Title
 Godzilla Soundtrack Perfect Collection - Box 6
International Title
 [Box Set]
Music By: Various
Record Label: Toho Music
   
Running Time: 630:38 (Total) Discs: 9
Release: April 2010 CD Number: GB6
Comments
Anthony Romero
After a relentless stream of delays, the Godzilla Soundtrack Perfect Collection is finally complete. Just six years shy of the character's 60th birthday, this last entry in the "50th Anniversary" set collects the last few soundtracks for the 2000-2004 Japanese films along with the score for GODZILLA (1998). For those counting, this is the largest set yet as it contains just over 630 minutes worth of music. How does it fair though? Well it has mixed results, as Toho Music has been prone to do with these boxed sets, but comes out ahead to be a pretty solid set depending on ones current collection.

If one somehow managed to miss the Millennium scores, this set is a must and contains a great way to get them all in one swoop. These sets do lack the sound effects of the previous single disc releases, although if one is interested in that they should really pick up the Godzilla: Sound EFX / BGM on Japanese Film, but otherwise have all the content and then some. In terms of audio quality, the set overall gets a passing grade. To be frank, none of it sounds better than what Victor, King Records, Tokuma, or La-La Land Records previously released. The quality is comparable, though. Toho Music recorded it at a lower volume level, especially compared to the King Records discs, but once this is compensated for the actual audio still has the highs and lows that it should and sounds dynamic enough to be on level with the other efforts. The only exception is Godzilla: Final Wars (2004). Victor did a really good job presenting the audio on their single disc release for the 2004 film, while Toho Music's effort sounds flatter in contrast, as is documented in more detail in that review.

Now the problem with this release is that the consumers it appeals to probably have the previous releases, in which instance the $100+ price tag (which has inflated due to a rising yen versus the dollar) becomes harder to swallow. Everyone will likely be interested in the wealth of new music for Godzilla: Final Wars (2004), as it contains the largest collection of unreleased music for any of the films represented across these six box sets. Otherwise, though, this box doesn't have a ton of new stuff for dedicated collectors, who are the most likely ones to spend this kind of money on soundtracks in the first place. Most people likely missed out on the "Plus" soundtrack (NCS-261) for Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000), though, which does add some more worth to that volume. Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) has also been marginally expanded for the main score, although the "edit" bonus tracks are pretty worthless. The others are very similar to what is already out there, in particular the bonus disc which is a re-release of La-La Land Records' two disc set for the 1998 film (LLLCD-1058).

Overall, how much one will get out of this set of course depends on how active they have been in collecting the soundtracks leading up to its release. Newcomers are presented with a great option, while old time collectors will have to weigh in on the new material versus the expensive price for the set. Regardless, the music contained in is some of the best the franchise has to offer, while the box contains a huge wealth of material that make it a very attractive set for those who decide to make the plunge.

It should also be mentioned that all of these sets are sold exclusively online at Toho Music's site, Arksquare.net or Screen Archives. Also, being the last in the set, Toho Music included a special offer for those select few who happened to pick up all of the previous boxes. The offer involves ordering the last set and sending in the serial numbers for the other five boxes with the order, in which case a region 2 DVD called Akira Ifukube Recording Archives will be included as an additional bonus.
Rating: Star Rating
Contents

Disc 1:
Godzilla X Megaguirus: The G Extermination Strategy


Film: Godzilla vs. Megaguirus (2000)

   

Disc 2:
Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack


Film: Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001)

   

Disc 3:
Godzilla X Mechagodzilla


Film: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002)

   

Disc 4-5:
Godzilla X Mothra X Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.


Film: Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003)

   

Disc 6-7:
Godzilla: Final Wars


Film: Godzilla: Final Wars (2004)

   

Disc 8-9:
GODZILLA


Film: GODZILLA (1998)