Unpopular Godzilla Opinions

[eabaker]

the intentionally mediocre presentations on video these films have constantly received.

Intentionally mediocre? Are you suggesting that there's a conscious decision being made to ensure that these films don't look good? To what end?

[goji89]

I think Toho is doing it intentionally you guy's. The transfers the dubs all of it just to watch these guy's squirm

[UltramanGoji]

the intentionally mediocre presentations on video these films have constantly received.

Intentionally mediocre? Are you suggesting that there's a conscious decision being made to ensure that these films don't look good? To what end?

I don't know the exact specifications but basically Toho's current 2008 Hi-Vision transfers were made using technology that was outdated back then and the result isn't anywhere close to how good these films can look when properly restored. The "intentionally" part comes from the fact that Toho doesn't seem to really care about putting out newer, better transfers or even using better transfers from third parties (such as the Sony/Kraken transfers), instead opting to regurgitate the Hi-Vision ones over and over again.

It's especially strange and irksome when they have completed 4K transfers of a few of their films but regulate them to televised broadcasts only.

[DirektorSplennic]

the intentionally mediocre presentations on video these films have constantly received.

Intentionally mediocre? Are you suggesting that there's a conscious decision being made to ensure that these films don't look good? To what end?

I don't know the exact specifications but basically Toho's current 2008 Hi-Vision transfers were made using technology that was outdated back then and the result isn't anywhere close to how good these films can look when properly restored. The "intentionally" part comes from the fact that Toho doesn't seem to really care about putting out newer, better transfers or even using better transfers from third parties (such as the Sony/Kraken transfers), instead opting to regurgitate the Hi-Vision ones over and over again.

It's especially strange and irksome when they have completed 4K transfers of a few of their films but regulate them to televised broadcasts only.

What's even the motivation behind that? The 4k version exists, why not release it?

[Terasawa]

^This is what a valid discussion gets you on this site.

Hes obviously kidding

That doesn’t invalidate my point. His responses were a “joke” and “we’ve heard it a million times.”

[Space Hunter M]

Intentionally mediocre? Are you suggesting that there's a conscious decision being made to ensure that these films don't look good? To what end?

When Koichi Kawakita begged Toho to give The Mysterians a proper restoration for DVD back in 2001, Toho refused him and stated something along the lines of "It doesn't matter. People will buy it regardless of quality."

This is entirely how modern corporate Toho operates.

[eabaker]

Intentionally mediocre? Are you suggesting that there's a conscious decision being made to ensure that these films don't look good? To what end?

When Koichi Kawakita begged Toho to give The Mysterians a proper restoration for DVD back in 2001, Toho refused him and stated something along the lines of "It doesn't matter. People will buy it regardless of quality."

This is entirely how modern corporate Toho operates.

Which establishes that they are knowingly and willingly putting out a mediocre product. Neither of those things establishes intent, though.

[DirektorSplennic]

Intentionally mediocre? Are you suggesting that there's a conscious decision being made to ensure that these films don't look good? To what end?

When Koichi Kawakita begged Toho to give The Mysterians a proper restoration for DVD back in 2001, Toho refused him and stated something along the lines of "It doesn't matter. People will buy it regardless of quality."

This is entirely how modern corporate Toho operates.

Jesus... Poor Kawakita

[Space Hunter M]

Which establishes that they are knowingly and willingly putting out a mediocre product. Neither of those things establishes intent, though.

Toho disallowed Sony to use their own, superior masters for the majority of the Heisei and Millennium films for Blu-Ray back in 2014, and refused Criterion's pleas to do their own transfers for the Showa films.

Toho is well aware of reverse importing and Japanese fans aren't dumb. They hate Toho's home video decisions, too.

The only reason the first official release of the Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla in North America is from an inferior version is because of a global embargo placed on the 4K Restoration. Toho specifically denied Criterion's usage of the 4K version.

[Godzilla21]

^This is what a valid discussion gets you on this site.

Hes obviously kidding

That doesn’t invalidate my point. His responses were a “joke” and “we’ve heard it a million times.”

You know what he was saying. The Criterion thread is a cesspool of fighting and complaining and he was joking it needs to be contained there. I know you know this!

[goji89]

^This is what a valid discussion gets you on this site.

Hes obviously kidding

That doesn’t invalidate my point. His responses were a “joke” and “we’ve heard it a million times.”

Get a grip on yourself.......no one but a handful of people care, or do you just want to have the same conversation over, and over, and over, and over, and over.....

[UltramanGoji]

It's almost as if it's an important conversation worth having and that by bringing it up a lot, it'll lead to more than "a handful" of people caring.

[Terasawa]

Like... if you guys don’t like it, don’t read it. It’s that simple. Goji, you’re just back from being banned for a month: I don’t think you’re in any position to dictate what gets discussed around here.

Go eat some celery while the big boys talk.

[Smuggers]

no one but a handful of people care

Where do you think we are

[goji89]

It's almost as if it's an important conversation worth having and that by bringing it up a lot, it'll lead to more than "a handful" of people caring.

Theres a damn thread dedicated to that......and come on UG, there's hundreds of members here on this site and only a handful care about restorations.....let's be honest here. But my point is that its great people have a passion for this but do we really need to talk about it over and over . The Criterion thread has many and I mean many valid points about the restorations that are informative.......but some people are too overly dramatic about it.

The Criterion set will cater to those that want it and thats that......nothing will change.

Hell, could we have gotten better hell yeah......will people set unfortunately yes.

[Terasawa]

Well, goji, what should we talk about instead? Please inform us so we can make your time here better for you.

[goji89]

Like... if you guys don’t like it, don’t read it. It’s that simple. Goji, you’re just back from being banned for a month: I don’t think you’re in any position to dictate what gets discussed around here.

Go eat some celery while the big boys talk.

Finally something other than restorations jargon. Also who are you to dictate to me as well. Im in every position I want to be in.....hahaha.

Big boys talk about restorations only? Hhmm.....valid point. Go to your criterion thread and cry about not getting those precious dubs and restorations some more.

I mean you guy's went over everything with a fine tooth comb and still find something to complain about. The Criterion set is what we got and I will gladly pay for it and Thank Toho for it and Criterion.

Added in 1 minute 46 seconds:

Well, goji, what should we talk about instead? Please inform us so we can make your time here better for you.

Well, thank you......

Teresawa aside from restorations what is your unpopular Godzilla opinion?

[Space Hunter M]

only a handful care about restorations.....let's be honest here.

If so, why complain about this in the "Unpopular Opinions" thread?

I'll reiterate that it's apparently unpopular to want quality presentations of these films, and it kinda sucks. It seems to be a lot more popular to dismiss genuine complaints as "whining", and that we should be happy for whatever scraps Toho scrapes out of the pan for us.

I have seen this attitude prevail in the fandom at large for years and years.

This is not the 2004-2014 "dark age" any more. Can we move on from the "just be glad" mentality, finally?

[Godzilla21]

no one but a handful of people care

Where do you think we are

I mean he's not wrong. There seems to be maybe 3-4 dedicated people against the Criterion set in the Criterion thread. Meanwhile on social media (where there a lot more Godzilla fans) the response to the set seems to be universally positive. And the fact that it was #1 on Amazon for a bit says to me there is a lot of interest. But maybe this is a discussion better suited for that thread. It's amazing how testy people are getting over a box set of Godzilla films

[goji89]

Can we move on from the "just be glad" mentality, finally?

Unfortunately it's not possible. Should we all as fans rise up and demand better? Sure. But, realistically do you see this as a possibility?