Talkback: King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

[eabaker]

Universal and Toho seriously need to bargain with one another for a legal release of the original unedited version of the film to be released in North America.

I don't think Universal's really that interested. They don't need to target the fan market, and to them the increase in sales from including the original cut on such a niche title would probably be a meaninglessly small number.

[szmigiel]

I really hope the when Godzilla Vs Kong comes out someone will be willing to do a release with the original Japanese cut of KKvG and hopefully some commentaries for the collectors market. The current version has been on the market for sometime it would be a good time to do a release and get everyone to buy it again.

[Zarm]

It feels like a better (though equally unlikely) option is just to lobby Toho to start putting quality English subtitles on their releases. At least there, they have a compelling reason to work with the original releases (just not to translate them for us! )

[Goji]

(As it is, I still grind my teeth at the lack of voiceover OR grpahic for the Godzilla-and-Rodan-talking scene in the blu-ray release of vs. Gigan)

You mean Anguirus, not Rodan

and frown at the spliced-on English credits for a number of the showa releases).

"Spliced-on"? Which ones are you talking about?

[Zarm]

(As it is, I still grind my teeth at the lack of voiceover OR grpahic for the Godzilla-and-Rodan-talking scene in the blu-ray release of vs. Gigan)

You mean Anguirus, not Rodan

and frown at the spliced-on English credits for a number of the showa releases).

"Spliced-on"? Which ones are you talking about?

Ugh- can you tell I was tired when writing this? Clearly, I am talking about Rodan- the big, spiky-backed fellow from Godzilla Raids Again.

In terms of credits, just the various releases (vs. Hedorah comas to mind, iirc, and a number of others- most of the showa releases on Blu-ray) that have the international/english credits cut into the movie instead of the japanese originals. Unless they just happened to only do so for stories with abbreviated credits in the first place, a number of them seem like they're omitting some of the music or sequences (or at least imagery) that came along with the original credits (though not having seen the originals, I don't know), as the often come off very abrupt and kinda cheap-looking.

[GodzillaBurgh]

I also hate how the Sony & Kraken releases had to have a TM or (R) next to the names. It's a bit of an eyesore.

[LegendZilla]

Universal and Toho seriously need to bargain with one another for a legal release of the original unedited version of the film to be released in North America.

I don't think Universal's really that interested. They don't need to target the fan market, and to them the increase in sales from including the original cut on such a niche title would probably be a meaninglessly small number.

What if the demand from fans in the west gets bigger?

[eabaker]

Universal and Toho seriously need to bargain with one another for a legal release of the original unedited version of the film to be released in North America.

I don't think Universal's really that interested. They don't need to target the fan market, and to them the increase in sales from including the original cut on such a niche title would probably be a meaninglessly small number.

What if the demand from fans in the west gets bigger?

I mean, I'm certainly not gonna say it's impossible. My fingers are crossed that in the lead-up to Legendary's GvsKK, Universal may see an increased interest in the original KKvsG and decide to cash in on it.

[Mr_Goji_and_Watch]

This is totally the weakest film in the Showa era when it comes to effects scenes. Nearly everything with the Kong props and puppets is pretty bad, and I doubt it was barely passable for the time. Ghidrah has some mediocre puppets and some gaffes every once in a while, but this is the only movie where I do mind the monster effects. The Kong suit is barely passable.

[eabaker]

I fucking love the Kong suit. It's unconvincing, but it has a big dumb teddy bear charm for me.

Really, though, I fucking love the classic Bandai vinyl figure of this Kong suit. That thing is bad ass.

There's also kind of a candy-colored aesthetic to parts of the movie that really appeals to me.

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

I skreeonking love the Kong suit. It's unconvincing, but it has a big dumb teddy bear charm for me.

Really, though, I skreeonking love the classic Bandai vinyl figure of this Kong suit. That thing is bad ass.

There's also kind of a candy-colored aesthetic to parts of the movie that really appeals to me.

I love the suit too! Second favorite Kong design imo.

This is totally the weakest film in the Showa era when it comes to effects scenes. Nearly everything with the Kong props and puppets is pretty bad, and I doubt it was barely passable for the time. Ghidrah has some mediocre puppets and some gaffes every once in a while, but this is the only movie where I do mind the monster effects. The Kong suit is barely passable.

Thats what happens when you pay for a monster that eats up almost half the budget.

[The Octopus]

I skreeonking love the Kong suit.

If you saw a coat at the store that was made up of old worn out rugs and pelts of roadkill would you love that too.

[Stevo_1985]

I skreeonking love the Kong suit. It's unconvincing, but it has a big dumb teddy bear charm for me.

I share this sentiment. I won't argue that the suit is terrible but I find that's the charm about it. It's so goofy it sort of helps sell the underdog vibe and it makes me root for him all the more.

[Maverick Centigrade]

I still stand by statement, that the scenes with the US sub and Godzilla escaping from the iceberg are among the best in the entire franchise.

[eabaker]

I still stand by statement, that the scenes with the US sub and Godzilla escaping from the iceberg are among the best in the entire franchise.

100% agreement (despite the less-than-stellar English-speaking performances). And I love the juxtaposition of the seriousness and tension of those scenes with the goofy comedy of the Kong storyline.

[GalacticPetey]

The whole iceberg sequence is firmly ingrained in my mind. I know I've gushed about this film before and how it was my first exposure to Godzilla outside of the old Hanna Barbera cartoon, but I just love this film. I saw it at a young age and I remember Godzilla's first appearance in the film so vividly. There was a time I could probably quote that whole movie word for word (at least the English version).

I still have yet to see the Japanese cut. I'm sure it's not hard to find online though. It'll be weird seeing it without all the insert scenes though.

[Maverick Centigrade]

The way the scene climaxes is just fantastic. The quotes are forever ingrained into my mind.

"Captain we're trapped!"

Cue Godzilla roar, and my FAVORITE Godzilla roar at that. Just comes together so perfectly.

[Billzilla1974]

This film is ok in my book, I still despise the moment when the American "scientist" says Godzilla has an impossibly small brain, although I wish Toho had the mind and budget to show the "Fossils in Japan that resemble Godzilla" during the Showa Era, I know the American "scientist" from the dub said it but still, it would've been cool to see.
Somehow I couldn't care less about what some people call "bad dubbing" I just can't see that many instances of it.
The King Kong suit is bad, but I find the 66 one to look worse, the 62 suit does what it's supposed to do: portray a mighty ape like creature, not a 25/50/150 foot gorilla.
The Godzilla suit is good, I don't like the eyes and the general fatness of the suit, but the face looks appropriately dinosaur-like, and the spines are in the iconic pattern that would remain for most of the original series.
This film delivers what it promises, King Kong duking it out with Godzilla, even if its not the greatest G film, it was a good comeback from 1955 that opened the door for the rest of the Godzilla Showa Era.

[The Octopus]

The whole iceberg sequence is firmly ingrained in my mind

Always loved this music

[scottzilla]

I watched this last night with my daughter and got so annoyed at all the stupid UN cut ins, now I realize they were added in later. I skipped over them because they're so gotdamn annoying and took forever.

Kong looks absolutely atrocious and Godzilla looks so stupid flailing his arms all the time, but the fight scenes are really fun to watch. I just can't take it seriously with how stupid they look, i'm sorry haha