The original Godzilla? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

theta · 08-30-2003, 03:41 PM

I own the American version of the first Godzilla movie, and having seen it, I'd really like to compare it to the Japanese version. Not easy to find, though, I hit my usual haunts and came up empty. Anybody know where I could find a copy?

wahlers · 08-30-2003, 04:06 PM

I'm definately interested as well.

I was watching the american and found it so funny how much our culture has changed (in some respects) in that, they changed the movie to appeal to the american public, and yet when I'm watching it, every time Raymond Burr was on the screen, I was wanting him to get his ass off my TV cause his bad acting and horrible scripting was ruining a good movie...

I want the original version released, restored.

Extras would be nice, but I don't even care, so long as it's the fully restored Japanese version.

Doctor_Mabuse · 08-30-2003, 10:47 PM

Try CD Japan .

I own this version myself. It was nice to see it sans Mr Burr. This print is not restored. I did not buy mine from this retailer. I bought it from an american retailer who imports foreign DVDs. Unfortunately the WEB site is down right now. I've done business though with CD Japan. They are reliable.

SephirothClone · 08-31-2003, 03:56 AM

Personally, I never want to see a Godzilla movie thats not dubbed in english. It it by far the most brilliantly cheesy entertainment in the history of mankind! I actually owned all Godzilla movie's released in America on video and dubbed. Brilliant stuff!

Be honest guys... you love it too!

wahlers · 08-31-2003, 04:18 AM

The sequels are funny dubbed. You almost get the idea that they were trying to make them funny.

But the original is not funny dubbed. It's just a travesty. It appears to be trying to be a legitimate film, and Raymond Burr just messes it up. He's not even funny. He's just annoying and boring.

theta · 08-31-2003, 06:16 AM

Apparently the differences between the original and the American version are drastic. According to the IMDB, the original contains multiple references to American bombings of Japan during WWII, features a woman praying with her children being crushed by a falling building, and is generally a more depressing experience.

Part of the reason I want to see the original is that I'm just curious. The disparity between East and West has always fascinated me, and the Japanese seem screwed up in ways other countries aren't.

Thanks for the tip, Mabuse!

EDIT: HOLY SHIT! I just went to CD Japan. Unfortunately the disc has no English subtitles and costs $50, but that's not the half of it! The original runs 97 minutes. The American version? 78!!!

Surf Monkey · 08-31-2003, 06:42 AM

The original Gojira is indeed a serious film. It's really nothing like the franchise that it spawned, clearly more of a legitimate horror film than a "guys in rubber suits" movie. It's a crying shame that the original isn't available in the US. This movie screams for the Criterion treatment.

NotaNumber · 08-31-2003, 06:51 AM

At one time Criterion was going to put this out (on LaserDisc, I believe) as part of the on going restoration project by Toho. Toho is restoring their entire film catalog.

For whatever reasons the deal dropped through. Most likely the Sony remake had something to do with this.

I've seen this on tape, without subtitles and dubbing. There was a newspaper reporter that Raymond Burr substituted for which accounts for severe truncation of the film (most of his scenes were cut out). The role of the scientist is cut down too.

The dubbing on this film is quite good and there is little room for 'comedic' translations. This was a serious horror film like the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, unlike many of the sequels.

mikenyc · 08-31-2003, 11:17 AM

I have the 5 DVD set, by SONY Music Video, titled "Godzilla - The Ultimate Collection ", It was released September 17, 2002 , and contains the following...Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla's Revenge, Terror of Mechagodzilla, and Rodan.

It's reasonable priced, at around $35.00.

Doctor_Mabuse · 08-31-2003, 04:28 PM

Quote:

At one time Criterion was going to put this out (on LaserDisc, I believe) as part of the on going restoration project by Toho. Toho is restoring their entire film catalog.

I seriously doubt we will ever see legal versions of the original "Godzilla" with English subtitles in the US because Toho "fears" reverse importation of those type of DVDs.

Surf Monkey · 08-31-2003, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor_Mabuse

I seriously doubt we will ever see legal versions of the original "Godzilla" with English subtitles in the US because Toho "fears" reverse importation of those type of DVDs.

This is what I've been given to understand too; that it's Toho who stands in the way of Gojira being released in the US. It's really a shame.

Doctor_Mabuse · 09-01-2003, 12:21 AM

Quote:

It's really a shame

That's why I paid thru the nose for the R2 japanese version that I own. I was sick of always seeing the Burr version.

Morticia · 09-01-2003, 06:15 AM

As the original Gojira is an R2 release, better off in Off-World Colonies.

Oh, I've used CDJapan as well -- good service...

SMBguy · 09-01-2003, 06:40 AM

I was pretty young when the new godzilla came out and I thought it was pretty cool, but then I started hating it...... It really actually sucks compared to the original godzilla movies. Most people hate it probably. Also...... There are like ....... 20 of the original godzilla movies..... I used to have about 12 of them....

wahlers · 09-01-2003, 05:26 PM

This is a list I did a while back out of boredom. Just thought that it might be useful to somebody else.

There are other monster movies by the same directors, but I only included other films that didn't have Godzilla in them, if they featured a monster who later appeared in a film that did feature Godzilla.

I threw in Gamera films just for the Hell of it at the end, even though it was a different studio entirely. Just cause flying turtles are cool.

GODZILLA and FRIENDS

1954* Godzilla, King of the Monsters [Gojira]
Godzilla

1955+ Godzilla Raids Again [Gojira no gyakushu] aka "Gigantis the Fire Monster"
Godzilla, Angilas

1956* Rodan [Sora no daikaijû Radon]
Rodan (two), Meganurons

1958* Giant Monster Varan [Daikaijû Baran] aka "Varan, the Unbelievable"
Varan

1961* Mothra [Mosura]
Mothra (adult and larva)

1962* King Kong vs. Godzilla [Kingukongu tai Gojira]
Godzilla, King Kong, a giant octopus

1963* Atragon [Kaitei Gunkan]
Manda

1964* Godzilla vs. Mothra [Mosura tai Gojira] aka "Godzilla vs. the Thing"
Godzilla, Mothra (adult and twin larvae)

1964* Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster [San daikaijû: Chikyu saidai no kessen]
Godzilla, Ghidrah, Rodan, Mothra (larva)

1965* Frankenstein Conquers the World [Furankenshutain tai chitei kaijû Baragon]
Frankenstein Monster, Baragon

1965* Monster Zero [Kaijû daisenso] aka "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero"
Godzilla, Ghidrah, Rodan

1966# Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster [Gojira-Ebira-Mosura: Nankai no daiketto]
Godzilla, Ebirah, Mothra (adult), a giant condor

1967* King Kong Escapes [Kingukongu no gyakushu]
King Kong, Mechani-Kong, Gorosaurus, a giant sea snake

1967# Son of Godzilla [Kaijûtô no kessen: Gojira no musuko]
Godzilla, Minilla, Kumonga (Spiga), Kamakiris (Gimantis)

1968* Destroy All Monsters! [Kaijû sôshingeki]
Godzilla, Ghidrah, Angilas, Rodan, Mothra (larva), Minilla, Gorosaurus, Manda, Kumonga, Baragon, Varan

1969* Godzilla's Revenge [Gojira-Minira-Gabara: Oru kaijû daishingeki] aka "All Monsters Attack"
Godzilla, Minilla, Gabara, Ebirah, Kumonga, Kamakiris, a giant condor

1971$ Godzilla vs. Hedora [Gojira tai Hedora] aka "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster"
Godzilla, Hedorah (in various stages)

1972# Godzilla on Monster Island [Chikyu kogeki meirei: Gojira tai Gaigan] aka "Godzilla vs. Gigan"
Godzilla, Gigan, Angilas, Ghidrah

1973# Godzilla vs. Megalon [Gojira tai Megaro]
Godzilla, Megalon, Gigan, Jet Jaguar

1974# Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster [Gojira tai Mekagojira] aka "Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla"
Godzilla, MechaGodzilla, King Seesar

1975* Terror of MechaGodzilla [Mekagojira no gyakushu] aka "MechaGodzilla vs. Godzilla"
Godzilla, MechaGodzilla, Titanosaurus

GAMERA

1965^ Gamera, The Invincible [Daikaijû Gamera]
1966~ Gamera vs. Barugon [Daikaijû kessen: Gamera tai Barugon] aka "War of the Monsters"
1967^ Gamera vs. Gaos [Gamera tai Gyaosu] aka "Return of the Giant Monsters"
1968^ Gamera vs. Viras [Gamera tai uchu kaijû Bairasu] aka "Destroy All Planets"
1969^ Gamera vs. Guiron [Gamera tai daikaijû Giron] aka "Attack of the Monsters"
1970^ Gamera vs. Monster X [Gamera tai Daimaju Jaiga] aka "War of the Monsters"
1971^ Gamera vs. Zigra [Gamera tai Shinkai kaijû Jigura]

* Directed by Ishirô Honda
+ Directed by Motoyoshi Oda
# Directed by Jun Fukuda
$ Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno
^ Directed by Noriaki Yuasa
~ Directed by Shigeo Tanaka

SephirothClone · 09-02-2003, 02:53 PM

You forgot Gojira ni-sen mireniamu aka GODZILLA 2000!!!

wahlers · 09-02-2003, 06:57 PM

I was only including what's considered the "original" Godzilla and sequels.

Godzilla 2000 is not really part of the same thing.

Terror of MechaGodzilla was really the last of the originals.

08-30-2003, 03:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
theta Cheap Cerebral Paralysis Join Date: May 2002 Location: In aintnosin's basement	The original Godzilla? I own the American version of the first Godzilla movie, and having seen it, I'd really like to compare it to the Japanese version. Not easy to find, though, I hit my usual haunts and came up empty. Anybody know where I could find a copy? __________________ "I need bling, I tell you, BLING!!!" --Palmerlime Theta's discs, 300 mark crossed, 400 here we come!

08-30-2003, 04:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
wahlers Actor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Columbus, OH (right now)	I'm definately interested as well. I was watching the american and found it so funny how much our culture has changed (in some respects) in that, they changed the movie to appeal to the american public, and yet when I'm watching it, every time Raymond Burr was on the screen, I was wanting him to get his ass off my TV cause his bad acting and horrible scripting was ruining a good movie... I want the original version released, restored. Extras would be nice, but I don't even care, so long as it's the fully restored Japanese version. __________________ And that is the way the world ends. Not with a bang. or a whimper. but with a THWAKK!

08-30-2003, 10:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Doctor_Mabuse Actor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Toledo, Ohio, USA	Try CD Japan . I own this version myself. It was nice to see it sans Mr Burr. This print is not restored. I did not buy mine from this retailer. I bought it from an american retailer who imports foreign DVDs. Unfortunately the WEB site is down right now. I've done business though with CD Japan. They are reliable. __________________ *Cogito, Ergo Sum* My DVD Library / My Other Videos Last edited by Doctor_Mabuse : 08-31-2003 at 04:29 PM.

08-31-2003, 03:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
SephirothClone Secret President of the NLWC Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Guess and win $1	Personally, I never want to see a Godzilla movie thats not dubbed in english. It it by far the most brilliantly cheesy entertainment in the history of mankind! I actually owned all Godzilla movie's released in America on video and dubbed. Brilliant stuff! Be honest guys... you love it too! __________________ Want pictures of my iguana collection? Just give Ried a PM.

08-31-2003, 04:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
wahlers Actor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Columbus, OH (right now)	The sequels are funny dubbed. You almost get the idea that they were trying to make them funny. But the original is not funny dubbed. It's just a travesty. It appears to be trying to be a legitimate film, and Raymond Burr just messes it up. He's not even funny. He's just annoying and boring. __________________ And that is the way the world ends. Not with a bang. or a whimper. but with a THWAKK!

08-31-2003, 06:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
theta Cheap Cerebral Paralysis Join Date: May 2002 Location: In aintnosin's basement	Apparently the differences between the original and the American version are drastic. According to the IMDB, the original contains multiple references to American bombings of Japan during WWII, features a woman praying with her children being crushed by a falling building, and is generally a more depressing experience. Part of the reason I want to see the original is that I'm just curious. The disparity between East and West has always fascinated me, and the Japanese seem screwed up in ways other countries aren't. Thanks for the tip, Mabuse! EDIT: HOLY SHIT! I just went to CD Japan. Unfortunately the disc has no English subtitles and costs $50, but that's not the half of it! The original runs 97 minutes. The American version? 78!!! __________________ "I need bling, I tell you, BLING!!!" --Palmerlime Theta's discs, 300 mark crossed, 400 here we come!

08-31-2003, 06:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
Surf Monkey Banned Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The City of Roses	The original Gojira is indeed a serious film. It's really nothing like the franchise that it spawned, clearly more of a legitimate horror film than a "guys in rubber suits" movie. It's a crying shame that the original isn't available in the US. This movie screams for the Criterion treatment.

08-31-2003, 06:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
NotaNumber I paid for this! Join Date: May 2002	At one time Criterion was going to put this out (on LaserDisc, I believe) as part of the on going restoration project by Toho. Toho is restoring their entire film catalog. For whatever reasons the deal dropped through. Most likely the Sony remake had something to do with this. I've seen this on tape, without subtitles and dubbing. There was a newspaper reporter that Raymond Burr substituted for which accounts for severe truncation of the film (most of his scenes were cut out). The role of the scientist is cut down too. The dubbing on this film is quite good and there is little room for 'comedic' translations. This was a serious horror film like the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, unlike many of the sequels. Last edited by NotaNumber : 08-31-2003 at 06:59 AM.

08-31-2003, 11:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
mikenyc Actor Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NYC Metro Area	I have the 5 DVD set, by SONY Music Video, titled "Godzilla - The Ultimate Collection ", It was released September 17, 2002 , and contains the following...Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla's Revenge, Terror of Mechagodzilla, and Rodan. It's reasonable priced, at around $35.00.

09-01-2003, 06:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
Morticia Administrator Emeritus Film Class Goddess Part-Time PRN Princess Panty Thief Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Devil's Point. Burn baby burn!	As the original Gojira is an R2 release, better off in Off-World Colonies. Oh, I've used CDJapan as well -- good service... __________________ Nope, you really haven't lived until you've fed a naked Fire Dancer a S'more...cooked from her own flaming baton. I reject your reality and substitute my own! "Freeze dried moles. Price as marked." -- Nixon, Suicide Girl

09-01-2003, 06:40 AM	#14 (permalink)
SMBguy Supporting Actor Join Date: Sep 2003	Liked the new when it first came out, but then...egh. I was pretty young when the new godzilla came out and I thought it was pretty cool, but then I started hating it...... It really actually sucks compared to the original godzilla movies. Most people hate it probably. Also...... There are like ....... 20 of the original godzilla movies..... I used to have about 12 of them....

09-01-2003, 05:26 PM	#15 (permalink)
wahlers Actor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Columbus, OH (right now)	This is a list I did a while back out of boredom. Just thought that it might be useful to somebody else. There are other monster movies by the same directors, but I only included other films that didn't have Godzilla in them, if they featured a monster who later appeared in a film that did feature Godzilla. I threw in Gamera films just for the Hell of it at the end, even though it was a different studio entirely. Just cause flying turtles are cool. GODZILLA and FRIENDS 1954* Godzilla, King of the Monsters [Gojira] Godzilla 1955+ Godzilla Raids Again [Gojira no gyakushu] aka "Gigantis the Fire Monster" Godzilla, Angilas 1956* Rodan [Sora no daikaijû Radon] Rodan (two), Meganurons 1958* Giant Monster Varan [Daikaijû Baran] aka "Varan, the Unbelievable" Varan 1961* Mothra [Mosura] Mothra (adult and larva) 1962* King Kong vs. Godzilla [Kingukongu tai Gojira] Godzilla, King Kong, a giant octopus 1963* Atragon [Kaitei Gunkan] Manda 1964* Godzilla vs. Mothra [Mosura tai Gojira] aka "Godzilla vs. the Thing" Godzilla, Mothra (adult and twin larvae) 1964* Ghidrah, the Three-Headed Monster [San daikaijû: Chikyu saidai no kessen] Godzilla, Ghidrah, Rodan, Mothra (larva) 1965* Frankenstein Conquers the World [Furankenshutain tai chitei kaijû Baragon] Frankenstein Monster, Baragon 1965* Monster Zero [Kaijû daisenso] aka "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero" Godzilla, Ghidrah, Rodan 1966# Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster [Gojira-Ebira-Mosura: Nankai no daiketto] Godzilla, Ebirah, Mothra (adult), a giant condor 1967* King Kong Escapes [Kingukongu no gyakushu] King Kong, Mechani-Kong, Gorosaurus, a giant sea snake 1967# Son of Godzilla [Kaijûtô no kessen: Gojira no musuko] Godzilla, Minilla, Kumonga (Spiga), Kamakiris (Gimantis) 1968* Destroy All Monsters! [Kaijû sôshingeki] Godzilla, Ghidrah, Angilas, Rodan, Mothra (larva), Minilla, Gorosaurus, Manda, Kumonga, Baragon, Varan 1969* Godzilla's Revenge [Gojira-Minira-Gabara: Oru kaijû daishingeki] aka "All Monsters Attack" Godzilla, Minilla, Gabara, Ebirah, Kumonga, Kamakiris, a giant condor 1971$ Godzilla vs. Hedora [Gojira tai Hedora] aka "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster" Godzilla, Hedorah (in various stages) 1972# Godzilla on Monster Island [Chikyu kogeki meirei: Gojira tai Gaigan] aka "Godzilla vs. Gigan" Godzilla, Gigan, Angilas, Ghidrah 1973# Godzilla vs. Megalon [Gojira tai Megaro] Godzilla, Megalon, Gigan, Jet Jaguar 1974# Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster [Gojira tai Mekagojira] aka "Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla" Godzilla, MechaGodzilla, King Seesar 1975* Terror of MechaGodzilla [Mekagojira no gyakushu] aka "MechaGodzilla vs. Godzilla" Godzilla, MechaGodzilla, Titanosaurus GAMERA 1965^ Gamera, The Invincible [Daikaijû Gamera] 1966~ Gamera vs. Barugon [Daikaijû kessen: Gamera tai Barugon] aka "War of the Monsters" 1967^ Gamera vs. Gaos [Gamera tai Gyaosu] aka "Return of the Giant Monsters" 1968^ Gamera vs. Viras [Gamera tai uchu kaijû Bairasu] aka "Destroy All Planets" 1969^ Gamera vs. Guiron [Gamera tai daikaijû Giron] aka "Attack of the Monsters" 1970^ Gamera vs. Monster X [Gamera tai Daimaju Jaiga] aka "War of the Monsters" 1971^ Gamera vs. Zigra [Gamera tai Shinkai kaijû Jigura] * Directed by Ishirô Honda + Directed by Motoyoshi Oda # Directed by Jun Fukuda $ Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno ^ Directed by Noriaki Yuasa ~ Directed by Shigeo Tanaka __________________ And that is the way the world ends. Not with a bang. or a whimper. but with a THWAKK!

09-02-2003, 02:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
SephirothClone Secret President of the NLWC Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Guess and win $1	You forgot Gojira ni-sen mireniamu aka GODZILLA 2000!!! __________________ Want pictures of my iguana collection? Just give Ried a PM.

09-02-2003, 06:57 PM	#17 (permalink)
wahlers Actor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Columbus, OH (right now)	I was only including what's considered the "original" Godzilla and sequels. Godzilla 2000 is not really part of the same thing. Terror of MechaGodzilla was really the last of the originals. __________________ And that is the way the world ends. Not with a bang. or a whimper. but with a THWAKK!

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