Talkback Thread #3: King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)

[Space Hunter M]

Tamura has prepared a textless reconstruction of the trailer, if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlu6dOqKBEE

[Tamura]

Here is the same theatrical trailer with the original text. Unfortunately, it is cropped down to 1.85:1 and is missing a bit of material compared to my reconstruction due to splices:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe7r_BTECz4

[TheXFilter]

Thanks for the reply! I need downlodable versions at maximum quality possible, do you know where I can find them?

[Space Hunter M]

A while back, Tamura gave me a uncompressed .mpg version of the textless trailer. I still have the file on my hard drive, but the Megaupload page is gone for obvious reasons.

[TheXFilter]

Can you send me it wetransfer way, please? is to easy, only need my email (I am sending it to you in a mp)

- EDIT:It's not a big thing but: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cl_k00h ... ature=plcp

[Hellspawn28]

So I watch the Japanese version today with English subs and the Japanese version is much better of course. It feels like you are pretty much watching a totally different movie and the music from Akira Ifukube is wonderful as always.

[Kaiju-King42]

Wish I could see it in Japanese...

[Space Hunter M]

So I watch the Japanese version today with English subs

I just did the opposite a few days ago. Weird how that works. It's quite amazing how many things they shuffled around. The sudden shift back to Carter completely ruins Godzilla's dramatic entrance.

[Destroyer]

I saw the English version again after so many years. I'm sad to say that it was.....a joke. The human characters were nothing but complete jokes, the tone was strange, and really the only thing good about it was the final battle. But man, this film is A LOT worse than I remembered. And I hear that the Japanese version has more comedy, so I really do not know what to say about this film.

[Space Hunter M]

The Japanese version is a well structured satire of the Kaiju Eiga genre, as well as the 1960s Japanese TV industry. The U.S. version most of us are accustomed to is basically a butchered B-Movie edited by morons who didn't get it. It's almost unanimous that the original version is completely superior.

[Tamura]

I think it's cruel to call the people who worked on the US version morons.

[Sydney Aradi]

Here is how I see the US & Japanese versions:

Japanese version:

Funny as hell
Good pacing
Great Akira Ifukube score

Universal version:

Bland add in American actors
A somewhat different tone (as I believe John Beck wanted his version to be a straight Sci-Fi film, correct me if I'm wrong about that)

Scenes shuffled about (like Kong & Godzilla's first fight being moved to a different spot)
So so dubbing
Okay stock music score (not as great as Ifukube's original score IMO)
Added in stock footage

I wouldn't say that John Beck & the people behind the US version are idiots, I'll say that they were trying to make a totally different version

[MaxRebo320]

I love how many articles on this site thinks ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' is a "serious" movie, when really, neither version is.
http://www.historyvortex.org/GodzillaTimeline.html

[Legion1979]

I love how many articles on this site thinks ''King Kong vs. Godzilla'' is a "serious" movie, when really, neither version is.
http://www.historyvortex.org/GodzillaTimeline.html

Wow.

I knew John Rocco Roberto (RIP) and always enjoyed his G-Fan articles, but that piece was all over the damn place. I wouldn't pay any attention to that.

[Hellspawn28]

I personally enjoy both versions of the film. I do mainly enjoy the US version due to nostalgia and the cheesy dubbing.

[Godz]

I personally enjoy both versions of the film. I do mainly enjoy the US version due to nostalgia and the cheesy dubbing.

Me too. And though the loss of Ifukube's soundtrack is pretty inexcusable....I enjoy the stock music as well.

"My...my corns!"

[JAGzilla]

And though the loss of Ifukube's soundtrack is pretty inexcusable....I enjoy the stock music as well.

As do I. Haven't seen the Japanese version yet, but I've heard some of Ifukube's tracks on YouTube. I don't know if I like it as much as his later work, but it's certainly not bad. I bet it does completely change the feel of the movie. Definitely gotta watch that version someday.

[Tohosaurus]

The movie may not be that great but it's a really fun ride. While not my favorite in the Showa series, it is "up there" out of the 15.

[Zentenk]

I had this on VHS since the mid 90's (came in a white plastic case). I never thought Godzilla lost, he lives in the ocean and wouldn't die so easily.

I just watched the Japanese version today. It was really great! Giving cigarettes to everyone, even children! The constant scaling of King Kong was the most annoying thing in the movie. One minute he is the size of an average house and the next he is bigger than Godzilla.

Godzilla design = top 5 - I think the hands really look powerful and well done.

Although Godzilla would "clap" his hands far too often and sometimes made a clicking/clacking noise, probably had a bad shoulder like myself.

Fukumi or whatever her name was... wow. Pathetic, she couldn't traverse 10ft wide 3ft deep water. Her man had to drag her out, and she is lucky he kept going for that "last young woman" left behind. It just so happened to be you, lady with a deathwish.

[GodzillaDude]

Things That I Think Are Good/Decent About This Film-
-The Godzilla suit is decent (It is a bit overrated though)
-Kong's roar/voice
-Godzilla & Kong's individual rampage scenes are the best parts (My favorite scene being when the military attempts a failed trap for Godzilla)
-The final battle is decent

Things That I Think Are Bad About This Film-
-The human characters are jokes
-Kong's suit is not very good at all (Mainly the face)
-Godzilla's breath seemed very ineffective throughout the movie (I know it was weaker in the Showa era but even so)
-Godzilla being scared of/effected by normal electricity was a loud of B.S. as it was never even hinted towards BEFORE this film

And everything else that I didn't name was pretty bad too (except the octopus looked cool)