Toho Master Collection now what?

[tommyv]

Hi All!
First post.
Was wondering,
What would you consider the next best versions (DVD) to continue my collection with picking up where the Classic Media ended? As it seems that Classic Media will not/can not expand upon the wonderful "Toho Master Collection"
due to the always problematic "Who owns what" scenario?

I want to finally get a comprehensive Godzilla Movie Database (getting rid of the garbage releases) and was really hoping that Classic Media was going to do a complete series for collectors? But after reading your wonderful Blog and the Reviews on the Main Site by Anthony Romero it seems that it still will be a piece meal collection.

Like most of you from 70's who grew up watching the badly edited/ dubbed "American Version" on TV (and loved them). I was both amazed and shocked when I finally saw and realized that there did exist original unedited version and how wonderfully different they were on all levels!

I apologize if this topic has been brought up before? But I did a search on the forum and couldn't find any previous threads that touched upon this.

Thank You

out,
t

[Malchik]

Sony has released many Godzilla films with quality well over the Master Collection. The downside of the disks would be they are barebones, but the picture quality can't be beat.

[tommyv]

Thanx!
Excuse my ignorance on this
But, when you say "SONY" are you referring to the "TRI-STAR" releases?
Sorry I'm still trying to get my head wrapped around who has what with these!

out,
t

[Tamura]

Sony's picture quality is obviously the best and they actually bothered to preserve the international credits unlike anybody else since then. I love their 2004 releases of the 70's films for these reasons.

[kpa]

Tommyv, Sony Pictures owns TriStar and Columbia so you're talking about the same thing.

Sony has released widescreen DVDs of the following films: GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER, SON OF GODZILLA, GODZILLA VS HEDORAH, GODZILLA VS GIGAN, GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA (1974), GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA II (1993), GODZILLA VS SPACEGODZILLA/DESTOROYAH Double Feature (English only), GODZILLA 2000 (US version), GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRUS, GMK, GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA, GODZILLA: TOKYO SOS, and GODZILLA: FINAL WARS. Except where I've indicated, the DVDs have English and Japanese audio tracks.

Sony also put out an ICONS OF SCI-FI: TOHO COLLECTION set with DVDs of H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE, and MOTHRA. All are restored, widescreen, with US and Japanese versions, and audio commentary on MOTHRA and BIOS.

Sony's Double Feature of GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH/GODZILLA AND MOTHRA is pan and scan and dub only so I wouldn't recommend it.

Universal released KING KONG VS GODZILLA and KING KONG ESCAPES. The DVDs only have the US versions but they're widescreen and look great.

Media Blasters released DVDs of THE MYSTERIANS (Japanese version only), VARAN (Japanese version only), MATANGO (Japanese and English dubs), ATRAGON (Japanese and English dubs), DOGORA (Japanese and English dubs), FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD (Japanese version and a recreation of the US version), LATITUDE ZERO (US and Japanese versions), and SPACE AMOEBA (Japanese and English dubs).

ADV Films is no longer in business but they released a terrible DESTROY ALL MONSTERS DVD. They also did better discs of GUNHED (Japanese and English dubs) and OROCHI: THE EIGHT-HEADED DRAGON (Japanese and English dubs).

Discotek Media put out widescreen, English and Japanese DVDs of WAR IN SPACE and SAYONARA JUPITER.

Criterion did an excellent DVD and Blu-ray of Toho's 1977 horor movie HOUSE (Japanese audio).

That should keep you busy for awhile! You can probably find reviews and specific details for all of these discs on the Toho Kingdom main site.

[tommyv]

HOLY CRAP... Thanx!

Yes, this is what started my venture into the Forums as I really appreciated the fact that Anthony Romero on the main site broke down each release by distribution and gave you the good and/ or Bad of each.
It would be so nice though to have a complete series done by one Studio (Toho?) so the packaging and everything matched as well as quality Video/ Audio. When I first saw the Classic Media DVD's that is what I foolishly thought was in the works.

out,
t

[kpa]

HOLY CRAP... Thanx!

You're very welcome.

Yes, this is what started my venture into the Forums as I really appreciated the fact that Anthony Romero on the main site broke down each release by distribution and gave you the good and/ or Bad of each.

Anthony and the TK crew have done a great job providing that kind of info.

It would be so nice though to have a complete series done by one Studio (Toho?) so the packaging and everything matched as well as quality Video/ Audio. When I first saw the Classic Media DVD's that is what I foolishly thought was in the works.

That would have been nice, but it's never going to happen. Toho doesn't have their own distribution network in the US like they do in Japan so they've always just licensed their movies one at a time to American distributors. They've been doing that since the 1950s so the US rights are split up between many companies. And when they made the deal to produce KING KONG VS GODZILLA back in 1962 they signed away all North American rights so that film will be with Universal for as long as Universal exists.

[Malchik]

Sony's picture quality is obviously the best and they actually bothered to preserve the international credits unlike anybody else since then. I love their 2004 releases of the 70's films for these reasons.

I don't know why Toho bothered to restore their versions of their films for HD when all they had to do was use the near-pristine international versions and restored the opening and closing credits.

Speacking of which, how many of Toho's Godzill.a films have international cuts, kpa? I'm under the impression everything above Monster Zero.

[Goji]

I think it's only these:

King Kong vs. Godzilla (unreleased on home video)
Monster Zero (prints feature the title "Invasion of the Astro Monsters")
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
Son of Godzilla
Destroy All Monsters

Other stuff
Varan (unreleased)
Atragon (prints feature the title "Atoragon")
Matango
War of the Gargantuas (released only in Europe)
King Kong Escapes (presumed to be unreleased)

Then of course every film from HEDORAH through FINAL WARS has had an International/English export version produced by Toho, all of which were dubbed in Hong Kong by Corporate Communications Ltd., which later became Omni Productions. GODZILLA 2000:MILLENNIUM has an International version that has remained unreleased. Also, the alternate English dub for RETURN OF GODZILLA is the only English dub to have never been released in the U.S.

[gvamp]

There was a from a few years ago that Sony is considering releasing a reissue set of all the Heisei Stuff as well as the Rebirth of Mothra Trilogy and G2K.

In dual language and proper aspect ratio (only applies to GvsKing Ghidorah and GvsMothra 92) so you may want to hold out for that.

[Tamura]

I think it's only these:

King Kong vs. Godzilla (unreleased)
Monster Zero (prints feature the title "Invasion of the Astro Monsters")
Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
Son of Godzilla
Destroy All Monsters

Other stuff
Varan (unreleased)
Atragon (prints feature the title "Atoragon")
Matango
War of the Gargantuas (released only in Europe)
King Kong Escapes (presumed to be unreleased)

Then of course every film from HEDORAH through FINAL WARS has had an International/English export version produced by Toho, all of which were dubbed in Hong Kong by Corporate Communications Ltd., which later became Omni Productions. GODZILLA 2000:MILLENNIUM has an International version that has remained unreleased. Also, the alternate English dub for RETURN OF GODZILLA is the only English dub to have never been released in the U.S.

If by unreleased you mean unavailable on home video, then you may be right (unfortunately). However, I heard Baradagi say a month or so ago that KKvsG's international print played in Malaysia into the early 80's.

[Tyler]

Criterion did an excellent DVD and Blu-ray of Toho's 1977 horor movie HOUSE (Japanese audio).

I still need to see that one.

[Goji]

If by unreleased you mean unavailable on home video, then you may be right (unfortunately). However, I heard Baradagi say a month or so ago that KKvsG's international print played in Malaysia into the early 80's.

^ That's right, I had completely forgot about that. Thanks for the correction man.

I also don't know for sure if the export versions (credits and all) of MATANGO and ATORAGON have ever had home video releases, but considering Baradagi had footage of them at one point on his Youtube account, there is a possibility they had PAL releases (that, or he owns actual prints of them).

[Tamura]

If by unreleased you mean unavailable on home video, then you may be right (unfortunately). However, I heard Baradagi say a month or so ago that KKvsG's international print played in Malaysia into the early 80's.

^ That's right, I had completely forgot about that. Thanks for the correction man.

I also don't know for sure if the export versions (credits and all) of MATANGO and ATORAGON have ever had home video releases, but considering Baradagi had footage of them at one point on his Youtube account, there is a possibility they had PAL releases (that, or he owns actual prints of them).

The clip from MATANGO reeked of ancient Greek (no pun intended) PAL videotape.

[Malchik]

I heard Baradagi say a month or so ago that KKvsG's international print played in Malaysia into the early 80's.

That print could be the lost ark needed for Toho to make a proper restoration. Knowing Toho, they won't put an effort.

[tommyv]

Wow lot of information here!
I'm confused by the "unreleased" titles listed Goji?
I've seen most of those on Amazon and other places or am I misunderstanding the term here?
VARAN also got rave reviews for the Video quality if I remember correctly?

If I'm being a "newbie" i apologize.

out,
t

[Tamura]

The unreleased dubs Goji spoke of are basically a handful of international dubs that may have been seen in some territories but are virtually impossible to find on home video. THE LAST WAR is another example. The WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS int'l dub used to be so obscure that few people knew it existed until a Greek tape surfaced.

[JVM]

There was a from a few years ago that Sony is considering releasing a reissue set of all the Heisei Stuff as well as the Rebirth of Mothra Trilogy and G2K.

In dual language and proper aspect ratio (only applies to GvsKing Ghidorah and GvsMothra 92) so you may want to hold out for that.

I remember this rumor.

I really hope that happens, but I do doubt it to be frank.

[tommyv]

I'll get this figured out one of these days?
Thanx for all your help, and patience guys!

out,
t

[gojiguy]

Sony has released many Godzilla films with quality well over the Master Collection. The downside of the disks would be they are barebones, but the picture quality can't be beat.

image quality? yeah, that's better. But as far as packaging, subtitles, extras, and overall treatment of the films Sony is usually pretty garbage. Most of their releases even opt for "dubtitles" isntead of proper subtitles.