Godzilla in the Criterion Collection?!

[JVM]

Why would anyone buy the Classic Media discs to begin with?

[Gojira-Fan]

Why would anyone buy the Classic Media discs to begin with?

Because it's the best legal option in terms of video quality (other than for GODZILLA).

And the commentaries are pretty awesome also.

[Goji]

Why would anyone buy the Classic Media discs to begin with?

You're telling me you own none of them by this point?

They're far, far from perfect, but still your only option of really watching the films outside of prints, and torrents of Toho's mediocre-as-hell "HD" transfers.

The things that are wrong with them aren't going to bother a majority of people. I would still recommend them people who aren't 'videophiles', and are just interested in seeing the films. People like me, Tamura, and a handful of others just want to see these films eventually presented in the same way the Critereon's GODZILLA release was, especially the English versions, which are in dire need of preservation.

[JVM]

I'm not saying I don't own them. I'm just questioning why people would still want them now, years later.

They were fine at their original release, but they're pretty dated in comparison to the vast majority of other Godzilla releases, especially since these came out. The only real draw was the dual Japanese and American versions, and that hurt the releases more than helped in the long run, as nice a feature as it was initially.

[Tohosaurus]

I'm not saying I don't own them. I'm just questioning why people would still want them now, years later.

They were fine at their original release, but they're pretty dated in comparison to the vast majority of other Godzilla releases, especially since these came out. The only real draw was the dual Japanese and American versions, and that hurt the releases more than helped in the long run, as nice a feature as it was initially.

Because there still are no better options or new options at all unless you want to A) Mess with your DVD player unlocking codes, etc, or buy a region free/specific DVD player OR B) Buy a region A BRD from YesAsia or wherever for some of the movies available ... which don't have English subs IIRC. Oh, and the BRDs there tend to exceed $70 a movie.

The Classic Media discs are not perfect and hardcore fans will whine about something in every release anyway. But the CM releases do have a lot of great things about them and as an entire package would a vast improvement over the prior CM releases (I have that box too) and anything prior. Now am I saying I don't care for a full HD update with BRD choices as well? Course not.

[Goji]

The discs from other regions are essentially worse anyway. They use the same shitty Toho transfers, and don't even have things like commentaries (which I actually do enjoy on most of the CM disks).

If CM had actually just released all of these films as 2-disc releases like their GOJIRA release, the compression issues probably wouldn't have been nearly as bad. When I found out RAIDS AGAIN and MOTRHA VS. GODZILLA were going to be single disc releases, I knew there were going to be some problems.

[Tamura]

If a disk dedicates at least 3-3.5 gigs to each of two films (so long as they aren't like 2+ hours in length), there shouldn't really be any compression issues. Look at Sony's ICON sets, for instance. Those look just fine. The problem with the Classic Medias is that they worked from subpar materials.

I would have appreciated CM's US presentations more if they at least handled what little material was supplied to them in a more mature fashion. When all you have is a Toho transfer and a cropped Monsters HD version, pillarbox the cropped material. That is the concept of restoration.

[tokyostateofmind]

I am a bit slow but i finally bought the criterion DVD through the 50 percent Criterion sale at Barnes and Noble and..am I missing something or is the Unluckiest Dragon featurette missing on the DVD? I can;t seem to find it.

[Dash 7]

I am a bit slow but i finally bought the criterion DVD through the 50 percent Criterion sale at Barnes and Noble and..am I missing something or is the Unluckiest Dragon featurette missing on the DVD? I can;t seem to find it.

I think the dvd only has the interviews/commentaries...i have it too

[Tamura]

Everything's on the DVD release.

[Dash 7]

Everything's on the DVD release.

You sure mate?

EDIT: I'ts on Disc 1

[Godsteigman]

Has anyone heard of anymore Kaiju titles going to be released by CC. I was reading an article in Sci Fi Japan where they interviewed a CC rep and at the end he mentioned The Mysterians. I dont know if this was not be taken seriously or if they were looking into it ?
Anyone out there know ?

[Tamura]

Mr. Tsui told me personally he would love to do THE MYSTERIANS, but Criterion has said that GODZILLA is all they're interested in...

[Sydney Aradi]

perhaps because to Criterion, GODZILLA is the only Japanese monster movie of any big significance (consider that much of what they release are critically loved movies anyway with a few exceptions.....)

[Rody]

I looked through their catalogue online once; I recognized MAYBE two or three of their films, besides Godzilla. The rest made loud whooshing sounds as they went over my head.

[Proofpoochie]

If a disk dedicates at least 3-3.5 gigs to each of two films (so long as they aren't like 2+ hours in length), there shouldn't really be any compression issues. Look at Sony's ICON sets, for instance. Those look just fine. The problem with the Classic Medias is that they worked from subpar materials.

I would have appreciated CM's US presentations more if they at least handled what little material was supplied to them in a more mature fashion. When all you have is a Toho transfer and a cropped Monsters HD version, pillarbox the cropped material. That is the concept of restoration.

This is why DVDs shouldn't be used anymore. Blu-rays offer far more capacity and far superior video and audio quality.

[omgitsgodzilla]

Yeah. Even for older stuff that's shot in standard definition, like TV shows, for instance, Blu-Ray would allow many more episodes on one disc with minimal compression if any.

[Mothra Freak]

But I think phasing DVDs out entirely is, at this point in time, unfeasible. Sure, eventually the DVD will go the way of the VHS, but that's still some time away.

[Tohosaurus]

But I think phasing DVDs out entirely is, at this point in time, unfeasible. Sure, eventually the DVD will go the way of the VHS, but that's still some time away.

Yup. These days I tend to buy DVDs only if a BRD version is not an option but the general populace has been slow to accept BRDs. It's only been more recently that a lot of BRDs have gotten fairly affordable but they still often cost 20-25% more than an otherwise identical DVD version. BRDs are still less than easy to get on laptops, automobile entertainment systems, etc, so a quick phase out of the DVD would spell disaster for a lot of us.

[tymon]

Yeah. Even for older stuff that's shot in standard definition, like TV shows, for instance, Blu-Ray would allow many more episodes on one disc with minimal compression if any.

I heard that Sony TV won't release The Shield on Blu-Ray because it was shot and 16mm and supposedly wouldn't benefit from an HD transfer. Doesn't sound right to me, plus what are they going to do when DVDs inevitably go the way of the dodo?

But yeah, Blu-Rays are the shizz and I've been buying more of them lately. I'm slowly but surely becoming some sort of videophile as a result.