Godzilla

Starring:Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Kevin Dunn, Michael Lerner, Harry Shearer, Arabella Field, Vicki Lewis, Doug Savant, Malcolm Danare, Lorry Goldman, Christian Aubert, Philippe Bergeron, Frank Bruynbroek, FranÃ§ois Giroday, Nicholas J. Giangiulio, Robert Lesser, Ralph Manza, Greg Callahan
Director: Roland Emmerich
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Description

(Sci-Fi) Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster -- A prophetess from Venus foretells cataclysmic disasters! Godzilla, Mothra and Rodan reappear in Japan, wreaking havoc! A giant meteor crashes into the mountains and the three-headed, fire-spitting space dragon King Ghidorah emerges! As the Venusian's prophecies come true, assassins from a tiny Asian kingdom hunt her down, while the Earth monsters must decide whether to settle their petty differences and join forces against the extraterrestrial enemy!

Customer Reviews:

Godzilla meets James Bond.......2007-07-02

Great Godzilla movie and loads fun, and not only because of the monster battles. It starts out (After the credits) on top of a building with a bunch of people looking for flying saucers. (These people NEED to get a life). One of the stars in the movie, a reporter, is blamed for the saucerpeople not coming, and a proffessor says "I can't help but think that terrible things are about to happen." DUH. After that intillectual thought, a woman screams that she saw a UFO, but turns out only to be a meteorite. And then the scene switches to the star of the movie, a policeman talking to a reporter about Enciphilitis breaking out because of the heat wave that that's going on in January. The reporter looks out into the sky and sees the meteorite that will give Earth a few problems. Stay tuned for more details. The reporter leaves and the dude's boss comes in and tells the guy to guard a european princess, Salina Salno, who is being sent to Japan because of an assination plot to kill her. Then the scenes switches to the Princess being hypnotised by an alien in a flying saucer to get off the plane, and the plane blows, up and a proffessor goes to find the meteorite, that fell, and will later find out that it holds Ghidrah. Later, the policeman finds the princess ands she's a martian from Venus. While this is happening, the assasinators are sent to kill the princess, this goes on for a while so I won't go to deep into it, and while THIS is happening, Rodan and Godzilla appear and start wrecking the place. And Ghidrah hatches from the meteorite and starts doing the same as Godzilla. The fairies from Godzilla x Mothra come in and call Mothra, (one of the babies died) and she finds Godzilla and Rodan fighting each other, shoots them with her silk and tries to convince them to fight against Ghidrah. They don't want to, so Mothra goes and fights Ghidrah herself, and Godzilla appears as well as Rodan and the three start attacking Ghidrah together. Meanwhile The princess's memory has restored itself and the assasinators have been killed. Meanwhile, Ghidrah is being wrapped up in silk and Godzilla tosses him of the hill, and Ghidrah flies away, humiliated. It's a great movie and great collection to any monster series.

Classic Media does it again.......2007-06-08

Excellent packaging, well thought out menu, good commentary and extras.The price point is the major selling point for me. Not my favorite Gojira flick, but the fact that its in my collection makes me happy.

Enjoyable DVD of one of the more rare of the Classic Godzilla films. Though it's not without flaws.......2007-06-06

While just having this Godzilla film finally on region 1 DVD, is cause for celebration, there is much more to this release than just the movie itself. With the addition of a great bundle of extra features adding to the fun, and a nicely designed package this becomes a very worthy purchase. But while the film quality is mostly above average or acceptable, it is unfortunately (though not unexpected) a bit below average at times. Just don't expect crystal clarity all the way through the entire film.

Good points:

1) The movie itself is one of the best of the Godzilla films. This is from the originators of the franchise and this being the fifth in the series, Toho studios and this production crew are at the height of their game here. Ghidorah's introduction as mentioned in other reviews, is very memorable. The human characterizations are fully realized and completely believable. Very interesting and compelling interaction between all the main characters. This is actually one of the better plotlines in a Godzilla film and if you subtract the Godzilla part of the movie, it's still a fairly compelling plot. Princess escapes death by unseen alien assistance, she becomes a spokesperson for the aliens and pleads with the earthlings to be forewarned of the emminent disasters that await. Foreign assasins attempt to find her and kill her. Police are involved in her protection as well in finding out why she now has the personality of an alien. The structure of the story is very well formed and does not have the hokey kind of plots that are reminescent of the low budget 1960's era sci-fi genre.

2) The package has a very unique look and design to it. The Obi band is a nice touch. And it appears much like the "Mothra vs Godzilla" package or the "Godzilla Raids Again" package. Very distinct, utilizing poster art from the era in which it was originally released, encapsulated in what appears like a film canister "look" to it, as a fold open style book. The center spine creaks a bit too much when it opens though. But perhaps it's appropriate as it further reflects the age of the original film.

3) The extras are well done. Poster gallery, commentary by godzilla "expert" and trailers and a fine documentary on Eiji Tsuburaya. The poster gallery includes brief explanations regarding each poster, which is a helpful addition.

4) Sound quality is very good. The introductory score grabs your attention and sustains throughout the movie. Dialogue mix has been improved over previous releases and there is a very noticable difference between the 50's era toho pictures and this time period of mid to late sixties. All the groundbreaking sound effects are here in bright and full mono, with both the Japanese and U.S. dialogue tracks fully represented. Some will be disappointed by a lack of sound options, but the sound is as it was originally released in 1964 with a mono soundtrack.

5) The anamorphic widescreen picture and image for the Japanese edited version while not pristine, and considering it's 40+ year old age, is not bad. Spots and scratches appear from time to time, though not glaringly so. It's hard to believe that this movie could look perfect after all these years, and it certainly does not. But here in all it's full color glory is about as good as it can look, which isn't bad at all and actually quite clear for most of the movie. Contrast is sharp, color is balanced well, images are crisp. And while there is some expected minor fading and it is at times too dark or too light, it does not detract from the overall presentation and most viewers will be satisfied with the film quality. Of course it will not compare favorably to a film released recently, but with the age that this film is and the fact it is of the low budget variety, it is comparable to other DVD releases from movies of this time period.

Bad points:

1) The American edit otherwise known as "Ghidrah, the Three Headed Monster" suffers from a worse looking image quality than the Japanese edit version. Right from the opening titles, the picture is blurry, colors are washed out, scratches and spots exist throughout. Contrast is poor and unbalanced, and though the majority of it looks about average or above, at times it looks like a VHS quality image. Most of the other Godzilla releases are superior in image quality compared to this U.S. edited version. The American Ghidrah definitely shows it's age. In addition several edits and changes from the original Japanese edit, detract needlessly. For example, editing out nearly the entire Mothra song that the peanut twins sing in calling for Mothra's assistance. There was no valid reason for cutting the song out. The images remain but different music has been inserted at that point. Sometimes the U.S. edit works better with dramatic music at certain points. In this particular instance it was ill advised.

2) The commentary, while much appreciated for all the vast amounts of information and anecdotal memories, becomes extremely tedious after a while. David Kalat proves from the outset that his knowledge of the subject matter is robust and authoritative as he covers a lot of ground in small bursts. But with one person talking almost non stop, it becomes tiresome to listen to. Perhaps another commentator teamed with him might have broken the monotony a bit, and could have offered another viewpoint to certain details. Also, while Kalat touches upon the differences in the U.S. and Japanese releases in a very detailed manner, it would have helped to have screen shots accompany his descriptions. Sometimes his knowledge goes beyond that of most viewers and he seems to assume everyone is able to follow right along. On the other hand, the personal stories of his own children's interest in Godzilla and it being the main reason he himself has altered his attitude towards dubbing, was a very interesting and illuminating observation. He definitely hit the nail on the head with those comments, which could apply to practically every person watching, be they longtime fans or casual viewers. Also, his information regarding the toho studios production schedules and how they were producing quite a few films in short periods of time, with some productions overlapping others, whilst using the same production teams, was quite interesting. It illustrates for me, the achievements made in special effects, miniatures, and production values that many of these toho movies are unfairly denigrated for.

So all in all a very good release, and while not perfect is still a very fine, complete movie package. Classic Media have proven with previous releases that they are capable of producing great products, and they continue that trend here with this release of one of the older, more rare Godzilla films and one that has not truly had a legitimate U.S. release...until now. I rate it 4 stars and a recommended purchase, with great extra features and a generously informative, though sometimes monotonous commentary track.

Let's try to review the DVD....PLEASE.......2007-05-31

Yes, I agree that is is a title long overdue. I also agree that this is a great Godzilla flick. But, let's review the DVD itself--not just the film. In fact, how can you post an accurate review without the media? You can't! So, when this monster (pun intended) comes out next Tuesday, let's all review the DVD in all of its glory. You know, the transfer, features, sound quality, etc.

Thank You...

The Last of Toho's Golden Age of Godzilla.......2007-05-09

Contrary to popular belief, Godzilla and Rodan are not good in here. The only good they do is drive off King Ghidorah, the space demon who spews gravity beams. The fiery birth of king Ghidorah is one of the best SFX i have ever seen, even surpassing CGI in some regards. The human plot is pretty cool, but berefit of Ishiro Honda's usual social commentary. There is a bit of monster humour, but nowhere nearly as blatant or ridiculous as in the subsequent films(such as that STUPID dance Godzilla does in Invasion of Astro-Monster). A must buy.

Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero)

Average customer rating:

ONE MOUTH, TWO VOICES & THREE HEADS
Aliens from planet X, Ghidorah, Godzilla does the jig, what more could anyone need?
By Any Other Name...
About Time
GODZILLA Episode 6: GODZILLA vs. MONSTER ZERO

Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero)
Starring: Nick Adams , Akira Kubo , Kumi Mizuno , Haruo Nakajima , and Takamaru Sasaki
Director: Ishiro Honda
Manufacturer: Classic Media
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster
Godzilla Raids Again
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Frankenstein Conquers the World / Frankenstein Vs. Baragon
Gojira / Godzilla Deluxe Collector's Edition (Gojira/Godzilla [1954] / Godzilla, King of the Monsters [1956])

ASIN: B000OCY7IK
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Description

(Sci-Fi) Invasion of Astro-Monster/Godzilla vs. Monster Zero -- Aliens from Planet X borrow our monsters for a little extermination project, but they've got something else up their sleeves: world domination! Using mind-control technology, these vinyl-and-sunglasses wearing spacemen turn Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah loose in Japan, demanding Earth's surrender! It's up to American astronaut F. Glenn, his galaxy-trotting buddy Fuji, and nerdy inventor Tetsuo to break the aliens' hold on the monsters and save our planet from certain doom.

Customer Reviews:

ONE MOUTH, TWO VOICES & THREE HEADS.......2007-06-09

Classic Media has to be applauded for the effort not only given to presenting the best versions of INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER possible (and they truly are some of best I've seen in a long, long while), but also the work that went into the case design. The box is striking, the artwork clever, clear, nostaligc and retro-future at all the same time. It's an attractive and eye catching design that demands (and gets) a second look. My copy has been picked up, picked over, and pick-pocketed a few times off my shelf already and throughly enjoyed.

But, having said that, I must admit that INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER is one of my least favorite GODZILLA films, yet one of my all time favorite TOHO movies. Truth be told, Godzilla here is at best a supporting player in a much larger and more complex story that could have done away with Godzilla and company and still have been just as compelling. Much like THE FIFTH ELEMENT fashion and design triumph over story and plot. This is one good looking movie. From the sets (wide open, with some of the most creative future computer and advanced table top technology), to the costumes (the aliens not only sport the expected antenna atop the head, but tight pants, trim sunglasses, and high useless collars), to the spaceships (which look exactly like spaceships should look), it's all here, and it's all a lot of fun.

It is something of a minor disappointment that Godzilla has been pushed to the margins here and used simply for effect than being the engine that drives the story. Godzilla, Rodan and King Ghidorah do loom large on the stunning minature sets on both PLANET X and Earth, and their battles are worth the long delay between the first and the last, but it does leave you wanting more. But, this does not stop INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER being a true gem.

The prints are the best possible and the extras are well done... although the commentary by Stuart Galbraith IV, while informative, fact filled and trivia stuffed is delivered in such a slow and measured way, that it sounds and feels like he's in fear of tripping over his own words if he talks too fast. Be prepared to feel like a five year old at some points when he wants to to Understand. Clearly. What. He. Is. Saying. To. You. So. You. Had. Better. Listen. While strange, it is a trip, and you will learn a thing or two.

Classic Media has done a great service to not only the fans of Godzilla, but to all those fans still to come. These DVD releases, like King Ghidorah, manages to wear three crowns and wear them well... they are entertaining, history and art all rolled into one.

Aliens from planet X, Ghidorah, Godzilla does the jig, what more could anyone need?.......2007-06-07

I am very pleased that Classic Media have released this long desired Godzilla movie on region 1 dvd. Having seen only the Simitar Dvd release, which actually was a fairly clean print, but left a lot to be desired, not the least of which was the original Japanese language track.

Well finally it is now here for all to enjoy.

There is a lot to like here. The packaging, extra features, sound quality and of course the movie itself are all pluses for this release.

Also, the picture quality is outstanding. leaps and bounds above the older Simitar release. A very clean print, with very very few scratches or blurs. Sharp image with an appropriate amount of contrast. Color is excellent.At times it can be a bit too bright or dark, but not so much so that it detracts from the overall presentation. Considering the original elements are nearly 40 years old, it will satisfy and perhaps exceed most viewers of this genre type movie's expectations.

I wholeheartedly recommend this release and am quite sure most fans of cheesy old sci-fi will truly get a kick out of the alien storyline and low budget space effects.

As for the movie itself, Nick Adams is especially good as Glenn, and the story and production while quite "hokey" and "cheesy" is still very enjoyable. The commentary and documentary of Tomoyuki Tanaka are both worthy bonuses. The Tanaka doc is particularly interesting, especially if you are a fairly long time fan of Godzilla films. His journey from ww2 propaganda films until reaching a creative peak with Toho studios is enlightening and quite inspiring.

So, lose yourself in the cold war era threat of the aliens from Planet X, the reapperance of Ghidorah, the hamminess of Nick Adams and company, and of course that unforgettable iconic Godzilla as he dances to his heart's content. The origin of that dance by the way, is mentioned during the on film commentary.

Enjoy "Invasion of Astro Monster", now available in the U.S. for the first time in it's originally intended Japanese language incarnation.

By Any Other Name..........2007-04-08

INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER, is by any other name MONSTER ZERO, or GODZILLA VS MONSTER ZERO. INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER is the "International title" that Toho gave to KAIJU DAISENSO, released in 1965. It was then acquired for release via AIP and Henry G. Saperstein(the producer)in 1966, and he parted ways with AIP and set out for his own distribution. That didn't happen until 1970 from Maron Films, a small indie release company and it was re-titled MONSTER ZERO and double-billed in roadshow fashion with WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS and did brisk business from late summer to Fall at drive-ins and theaters at the time. The film stars Nick Adams and was released in the US, two years after his untimely and unfortunate death. Still, MONSTER ZERO/INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER remains one of the best ever of the Toho Godzilla sequels, the last one where all the major talents at Toho were in play to make a knockout film that flies along at a good clip. It has everything-alien invasion, monsters, and a love story. Interestingly, the monster side of things actually takes a back seat to a fairly engaging human story(there are only really 10 or 12 minutes of new monster footage). The FX work is perhaps Eiji Tsuburaya's best as is the score by Akira Ifukube. This version is exactly the same as MONSTER ZERO-same title sequence, however a new title card for INVASION is seen. All the dubbing was the same, and in fact the film has three minutes of footage not seen in the US version. One is the alien Controller saying something in his native language as the earth ship leaves, another is a pretty nifty FX shot looking up at Godzilla and Rodan being transported through the atmosphere by the Xian saucers, and still another shot has what appears to be an un-processed(sound) shot of Akira Takarada saying something like "I've got a bad feeling about this" in Japanese, to Nick Adams who responds in English "Talk to me about it pal". Terrific film in any language!!

About Time.......2007-04-03

This is great though I am so glad that more of the Godzilla films have been released.

GODZILLA Episode 6: GODZILLA vs. MONSTER ZERO .......2007-03-23

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE GODZILLA MOVIE "MONSTER ZERO". INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER is its absurd and nonsensical international title. It is a U.S./ Japan co-production. The movie was released in Japan in 1965 as GREAT MONSTER WAR. It was released internationally as INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER. In 1970 it was released
in America as MONSTER ZERO on a double bill with WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS. It continued to play on television
as MONSTER ZERO until it was replaced on TV and on VHS in the late 1980s by a version titled GODZILLA VS.
MONSTER ZERO.
INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER is unusual in that , though it is basically a sequel to the previous film GHIDORAH THE THREE HEADED MONSTER it takes place in the 1980s: this puts it after the next eight
movies. Both INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER & DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (set in 1999) take place
after the rest of the original series. This means that King Ghidorah appears in GODZILLA VS. GIGAN
before his appearance in INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER and his eventual death in DESTROY ALL MONSTERS.

Here is a list of all the original classic GODZILLA films, it consists of three segments:
Segment 1:
#1 GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS #2 GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN
Segment 2:
#3 KING KONG VS. GODZILLA #4 MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA #5 GHIDORAH: THE THREE HEADED MONSTER
#6 INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER #7 GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER #8 SON OF GODZILLA
#9 DESTROY ALL MONSTERS #10 GODZILLA'S REVENGE
Segment 3
#11 GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH #12 GODZILLA VS. GIGAN #13 GODZILLA VS. MEGALON
#14 GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA #15 TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA
This is a list of the second series:
#16 GODZILLA 1985 #17 GODZILLA VS. BIOLLANTE #18 GODZILLA VS. KING GHIDORAH
#19 GODZILLA & MOTHRA: THE BATTLE FOR EARTH #20 GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA II
#21 GODZILLA VS. SPACE GODZILLA #22 GODZILLA VS. DESTOROYAH
This is the third series:
#23 GODZILLA (1998) #24 GODZILLA 2000 # 25 GODZILLA VS. MEGAGUIRAS
#26 GODZILLA, MOTHRA & KING GHIDORAH: GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK
#27 GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA #28 GODZILLA: TOKYO S.O.S. #29 GODZILLA: FINAL WARS
This is the first GAMERA series:
#1 GAMMERA THE INVINCIBLE #2 WAR OF THE MONSTERS #3 RETURN OF THE GIANT MONSTERS
#4 DESTROY ALL MONSTERS #5 ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS #6 GAMERA VS. MONSTER X
#7 GAMERA VS. ZIGRA #8 GAMERA: SUPER MONSTER
The second GAMERA series:
#9 GAMERA: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE #10 GAMERA: ATTACK OF LEGION
#11 GAMERA: REVENGE OF IRIS
The third series:
#12 GAMERA: THE BRAVE

Average customer rating:

LOOKING FOR CLUES
MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER BIG BAD DINOSAUR YARN
ANOTHER GIANT, RADIOACTIVE MONSTER
Classic film, MISSING KEY SCENE THOUGH!
"And The Lord said, Behold now.....The Behemoth"

The Giant Behemoth
Starring: Gene Evans , André Morell , John Turner , Leigh Madison , and Jack MacGowran
Director: Eugène Lourié , and Douglas Hickox
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster
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Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Monster Zero)

ASIN: B000OHZJIC
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Description

Radioactive waste dumped in the Atlantic Ocean awakens a prehistoric monster than can project electric shocks and radioactive beams. After the beast terrorizes the English coast, officials decide against attacking the creature with conventional weaponry because such a strategy would spread a dangerous amount radioactive contamination over the entire country. Meanwhile, the monster approaches London...

Customer Reviews:

LOOKING FOR CLUES.......2007-07-04

It has to be said up front that THE GIANT BEHEMOTH is BO-RING! It's often more fondly remembered as a better picture than what it was. It's too long for the material, it takes too long to get to the BEHEMOTH, and once we finally get to it - it disappoints. It's too stiff, too flat and too little too late (with effects repeated again and again to pad out the time) for the film when it finally arrives.

Not to say it doesn't have its moments, but they are fleeting at best (and sloppy at worst - check out the bottom left hand corner of your screen when the BEHEMOTH tips the ferry over in the Thames, the neck of BEHEMOTH comes up too far, exposing the naked metal structure underneath). THE GIANT BEHEMOTH is simply a "CSI/MONSTER procedural" film that opens with a strange occurance and then spends the rest of the film searching for, and following the clues to something which is no mystery to anyone who saw the poster, and paid for a ticket. It's a GIANT BEHEMOTH!, we see it, why can't they, and when are they going to get to it? But, having said that, it is interesting to watch what amounts to a mystery of finding, in essence, an 800 pound gorilla in a locked room from a trail of bananas. But, it's not enough to save the picture.

Commentary is included with Dennis Muren and Phil Tippett (effects men both) and while they admire the effort given to creating THE GIANT BEHEMOTH, they are not afraid to slouch back into their seats and question every choice made in making this picture. From it's slow and plodding pace, to their novel take on this film being about the "chain of command" (pushing paperwork and theories upwards to those who have the power to issue orders and (finally) take action. They rightly joke that the only authority not represented in the film is the Queen herself, whose blessing it seems was not sought when it came to radioactive monsters). Being not only effects men, but writers and directors as well, it is funny to listen to them point out all the tricks the creators of THE GIANT BEHEMOTH used to pad the film to make its running time - great stuff, and a fun commentary.

Overall, should you own a copy of THE GIANT BEHEMOTH? If you're a fan (be it mild or die hard) then, yes, your collection would not be complete (and this is coming from someone who dares to own a copy of MONSTER FROM GREEN HELL which is BO-RING! times two). Despite its flaws and plodding pace, there is some love there, and worth the space on your shelf.

Also, for DOCTOR WHO fans... there is one TARDIS in THE GIANT BEHEMOTH, see if you can spot it.

MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER BIG BAD DINOSAUR YARN.......2005-09-03

Basically the story goes like this; a Cornish fisherman is found by his daughter covered with radiation burns. His last "word" to her on the surf is, "behemoth," a citation from the bible which we understand means some kind of monster did this to him. Eventually, England is besieged by this dinosaur which as the film unfolds is evidently the tragic by-product of careless atomic fallout in the Pacific. Ultimately, only a special torpedo fired from a two man sub in London harbor can save London and ultimately the world.

Yes, the story line is rather cliché, but there is more, much more.
Around 1960 I saw "THE GIANT BEHEMOTH" many times and each time I was genuinely enchanted and terrified by it. The premise of a dinosaur suddenly appearing and destroying a major city, London in this case, had been done before and perhaps somewhat better in "THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS. However, this was a new setting, England and ultimately London and this monster spewed radiation at anyone and anything within its sight, a take off on the germ carrying "Beast From 20,000 Fathoms" naturally, but still something new. Also, the Behemoth was invisible to radar so its movements were impossible to track as it traveled mostly underwater. This virtual invisibility caused more than a few fatalities including the venerable Doctor Sampson [Jack MacGowran] who was in a helicopter over the Thames trying to get a closer look at what no one who saw lived to tell about. Of course we had to wait an hour into this 79 minute flick to actually see the monster, but this type of invisible sneaky monster becomes visible in these old creature features incrementally which adds to both the campiness and suspense. Somehow after several failed attempts and desperate situations the monster is vanquished!

BUT .. BUT .. BUT .. As the film ends we hear on the car radio that dead fish are covering the shores of New England just as they had in England just prior to this whole thing beginning! The two scientists having just barely survived this ordeal looked at each other rather ominously, and without uttering a word we knew that they knew, that it was all about to happen again! Maybe we would not be so lucky again!?

For a long time I debated as to whether this film or the "BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS" was superior. I have recently concluded that the stories are about equal though very similar as is the acting, but the superior stop action animation by Ray Harryhausen in "The Beast" gives it a clear edge. Although Eugène Lourié Directed both films [plus Gorgo] and Willis O'Brien did some of the Special Effects for the "Giant Behemoth" there are some major visual weaknesses and much less visual air time in the "Giant Behemoth" for the featured monster. Also as I recall one pretty gritty scene where the Behemoth trashes a ferry and does leave some people dead in the water has not made it to video, having been edited out in the transfer probably because it was deleted from the TV version that played in the 1960's. Too much gore?

Well, whichever film is better is now for you to judge.

If this genre [50's style atomic creature/features] is appealing to you, this film is among the best of its kind. The film transfer is very good for a 46 year old film, and very well worth viewing. Nevertheless a DVD, preferably remastered with the lost ferry scene restored would be greatly appreciated and make a more equitable rival for "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms".

ANOTHER GIANT, RADIOACTIVE MONSTER.......2005-06-01

Giant Behemoth, and isn't that just a bit redundant, was directed by Eugene Lourie who was no stranger when it came to films in this genre having directed the 1953 classic Beast From 20,000 Fathoms and 1958's Colossus of New York and would go on to direct Gorgo in 1961. Clearly the man liked giant monsters. Behemoth is in the latter in terms of quality behind both Gorgo and Beast from 20,000 fathoms. This creature threatens the shores of England not only with his size but also being able to emit radiation to burn people. The stop-motion animation was done by Willis O' Brien who did King Kong and was Ray harryhausen's mentor. The animation itself looks very good as you might expect but the the monster up close looks a little cheap and cheesy. At any rate the best rampages through London, even destroying London Bridge. The movie was on a very low budget and it shows but it's more laughable rather than being a detriment to the film. The performances in the film are adequate, in fact better than you might expect for a movie with such a small budget, so kudos to the mostly British cast. Not as good as many other giant, radiation-created monsters of the 1950's but still worth a view.

Classic film, MISSING KEY SCENE THOUGH!.......2004-04-09

A Great film but shame on Warner Bros. for releasing an edited version! Film quality is good, but the FERRY SCENE where the creature attacks and sinks the ferry is MISSING! Great sequence involving people boarding a ferry for an afternoon ride, when suddenly the creature attacks. Old woman eating, little girl with doll, full ship of people become victims of the beast. Memorable last scene in this sequence showing bodies floating, burned from the creatures radioactive rays, gruesome, yet an important part of the movie, What Happened To This Scene? Too long to blame it on broken film, obviously they used an Edited print! Too bad, hopefully the eventual DVD release will be INTACT! And COMPLETE!

"And The Lord said, Behold now.....The Behemoth".......2004-03-11

One of the last in "the giant monster from sea" genre of the 50's
"Gorgo" officially being the last in 1961 before the japan imports
came in.

The story concerns that of a mysterious radioactive force that
not only seems to wash up mountains of dead fish on england shore
but infects one man's hand & kills another. An investigation by Marine biologist uncovers the radioactivity's source from that of
the titled creature, a huge brontasaur left over from "King Kong"
who proceeds to stomp London and burn all within it's radioactive
range.

Another of my favorites from the creature feature era This film
was probably Willis O'Brien's swan song as his creation stirs the
streets of Merry old in all it's glory one would tend to think on
life had come full circle from his brontosaur of the "Lost world"
made some 30 years earlier,Unlike "The beast from 20,000 fathoms"
This film takes on a darker tone focusing more on the science and
the aftermath of radiation (showing burn victims, fishing market
slumps etc)& in addition a memorable score. Gene Evans in one of
his few goodguy roles accompanies Andre Morell as Prof. Bigford

Amazon.com

The first of the Godzilla movies, and the most somber and serious in tone, Gojiro was originally a 98-minute Japanese horror film, until a U.S. company bought the rights and reissued the film at 79 minutes, replacing sequences involving a Japanese reporter with new inserts of a dour, pipe-smoking Raymond Burr. Both versions appear together for the first time in this release from Sony Wonder.

Stills from Gojiro (click for larger image)

Description

This package contains:

* Godzilla (1954 Japanese Edition-english subtitles)
* King of the Monsters (1956 U.S. Release Edtion-english v/o dub)

Featuring:
* Audio commentaries
* Original trailers
*"Making of the Suite" Featurette
*"Godzilla: Story Development" featurette

Customer Reviews:

GREAT IDEA FOR THE DVD EDITION, BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESTORED!.......2007-07-01

This is the kind of thing that drives me insane! They put together a pretty good idea for this release, giving us the version we all grew up with and the original Japanese version to check out. They give us trailers and a couple of short making of features. Great! right?.......WRONG! The one thing they didn't do is remaster the movies! These prints are scratched and battered! They are not horrible,but looking at the fancy packaging you would think they would have restored these prints! I can only hope that the rest of the movies in this series get better treamtments!

The real king of the Monsters.......2007-06-27

Look at this flic and snicker at the claim that the Hollywood version didn't seek to dilute the original anti nuclear message. Gojira's dramatic content and continuity is much better than the Hollywood hack that we are provided in this collector's set for comparison. For Fans of Japanese Cinema, or those interested in the origins of Japanese monster films, this is the indespensible original, the beginning of everything. See the very first Japanese masterpiece, Hollywood's hack take on Japanese film sensibilities; unfortunately the Japanese took this to heart and incorporated cues from "Godzilla" in their cinematic lexicon. Be aware that it is black & white, and subtitled. I'd always wanted to see what the real movie was like, after seeing "Godzilla" when it first came out. This is a treasure.

Godzilla and Me........2007-06-05

I somehow predict that when I lay on the cozy leather couch in the office of an award winning psychiatrist (God willing) that one of the topics that will come up is my fascination with Godzilla or Gojira, as it is correctly to be pronounced. The original Gojira and its American Counterpart (Godzilla: King of the Monsters) is one of the movies that has impacted my life greatly. I'm fully aware that they're shot on shoe-string budgets, using model train sets as cities, and star a man in a lumpy T-Rex suit, but that's what got me fascinated with Godzilla (Gojira) in the first place.

The year was 1994. I was four years old. I was too young for Pulp Fiction or Ed Wood Forest Gump, and born too late for the onslaught of movies from the 1980s. For me, 1994 was the summer of the VCR. My thinking memory capacity just kicked in and I had about twenty years of catch-up movie watching. My family had just gotten a Block Buster's Rental Card and began renting movies like crazy. I gorged myself and began to watch (mostly by accident) some of the greats. Jaws, The Star Wars Trilogy, The Indiana Jones Trilogy, Back to the Future, Batman, The War of the Worlds, E.T., Star Trek II. The geek inside me bloomed.

One Sunday afternoon my brother returned home from Block Buster Video with my dad just before my grandparents arrived for a Sunday Dinner of pasta and salad. My brother grabbed me by the hand and dragged me upstairs. "Where are we going? What's that?" He wouldn't answer. He brought me up to my room, closed the door, and turned on my small TV (which for a matter of fact was the only TV that had a VCR in it on the second floor of my house). He had something tucked under his arm. I couldn't read the box because I couldn't read, I think...

He popped in the cassette and fast-forwarded all the FBI Warning mumbo-jumbo. Then darkness. A black and white text popped up on the screen and a terrible roar followed. Then came the first shot and a voice broke through the eerie silence of a decimated city...

This is Tokyo. Once a city of six million people. What has happened here was caused by a force which up until a few days ago was entirely beyond the scope of Man's imagination. Tokyo, a smoldering memorial to the unknown, an unknown which at this very moment still prevails and could at any time lash out with its terrible destruction anywhere else in the world. There were once many people here who could've told of what they saw... now there are only a few. My name is Steve Martin. I am a foreign correspondent for United World News. I was headed for an assignment in Cairo, when I stopped off in Tokyo for a social; but it turned out to be a visit to the living HELL of another world.

I hung on every word Mr. Martin spoke to my brother and me. Being a reporter, his mission was to tell you what had happened to Tokyo and you would be wise to listen. The movie was dark and foreboding. I had already seen Jaws so I was already fascinated with unknown creatures lurking in the black icy depths of the ocean, biding its time. The monster finally appeared over the hill of the island and there he was, although I didn't know who he was, although after that moment I never forgot him. The monster rampages through Tokyo and reduces it to utter devastation. I'm entranced. Finally and reluctantly, a brilliant scientist with an eye-patch divulges his invention that could possibly destroy the monster. Steve Martin stands by and watches the event occur, surprisingly never writing anything down. They use the invention as a weapon on the monster but the heroic scientist doesn't make it out alive. The weapon begins to takes it's affect on the monster, and the monster rises up to the surface and cries out in pain, and defeat. The monster sinks to the ocean floor. I'm balling. Why? Why did the monster have to die? Many people cry when King Kong falls off the Empire State Building, I cried for the monster that fell to the ocean floor. That summer and that movie changed me forever.

The movie was "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" and the monster was Godzilla. Godzilla was unleashed upon American Shores in 1956; two years after the original Japanese Gojira had made its rampage overseas. The original was directed by Ishiro Honda and the Americanized version was directed by Terry Moore with Ramon Burr stuck in every once and a while.

Upon later viewings of the film, I am sad to say that the film just doesn't hold up. On it's own at least. The film has terrible dubbing which disgusts me for the simple fact that Akira Kurosawa films had been played countless times in the US but never had to succumb to awful dubbing by Hollywood's crop of dub-men. Men and women who were handed terribly translated scripts and spoke the lines in a bored, sterile, and emotionless fashion.

For the longest time I thought that the American Version was nearly identical to the original in length, pacing, and mood. Until my brother came home from work and gave me an issue of G-Fan; an all Godzilla Magazine and something I never in my life time would have ever thought existed. I opened up the magazine and found an article in about the original Gojira and its comparisons to the film "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms." I was surprised to find that I had never seen any of the images printed from Gojira in the magazine before. Then it hit me: there must be more footage in the Japanese Version! But unfortunately I still had to deal with the fact that original would be forever out of my grasp. But as months rolled by and I kept reading the magazine, I started to get impatient.

For too long was the American version the only available one to see in the US of A. Then, on a Saturday even in 2004, I found a trailer for the re-release of the original Gojira in select theaters nationwide! Uncensored, Uncut, UNDUBBED!!!!!

I skipped school one day and went to see the movie in Manhattan with my brother and my mother. It was playing in a quaint little theater in the Union Square area called Cinema Village. We went and bought our tickets, got some gummy bears, twizzlers, and good `n' plenty and entered the theater. The seats were small and uncomfortable and the screen was just a little bigger than my TV at home, but I didn't care. I was going to see the original Godzilla - Gojira - and nothing was going to ruin it for me. The theater darkened and the projector rattled alive and brought forth its luminous cinematic light. The movie started. The Gojira title came up in Japanese as Akira Ifukube's score piped through. I was born again.

Suffice to say, the original Gojira is a masterpiece in the science fiction genre but also in Japanese Cinema. It tells an allegorical tale of the horror of the atomic bomb through a gigantic monster that destroys everything and everyone in its path. The movie is darker both in pacing and in theme than its American Counterpart. It is an excellent film to be viewed by fans of the giant monster genre and science fiction genre. The film has an amazing monster like "King Kong" and a cautionary lesson like "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

The DVD itself has many interesting special features including commentaries by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski and videos on the Story Development of Godzilla and the making of the suit. Must see special features for die hard G-Fans or anyone who is just curious to see how the story originated out or how they made the suit.

If you are looking for a movie is provocative but is humble enough to have a man in a suit to portray its villain, I say to you, go out and buy Gojira on DVD. You get both the original and you get the skim plus American version. If you're looking for some good ole cheesy atomic age fun, then pick up Gojira on DVD and you'll get both movies. Two different movies, yet the same movie, and equally important to me. This DVD set is a blessing sent from the gods at Classic Media and Toho. I strongly urge any Godzilla fan that has not seen this version to go out and do so immediately. You are not complete until you have seen it. Then and only then will you not only be a fully rounded Godzilla fan but also a Gojira fan.

Disappointing.......2007-05-24

The idea behind this offering is superb - supply both the familiar, edited and reworked, American version of GOJIRA (called GODZILLA, KING OF THE MONSTERS) together with a subtitled print of the previously hard-to-find Japanese original, on separate discs in one package, so that everyone from the film scholar to the most casually curious fan can compare the two versions for a modest price.

Unfortunately, both resulting DVDs are of inferior quality, amateurishly contrasty, being very dark in the night-for-night exteriors and night-lit special effects material - a goodly part of both versions - and showing little more than a variety of black blobs moving about in all such scenes. Additionally, the narrow and closely-spaced font used for the yellow subtitles, causes many of them to strobe and distort beyond readibility in the lighter shots when passing over detailed backgrounds. Topping that off, the "restoration" of the GODZILLA credits is very badly done and not complete at all: the openings credits (TransWorld logo and star/directors screens) are still missing, and the end credits are clearly spliced in from a different, widescreen, source, then letterboxed (the rest of the film isn't even window-boxed) and placed, incorrectly, after "The End" instead of before it.

Admittedly, it's the only such package in town, and the official one; but it is just not up to the pro and fan publicity it has been getting in either the restoration or the technical department. It is strictly another "caveat emptor" situation and, while I do not know if anyone else will try/be able to get these two titles out in better shape, I cannot in all honesty recommend this product and will be returning mine for a refund, making do with what I have of the two features on videotape.

If you love the big gray guy.......2007-05-17

You have to own this two disc set. Classic Media has done a great job and its great to finally have the original Japanese version with subtitles.

Average customer rating:

godzilla raids again
Godzilla(or in disguise) vs.Anguirus
I had no idea it was this good!
Historic, maybe not essential
Lost Godzilla Rises Again!

Godzilla Raids Again
Starring: Hiroshi Koizumi , Setsuko Wakayama , Minoru Chiaki , Takashi Shimura , and Masao Shimizu
Director: Motoyoshi Oda
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Frankenstein Conquers the World / Frankenstein Vs. Baragon

ASIN: B000MV8AJU
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Description

(Action) Godzilla is back, and this time he's not alone! Godzilla and the spiny monster Anguirus are in a heated battle on a small Japanese island. As the threat of destruction mounts, two Japanese heroes muster their courage for the final showdown with Godzilla.

Customer Reviews:

godzilla raids again.......2007-06-27

I have been a fan of godzilla for many years. So when this rare picture was released i had to have it. Overall the original japanese version was better. It explained maney points that was left out of the american version. Also you get a better feel of the charaters. If you buy this picture you will be able to see and compare both versions. I watched the dubbed version out of intrest because i had never seen this movie and i was pleasently surprised that the original is better. I believe any true godzilla fan should get this movie.

Godzilla(or in disguise) vs.Anguirus.......2007-05-29

I had bought a low quality VHS of the English version of this a few years ago, and couln't believe they had dubbed Godzilla with the voice of Anguirus! I thought something was wrong with the tape. Anyway, this package with a substitled Japanese version, never seen in this county, as well as a better quality dubbed US version, gives an interesting comparison. I can only guess that either Toho did not authorize the US version, so they called Godzilla "Gigantis", and dubbed Anguirus's call to him as well, to avoid being sued, or for reasons unknown, Toho did not want the name Godzilla used. Another strange thing about this film is the fight scenes between the monsters:there is a lot of jerking, suggesting these parts used stop motion, or they just speeded up the action.

I had no idea it was this good!.......2007-05-24

Wow! I'm impressed.
All these years I knew this fim as "Gigantis:The Fire Monster"
All these years I was watching a complete farse. This is really a great Godzilla movie. It has such a dark overtone to it and the scenes at night when Godzilla is lurking in the bay have such an eerie silence to them that it actually comes across as nightmarish.
Godzilla looks great with his ugly teeth and the special effects are outstanding for that time period.
I am so glad that I got this. I had a VHS copy of "Gigantis:The Fire Monster" and I never really liked it. After viewing this film the way it was meant to be seen, this has rapidly become one of my favorite Godzilla films.
This is a movie for serious G-Fans. I would not recommend it to smaller kids because it moves a little slower than some of the later entries into the series such as "Final Wars" and "GMK".
I totally recommend it to all other fans of Godzilla and Japanese Monsters!
I have always liked Godzilla movies and after viewing this marvel, I only embrace the series all the more.
Rock on Godzilla, Rock on!

Historic, maybe not essential.......2007-05-24

For serious Godzilla fans, this is obviously one to order sight unseen. The first Godzilla sequel, which also includes the first "Godzilla vs." fight (against Anguirus), was never as popular on TV (in my memory) as a lot of the later sequels like Godzilla vs. Mothra and Destroy All Monsters.

It's definitely a quickie "cash-in" sequel but it's still a fun little piece of movie-monster history. This film is particularly notable for a (purported) accident which caused the fight scenes to be filmed in fast-motion instead of slow-motion. It actually looks pretty good, somewhat akin to the stop-motion animation in King Kong.

As with most Godzilla sequels, the plot is pretty light and non-sensical, and the monsters don't really go at it until pretty late in the movie, but it's a good time. Casual fans can skip this one, knowing they haven't missed anything essential, while hardcore Godzilla fans will eat it up.

Classic Media has done another great job of production and packaging, once again including the dubbed American version with the subtitled Japanese original. For this disc, they also include a short featurette on the history of the rubber monster suits and the actors who wore them. It's a somewhat rushed and breathless recitation of facts, names and dates, but still fairly interesting, and it's great to see these unsung heroes of the movies getting their due.

Lost Godzilla Rises Again!.......2007-05-18

Very few ever saw Gigantis the Fire Monster, which was the American release title for Gojira Raids Again, the first sequel to the world-wide 1954 blockbuster Gojira, ie. Godzilla, King of the Monsters. Both versions are included on this Toho Master Series dvd plus great extras including a fascinating audio commentary on the American version. Godzilla squares off in his very first Kaiju battle with the savage but adorable Anguirus who together stomp Osaka flat! It's long overdue for we fans of Big G.

Average customer rating:

Mothra Vs Godzilla
the terror of the titles
This is how you do it!
Classic Godzilla.
Godzilla's Finest Hour

Mothra vs. Godzilla
Starring: Akira Takarada , Yuriko Hoshi , Hiroshi Koizumi , Yu Fujiki , and Emi Ito
Director: Ishirô Honda
Manufacturer: Sony Wonder (Video)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000MV8AJK
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Description

After a fierce typhoon, a mysterious gigantic egg washes ashore. The twin fairies of Infant Island plea for the egg's return to Mothra, its rightful owner, but it's too late - greedy promoters have turned it into an amusement park attraction. Meanwhile Godzilla reawakens and tramples across Japan, heading straight for the big egg. Can Mothra save her offspring from Godzilla? Will Japan survive this epic monster battle? Directed by Ishiro Honda, MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA (1964) is widely considered the best of all Godzilla sequels, with an all-star Toho cast and exciting special effects. Classic Media presents the original Japanese-language version with English subtitles in glorious Toho Scope, plus the classic English-dubbed version originally released in the U.S. as GODZILLA VS. THE THING. Special Features Includes Japanese and English dubbed versions of the film Audio Commentary Poster Slide Show Akira Ifukube biography featurette Original Japanese trailer

Customer Reviews:

Mothra Vs Godzilla.......2007-06-10

I like the fact that Toho is releasing all there older Monster movies in a new dvd case.I look forward to seeing more of the movies being released so I can add them to my collection. One thing I would have liked to have seen with the movies being redone is to have the audio done in 5.1 dolby sound, than the standard audio format that they were originally done in.

the terror of the titles.......2007-05-28

This fine film is destroyed by the titles. Some are on the film itself and some are on the black band below the image. The former are hard to read. But worst of all, some are split between both of the above and will give you a horrible headache. Why doesn't anyone seem to care about the placement of titles? A fun film that deserves better.

This is how you do it!.......2007-05-23

This is one of the best re-issue DVD series I've seen in a long time. Classic Media knows what we want and gives it to us.

* A great-looking transfer of a classic film.
* Informative commentary
* Not too expensive

The best thing about this series of re-issues, is, of course, the inclusion of the dubbed American versions alongside the original Japanese versions. This allows the hardcore Godzilla fans to see the movies as they were originally made, while giving stoned couch potatoes the campy dubbed verisons they remember from Saturday afternoon Creature Features ("Hey look! His lips are moving but he's not making any sound! Haw haw haw haw!").

A lot of DVD companies would either confuse the consumer with two separate releases, or release "Deluxe 2-DVD" versions of every movie (as with the original Godzilla movie), but Classic Media gets it right by putting both versions on the same disc and releasing it at an affordable price (with great graphics to boot).

It doesn't hurt, either, that this is one of the best of the original Godzilla sequels, presented in all its fabulous widescreen Tohoscope glory. Even if you're just a casual Godzilla fan, this one belongs in your collection. As for me, I can't wait for the release of the Ghidorah movies and War of the Gargantuas later this year! Godzilla-lovers rejoice!

Classic Godzilla........2007-05-20

Classic Godzilla, one of the best Godzilla films ever. Much, much better than the 1998 Tri Star film, by miles...

Godzilla's Finest Hour.......2007-05-18

At long last American fans of Godzilla can affordably enjoy what many rate as their favorite Godzilla feature. This Sony/Toho Master Series release brings us both the classic AIP dubbed American release print titled Godzilla VS The Thing, and the original Japanese version Mosura Tai Gojira with english subtitles, for those who prefer authenticity. There are great extras including interviews and audio commentary by American Godzilla experts. It's priced irresistably at less than $20! I didn't wait on this one, and will always cherish it.

Average customer rating:

Godzilla-Final Wars...
A modern classic Godzilla film.
Disappointed Godzilla Fan
This movie is the worst!
Godzilla is still the king

Godzilla - Final Wars
Starring: Don Frye , Masakatsu Funaki , Masatô Ibu , Shigeru Izumiya , and Rei Kikukawa
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
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Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla / Godzilla vs. Destoroyah

ASIN: B000BMY2L0
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Description

Godzilla's 50th Anniversary project and costliest adventure to date out of 28 films. Earth has been relatively peaceful since Godzilla was successfully buried deep in ice beneath the South Pole. Then - sometime a few years hence-several of his old nemeses return to wreak havoc on cities worldwide. A huge spaceship suddenly appears and neutralizes all the monsters in a blink. The visitors are "Xiliens," who take human form and announce they would like to negotiate a peace treaty that would replace the United Nations with a "United Universe". They are indeed too good to be true, however. It doesn't take long before their nefarious real purpose is exposed - conquering Earth. Greatly outmatched, Earth officials decide to de-freeze Godzilla as man's only hope to vanish the invaders, as well as the monsters they control. Only trouble is Godzilla is still mad at man for freezing him in the first place.

Customer Reviews:

Godzilla-Final Wars..........2007-07-02

Directed by Ryuhei Kitamura, famous for such movies as Versus & Azuma, Godzilla-Final Wars is a movie that celebrates Godzilla's long history(50 years) and proves why Godzilla is 'King of Monsters'. The story begins with many giant monsters being created as a result of Nuclear Tests. During this time, a group called The Earth Defense Force was created to do battle with these monsters, one of which was Godzilla. In the 60s, the Earth Defense Force used a Machine called the Gotengo to battle against Godzilla in Antartica. Ultimately winning by burying him under the ice. Move forward to a day in 2004, when all at once, the many monsters the Earth Defense Force once battled began attacking major cities all over the world. As the Force begins to battle them, the monsters begin to disappear in a flash of light & UFOs rush away from the scene. At the Force's Headquarters in Tokyo, the UFOs mothership appears and a group of aliens known as the Xilians introduce themselves to the world. They proceed to tell them that a planet is headed for Earth but, only with their help, will it be saved. Only you find out later that their intentions weren't like that at all. When the Xilians began attacking the Earth with the giant monsters it had previously saved the Earth from, the Earth Defense Force realizes the only way they can save the day is by releasing Godzilla from his icy tomb. Save the day, Godzilla does, as he goes onto fight the likes of Gigan-Zilla(our american Godzilla, which wasn't Godzilla at all)-Kumonga-Kamacuras- Anguirus-Rodan-King Caesar-Hedorah-Ebirah-MonsterX- & finally Kaiser King Ghidorah. Mothra tries to aid Godzilla, as he does in many Godzilla movies, by fighting a new improved Gigan. While Mothra is hurt by Gigan, Mothra still manages to beat Gigan. Without giving away too much about the rest of the movie, let me just say that this movie has to be the most intense and serious Godzilla movie I've seen in years. Departing from the normal Godzilla movie fare, Final Wars is nothing but wall-to-wall action scenes. After seeing it in original Japanese language with English subtitles, I'll probably never watch another Godzilla movie with English voiceovers(which is a good thing, anyway, as most of the English voiceovers make it seem too campy). Sadly, Godzilla-Final Wars marks Godzilla's last appearance on these shores(or Japan's for that matter) for-at least- five to ten years to reignite interest in the franchise. What a way to go out, though. This has to be my most favorite Godzilla movie of all-time next to Godzilla-King of Monsters. It's a movie that gives me hope that Toho will take Godzilla in a new and exciting direction(with new monsters & storylines) when they do decide to bring the franchise back. Who knows, maybe Godzilla will last another 50 years. You never know. Even though there have been great movies as well as crappy movies in the franchise, Godzilla has lasted this long. There's something to be said for that.

If you're a diehard fan or someone who hasn't seen a Godzilla movie since the 70s when he was hugely popular here, you've got to see this movie. It will renew your interest in the series. Trust me.

A modern classic Godzilla film........2007-05-20

A convoluted plot line that doesn't make sense some of the time, cheesy aliens, over the top acting, and more rubber suit monsters than "Destroy All Monsters". In other words, a classic Godzilla film that shouldn't be missed. It has everything in it that makes Godzilla films great, and as the "last Godzilla film", it's a fitting final tribute to the big guy.

If you loved the original series (1954 - 1974), or ever wondered what would happen in a fight between Toho's Godzilla and Sony's Godzilla, then this is a must see film.

Disappointed Godzilla Fan.......2007-05-08

I've been a Godzilla Fan since I was 4yrs old (I'm in my 30's now), and I have to admit, after all the hype about this movie from Toho, including the premier at Man's Theater in LA, and the star on the Hollywood Walk of fame, this movie was a big disappointment.
The film that marked the 50yr anniversary of Godzilla turns out to be at the same standard (story, special effects, etc) as watching the Power Rangers tv series. The only thing going for this movie is some of the updated designs of some of the monsters, but their appearance on screen is so short and fleeting, that it makes you annoyed by the main story, which highlights a band of mutant special forces (amalgamated rip-off of X-Men, Matrix, & Power Rangers) that fight an alien invasion. Very Cheesy.
Oh, and it's hard to forget the terrible score (using mostly irritating organ music), as much as you might want to.
Toho USED to be innovative with Godzilla and the other Kaiju (monsters) back in the 50's and early 60's, but the studio is still stuck in believing they still live in that era in their glory days. Godzilla and the rest of the monsters definately deserves upgrades and more innovation that these monster films have the potential to be, but Toho definately dropped the ball on this one. Plus, they claim this is to be the LAST Godzilla movie. What a huge disappointment.

Sincerely,
Dennis Mace

This movie is the worst!.......2007-04-23

I dont normally review things unless they are REALLY GOOD or REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD.

I just rented this movie. After watching this movie, I became very religious, just so that I could thank God that I did not waste my money to buy this dvd.

I do not know the director personally, Mr. Ryuhei Kitamura. However, I really truly honestly sincerely from the bottom of my heart wish that this man had never been born. I feel this way because he made absolutely no contribution to mankind at all. Instead, he took something great and decided to "fix" it because he did not like the way it was done in the past. Apprently, in the past, there was too much time spent on Godzilla and monsters in general. This man felt it was his mission to make a Godzilla movie that had little or nothing to do with Godzilla, and to only focus attention to his action packed martial arts trained human characters.

So, for the last Godzilla film known to man, he took out all the ingridents that make a classic Godzilla film, and replaced them with his attention deficit disorder inducing toxic filling.

The saddest thing about this guy is that he doesnt realize what he has done. He thinks he is so cool. He actually thinks what he made is great. He doesn't think that his film is bad at all, in fact, he thinks it is the best Godzilla film he has ever seen. According to him, Godzilla: Final Wars is the shizzle.

The CEOs at TOHO are most likely kicking themselves in the arse for allowing this guy to walk through the front doors of Toho in the first place.

Oh well... it is just a movie... I hope it really isnt the last Godzilla movie ever. And next time I want to see the best Godzilla film ever, I will just watch Giant Monsters All Out Attack. Now THAT guy knew what he was doing.

I never check my reviews for typos, so whatever spelling mistakes I made, oh well... i will try better next time.

Godzilla is still the king.......2007-04-15

The best ever in a long line of Godzilla movies and hopefully not the last

Average customer rating:

Nice films, but just AWFUL DVDs!
There Really is a Mechi-Kong!
Awesome twin pack!
The Two Mightiest Monsters Of All Time!
Godzilla vs King Kong....

King Kong Vs Godzilla/King Kong Escapes
Starring: Ichirô Arishima , Yu Fujiki , Mie Hama , Akihiko Hirata , and Haruya Kato
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Godzilla - Tokyo S.O.S.

ASIN: B000BISBDE
Release Date: 2005-11-29

Description

It's King Kong to the rescue when a giant robot threatens to destroy Tokyo in the gripping King Kong Escapes! The action begins when the conniving Dr. Who builds a robot Kong in order to retrieve a highly radioactive element for his mysterious benefactor, Madame X. When the robot proves less than reliable, the devious duo scheme to kidnap the real Kong from his remote island home of Mondo. But interfering with their plans are the heroic trio of U.S. Cmdr. Carl Nelson, Lt. Jiro Nomura, and Kong's current crush, Lt. Susan Miller. It's up to them to outwit the greedy ape-nappers in this sci-fi adventure that takes Kong to unprecedented heights of excitement.

The two mightiest monsters of all time battle in the thrilling adventure classic, King Kong vs. Godzilla. When an underhanded pharmaceutical company goes to a remote tropical island to steal King Kong for advertising purposes, they get more than they bargained for when the gigantic ape attacks an unsuspecting village and an enormous octopus. Meanwhile, far below the sea, a submarine crew unleashes reptilian terror when they melt a block of ice and release the ferocious Godzilla from his icy lair. When both destructive monsters descend on Tokyo, it's a fight that holds the future of mankind in the balance in this knock-out film that was the first theatrical release to bring its larger-than-life contenders to the big screen in glorious color.

Customer Reviews:

Nice films, but just AWFUL DVDs!.......2007-06-16

These discs are terrible, although the tranfers may not be that bad, threre are no extras at all. No feturetts, no deleted Scenes, no Original Japaneses versions, not even Theatrical trailers. Unlike Sony who provide some features for there Godzilla titles, or Warner Brothers for there King Kong titles. Universal usauly provides wonderful extras for there DVDs and HD-DVDs. This is wrong!

There Really is a Mechi-Kong!.......2007-03-21

When I was a kid and saw King Kong Escapes, I was mesmerized by the Mechi-Kong robot. What a great idea! He looks so cool! It had been so many years since I saw the film, I thought I had dreamt the movie. Imagine my suprise with this two-pack release! It is a pristine wide screen presentation. The film is as fun as I remembered it. Not to be taken too seriously, it is a rubber monster movie with cool ideas and plenty of monsters clashing, all within the trademark cheapo effects of the time. Utterly charming.
The Toho version of Kong (his rubber suit, that is) is truly awful, but this only adds to the fun of the film. As this is a Japanese movie overdubbed in English, we also have the voice talents of Paul Frees ("Winter Warlock" from the Rankin / Bass production of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer") providing the voice of the villian. What more could you ask for? How about the bonus of getting Godzilla vs. King Kong? You got it! What a bargain!

Awesome twin pack!.......2007-03-21

Truly a killer twin pack King Kong movies. Get it for the "King Kong vs Godzilla" alone, a very awesome movie that hardly gets air play and great for any movie monster collection...highly recommended!!

The Two Mightiest Monsters Of All Time!.......2007-03-16

KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (1962)

PLOT: Mr. Tako, head of Pacific Pharmaceuticals, is frustrated with the television shows his company is sponsoring and wants something to boost his ratings. Tako is informed by a special type of berry that only grows on a small Pacific island called Faro Island. The natives there process the berries into a juice that they use as a medicine. They also use the juice as an offering to their giant god named "Kong". Tako sees potential in the berries and decides to set up an expedition to Faro Island. When Tako's men arrive at Faro Island, the natives there claim that "Kong" is real being. Meanwhile, an American submarine named Seahawk gets caught in an iceberg. Something goes wrong and the submarine blows up. An American helicopter hovering above watch as the iceberg breaks open and Godzilla crawls out. Godzilla heads toward a nearby army base. The base is no match for the mighty power of Godzilla. Back at Faro, a giant octopus attacks the village and the natives quickly throw spears at it. Unfortunately, the spears are no match for the giant creature. Suddenly, Kong shows up and beats up the giant octopus, sending it crawling back into the sea. Kong drinks some of the giant containers of berry juice and falls asleep. Tako's men then inform him of Kong. Tako makes plans to take Kong back to Tokyo, as a publicity stunt for Pacific Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Tako arrives on the ship transporting Kong, but unfortunately, the monster then wakes up and breaks free from the raft. Kong finally reaches Tokyo and meets up with Godzilla in a valley. This is a match between the mightiest monsters of all time. Who will win?

COMMENTS: This film marked the first time that two famous monsters from separate film franchises were teamed up since Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943). This film acted as both a sequel to Son Of Kong (1933) as well as Godzilla Raids Again (1955). The film marked the first time either monster was seen in color and also the first time Kong was created using suitmation rather than a stop-motion model. For Godzilla, King Of The Monsters (1954), Toho Studios had originally planned on making Godzilla as a stop-motion model, but the process proved to be too extensive for the tight budget. For that film, and every other one to follow, it became traditional to create Toho's monsters through suitmation. The film was directed by Ishiro Hondo, who directed most of the classic Godzilla films. He purposely made the film campy and comical in order to entertain (and not frighten) children. The film itself is not exactly an Oscar-worthy film, but it featured two very popular monsters in a death match and several people went to see it. In Japan, it became the highest grossing Godzilla film to date. Many King Kong fans hate the comical appearance of Kong in the film. For the American film poster, they used a cropped photo of Kong from the original film rather than the way he looked in this film. Kong was made to look comical so the audiences would root for him over Godzilla. Many fans have noticed that King Kong is much larger in this film than he was in the original King Kong film. The film states that the reason for this was because the narcotic berries that Kong ate also contained growth hormones, which would explain him growing to the equal enormous size of Godzilla. At one point during the fight sequence, Kong shoves a tree down Godzilla's throat. This was a tribute to the original King Kong film, in which Kong shoved a tree down a Tyrannosaurus Rex's throat. Several rumours exist between the Japanese and American versions of the film. It is claimed that the film is called King Kong vs. Godzilla in the U.S. and Godzilla vs. King Kong in Japan. This is untrue; the film has the same title in both countries. Also, it is also claimed that Kong won the fight in the American version and that Godzilla won the fight in the Japanese version. This is also untrue; King Kong won in both films. Some fans also argue that King Kong swims away at the end because he is frightened of Godzilla, who didn't resurface from the ocean because he lives underwater anyay. Just the same, Toho Studios announced that King Kong was always meant to be the victor. At the time, King Kong was more popular in Japan, even though Godzilla was a Japanese creation. The film sparked sequels from the point of view of both monsters. Godzilla made his return in Mothra vs. Godzilla (a.k.a. Godzilla vs. The Thing) (1964); King Kong made his return in King Kong Escapes (1967). This DVD presents the film in the original widescreen theatrical ratio. There are no special features.

KING KONG ESCAPES (1967)

PLOT: The film begins with a UN submarine searching for oil. The ship is under the command of Commander Carl Nelson (Rhodes Reason). Susan Watson (Linda Miller) finds Nelson in his quarters with Lt. Hiro Nomura (Akira Takarada). The two are studying photographs of gorillas and they inform her of the legend of King Kong, who supposedly inhabits the nearby Mondo Island. Meanwhile at the North Pole, strange things are going on at a secret base. The base is run by the evil genius Dr. Who (Eisei Amamoto). Dr. Who is being employed by the mysterious Madame X (Mia Hama). Madame X has hired Dr. Who to dig up a mineral called Element X, which makes uranium look like gravel. In order to do the job, Dr. Who and his men have built a giant robot version of King Kong, called Mechani-Kong, to dig up the Element X. Unfortunately, the radiation from the deposit short out the robot's circuits. Mechani-Kong must be redesigned so that this doesn't happen again. Back in the sub, an underwater rockslide damages the rudder. The sub docks at Mondo Island for repairs. Nelson takes the opportunity to explore the island with Nomura and Susan. A native on the island tells them to leave, for they are trespassing on the territory of King Kong. Nelson and Nomura go after the native to ask him more questions, leaving Susan behind at their hovercraft. Suddenly, a large dinosaur called Gorosaurus comes out of the jungle. Susan screams in terror and the mighty King Kong comes to her rescue. Kong fights with the Gorosaurus and eventually kills it by breaking its jaw. Nelson and the others make it back to the submarine. Kong, who has has become smitten with Susan, follows. A large sea serpant attacks the sub, but Kong quicky attacks and kills it. Later on, the three UN explorers hold a press conference to discuss the events involving King Kong. Madame X attends the conference disguised as a reporter. She then sends her information back to Dr. Who, who decides to capture the real King Kong for digging up Element X. Is Dr. Who brilliant enough to capture the mighty King Kong?

COMMENTS: This film was produced by both Toho Studios and Rankin/Bass Productions. Rankin & Bass were famous at the time for producing Christmas TV specials such as Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Frosty The Snowman (1969), and Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970). The film acted as a sequel to King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) while at the same time being a spin-off of the Rankin/Bass animated series The King Kong Show. Ishiro Honda once again returned as director. The character of Mechani-Kong was first used in the animated King Kong show. It later served as the inspiration for Mecha-Godzilla in Godzilla vs. Mecha-Godzilla (1974). The Gorosaurus dinosaur also returned in other Toho Godzilla films, including Destroy All Monsters (1969). The scene in where Kong kills the Gorosaurus by breaking its jaw is actually a tribute to the original King Kong (1933), in which Kong kills a Tyrannosaurus Rex the same way. The fight scene between Kong and the sea serpent is also a tribute to a similar scene in the original King Kong. There is also much confusion about the character of Dr. Who, who bears the same name as a TV series and titular character on British television. Despite the fact that both characters have the same name, they are not related. This film isn't exactly the best King Kong film, but it is entertaining for children and it serves as a nice follow-up to King Kong vs. Godzilla. Plus, Mechani-Kong is a really cool character. This DVD presents the film in the original widescreen theatrical ratio. There are no special features.

Godzilla vs King Kong...........2007-03-13

What else would you expect, it the movie we all grew up with. How can you not love it plus you get the equally campy and horribly good King Kong Escape! Love good bad movies, especially with giant monsters wreaking havoc!

Average customer rating:

Godzilla
It's Hard to Catch a Cab In NYC
Good soundtrack, GREAT movie
Godzilla vs Mecha Devlin and Emmerich
I HATE ThiS MOVIE!

Godzilla
Starring: Matthew Broderick , Jean Reno , Maria Pitillo , Hank Azaria , and Kevin Dunn
Director: Roland Emmerich
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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