GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE DVD/Blu-ray from Echo Bridge

[KeizerKing81]

For clarification, we will do both a DVD and BD for this film... sorry if I didn't explain that earlier. I am not sure what the exact differences will be at this point, but we usually put more 'effort' and quality into our BD releases right now. I won't let the company completely destroy the DVD, but our marketing and product development team may only approve a basic DVD release with few to no bonus features and then pack all the bonus content on the BD.

Nice to hear about a release for the film on both formats. So I'm guessing Toho has approved the extra content for the disc or is that still in the negotiation process?

[wataru]

I'll double dip and buy both a DVD and BRD release.

Why?

If the BRD covers all the same that's on the DVD, just by the BRD and rip it to your hard drive and you can compress is with DVDFab and double scan it and it'll be the exact same thing the DVD is except on a DVD-R and you can make as many as you want if the DVD-R 'laser rots'. (not to distribute or sell, but in case youre in a car with a DVD player or whatever..)

[mxg744]

Why?

Do it to pay my salary :p

Nice to hear about a release for the film on both formats. So I'm guessing Toho has approved the extra content for the disc or is that still in the negotiation process?

No, no news on the bonus feature officially being approved for NA territories

what extra features are you thinking on the BRD?

I am trying to get everything to match the Japanese release, we watched them on the BD we have and they looked pretty interesting even without understanding a word of what was being said.

But also on this point... What do you guys think of the magazine Japanese Giants? A representative from there contacted us about the upcoming release and offered to assist in making bonus features, probably for a fee, so we would have to fight the marketing & product development team to approve of that expense, but is it worth exploring or do they have no credibility?

[Goji]

But also on this point... What do you guys think of the magazine Japanese Giants? A representative from there contacted us about the upcoming release and offered to assist in making bonus features, probably for a fee, so we would have to fight the marketing & product development team to approve of that expense, but is it worth exploring or do they have no credibility?

Japanese Giants is edited and run by Ed Godziszewski, who is a very respectable person in the the fandom. Other than publishing Japanese Giants for several decades, as well as the The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Godzilla, he's done audio commentaries for Classic Media's releases of MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA, Sony's releases of MOTHRA and BATTE IN OUTER SPACE, and more recently, an audio commentary for Media Blaster's release of DESTROY ALL MONSTERS.

He also produced a documentary entitled BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE, about the legacy of Japanese SPX techniques, which was released in 2009 on Classic Media's RODAN/WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS double feature DVD set.

[Tamura]

This is one of the few times I would rather not hear a historian commentary on a Godzilla film. I mean, it's only like 20 years old...

[wataru]

Why?

Do it to pay my salary :p

Put out a Blu-Ray version of Biollante with as many versions of the film you can get WITH the American release and dub and toss in those deleted scenes (like the claymation scene) and I'll drop $30 on that bad boy. I was ready to dish out $100 for the VHS from a rental store back in the day to own it.

[Tamura]

^ That's overkill dood.

[Tohosaurus]

Why?

If the BRD covers all the same that's on the DVD, just by the BRD and rip it to your hard drive and you can compress is with DVDFab and double scan it and it'll be the exact same thing the DVD is except on a DVD-R and you can make as many as you want if the DVD-R 'laser rots'. (not to distribute or sell, but in case youre in a car with a DVD player or whatever..)

Several reasons, but the top two

- I want to complete my Godzilla DVD collection and continue with my Godzilla BRD collection

- I want to support the companies that give us this stuff as opposed to people to just rip off this company by illegally downloading, etc. That's why even if I have free legal access to a movie (say, Netflix Instant Stream, etc) and I really like the movie I'll still buy it anyway. This is especially true of foreign movies getting a NA release. It's my way of saying "thank you" to them for bringing it to us.

[Ethan]

I wonder, even if Echo Bridge isn't allowed to make their own tranfer, would Toho be awfully upset about colour correcting it?

[Tamura]

^ Funny that you should mention that, because if you compare the Classic Media DVD of RODAN to the Toho DVD, they are identical transfers (surprise, anyone?) except the CM has contrast and color alterations.

It would appear that Echo Bridge has the ability to get a new HD transfer made, but it's too expensive and they aren't risking it. I think it would be neat if Echo did a quick, fresh anamorphic SD transfer of the English print for the DVD and relegated the Toho HD version to the Blu-ray edition. If worse comes to worse, only the opening and ending credits could be transferred from the 35mm and included as an extra on the BD. Is there a chance any of this could happen, mxg744?

[Ethan]

^ Funny that you should mention that, because if you compare the Classic Media DVD of RODAN to the Toho DVD, they are identical transfers (surprise, anyone?) except the CM has contrast and color alterations.

For the better or worse?

[wataru]

Why?

If the BRD covers all the same that's on the DVD, just by the BRD and rip it to your hard drive and you can compress is with DVDFab and double scan it and it'll be the exact same thing the DVD is except on a DVD-R and you can make as many as you want if the DVD-R 'laser rots'. (not to distribute or sell, but in case youre in a car with a DVD player or whatever..)

Several reasons, but the top two

- I want to complete my Godzilla DVD collection and continue with my Godzilla BRD collection

- I want to support the companies that give us this stuff as opposed to people to just rip off this company by illegally downloading, etc. That's why even if I have free legal access to a movie (say, Netflix Instant Stream, etc) and I really like the movie I'll still buy it anyway. This is especially true of foreign movies getting a NA release. It's my way of saying "thank you" to them for bringing it to us.

But it makes no sense to buy the same movie on more then one format at the same time. It's like buying Planet of the Apes on DVD and Blu-Ray at the same time. Why? The BRD is superior.

I could understand if the DVD came out first, then the BRD months or years later..

..and BTW it's not illegal to back up your own BRDs and DVDs. You can even do it legally at Walmart.

[Tamura]

^ Funny that you should mention that, because if you compare the Classic Media DVD of RODAN to the Toho DVD, they are identical transfers (surprise, anyone?) except the CM has contrast and color alterations.

For the better or worse?

See for yourself:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1157125/toho- ... t_17233721

[Tohosaurus]

But it makes no sense to buy the same movie on more then one format at the same time. It's like buying Planet of the Apes on DVD and Blu-Ray at the same time. Why? The BRD is superior.

I could understand if the DVD came out first, then the BRD months or years later..

..and BTW it's not illegal to back up your own BRDs and DVDs. You can even do it legally at Walmart.

It's not practical, no. I'm not saying it is. But I want to complete my Godzilla DVD collection anyway. I'm not saying it's illegal to back up your discs either. There are people who think "Hmm, I like this" and then illegally download it online instead of paying the 15 bucks or whatever to buy it on home media. That's what I'm talking about, but that's sure to derail this thread so I'll leave the illegal subject to that much.

[Gawdziller]

I have a portable DVD player that I use when I'm on the go, so DVD copies of films are always in use, and Blu-Rays are used for my home system.

Blu-Ray may be superior, but I have no way of playing it when I'm out of town.

[KeizerKing81]

But also on this point... What do you guys think of the magazine Japanese Giants? A representative from there contacted us about the upcoming release and offered to assist in making bonus features, probably for a fee, so we would have to fight the marketing & product development team to approve of that expense, but is it worth exploring or do they have no credibility?

Truthfully, I wouldn't even waste the time...they may be reputable but you would probably have to pay a fee to Toho as well for whatever bonus features they produce. Toho charges for everything and they have to approve whatever extra content you want to put on that disc so I would be careful in regards to what you want to include.

[goji1986]

This is one of the few times I would rather not hear a historian commentary on a Godzilla film. I mean, it's only like 20 years old...

Yeah but there's quite an interesting story behind the making of the film (like the fact that the original script was the result of a contest). If the Toho-made features are approved and include much of this, that's one thing. But if they don't get approved (or don't cover it) then I'm all for it. And even so, it's nice to have an American perspective on these films since this is an NA release.

So mxg744, I'd recommend pursuing this. At least look into the cost. I feel like it may be cheaper overall than getting the Toho materials (but I'm no expert...maybe Kpa would know *hint hint*) and it would be a way to put the film into perspective for American audiences.

[Goji]

But also on this point... What do you guys think of the magazine Japanese Giants? A representative from there contacted us about the upcoming release and offered to assist in making bonus features, probably for a fee, so we would have to fight the marketing & product development team to approve of that expense, but is it worth exploring or do they have no credibility?

Truthfully, I wouldn't even waste the time...they may be reputable but you would probably have to pay a fee to Toho as well for whatever bonus features they produce. Toho charges for everything and they have to approve whatever extra content you want to put on that disc so I would be careful in regards to what you want to include.

Why are you discouraging him, exactly? Did you not see my post earlier?

Japanese Giants is edited and run by Ed Godziszewski, who is a very respectable person in the the fandom. Other than publishing Japanese Giants for several decades, as well as the The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Godzilla, he's done audio commentaries for Classic Media's releases of MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA, Sony's releases of MOTHRA and BATTE IN OUTER SPACE, and more recently, an audio commentary for Media Blaster's release of DESTROY ALL MONSTERS.

He also produced a documentary entitled BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE, about the legacy of Japanese SPX techniques, which was released in 2009 on Classic Media's RODAN/WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS double feature DVD set.

This is most definitely someone you would want helping you out with something like this. I don't know what paying Toho a fee has to do with having Ed G help out. He has relations with Toho, and may even have things from his personal collection that he could add. Sure, there will be a licensing fee for all the extra content that's added, but that's beside the point.

[KeizerKing81]

But also on this point... What do you guys think of the magazine Japanese Giants? A representative from there contacted us about the upcoming release and offered to assist in making bonus features, probably for a fee, so we would have to fight the marketing & product development team to approve of that expense, but is it worth exploring or do they have no credibility?

Truthfully, I wouldn't even waste the time...they may be reputable but you would probably have to pay a fee to Toho as well for whatever bonus features they produce. Toho charges for everything and they have to approve whatever extra content you want to put on that disc so I would be careful in regards to what you want to include.

Why are you discouraging him, exactly? Did you not see my post earlier?

This is most definitely someone you would want helping you out with something like this. I don't know what paying Toho a fee has to do with having Ed G help out. He has relations with Toho, and may even have things from his personal collection that he could add. Sure, there will be a licensing fee for all the extra content that's added, but that's beside the point.

Yes, I saw your post from earlier.

I'm certain that Toho can charge a fee as well even if they don't supply the materials. Media Blasters used a great deal of items from Ed's personal collection and that's what got them into hot water because none of those extras were approved by Toho. Toho will have to give the ok for whatever additional content they wish to use for the disc and in addition, probably charge Miramax/EchoBridge for it.

[Goji]

Well...yeah. Hence me saying "there will be a licensing fee for all the extra content that's added". Echo Bridge just needs to not make the same mistakes that Media Blasters made, and make sure that all the extra content they want to include is first approved by Toho. It's really that simple.