DAM and GvsMegalon from Media Blasters (v.2)

[Svitska Donkun]

The difference with Rifftrax is that it's sold separately from the movie, has to be bought, downloaded and played alongside the commercially released DVDs they're paired with. Godzilla commentaries are packaged as an audio option as is sold with the actual physical releases, and everything on those releases has to be approved by Toho, since it's their property. Toho wants to make sure the commentaries on home video releases of their films don't belittle their product or offer false information.

That's not the same thing as some dumbass making an unofficial rambling fanboy commentary that they're not getting paid for and isn't being sold alongside the official products.

Not everyone who makes fan-commentaries are dumbasses. In fact, I'm inclined to say many are very intelligent.

[Legion1979]

Not everyone who makes fan-commentaries are dumbasses.

I didn't say that.

[FlawedCoil82]

I am more than satisfied with a barebones version, as long as it had good video/audio quality video and was uncut. I would never double dip on a movie just for bonus material if I already have a good copy (The Lord Of The Rings was the one and only time I ever did, but the extended editions were worth the extra money). I'd only bother repurchasing the Heisei series if they ever got the releases that they desperately deserve. But Media Blasters would be wasting their time and effort to re-release Megalon with some bonus features because I at least would not repurchase it. Just give me the barebones, please!

[kpa]

The difference with Rifftrax is that it's sold separately from the movie, has to be bought, downloaded and played alongside the commercially released DVDs they're paired with. Godzilla commentaries are packaged as an audio option as is sold with the actual physical releases, and everything on those releases has to be approved by Toho, since it's their property. Toho wants to make sure the commentaries on home video releases of their films don't belittle their product or offer false information.

That's not the same thing as some dumbass making an unofficial rambling fanboy commentary that they're not getting paid for and isn't being sold alongside the official products.

Legion's explanation is correct. When a company licenses their property (as Toho does with their Godzilla films) they maintain a contractual right over how that property is handled, and that would included final say over any extra content on the DVD/Blu-ray. That's nothing like a fan commentary or Rifftrax, which don't involving licensing the film and won't be included as part of an official release. Of course someone can do a commentary mocking THE PHANTOM MENACE, but if you want to do a commentary on an official DVD or Blu-ray you have to be approved by Lucasfilm. It's pretty simple.

[Goji]

But Media Blasters would be wasting their time and effort to re-release Megalon with some bonus features because I at least would not repurchase it.

So MB would be "wasting their time" simply because YOU won't re-buy it. Gotcha.

[Rockzilla]

The commented on their FB page again, they're going with a barebones disc first. Didn't give a date or anything, but that's apparently their intention.

Edit: they've added a little more - looks like it's certain it's going to be barebones, but they claim the transfer is better than the R2 and will include the English dub (in addition to Japanese).

The transfer looking better than the R2 DVD is not a hard claim to make. Now if only they meant that it would look better than Toho's Blu-ray. I won't hold my breath though.

[Qaenos]

The commented on their FB page again, they're going with a barebones disc first. Didn't give a date or anything, but that's apparently their intention.

Edit: they've added a little more - looks like it's certain it's going to be barebones, but they claim the transfer is better than the R2 and will include the English dub (in addition to Japanese).

The transfer looking better than the R2 DVD is not a hard claim to make. Now if only they meant that it would look better than Toho's Blu-ray. I won't hold my breath though.

Except there is no Toho Blu-ray of Godzilla vs Megalon. Only a handful of Toho movies got Blu-ray releases, and this wasn't one of them.

[Rockzilla]

Right, I forgot about that.

Let me reiterate, if only it would look better than Toho's HD transfer used on tv.

[wataru]

But Media Blasters would be wasting their time and effort to re-release Megalon with some bonus features because I at least would not repurchase it.

So MB would be "wasting their time" simply because YOU won't re-buy it. Gotcha.

If MB was smart, they'd put out a disc of JUST EXTRAS as a web-store exclusive purchase, like Shout! does for Swamp Thing Vol. 3 or Pirates of Dark Water.

[Tamura]

I don't think MB could be any clearer when they said "we did a new transfer from a film print." With all this extra time not releasing the film, I can see them doing their own transfer. And it only makes sense for them to do this, as the Toho HD has just plain awful color, even compared to the R2. It really does this gloriously colorful movie a disservice.

Or maybe we're misinterpreting MB and they actually mean something completely different.

[Goji]

Sounds like the guy(s) running the MB FB page don't actually know what the hell they're talking about.

Tamura asked them if the new transfer was from an English print. They quickly responded, but then deleted their first response, but it said that they were using Toho's HD master after all. (Wtf?). Here is what they said after deleting that first response.

From Media Blasters FB page-"Meaning Japanese HD master amd audio taken from print".

So, it sounds like they only took the English audio from Toho's international print (judging by their previous comments that I didn't mention), and are planning on using Toho's HD master after all. I asked them to confirm this (I also asked if the English credits would still be included as extras like originally planned), but they have yet to respond..

[Tamura]

If whatever MB said means we'll see the Toho transfer, this is a good idea of the type of quality to expect (inferiorities enhanced for comedic effect):

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/2836/megalon.png

[Qaenos]

Well, I'm not going to stick up for Toho's quality (or lack thereof) of their HD masters...but if they are using Toho's HD Masters, then they won't look worse than the HD recording that was taken off of Japanese tv a few years ago (which was obviously sourced from Toho's HD master as well). So, in other words, it's still going to be the best Godzilla vs Megalon has ever looked.

[Goji]

Nah. Toho's HD master of MEGALON actually looks worse than watching the film via a 35mm print.

[Rockzilla]

I don't think MB could be any clearer when they said "we did a new transfer from a film print." With all this extra time not releasing the film, I can see them doing their own transfer. And it only makes sense for them to do this, as the Toho HD has just plain awful color, even compared to the R2. It really does this gloriously colorful movie a disservice.

Or maybe we're misinterpreting MB and they actually mean something completely different.

Oh man I wish that was true, but Media Blasters sucks too much.

[Gawdziller]

If whatever MB said means we'll see the Toho transfer, this is a good idea of the type of quality to expect (inferiorities enhanced for comedic effect):

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/2836/megalon.png

Now THAT'S widescreen.

[Proofpoochie]

If this release is anything like DAM than it will be slightly worse than the Toho Blu.

[Qaenos]

If this release is anything like DAM than it will be slightly worse than the Toho Blu.

But...there is no such thing as a Toho Blu-ray of DAM.

As for Toho's HD transfer of Godzilla vs Megalon looking worse than a 35mm print, well I was referring to the best Godzilla vs Megalon has ever looked on a format for home use. To me, the question is whether or not the Toho HD transfer (being used for the MB Bluray) was WORSE than Toho's R2 DVD? As of right now, the Toho R2 DVD is the best video quality Godzilla vs Megalon out there available for home use. If the HD (i.e. Blu-ray) transfer is better, then I'm happy, even if it's not as could as it could have been. That's all I am saying. I'm not asking for a Criterion restoration, just an improvement over the R2 DVD. Is that too much to ask?

[Proofpoochie]

If this release is anything like DAM than it will be slightly worse than the Toho Blu.

But...there is no such thing as a Toho Blu-ray of DAM.

I meant Toho's "HD" transfer of the film, which isn't much more than an SD upconvert.

[Qaenos]

If this release is anything like DAM than it will be slightly worse than the Toho Blu.

But...there is no such thing as a Toho Blu-ray of DAM.

I meant Toho's "HD" transfer of the film, which isn't much more than an SD upconvert.

Was the MB Blu-ray of DAM worse than Toho's HD transfer? Says who? I find that hard to believe. I was under the impression that MB's Blu-ray of DAM was the best looking home version of DAM ever released anywhere. That's not to say that it couldn't have been better, if they did a transfer themselves from some pristine 35mm print, but it's still better than anything that's been available to Godzilla fans so far.