English Versions in Most Need of a Restoration/DVD Release

[Tamura]

It seems that VARAN's international version no longer exists, since the dub wasn't able to be used/located for the Media Blasters DVD.

You also have to consider that MB took the effort to commission a new dub of THE MYSTERIANS while 35mm prints of the original dub were still sitting around. I don't care what anyone says and refuse to make up nor listen to excuses to make myself content, most of the people who dubbed MYSTERIANS in 1958-'59 had to be either dead or not in the mood to sue for royalties by 2005.

[The Dark Uniter]

I actually have a copy of the RKO version on VHS. I haven't seen the new dub from the recent release but the original one is pretty good.

[Tamura]

Yes, it is a well-made dub, and trust me, you don't want to listen to the new one. It makes all the newest Omni dubs sound like Titra.

[Tohosaurus]

English Versions in Most Need of a Restoration/DVD Release" means movies that are already available (or were available) in some form, so we can't propose anything new like Human Vapour, so my votes:

Rodan- A widescreen HD/BD version seems highly appropriate.

RoG/Godzilla 1985- Duh

Godzilla vs Biollante- Duh

Gunhed- An HD DVD/BD release again would be nice, plus the BD

Yamato Takeru- Same as Gunhed and Rodan

Rebirth of Mothra III

[The Dark Uniter]

Rodan- A widescreen HD/BD version seems highly appropriate.

Rodan wasn't shot in widescreen, only fullscreen. Starting with the Mysterians and such, Toho films are only begin to shoot in widescreen.

[Tohosaurus]

Rodan- A widescreen HD/BD version seems highly appropriate.

Rodan wasn't shot in widescreen, only fullscreen. Starting with the Mysterians and such, Toho films are only begin to shoot in widescreen.

But can't they remaster it and give it a widescreen format? They do that for movies all the time as far as I knew (but I don't know anything about that process so I don't know anything).

[Proofpoochie]

Rodan- A widescreen HD/BD version seems highly appropriate.

Rodan wasn't shot in widescreen, only fullscreen. Starting with the Mysterians and such, Toho films are only begin to shoot in widescreen.

But can't they remaster it and give it a widescreen format? They do that for movies all the time as far as I knew (but I don't know anything about that process so I don't know anything).

They would have to crop the picture.

[Goji]

Yes, it is a well-made dub, and trust me, you don't want to listen to the new one. It makes all the newest Omni dubs sound like Titra.

Lol...geezus. Must be pretty bad then.

I've never bothered to listen to it. I figured it would be awful. I have the original RKO version on VHS, but I seriously haven't watched it in a very, very long time. I don't even remember it in fact, but I've heard it's pretty well done.

[Rockzilla]

I watched The Mysterians with the new dub once. I heard it was done by a group of anime voice actors and thought maybe it would be decent. The dub was really horrid and I'm talking 4kids quality bad.

[Sydney Aradi]

I watched The Mysterians with the new dub once. I heard it was done by a group of anime voice actors and thought maybe it would be decent. The dub was really horrid and I'm talking 4kids quality bad.

Same here. When I bought my Mysterians DVD, I first thought that Media Blasters was gonna use the original US dub. When I first listened to this new english dub, I erupted with laughter. I mean seriously the new dub is just sooooooo laughable. Hell it was soooooooo bad that it makes any International dubbing for any Godzilla film look like a million dollars

[Tamura]

You know, these English versions are hopeless. If the companies can't do anything about them, it's insane to think the fans can. The best we're ever going to get for some of these are VHS-sourced fandubs (THE MYSTERIANS, SEA MONSTER and SON OF GODZILLA's US versions) or nothing at all (VARAN and KING KONG VS. GODZILLA's international versions). I wish I was as naive and approving as the majority of the fandom is in regards to these poor English versions' preservation statuses so that I could be at peace about this mess.

[Tyler]

You know I honestly just care about the original Japanese version with English subtitles. I don't need 12 different dubs or whatever. I know that might sound ignorant and there are good dubs out there, but that's just how I feel on the matter.

[Tamura]

^And I don't mean to spite you in any way, but this is why we're in a negative area in regards to restoring or even releasing some of these English versions. Only like two people care, and that includes me. Whether the dubs are good or not doesn't matter to me, it's unfair that all of the Japanese versions of both the good and bad films are treated like royalty (sans KKvsG) while the better part of both the best and the worst English versions either barely exist on home video in incomplete versions (like GODZILLA VS. THE THING), exist without their respective credits intact, exist as reconstructed approximations or are completely unavailable, some not even on the black market. And it is no less than complete insanity how nothing can ever meet Toho's approval.

[Proofpoochie]

You know I honestly just care about the original Japanese version with English subtitles. I don't need 12 different dubs or whatever. I know that might sound ignorant and there are good dubs out there, but that's just how I feel on the matter.

I have to agree. I never watch the US versions unless they have a commentary(like CM's releases). As long as I have the Japanese version, I'm happy. It would be nice if the US versions are restored but, I care more about the Japanese versions.

[Tamura]

My new pen pal who sent me YONGARY in Korean along with the complete cast and crew list in order to help me restore the Korean version of that film gives me a salt crystal-sized amount of hope that some collectors are actually nice and willing to cooperate, a Honda-esque message that doesn't get through to hoarders.

[Rockzilla]

^And I don't mean to spite you in any way, but this is why we're in a negative area in regards to restoring or even releasing some of these English versions. Only like two people care, and that includes me. Whether the dubs are good or not doesn't matter to me, it's unfair that all of the Japanese versions of both the good and bad films are treated like royalty (sans KKvsG) while the better part of both the best and the worst English versions either barely exist on home video in incomplete versions (like GODZILLA VS. THE THING), exist without their respective credits intact, exist as reconstructed approximations or are completely unavailable, some not even on the black market. And it is no less than complete insanity how nothing can ever meet Toho's approval.

Hey you can count me in on that two people that care, unless you had someone specific in mind then that makes three of us!

Honestly I prefer dub over sub provided that the dub is not completely horrendous of coarse. I love all of the old Aip dubs and hope that they will be truly restored.

[Malchik]

The American cuts/dubs of these films do exist. Sadly, the companies behind region 1 disks just don't want to invest into searching or renting these film prints. I can see their point, seeing these are special interest film.

My new pen pal who sent me YONGARY in Korean along with the complete cast and crew list in order to help me restore the Korean version of that film gives me a salt crystal-sized amount of hope that some collectors are actually nice and willing to cooperate, a Honda-esque message that doesn't get through to hoarders.

That's reassuring. Sadly, most collectors won't lend/rent out their prints. The reason being, if the film is available to the public through home video, that renders their film prints less desirable. This same situation came about when dealing with game prototype hoarders. If they allowed their games to be copied to the internet for the fans, their disks no longer have profit value.

I heard rumor that when MGM was releasing their region 1 Yongary disk, they were told the negative had been lost.

[The Dark Uniter]

You know, these English versions are hopeless. If the companies can't do anything about them, it's insane to think the fans can. The best we're ever going to get for some of these are VHS-sourced fandubs (THE MYSTERIANS, SEA MONSTER and SON OF GODZILLA's US versions) or nothing at all (VARAN and KING KONG VS. GODZILLA's international versions). I wish I was as naive and approving as the majority of the fandom is in regards to these poor English versions' preservation statuses so that I could be at peace about this mess.

I like the older dubs myself. Granted I watch the Japanese versions the most but some of the dubs for the most part are very good and should get the royal treatment like their Japanese counterparts. Good luck on restoring Yongary, that's probably going to be hell since the Korean version is only 40 minutes, I believe.

[Tamura]

Reportedly AIP was sent EVERYTHING, including the internegative, original Korean audio, music and effects track, etc. by Keuk Dong, YONGARY's production company. The Korean audio mix is thought to have been thrown away at some point. So, all that is known to exist of it and its respective credits is a 48-minute fragment. The short running time seems to be on account of hundreds of splices from beginning to end. I was expecting it to be because of missing reels, so it could have been worse and more inconsistent than I imagined. There is more dialogue intact then I predicted, though it's still going to be a bitch to sync up and I have nothing with which to fill the spliced out dialogue.

[Rockzilla]

Bump

So I was thinking about Madman's releases of Invasion of Astro Monster and Godzilla vs. Megalon. Astro Monster doesn't include an English version at all and Megalon includes an oddly reconstructed cinemashares version. Did Toho not provide Madman Entertainment with proper International prints? Or are those prints somewhat hard to find? I'm thinking maybe Madman Entertainment just goofed up like Classic Media and Media Blasters.