controler of Planet X".

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Yeah, controller was a good guy, and I haven't a clue why he was banished from IMDb. I never saw anything he wrote that was in the least untoward or insulting or in any way improper. Obviously something happened, but no idea what. Like you, he was a great and courteous source of information. That still baffles me.

Hey Hobnob, is your King Kong Vs. Godzilla DVD from V.D. as ugly and lackluster as Toho's own R2 DVD? It is their 30th Anniversary film and one of their all time blockbusters and I was very suprised with their lackluster DVD.

Here is a review of the DVD from TohoKingdom:

http://www.tohokingdom.com/dvd/region2/kkvsg_toho.htm

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

I just read the review on the link you provided. Unfortunately, it's been a couple of years since I last watched Kingu Kongu tai Gojira, so I can't at this point recall everything in detail as the reviewer presents it here.

Even so, I don't remember the visual problems this reviewer talks about. I do seem to remember thinking that the transfer was not quite as good as almost all the other films I've gotten from VD -- but nothing like the number or extent of problems with color, contrast and so forth that the reviewer has with the 30th anniversary edition. I thought the colors were good, the contrast decent, the widescreen fine, no real sound problems -- a basically good transfer. (I also don't recall all the extras he talks about.) The main drawback I noticed was that the print was not quite as clean as, say, Mothra, Rodan, Battle in Outer Space, The H-Man and others, but perfectly clear and acceptable -- certainly not the nearly unwatchable print the reviewer cites, with all its problems. The only other VD film I recall that seemed a little bit less than excellent was The Last War, where the print was okay but didn't seem to be struck from the original camera negative, more like a copy of a second-generation print. But I recall nothing like that, or certainly the reviewer's problems, with KKVG.

I'll recheck over the next few days if you'd like. I may be forgetting something.

Well, obviously the VD bootleg doesn't have extras! Unfortunately, this same exact transfer is on every release of the film. Also, the DVD isn't a "30th Anniversary edition". King Kong Vs. Godzilla was Toho's 30th Anniversary film.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

As a matter of fact, a great many of the VD films very definitely do have extras. There are extensive extras, for instance, on The H-Man, and on many of the other films as well (Mothra too, if I recall). Also, almost all include the threatrical trailer. When I said I didn't recall the KKVG extras this reviewer talked about I wasn't implying that there were no extras on the VD disc, or even for that matter that they weren't the ones he spoke of; I only meant to say that I simply didn't remember the extras (if any). As I said, it's been two years or more since I last saw the movie. It's also possible it has some extras but that I didn't watch them; unfortunately, while the movies are subtitled the extras never are, and lacking fluency in Japanese is a drawback. Still, some extras I have watched, as even not understanding what's being said many of the visuals are interesting.

Now you've piqued my curiosity, and I'll have to look at the DVD again shortly. I'll let you know what I find.

30th anniversary film, 30th anniversary edition -- to-may-to, to-mah-to. Basically a distinction without a (substantive) difference. Either way, from the review you linked me to, it sounds as if Toho made an inexplicable mess of the release, and that's baffling.

When you watch the DVD again, try to compare the screenshots in the review with the DVD. Yep, Toho made a big mess out of the release and Toho's DVD is so bad that Universal's release actually has better video quality(The audio quality is about the same).

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Hi Proofpoochie,

Well, I watched the VD DVD (try saying that three times) of KKVG last night, and here's my report. Oh, before writing this I went back after seeing the film and re-read the review on the Toho Kingdom link you gave me, and also compared the still he provided from the Toho and Universal prints, so I have those comments as well as the movie itself fresh in my mind.

First, yes, it is the 30th anniversary release. It'd been two years since I last watched it and frankly didn't remember the "30th" pre-credit notice. (By the way, 30th anniversary of what? What year was this anniversary? Are they talking about 1962, when KKVG was made? That's the only date for which a 30th anniversary of the studio itself would make sense.)

Anyway, I watched the film before going back to read the review, but I did notice most of the problems the reviewer describes. The aspects that struck me most were the somewhat faded or washed-out look of some scenes (I noticed this more in the second half of the movie than the first) and the brightness of some (not all) scenes. Also, in some places the color was clearly off -- the yellowing, and too-red credits, struck me (I'd forgotten he'd even mentioned these). Clearly, the studio seems to have tried too much color saturation in lieu of a proper picture restoration.

My memory from two years ago was of a not-great but acceptable print. Watching for details, and re-reading the review, make the problems more obvious.

Still, and maybe I'm not particular enough, while it's obvious that this film could use a good restoration job, I don't see that it's as bad as he or you do (though I think you're more adept at this kind of thing than I am). The problems I saw in the film were the same as described, but they didn't seem as prevalent, as all-pervasive, as his review implies. They turn up in portions of the film, not throughout, from my observation. (For example, while some colors looked "washed out" in some parts of the film, in others they appeared perfectly acceptable; also, while some scenes are clearly too bright, I didn't get this impression throughout the movie. Same with the complaint about random debris or other particulate elements on the film: sometimes, but not always.) This variableness in the picture is itself a problem, of course, but my point is none of the problems cited seemed to mark the film all the way through.

I thought the sound was fine (as did the reviewer). This disc also had some, not all, of the extras he described, namely all the theatrical trailers, all but one of which were repetitive -- each different, yet each save the one of the exact same scenes (some with more on-screen information, one full-screen and in black and white (!), one in dubbed English (!!) but not from the US release as its printing is all in Japanese). One trailer was somewhat different and did indeed have the music from The Mysterians and something else familiar which I couldn't quite place till I read the review again and realized it was from The Hidden Fortress. (I had only skimmed this part in my earlier reading.) None of the cast and other extras he mentions were on this disc, but they didn't sound very interesting.

Bottom line (1): I agree, this film needs major picture restoration, for all the reasons pointed out. Its quality is in this regard inferior to almost every other disc I've seen from VD out of Toho. If you'll recall I said last week that I remembered the picture from this film was below par, without recalling much in the way of specifics; well, the reviewer's points are all well-taken. Compared to virtually all the other DVDs I have from VD, which are almost all of excellent condition, this one is definitely not as good. However --

Bottom line (2): Despite the work needed to bring this picture back to its deserved condition, I don't see it as "ugly", as you put it -- "lackluster", your other word, is more like it. In general I found the picture clear and generally acceptable, with some of the softness the reviewer complained of but again nothing as poor as he makes out. The problems cited all exist but don't eviscerate the quality of the picture as the reviewer almost seems to feel. I guess I'm comparing this print with prints of some films that are genuinely of poor or quasi-atrocious quality. Compared to most typical studio-released DVDs, KKVG may be of lesser quality, but it's hardly the unmitigated, unwatchable disaster this reviewer implies.

Bottom line (3): The choice for the present is either an admittedly flawed but acceptable DVD of the original, vs. an allegedly pristine picture of the dubbed Americanized version. (I haven't seen the Universal DVD, don't want it and have no desire to get it.) Even the reviewer points out that the aspect ratio of the Toho DVD is correct, with no cropping of the picture as occurs on the Universal disc. Given this; the fact that the original is in its original language and well subtitled; that it's the complete film, uncut, unedited, and un-rearranged; that it lacks the inserted, boring and artificial American scenes, pointless American actors, and poor English dubbing; that it has the original, great Akira Ifukube score, most or all of which is missing from the US film; that the satiric subplot of the original is made clear and not eradicated into meaningless slapstick as in the American version; that the other elements, mainly the sound, are excellent; for all these and other reasons -- the fact that the Toho print is less than pictorially stellar is, nonetheless, to me infinitely preferable to having the Universal version, whose picture quality might be somewhat better (except for that cropping), but which is by every other measure a decidedly inferior and unacceptable hacked-up variation of this movie. Give us a better quality Toho original by all means, but for now, the choice between the original whose only fault is a not-terrific print, vs. the Americanized version with all its basic, unalterable and myriad drawbacks, is no choice at all.

By the way, I haven't seen the US variant in probably 25 years or more, and the main reason I was reluctant to buy the original was my feeling that the movie wasn't all that good. As I wrote in my review of the film on its site, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found in the Japanese. Having now seen it again, I like it even better...so I too would like to see it get a new, restored print. But the Universal cut is no substitute, better picture or not.

Thanks for taking a look at the DVD. King Kong Vs. Godzilla is Toho's 30th Anniversary film(it was made to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Toho). Toho tried to remake King Kong Vs. Godzilla in 1991 as Godzilla Vs King Kong to celebrate Toho's 60th anniversary. Sadly, Turner Broadcasting asked for too much money for the rights to King Kong. So, Toho made Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah. More information on that and other failed Toho projects can be found here:

http://www.tohokingdom.com/cutting_room.htm

I think the the quality of the DVD isn't HORRIBLE but, it is very, very, sad to see that Universal's DVD has better quality.

Toho recently restored all 28 Godzilla films(and all of the Mothra films, too) in HD for showing on a TV channel in Japan. King Kong Vs. Godzilla's original negative was cut in the early 1970s for a re-release in the Toho champion film festival. For the HD version of King Kong Vs. Godzilla, they used the original negative for most scenes. For the scenes that were cut out of the original negative, they just upconverted scenes from the DVD. More information can be found here:

http://www.tohokingdom.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20688&;

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/12/29/putting-godzilla-in-focu s/



"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Hey, thank you for all the great information, Proof. You really are a great source.

A remake of KKVG would have been interesting. I was never too impressed by the Toho Kong. Bad face, and his chest-thumping didn't come off so well. Still, remakes seldom surpass originals, even if they may be technically more advanced.

I guess Universal took better care of its cut of KKVG than Toho, which is disappointing. Still, as I said, I'll take even a not-up-to-standard original of Kingu Kongu tai Gojira to the dubbed, cut, and tampered-with US version, any day, with no regrets.

(Don't let's forget to reinstste the original thread title whenever we're done with our Kong diversion!)

Tohokingdom is a great source on anything Toho. DVDs, figures, soundtracks, etc. You should check it out.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

I've visited Tohokingdom many times, though not lately. It is a very good site.

(Back to the original thread title.)

Back to Sony's new releases, I think Sony will use the Japanese versions with English text replacing the Japanese text like their Godzilla DVDs. According to the interview I posted earlier, the DVDs won't have the original English dubs.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Right, and from their point of view new dubs might make sense, but it's the wrong decision. The dubbing aside, what's interesting is the cuts or other changes Columbia made to the films when they were released here fifty years ago. All they're doing now is providing a stupid, pointless, dull, unnecessary and probably inane dub job of the exact same film as the original. Classic Media handled this situation infinitely better in every way.

Well as long as the original, uncut Japanese version is available I'm not complaining. The only dubbed version that I can think of that is actually supierior to the original is Godzilla 2000. But, almost ALL of the Godzilla fans agree with me about that. Besides the dubbing, the Japanese version has horrid pacing. The American distributers cut out 9 minutes. They made badly needed cuts to the film that tightened the pacing. They also pumped up the soundtrack by adding much more sound effects and also making the films musical score much better by combining Tarayuki Hattori's music with music of a new composer and making the film's musical score even better. Even Toho prefers the US Version and has released the US version instead of the Japanese version in many countries outside of Asia.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

You've mentioned Godzilla 2000 before, and as I've only seen the dubbed version I can't judge, but that's interesting. As I wrote long ago on the Rodan site, I actually think the US cut of that film is superior to the original -- the slight recutting, better use of music (mixing Ifukube's score with admittedly stock American music but which generally works well), and a more logical introduction of the second Rodan, make the US version much more dramatically logical and exciting. But such things are the exception.

Since I have the Japanese originals of Mothra, The H-Man, Battle in Outer Space, having them again without having the vastly more fun (than new dubs) original American dubs will be extremely disappointing. New dubbed versions of the exact same films will be useless and pointless. The original dubs are, in their own way, classics and a great nostalgia trip, and have meaning as a reference as to how these films were altered for US release back when. Many more people would like to have those than boring redubs. I'm sorry these old versions may be buried forever. Shame on Columbia.

I'm not sure about the rest of the Godzilla fans but, pretty much every one at the TohoKingdom Forums don't care about how the English dubs turn out on the DVD. The Japanese versions are far superior and I don't think the dubs are that special, anyway.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Well, as I've said repeatedly, my only interest in having the original 1959/1960/1962 dubs done by Columbia for the three films' initial US releases would be because they're interesting (sometimes in a campy way) and different than the Japanese films, and have a certain charm and nostalgia value. (They were out on VHS.) In themselves, they are fun, entertaining, and if you will, have an historic value.

Obviously, the Japanese originals are what counts, but these DVD releases would be incomparably better if they included the old Columbia dubs instead of bland, blah, unconvincing and unnecessary "modern" dubs of the exact same film as the Japanese, which are utterly pointless and of no value whatsoever. At least the original dubs have some familiarity and standing among many American fans; anything new is a total waste of time and effort. Better to do nothing and just release the Japanese versions subtitled, period.

Again, that's why Classic Media's dual-film releases (of the Japanese originals accompanied by the initial US theatrical dubbed releases) were a lot more interesting and fun than Tokyo Shock's, which carry simply useless (and ludicrous) dubbed versions of the exact same, complete Japanese films.

Anyway, that's my opinion, and I need say no more about it. Obviously Sony will do the wrong thing, as has been their habit of late.

Sony(on their Godzilla releases) and Tokyo Shock used the Toho international dubs because that is what Toho gave them.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Understood...but Sony (Columbia) still owns the rights to the dubbed variations of the films they released here originally. They could as easily use these as any "international" dub, and all I'm saying is that, if they're going to include dubbed versions, use those, for the reasons I've stated before, and not some generic dub jobs, "international" or otherwise. But apparently they won't, which in my view is the wrong decision. Anyway, I think we've pretty well exhausted this aspect.

But, the international dubs aren't new. They were made around the films releases and were offered to the American distributors.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Well, are these international dubs the ones seen for decades in the US?

For example, Mothra's English language version was recorded at Titra Sound Studios in New York. It uses Japanese-sounding actors to voice the roles. It's the version released on VHS years ago (a photo of which is on the main page here), and the one always shown on TV. It's also slightly edited from the full-length Japanese film (90 minutes vs. 99, I believe).

The English language versions of The H-Man and Battle in Outer Space seen in the US for the past half century are similarly slightly cut and dubbed using Japanese-sounding actors (not generic American voices, as was done by Toho -- which sound ridiculous). The version of H-Man run last month on TCM is the version released here in 1959, and Battle turned up quite regularly on cable channels a year or two ago, again, in the form first released in America in 1960, the only version ever seen here. If those are Toho's "international dubs", that is, the same versions we've been seeing for the past half century, then that's great. If, however, these international dubs are something else, that would be disappointing -- even if they're not the kind of dubs I object to, putting American voices in Japanese mouths.

By way of example, the dubbed version of The Mysterians used by Tokyo Shock may be the international dub but it is not the same dubbed film released in the US and seen here for decades. Their release of Varan, the Unbelievable (which I found a poor film anyway) similarly includes what I presume is the international dub, but again, it's not the apparently terrible, completely and ludicrously recut "original" 1962 US dubbed release with Myron Healy, which I've never seen. That's the sort of thing it would be fun to have -- the original Americanized versions, good or bad -- not simply the exact same Japanese film merely dubbed into English.

Which is why I said Classic's approach was vastly superior: would you have wanted an "international dub" of the exact original Gojira, for instance, or isn't it far more interesting and cool to have the US Godzilla, King of the Monsters with it? Along with all their other releases in that series. Including an internation dub job, as Tokyo Shock did, is pointless and of absolutely no interest, since as you say most people just want the Japanese original anyway. But there would have been a point, and an incomparably more interesting release, in including not a useless and boring English-language rubber stamp of the original, but the dubbed and different film as altered for its initial American release.

Hey, I'm a purist.

The Mysterians never had a Toho International dub. Tokyo Shock created their own. Varan The Unbelievable never had one either, and Tokyo Shock's DVD does not have an English dub. Toho didn't make dubs until 1965. Toho International actually did use Asian actors for their Hong Kong dubs. They may not sound Asian, but they are. Titra studios didn't use Asian Actors. They had American actors use ridiculous sounding mock Asian accents. They also cut the films up by 10 minutes and made ridiculous changes(an example would be the dumb title "Godzilla Vs. The Thing). Also, AIP was the one who had Titra Studios do the dubs. Columbia didn't use Titra studios.

The only reason the English dubs are included for Tokyo Shock and Sony's DVDs is to provide an alternative for people who don't like to read subtitles.

In fact, Toho does not own the materials for the original English dubbed versions, only the International versions. Classic Media is the exception because they bought UPA.

Also, Classic Media's US versions aren't perfect. Godzilla: King of the Monsters doesn't feature the Transworld Logo, or the opening credits, and the "The End" card and credits are in the incorrect order. Godzilla Vs. The Thing is cropped to a 1:78.1 aspect ratio. Ghidorah has new digital fades and the "The End" card is replaced with an old VHS title card. Invasion of Astro-Monster has footage exclusive to the US version cropped from full screen to Toho-Scope. All Monsters Attack is missing title cards. Terror of Mechagodzilla has cropped openning credits. Rodan doesn't include the original DCA logo.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Right, I forgot that Toho didn't do international dubs until 1965.

Many of the actors used in the early dubbed versions were of Asian descent (George Takei, for one; the Chinese actor Sammee Tong for another; there are many others). Most were not "American" (i.e., Occidentals), though Paul Frees can be detected in a few places.

I never tried to find a dub for Varan and haven't watched the American versions of some of the Classic films you note, so don't know all their faults. The Transworld logo on GKOTM is indeed missing -- probably lost -- though the end English credits have at least been restored after decades of absence. The point -- one more time -- isn't that such US prints are "perfect", or even desirable -- I mainly want the originals -- but that they're preferable to an international dub or a new dub of the exact same film.

Your point about the cuts in the dubbed versions released here in the 50s and 60s is the same thing I've repeatedly pointed out -- and is the precise reason why having those is more interesting, more fun (as I've also said) than bland and silly dubs of the originals. I used the example of Classic's Gojira/Godzilla KOTM last time. I'd rather have that (even absent the Transworld logo, which I haven't seen in 45 years!), than a dubbed version of the original film. I'd rather have had The Mysterians and Varan paired with their original dubbed films, however tacky you may think them (and I agree with you), precisely because of that "tackiness".

AIP might have used Titra, but what have they to do with Mothra and the other films released through Columbia? Titra did the dubbing on that film -- I don't know about H-Man or Battle in O.S. -- so obviously Titra did do work for others besides AIP.

Proof, we're really going around in circles here. I've simply said I'd prefer to see the original dubbed-in-English versions of these Toho/Columbia films, the ones we've known here all our lives: not because they're perfect or great but because they're fun, nostalgic, have a following, and serve as a fascinating counterpoint to the originals, showing how and maybe why the changes were made to the originals. They're also fun to compare with the full-length Japanese films. I really don't give a damn whether they're cut, or dubbed by actors sporting "phony" Asian accents (not all were, and better those than standard American accents, which sound asinine), or inferior to the originals. That's exactly the point in having them -- their throw-back silliness! An international or other "new" dub of the exact Japanese original is just plain stupid, boring and useless.

Anyway, in this marvelous digital age, why couldn't we have all three -- the original in Japanese, subtitled; a new dubbed version for those sensitive souls who abjure subtitles; and the old dubbed films we grew up on?

Can we close this discussion soon? I think we've discussed everything about this topic. Not that I haven't learned a lot from you, as I always do. I just want my old, familiar, dopey Columbia dubs with the real things!! That's all.

I know it would be great to have them but, Toho doesn't own materials for them. Classic Media is exception because they bought UPA.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Well, if Sony is doing this reported new release, wouldn't they own the old Columbia dubs? Columbia put those versions out on VHS and is the releasing agent for their TV broadcasts. I know Toho doesn't control these old US dubs but if Toho gave Sony the right to release the Japanese originals, Sony should be able to add the old Columbia dubs to the set on their own -- unless maybe Toho objected for some reason.

Anyway, whatever the rights issues may be, I gather that's not what they're opting to do, so, as I said, it's too bad.

Thanks for all the info, by the way -- an education, as always. Now let's see when these films, in whatever form, will finally be released!

Well, from the interview with Michael Schlesinger, I think Sony doesn't want to put the original English dubs on because they think it will take multiple discs. If they did put them on one disc, the films would look heavily compressed and soft. Classic Media had to heavily compress the US versions to fit them on one disc.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Yeah, that makes sense. Of course, they could issue a two-disc release, as Classic did with Gojira - Godzilla King of the Monsters, but I suppose that would be asking too much.

"More Half Human Than Jujin Yuki Otoko Is Our Lament."

Hi, Hobnob.

It looks like Alpha Video released a DVD of Island of Lost Women. Alpha Video is a terrible company who releases horrible UNLICENSED DVDs.

Check out TohoKingdom's review of their awful unlicensed Godzilla Vs. Megalon DVD:

http://www.tohokingdom.com/dvd/godzilla_megalon_alpha.htm


"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Hi Proof,

Have you been looking in on my various posts?! I've been writing over on the Island of Lost Women site after ordering the Alpha disc out of curiosity -- I'd heard of but never seen this thing.

God yes, I'm well aware of Alpha, its status as the sort of anti-Criterion, its lack of quality, technical shortcomings, disrespect for its movies and its cannibalism in living off p.d. titles. Still, on maybe half a dozen occasions I've been forced to resort to Alpha when there is absolutely no alternative: usually for minor oddball films like IOLW that one wants out of curiosity. For $7 or $8 you should know what you're getting and accept the consequences!

Under no circumstances would I ever consider buying anything from Alpha that existed in some better form elsewhere. It's maddening when you see some mainstream, big studio releases those studios let fall through the cracks when copyright renewal time rolled around, now in p.d. hell and prey for outfits like Alpha. Several films from MGM and Fox from the late 40s and early 50s never had their copyrights renewed and Alpha (among 300 other fly-by-nighters) has scooped many of them up. IOLW was a Warner release that fell by the wayside.

I didn't know they had managed to cop any of Toho's films, but I wouldn't give one a second glance. Thanks for the link. I'll have a look.

I have excellent news, Hobnob! Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle(who did some of the commentaries for the new Classic Media DVDs) confirmed on the Monster Zero Boards that they have recently reccorded commentaries for Mothra and Battle in Outer Space! I thought the DVDs wouldn't have any extras because Sony's Godzilla releases didn't have any extras. This is great!

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Hey, that is excellent news. It confirms this will be a high-quality release (in fact, it confirms there will be a release in the first place!), and these guys did good work for Classic. Some commentaries are ignorant or even mocking but Ryfle and Godziszewski respect the films and know their stuff, like Stuart Galbraith...and unlike the pretentious Donald Richie. Ryfle also did a great job on the Gojira liner booklet. Thanks for the info!

All of the commentaries on Classic Media's discs were excellent. Since Ryfle and Godziszewski didn't confirm if they have done an H-Man commentary or will, maybe they can get Stuart Galbraith IV to do the commentary for H-Man! He did an excellent commentary for Invasion of Astro Monster(which is my favorite Godzilla movie, by the way).

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

I just got a copy of Classic's Invasion of the Astro-Monster a couple of days ago -- I haven't seen it since the early 70s, and even then I think it was cut for TV (and dubbed and so forth, under its Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero title). So basically I have only a sketchy memory of it. But I did see on the DVD cover that Galbraith did the commentary, which impressed me. Haven't had a chance to watch it yet but will do so. I decided to buy it after reading over some background and comments about it, and given the uncertainty over the future of Classic's discs I thought I'd better grab one while I still could.

Have you read Galbraith's book The Emperor and the Wolf, about Kurosawa and Mifune? My very favorite book on cinema of any kind. Although it had little directly to do with kaiju eiga, Galbraith did mention several of those films in the context of the studio and its contract players and other personnel, and he impressed me with his respectful and sympathetic discussion of them, and the people involved in making them -- especially Akira Kurosawa's best friend, Ishiro Honda. After I watch the movie, I'll go back and listen to Galbraith.

Enjoy! It's a fun trip. Also, it is easily Classic Media's best DVD release. The Japanese print is almost flawless and the special features are good, too. The commentary is nice and the Tomoyuki Tanaka biography by Steve Ryfle was great. I also reccomend Terror of Mechagodzilla. It's my second favorite Godzilla movie and Classic Media's DVD is excellent with a nice commentary and a fantastic documentary about the Women of Godzilla.

I haven't read Galbraith's book but, I may get it soon.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

"The Women of Godzilla"?! Hmmmm..... I didn't realize Godzilla made the rounds like that! Too bad he never tanlged, or tangoed, with Yumi Shirakawa. But then, there's Akiko Wakabayashi and Mie Hama. I think Yumi and Akiko were two of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, and good actresses too.

Thanks for the recommendation about Terror of. I was always a bit dubious about it but may try it. The extras certainly sound worth it.

I think the Galbraith book is out of print but you should be able to find a copy. Long but engrossing.

The documentary is about the Women in the Godzilla movies and other Toho kaiju movies.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Nuts -- I thought there may have been a little inter-species action going on there. I mean, look at Kong.

Ha. I remember watching a video on Youtube called "Godzilla(1984)- Love Theme" and there was a comment saying "Love theme? Did Godzilla get it on with Mothra in this movie?"

By the way, you can preorder the boxset on Amazon now. The boxset's title is "Icons of Sci-Fi: Toho".

Also, I have some other interesting news. The boxset should release around the Halloween season because that is when Sony releases Sci-Fi and Horror boxsets. I have heard recently that the set will contain both the Japanese versions and the ORIGINAL English dubs of Mothra and The H-Man. Sony had trouble matching the English dubs to the Japanese films. Then they realized that there were significant differences between the two.

So, the set will have the US and Japanese versions of Mothra and The H-Man. Battle in Outer Space will be a dual language version and will have the Japanese version with Engilsh text replacing the Japanese text. The English dub track will be the ORIGINAL English dub. They are doing this because Battle in Outer Space has virtually no cuts. The only changes were in sound effects and music.

Great news, right?

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Hey, my friend, this is ALL good news! Leave it to you to be the first on the block to find this stuff out.

I'll look at the Amazon link but probably won't pre-order till I find out what other sites will charge (Amazon, as you know, is by no means always the cheapest; also, as I live in NY, for the past several months they've been forced to charge tax because they have links to other web sites and businesses who do business in NYS, and even lost a case in the State Supreme Court about this). Anyway, I guess from what you write that there's no definite release date yet, though circa Halloween sounds about right.

I never thought about it, but in hindsight it's obvious this would be another in Sony's "Icons of" series. They've already issued sets using this label for Hammer Films released here through Columbia, as well as the Sam Katzman set, with its fun B sci-fi and horror films, among others. After several years of almost stopping releasing their old titles, Columbia is in full swing once again. I read last night of a planned release of a box set of "noir" films from the studio, though this too isn't yet scheduled. Hey, maybe it's "Icons of Noir". This could get tedious!

By the way, on your recommendation (since I trust your judgment on such things) I've added Terror of Mechagodzilla to my Amazon cart, not purchased yet (I can actually get it cheaper from a Marketplace seller), but soon. I noticed that the Classic titles, some of them anyway, seem suddenly to be back for sale there.

By the way, know what my favorite part of Battle in Outer Space is? The opening (same in Japan) where it says it takes place in far-off "1965". Ooooh, so futuristic.

I knew you would be happy about the original US versions of Mothra and H-Man and the original English dub on Battle in Outer Space(the movie will be dual-language) on the DVDs.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Indeed. That and the lottery and I'll die a happy man.

Well, Hobnob, it seems that all that waiting was for nothing. It is absolutely pointless for me to buy this neo-dubbed version when it was the original dub I was waiting for. I already own the original Japanese language version on DVD, so there is no need to buy the Sony DVD.

I can't believe Sony is not releasing the original American dub. That is heartbreaking and stupid.

Hi jquirk -- No, as I now understand it, Sony is releasing the original American dub (which is what I wanted too) with the Japanese version in their upcoming box set. As you see we've been having a long discussion about it but Proofpoochie's latest info a few posts back is that they are indeed using the original dub in the original US release, which besides being dubbed is as you know slightly edited. Check back a few posts for his information.

The set is listed on Amazon for pre-order, but so far without any details or release date. That date may not be for a few more months. We'll have to see what finally is in fact released but the news is very good about everything in this set, which is listed as one of Columbia's "Icons of" series: Icons of Sci-Fi: ToHo. (They capitalize the H.) I shared your sentiments about their not using the original US versions, but if they do indeed go with them that's great.

Hold on -- it won't be much longer.

Looks like Classic Media is releasing Gojira on Blu-ray:

http://www.fangoria.com/home/news/16-dvd-a-blu-ray/2356-gojira-stomps- onto-blu-ray.html

I might buy this once I get the Blu-ray player set up. I hope Classic Media got Toho's new restored HD transfer. That would be excelllent.

In some other cool news, Amazon is holding a contest to vote for the cover art for the "ICONS" boxset! There are three options and the winning cover will be featured on the box set! I voted for Option 1! "From the father of GODZILLA". I love it!

To vote, go to the "Rodan and War of the Gargantuas" page. Underneath the picture for "Rodan and War of the Gargantuas", there is a box that says "Vote for Cover Art Contest" or something like that.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Okay -- I went over to Amazon, got the link, and voted. Like you -- and apparently, according to the poll results they showed after, 4/5 of the public -- I chose option 1. It was the best, must fun, cover, but also the one with the best print work (the lettering, typeface, balance of the words on the cover vs. the pictures, etc.) -- by far the catchiest and most attractive.

I didn't think option 3 was so bad -- it was similar to 1, but with less "action" on the cover if you see what I mean. I thought 2 was awful -- too Terminator-ish in its typeface and artwork design.

Still, according to the results thus far, it's #1 - 81%, #2 - 12%, and #3 - 6%. Maybe people are too lazy to scroll down to click anything lower than #1. And those figures add up to 99% -- what happened to that undocumented 1%? Must be the guy who voted for the Sam Katzman cover or something.

Thanks for the tip. At least we'll see whether they listen to the voting public. I was also interested to see that the set will include just those three old classics and nothing more, like Rebirth of Mothra or whatever 1990s film was rumored, which I didn't care about. Now it's pure Tsuburaya-Honda madness!

Maybe that should have been, "The Fathers of Godzilla."

I agree. I chose Option 1 for the same reason. It was the most fun. Option 3 wasn't bad and Option 2 was mediocre. 2 looked too much like one of those crappy "Triple Feature" DVDs you see at Wal-Mart.

It looks like Classic Media and Genius have settled because now they are releasing Gojira(only without the Godzilla, King of the Monsters disc) on Blu-ray.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Yes, and all the Classic discs that had suddenly been pulled last month (Gojira, Rodan/WOTG, all the various Godzillas) are now back on sale and available normally, at least on Amazon.

Yes, your description of what proposed cover 2 looked like is very apt. I went back last night and looked again. Of course, I'm now locked out of any voting but they continue to update the results, and #1 was then in the lead 86%-8%-4% -- with a missing 2% now! But I still can't figure why 2 was ahead of 3. I noticed the titles were in a different order on 2, and on 3 it read somewhat oddly, The Father of Godzilla -- not "From" the Father.... Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if they really do use the most popular cover. Still wish they'd give us a release date.

I'm preordering The set on Amazon. The price is great. Also, when I preordered "Rodan/WOTG", I got it almost a month before it released to stores.

Hopefully Classic Media gets Toho's new remastered HD version of Gojira for their Blu-ray release. That would be great.

I've heard the transfers for Sony's other ICONS boxset are stunning. I can't wait for this boxset!

By the way, did you watch Invasion of Astro Monster yet?

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

Well, that's good news Hobnob. I guess I will be buying the new "Mothra" release, after all.

It is great news, isn't it? I decided to pre-order on Amazon. Their price currently is very good ($17-something) vs. the SRP of $24.99. Proofpoochie alerted me above that if you click on any of the Classic Media Godzilla titles on Amazon (like Gojira, Rodan/War of the Gargantuas, etc.), they have a link to a voting site where you can look at three proposed covers for this box set and vote for the one you like. It's kind of fun, and interesting to see what the covers are. Check it out!

Invasion of Astro Monster is so much fun. Can't wait to hear your reaction! I am so excited for this set!

By the way j-quirk1, Mothra won't be released seperately. I'm pretty sure they will all be exclusive to the boxset.

"More Human Than Human is our Motto."

These posts are getting so mixed-up in their proper order that it's hard to find which one to answer!

Anyway, after I watch Astro Monster you'll be the first to know. I owe it all to your recommendation anyway!

Yes, all the titles in Sony's "Icons of" series are in the box only, not separates. At Amazon's reduced price, that's about $6 a disc, cheaper than a separate.

Talk to you after seeing the Invasion....

I pre-ordered the set the other day, too.

("Pre-order" is one of those illogical, impossible terms George Carlin was always -- and correctly -- making fun of as misuses of the language. His example was the airline term "pre-board": "What, you get on before you get on?" So I guess we've ordered before we ordered!)

I can say that Sony's transfers in its other sets and singles -- not just the "Icons of" series, but everything -- are extremely good. I have the Icons of Horror: Sam Katzman set and its transfers are beautiful. But so are the studio's other releases -- The Budd Boetticher Collection, for example, plus the stuff in their bizarrely-named "Martini Movies" series. So I'm sure this set will look terrific. The only Columbia films I've seen that look bad are the colorized versions of Ray Harryhausen's three b&w sci-fi films for the studio in the 50s -- It Came From Beneath the Sea, Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers, 20 Million Miles to Earth -- but that's because the colorization, as always, looks so fake and awful. The original b&w are excellent.

You'd mentioned you hoped Classic will use the remastered Gojira for their Blu-ray. Since they apparently don't intend to include Godzilla, King of the Monsters it sounds as if your hopes may be realized. I haven't gotten into Blu-ray yet and have no plans to for the foreseeable future, but it'll be interesting to find out how the B/r release will look.

I was away this weekend and sometime after I got back this evening actually thought about popping in Invasion of the Astro-Monster, but didn't. I hope to get to it in the coming week, and will let you know my reaction!