Rodan / War of the Gargantuas 09/09/08

[X-human]

DVD Drive-In (http://www.dvddrive-in.com/), on the scene reporting:On September 9, Classic Media will unleash their long-awaited releases of RODAN and THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS as a two-disc double feature set. Here are the specs for each title that we have so far –

RODAN:
Languages: Japanese/English
Subtitles: English
English Version (72 mins.)
Japanese Version (82 mins.).

THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS:
Languages: Japanese/English
Subtitles: English
Japanese Version (88 mins.)
English Version (92 mins.)

Special Features: "Bringing Godzilla Down To Size" Documentary (60 mins.).

Sweet, I've wanted to see the Frankenstein sequel for quite some time now.

[rxfiend]

Awesome set! I can't wait to check this out.

[maybrick]

Thanks! I've been looking for info on future Classic Media releases since buying the Godzilla Collection and couldn't find Jack on their website. I think I'll hold off for a year or so just in case they try to fuck over the fans again like they did with the Godzillas.

[Roo]

I can’t wait. I was getting a little worried about the Gargantuas release; I hadn't heard anything new in a while. Both movies are great and I'll snatch them up when released. :banana:

[rxfiend]

Maybrick, I doubt CM has anything else up their sleeves, and considering this set will be sold under $20 at stores, there really isn't a reason to pass this up.

[satans-sadists]

I've been wanting a legit War of the Gargantuas for a long time. A few years ago I bought a bootleg and it's a poor substitute, plus it's just not right hearing Russ Tamblyn speaking in Japanese. Thanks for passing along the great news! :D

[X-human]

Awesome set! I can't wait to check this out.

They were always upfront about the boxset the entire time though, they haven't mentioned anything about these as part of a future boxset.

[maybrick]

Maybrick, I doubt CM has anything else up their sleeves, and considering this set will be sold under $20 at stores, there really isn't a reason to pass this up.

I can. They haven't released Mothra yet, have they?

[Jeremy]

And they probably won't be releasing MOTHRA, either.

Classic Media owns the American distribution rights in perpetuity for all the Toho titles they've released. This is because producer Henry G. Saperstein, whose UPA company handled the distribution of these titles in America, had a unique business relationship with Toho that allowed him to hang onto the rights (films like GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER, which did not go through Saperstein, have since reverted back to Toho).

MOTHRA was never a Saperstein title and it seems that the North American rights are with Sony at the moment.

[maybrick]

All I meant is that there may be other Toho titles that Classic Media own which they'll sooner rather than later collect together in a boxset. Mothra was just off the top of my head. I'm not really waiting for them to release it.

[Mattapooh]

The only disappointment with this is the lack of commentaries, but assuming the transfers are as good as the last batch of Godzilla flicks, I'm fine.

I've only seen both flicks on VHS, so I'm really stoked about grabbing these.

[KR~!]

I believe that this is the 1st time that the great War of the Gargantuas will be release on DVD in the us.

[rxfiend]

All I meant is that there may be other Toho titles that Classic Media own which they'll sooner rather than later collect together in a boxset. Mothra was just off the top of my head. I'm not really waiting for them to release it.

CM only has these films and the G films they released. Any other titles which were part of the UPA deal were reverted back to TOHO. I think Media Blasters already released some of those movies. So this release is their last of Toho films unless they pick some up in the future, which is highly unlikely. I get my info from the Monster Zero board and one of the people who post there, has helped CM directly. They make no mention of any other future releases.

And Mothra is owned by Sony, as is Mothra 3 (Heisei film) and other Toho showa era films (can't think of their names off hand). I suspect we'll never see those on DVD though. :(

[KR~!]

we may never seen a good release of Destroy all Monsters as well, as the dreaded Adv Films owns that gems and they seem happy to release that nasty less than vhs quality dvd over and over again.

[maybrick]

Yeah it'd be nice to have a better Destroy all Monsters. At the moment though I'm more concerned about Megalon as it's the only film from the original Godzilla series that has yet to surface on DVD (at least in R1).

[Mattapooh]

Actually, Godzilla vs. Megalon's been released a few times over here in a few crappy public domain copies sourced from awful 16mm prints. I think the rights have reverted back to Toho, and I know they've been cracking down on the releases. The recalled MST3K set from a year or so ago is an example of that.

ADV's version of Destroy All Monsters is apparently crappy due to Toho's intervention. Supposedly Toho didn't have their DAM disc ready and so as part of their deal, ADV had to release an awful disc (non-anamorphic, no extras, no menus, not even any CHAPTER STOPS) to avoid Japanese importers grabbing it (especially since Japanese folks pay like $50 for a new DVD, which makes imported discs either cheaper or about the same).

The best thing to do with DAM, the original Mothra, Megalon, etc. is to go the bootleg route. When there's official and quality product (like the CM discs), I'd definitely pick it up. For the stuff that will never be released over here, or the stuff that's out but lackluster, I'd go for bootlegs without hesitation. I've got subbed versions of Mothra and DAM that are just frigging gorgeous (the R2 discs Toho put out are really nice and these are just copies of those transfers).

The only bummer is that for all of us that grew up with the AIP dubs and such, we'll probably never have them outside of older VHS tapes. As it is, the discs that Sony put out have the awful Toho International dubs (compare the version of Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster on the Sony disc versus the old AIP version), so it's not like there's any standard going on here anyway.

[maybrick]

Actually, Godzilla vs. Megalon's been released a few times over here in a few crappy public domain copies sourced from awful 16mm prints.

I prefer not to count those as a release, thank you very much. ;)

[KR~!]

wow, I might be old and gray when Godzilla vs. Megalon or Godzilla vs. Biollante or Godzilla 1985 ever gets release.

Perhaps the 3 rarest discs for R1

[rxfiend]

Godzilla Vs Biollante is available via a great quality R3 dvd, complete with English subs. You can grab that for a few dollars off HK sites or ebay. Return of Godzilla has been released in R3 as well, though that is the Japanese edit, not the Godzilla '85 version. However, G85 had been aired on MonstersHD and I imagine it's been ripped and is floating around on some torrent sites.

As for Vs Megalon, there is an English sub DVD available in R4 that is really great.

[Mattapooh]

Sadly, I haven't been able to find an HD2DVD rip of G85. Hopefully it appears in the future, because that's probably the only copy we'll ever get.

Godzilla stuff has such a tiny niche market and now that the DVD market's slowed down so much, there's pretty much no money to be made. Classic Media put out fantastic stuff and apparently didn't do to well with it. There's no way someone would release a stand-alone, tricked-out copy of Godzilla 1985 or Godzilla vs. Biollante now, because there's no profit in it.

I've got R3 copies of Biollante and The Return of Godzilla (aka. 85) and they're both decent, but I'll be upgrading those to R2 bootlegs at some point most likely. It's really too bad that CM wasn't doing better and could pick up DAM, Megalon, Biollante, Return, and other Toho flicks to put out with the same treatment they've been giving the Godzilla stuff.

[rxfiend]

I think we should be glad that CM picked up Godzilla Raids Again and Ghidorah, otherwise we wouldn't have DVDs of those either!
I'm really surprised Dimension hasn't released a DVD (bare bones even) of Godzilla Vs Biollante.

[youthief]

delete

[Friedemeyer]

The only bummer is that for all of us that grew up with the AIP dubs and such, we'll probably never have them outside of older VHS tapes. As it is, the discs that Sony put out have the awful Toho International dubs (compare the version of Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster on the Sony disc versus the old AIP version), so it's not like there's any standard going on here anyway.

Yup! When I picked up the ADV version of Destroy All Monsters, the first thing I noticed was how bland the characters' voices were. I felt ripped off!

You notice it right away at the start of the film. I liked the narrator's slightly deeper tone in AIP version, while the international version apparently used a reject from a "how to" instructional film.

[KR~!]

sadly these films are super cult at this point, as most people seem not to care about them anymore. It's a damn shame, as I love these films. I hate having to go to fan sub bootleg DVDs just to complete my collection, but I really do not have much of a choice. I always support all high quality offical releases.

[WesReviews]

I'm eager to pick these up. I've yet to see Rodan, that I can remember.

[KR~!]

Where's Mothra?

I notice that none of her films have gotten proper releases.

[Zillamon51]

The only disappointment with this is the lack of commentaries...

They're making up for that with the inclusion of a new 68-minute documentary.

CM only has these films and the G films they released. Any other titles which were part of the UPA deal were reverted back to TOHO. I think Media Blasters already released some of those movies.

Correct; Frankenstein Conquers the World was originally a UPA release but has been issued on DVD by MB.

And Mothra is owned by Sony, as is Mothra 3 (Heisei film) and other Toho showa era films (can't think of their names off hand). I suspect we'll never see those on DVD though. :(

Where's Mothra?

I notice that none of her films have gotten proper releases.

Battle in Outer Space, The H-Man, Mothra, and Rebirth of Mothra III are being prepped by Sony for a 2009 release.

As always, more info on all this stuff can be found on my site. Just click the sig!

[rxfiend]

Zillamon, your site is great. I usually check it out at least once a week.

[KR~!]

As always, more info on all this stuff can be found on my site. Just click the sig!

I was going to bookmark it when I realize I had it bookmarked for years!

[satans-sadists]

Fangoria:

Fango’s Japanese correspondent Norman England sent along some pics from the making of his new kaiju documentary BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE. The key special feature on Classic Media’s two-DVD release (coming next Tuesday, September 9) of RODAN and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS, the 68-minute feature was written by Ed Godziszewski (who penned the Godzilla cover story in the very first issue of Fango) and Steve Ryfle, who have contributed numerous extras to past Classic Media J-monster DVDs, and is narrated by cult filmmaker Alex (REPO MAN) Cox. England, who has covered numerous giant-monster pics for us, notes that finding a fresh approach to this docu was key to his involvement.

“When I was approached to direct the film, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it or not,” he tells us. “The history of Godzilla has been told in books, magazines and in other films enough that I didn’t think another movie on the subject was justifiable. Luckily, the producers/writers weren’t interested in this either, and instead wanted to make a documentary focusing on the miniature sets and art direction of the Godzilla series, which has been maligned by Western media and the ignorant for decades. I thought this was a fresh angle, and signed up as quickly as I could.”

Among those interviewed in BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE are director Shusuke Kaneko; producer Shogo Tomiyama; actors Akira Takarada (pictured above with England), Hiroshi Koizumi and Yoshio Tsuchiya; monster-suit performers Haruo Nakajima, Kenpachiro Satsuma and Tsutomu “Tom” Kitagawa; FX creators Teruyoshi Nakano, Akira Tsuburaya, Shinichi Wakasa; and many others. Despite the great volume of interviewees, England says, “Shooting lasted a little over a week. The staff and I spent the production traveling in a van all around Tokyo, where we interviewed various people who have contributed to the Godzilla and Ultraman franchises. We started off with Takarada, who is a really big star in Japan and can be compared to someone such as Cary Grant in the U.S. The interview was a blast and really energized the staff, which set the mood for the rest of the shoot.”

One of the highlights for the filmmaker was the material involving the actors who trashed Tokyo and other cities inside the monster outfits. “Although suit acting in itself isn’t connected to art direction,” he notes, “it is related in the sense of what it takes for them to interact and work within the sets and miniatures. We shot this section at the studio of Godzilla suitmaker Wakasa. It was a high point of the production, as it was the first time for these three Godzilla actors to be in the same room. Together, their contribution to Godzilla spans 50 years. Following the interview, we went outdoors and I had them put on a performance demonstrating their various styles side by side. All the sculptors from Wakasa’s shop came out, and were flabbergasted by the sight of these three legends going at each other. I’m proud to say that this makes me the only director to have worked with all three of these men—a fact which, by my being American, might not please some of the more conservative Japanese Godzilla fans!”

BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE is structured around an examination of the work of Yasuyuki Inoue, the art director on numerous kaiju classics. “One of the things I dislike about documentaries is a lack of active narrative,” England explains. “Although we didn’t have a large budget, I made sure that we did things as visually stimulating as possible. Although retired, Inoue was kind enough to help with this goal by recreating a classic analog effect of a volcano erupting at sea. This is where my work as a reporter for Fango paid off. I’ve put in many long days on Godzilla sets covering the films for the magazine, and learned how the art staff prepares them—and, more importantly, how to interact with them when they’re working. So I was very much at home with Inoue and his men as they prepared, tested and executed the effect, and knew how to shoot them with out impeding their work.

“Our last two days were at Inoue’s home, which is in a town on the outskirts of Tokyo,” England continues. “Interestingly enough, almost all of the men from his team in the golden era of giant-monster films live in the same area. When we shot, their wives came out and made us food and gave us handmade gifts. It was lots of fun for everyone, and I believe we captured the excitement of the two days in the film.”

Although Cox has never made a monster movie, his own love for the genre led to his spoken contribution to BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE. “For a while, we were undecided on who to use as a narrator,” England recalls. “We auditioned several people, but it wasn’t really coming together the way we wanted. Steve thought of Alex, who is well-known for being into Godzilla, met with him in LA and got him on board. Alex was a really good choice. He’s got a dynamic voice and was very easy to work with. And, most importantly, he has a lot of enthusiasm for Godzilla, and knew from the get-go that we were doing something no one had attempted before.” —Michael Gingold

[ReelFear]

got the DVD. both films look great as expected. Havent seen Rodan in years, and WOTG was better then i remember! i can't wait to watch the Godzilla documentary next...

[Roo]

Agree. I've never seen both movies look so good. This disk is worth every penny. It's also great to see both movies in their original form and not dubbed. Good stuff! :banana:

[Criswell]

I LOATH WOTG.

I juct cannot see what people see in it!!! just terrible.

[Roo]

I LOATH WOTG.

I juct cannot see what people see in it!!! just terrible.

:eek2:.................................pussy :D