Season 2 DVD Guide (+2 additional films)

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Kaijuvision Radio

by Brian Scherschel

Season 2 will begin on September 19th with “Half Human” (1955). That’s right, not one, but two more movies have been added to the season: “Half Human” and “The Three Treasures” (1959).

To help you with finding all of the movies for this great season of Toho sci-fi classics, I have written this DVD guide.

Some of these movies are still considered “rare” DVDs, but they’re not hard to find. I suggest you Google the harder to find titles and grab the original Japanese versions where you can find them. Let’s get started!

Half Human (1955)

DCA (American Cut)

Directed by Ishiro Honda, and released only one year after the original Godzilla. This movie is banned in Japan due to its portrayal of natives as savages. There is a really bad American version of this. Though Toho has never released a home video version of this movie, see if you can find the Japanese version with English subtitles.

The Mysterians (1957)

Tokyo Shock

Released in 2005, this Tokyo Shock version has the Japanese language option with English subtitles. One of Ishiro Honda’s (and Toho’s) absolutely best sci-fi classics. You can buy it here.

There are also Japanese versions with English subtitles available if you search for them.

Varan (Daikaiju Baran) (Varan, the Unbelievable) (1958)

Tokyo Shock

Tokyo Shock released their version of this movie in 2005 with optional Japanese language and English subtitles. You can buy it here.

Reel Vault

The American English language version of Varan is available and is quite cheap. You can buy it here.

Cory Film Corporation

There is an English only version of Varan on Amazon video as well. You can get it here.

There are also Japanese versions with English subtitles available if you search for those.

The Three Treasures (The Birth of Japan) (1959)

Toho

Also a hard to find movie, but it’s great. It’s a religious epic about the founding of Shintoism. Toshiro Mifune is one of my absolute favorites. See if you can find the Japanese version with English subtitles.

Battle in Outer Space (1959)

Sony Pictures

The “Icons of Sci-Fi: Toho Collection” by Sony Pictures is an affordable way to get three good movies in one purchase. It’s included with “The H-Man” and “Mothra”. “Battle in Outer Space” is in Japanese with English subtitles. You can buy it here.

Mill Creek Entertainment

I haven’t seen this before, but there is also a “Vintage Sci-Fi 6 Movie Collection” that includes “Battle in Outer Space”. The whole collection is just two discs. It’s affordable, but I cannot vouch for the quality. You can buy it here.

The Last War (1961)

Toho

There has been only one VHS release of this movie in the US decades ago. However, you can Google it and see if the Japanese language version with English subtitles is floating around.

Gorath (1962)

Toho

This is another great Toho sci-fi movie that hasn’t been widely released enough in the US. You can find the Japanese language English subtitled version though.

Matango (1963)

Tokyo Shock

Tokyo Shock released its DVD of Matango in 2005. There are Japanese language and English subtitle options on it. You can buy it here.

The original Japanese version with optional English subtitles is also available if you search for it.

You can see the English dub version (“Attack of the Mushroom People”) on Amazon Video here.

Atragon (1963)

Tokyo Shock

Tokyo Shock released its DVD in 2006 with Japanese language and English subtitle options. You can buy it here.

There is also a Japanese version with a English subtitle option available if you search for it.

Dogora, the Space Monster (1964)

Tokyo Shock

Tokyo Shock released its DVD of Dogora in 2005. It has Japanese language and English subtitle options. You can buy it here.

There is also a Japanese version with English subtitles available if you search for it.

Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)

MBL

MBL released this DVD but the year of release is not noted on Amazon. It lists Japanese language option and English subtitles. You can buy it here.

The Toho version with Japanese language and English subtitles is also around if you search for it.

War of the Gargantuas (1966)

Vivendi Entertainment

Starz on Amazon Video has the English language only version of this movie. You can view it here.

Classic Media

The Classic Media version of this movie was released with Rodan in 2008 and again in 2012. However it’s a collector’s item now, and it’s expensive. You can buy it here.

There is also a Toho version of this movie with Japanese language and English subtitles around if you search for it.

Latitude Zero (1969)

Tokyo Shock

Tokyo Shock released a 2-disc version of this movie in 2007 with Japanese language and English subtitle options. You can buy it here.

There is a Toho version of Latitude Zero available via Internet search. It has Japanese language and English subtitle options as well.

Space Amoeba (1970)

Tokyo Shock

Tokyo Shock released their version of this movie in 2006 with Japanese language and English subtitle options. You can buy it here.

The English language only version of Space Amoeba is available on Amazon video. You can see it here.

There are Japanese versions with English subtitles of Space Amoeba on the Internet so check those out if you like.

The Submersion of Japan (1973)

Toho

This film was released in the US as “Tidal Wave”, which was heavily cut. That version isn’t very good. If you search for the original Japanese language with English subtitle options, you will hopefully find it.

There are also original Japanese versions of this movie with English subtitles available if you search for them.

Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock

There is a 3-movie DVD set released in 2007 that contains “The Mysterians”, “Varan” and “Matango”. There are English and Japanese language versions of all of the movies in this box set. However it is quite expensive at the moment. You can buy it here.

This concludes the DVD guide. Good luck and start viewing and reviewing these great film treasures!

3 Weeks Until G-Day: Godzilla DVD/Blu-Ray Guide, Part 2 – Heisei Series, Millennium Series, and Beyond

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Kaijuvision Radio

(Continued from Part One).

Long before Hollywood rebooted Godzilla (twice), Toho did it three times themselves. These later eras of the franchise are called the Heisei Series (1984-1995) and the Millennium Series (1999-2004). The current era started in 2016 with Shin Godzilla.

Godzilla movies get easier to find on DVD/Blu-Ray with these films since the distribution rights have been owned by fewer companies. Only two of these films were released stateside before 1998 when Tristar released them on home media as a tie-in with the 1998 remake (at least something good came of that, right?)

The Return of Godzilla/Godzilla 1985

Kraken Releasing

This one is complicated. Like with the 1954 Gojira, a heavily-edited “Americanized” version of this 1984 reboot was produced by New World Pictures. It was the only version available commercially in the states for decades. However, thanks to legal entanglements, the American version has only ever been released on VHS. But now thanks to Kraken Releasing, the original Japanese version has been made available. It was so popular, it ranked number one on Amazon’s foreign film sales for a while. The only extras are trailers for Kraken’s other Godzilla Blu-rays.

Buy it here.

Godzilla vs. Biollante

Echo Bridge Home Entertainment

While Godzilla 1985 would remain the only G-film released theatrically in the States for 15 years, Miramax did release this 1989 sequel on HBO and video in 1992. Heck, it’s one of the few widescreen VHS tapes I’ve seen. However, after being out-of-print for years, the film was released on DVD and Blu-Ray a few years ago. It has dual language tracks, widescreen presentation, and a few special features that seem as though they were taken from a Japanese DVD (including a making-of feature). It’s gotten a bit pricey, though.

Buy it here. (Or here with two free Asylum B-movies).

Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah/Godzilla vs. Mothra (1992) (aka Godzilla and Mothra: Battle for Earth)

Sony Pictures

As tie-ins with Gareth Edwards’ reboot, Sony released nearly a dozen modern G-films on Blu-Ray. These two were packaged together in a two-disc set. Unlike their previous DVD releases, they’re in widescreen and have dual language tracks. Sadly, the only special features included are several of the films’ trailers.

Buy it here.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II/Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla

Sony Pictures

After some oddball DVD editions, Sony released these films on Blu-Ray in 2014 as a two-disc Blu-Ray set. It’s the same as Sony’s other G-film Blu-Rays: widescreen, dual language tracks, and several trailers (including one where clever editing makes it look like Godzilla fights robots from the Toho sci-fi film Gunhed).

Buy it here.

Godzilla vs. Destoroyah/Godzilla vs. Megauirus

Sony Pictures

This is yet another oddity from Sony. This set includes the last film of the Heisei series and the second entry of the Millennium Series. While the pairing makes no sense, it’s an improvement over the previous DVD releases. As usual, the films are in widescreen, have dual language tracks, and include trailers.

Buy it here.

Godzilla 2000 (aka Godzilla 2000: Millennium)

Sony Pictures

Since it was released theatrically, this remains the only Millennium Series film to get a solo Blu-Ray in the U.S. It includes widescreen editions of both the original Japanese version and the slightly re-edited dubbed version of the film (the former being released stateside for the first time with this). The special features are mostly the same as the previous 2000 DVD, including trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, and an informative commentary by the team that dubbed it.

Buy it here.

Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack/Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla

Sony Pictures

The film with the insanely long “retro” title and the first of the popular Kiryu Mechagodzilla films were released together in a Blu-Ray two-pack. Like their previous DVD releases, it features widescreen presentation and dual language tracks. I hear the subtitles for GMK are improved from its DVD. The only special features are a few trailers.

Buy it here.

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S./Godzilla: Final Wars

Sony Pictures

The final entries in the Millennium Series were packaged together. Like the 2004 Sony DVDs, it has widescreen presentation and dual language tracks, although the subtitles are transcriptions of the dubbed dialogue (including an instance where there was added dialogue in the dubbing). However, besides a few trailers for other films (including some other Godzilla releases), it features a 22-minute behind-the-scenes featurette that showcases the special effects techniques used in both films. Neither feature music or narration, though, which makes them a bit boring.

Buy it here.

Shin Godzilla (aka Godzilla: Resurgence)

Funimation Films

I almost didn’t include this film because it was just released, making it quite easy to find. Honestly, it’s here just for the sake of completeness. The newest Godzilla film was given a limited theatrical run by Funimation Films (which normally distributes anime) in the U.S. last year. They finally put out a Blu-ray and DVD for the film August 1. It has great picture and audio, dual language tracks, and the infamous abundance of subtitles. The only special feature besides some trailers is “Godzilla vs. the Nerds,” a 33-minute interview with some of the Funimation crew that worked on the U.S. release.

Buy it here.

So my guide to collecting Godzilla DVDs and Blu-Rays comes to an end. I hope you found it helpful.

For more detailed reviews of these DVDs and Blu-rays, I highly recommend the website www.TohoKingdom.com. You’ll also find reviews of many of Toho’s other genre films on the site.

Remember, you have three weeks to start watching these films so you can follow along with Brian and I when Kaijuvision Radio launches !

4 Weeks Until G-Day: Godzilla DVD/Blu-Ray Guide, Part 1 – The Showa Era

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Kaijuvision Radio

Four weeks until G-Day!

With that in mind, I wanted to make it easier for you, dear listeners, to find the Godzilla films so you can follow along with us. We live in a wonderful time and place where both the original Japanese and English-dubbed versions of these films can be purchased (with a few exceptions, as you’ll see).

There are 29 Japanese films in total, plus two American films (so far). Unfortunately, unlike other long-running franchises like the James Bond series, these films aren’t all owned by the same distributor. Toho, the studio that created Godzilla, has divvied out the rights to several U.S. companies for the years, which makes collecting these films a bit difficult. I will be presenting you with what I think are the best editions of each film. There are lots of bootlegs out there. Accept no substitutes!

With Godzilla becoming more popular, more titles may be re-released in the future, so this guide may soon become outdated. Unfortunately, some of these DVDs/Blu-rays have gone out of print, so the prices have increased. However, many of them are available on streaming services like Amazon Video.

I’m excluding both of the American remakes, both of which are easy to find.

Part one of this guide will focus on the original Showa series (1954-1975) and part two will be on the Heisei (1984-1995) series and the Millennium series (1999-2004).

You can read the fuller version of this guide on the GigaGeek Magazine website, although it’s no longer publishing articles. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4).

Here we go!

Gojira/Godzilla, King of the Monsters!

Classic Media

Classic Media’s DVD includes both versions of the film presented in their proper aspect ratios. It features several retrospective making-of documentaries and commentaries on both versions. Unfortunately, the Blu-Ray edition Classic Media released later only included the original Japanese version and no special features. Regardless, the DVD is a must-have.

Buy it here by itself or here as part of the excellent seven-film set with the other Classic Media releases.

Criterion Collection (Recommended!)

Gojira was added to the prestigious Criterion Collection in 2011 with this Blu-Ray. It includes both versions of the films in nearly identical presentations as the Classic Media discs. However, what may convince you to buy it is the completely new special features, including new commentaries and an interview with cast and crew members. This one is a bit pricier since Criterion only has limited print runs for their releases. It’s worth it, though.

Buy it here.

Godzilla Raids Again

Classic Media

Arguably the rarest of the G-films, Godzilla Raids Again was out of print on VHS for years until the mid-2000s when it was released on DVD by Classic Media. It includes both the original and U.S. versions of the film and a handful of special features, including a humorous commentary.

Buy it here.

Rodan

Classic Media

Classic Media followed up their Godzilla releases with this excellent DVD set that included both Rodan and War of the Gargantuas, both of which had been long out of print. It has both the Japanese language and dubbed versions of both films as well as the excellent documentary “Bringing Godzilla Down to Size.”

Buy it here.

Mothra (1961)

Columbia Pictures

The original Mothra was finally released on DVD by Columbia Pictures several years ago as part of a three-disc set called Icons of Sci-Fi: Toho Collection. It also included two other tokusatsu films directed by Ishiro Honda, The H-Man and Battle in Outer Space. This set includes the original Japanese and dubbed versions of each film and has a commentary on Mothra and Battle in Outer Space. (Mill Creek Entertainment recently released the dubbed version of this film as part of a four-film set, but unless you want those other movies, stick with this one).

Buy it here.

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Universal Studios

Universal owns the rights to several of King Kong’s films, so they released this DVD several years ago and then re-released it on Blu-Ray. The film is in widescreen, but it only includes the dubbed version and has no special features. Unless there’s a future release that includes the original Japanese version in widescreen, this is the one you want. However, you can track down the Japanese version, which Brian and I recommend you do.

Buy it here.

Mothra vs. Godzilla (aka Godzilla vs. Mothra and Godzilla vs. the Thing)

Classic Media

While Classic Media’s other releases aren’t as prestigious as Gojira, they still gave fans what they always wanted. It includes both versions of the film plus a commentary, a slideshow, and a biography on Godzilla music composer Akira Ifukube.

Buy it here.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster

Classic Media

After being out of print on VHS for years, Classic Media released this noteworthy entry in the series on DVD in the mid-2000s. This is the first appearance of Godzilla’s archenemy Ghidorah and marks Big G’s shift to heroism. Like other Classic Media releases, it includes both versions of the film, a commentary, and a few other special features.

Buy it here.

Invasion of Astro-Monster (aka Godzilla vs. Monster Zero, Monster Zero)

Classic Media

Classic Media does it right again. Both versions of the films, a commentary, and a few other nice special features. It’s amusing to watch the Japanese version of this since American actor Nick Adams is dubbed in Japanese. Also, kudos for using the original Japanese posters as the cover art.

Buy it here.

Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (aka Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster)

Sony

After being a staple on VHS, Sony released this cheesy entry on DVD in the mid-2000s. The cool thing is this is the original Japanese cut of the film and can be watched in the original language or a new English dub. No special features, though. This is the edition I own.

Buy it here.

Kraken Releasing (Recommended!)

If you’d rather have the film on Blu-Ray, Kraken Releasing has that for you. It’s pretty much the same as the Sony DVD except it has the film’s original Japanese trailer. This is the edition Brian owns.

Buy it here.

Son of Godzilla

Sony

While Sony never gave their releases the star treatment Classic Media did, they were still a step up. Like Ebirah, this 2004 disc features widescreen presentation and dual language tracks. The only supplements are trailers for other Sony films released at the time. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, this one has gone out-of-print and skyrocketed in price.

Buy it here.

Destroy All Monsters

Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock

While this was originally released by the now defunct ADV Flms twice (one edition including a soundtrack), this edition is much easier to find. Unlike ADV’s releases, it has a menu, dual language tracks, and a few special features, including a commentary. This is also the Japanese edit of the film, so fans can see the original opening credits. Unfortunately, production of the original print run was halted by Toho, so current prints of this disc doesn’t include the special features.

Buy it here.

All Monsters Attack (aka Godzilla’s Revenge)

Classic Media

As usual, Classic Media gives even what’s considered the worst G-film the star treatment. Widescreen presentation. Both the Japanese and American versions of the films (although they aren’t that dissimilar other than the dubbing and credits). Special features include a commentary and a biography on director Ishiro Honda.

Buy it here.

Godzilla vs. Hedorah (aka Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster)

Sony

Once only available as an out-of-print VHS from the long-gone Orion Home Video, Sony released it on DVD in 2004 . It has no special features beyond a few trailers for other Sony films, as usual. It has dual language tracks, including a different English dub than what was used in the VHS. Unfortunately, the film’s (in)famous theme song, “Save the Earth,” remains in Japanese unlike in the other dub. Still, it’s a solid release. This is the edition I own.

Buy it here.

Kraken Releasing (Recommended!)

It you must have a Blu-Ray, look no further. The Sony DVD is a little harder to find, but other than the inclusion of the film’s original trailer, this is essentially the same as the former. Brian has this edition.

Buy it here.

Godzilla vs. Gigan (aka Godzilla on Monster Island)

Sony

This is pretty much the same story here as with Sony’s other 2004 Godzilla DVDs, though with a few things worth noting. The subtitles are basically transcripts of the dubbed dialogue as opposed to direct translations of the Japanese dialogue. The other issue is, since this is the international version of the film, it doesn’t include the comic book-style speech bubbles that appear over Godzilla’s head when he “talks” to Anguirus; there’s only garbled noises, making those scenes confusing. They were dubbed—yes, dubbed—in the English language version. (You can watch the scenes with speech bubbles on YouTube, though). I own this edition.

Unfortunately, I can’t find this version on Amazon anymore.

Kraken Releasing (Recommended!)

Essentially the same as the Sony DVD (though some say the picture quality isn’t as good). Like the other Kraken Releasing Blu-Rays, it includes the film’s original trailer. If you want a Blu-Ray, buy this. Brian owns this one.

Buy it here.

Godzilla vs. Megalon

Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock

It took years of terrible unlicensed releases and a lot of finagling, but Media Blasters finally gave this, arguably the most-watched Godzilla movie, an official release. Unfortunately, Toho delayed this release for nearly a year, and then only a barebones DVD and later a Blu-Ray was put out. Ironically, some DVD copies containing special features were accidentally printed and released. These go for a pretty penny on Amazon if found.

Buy it here by itself or here with Destroy All Monsters.

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (aka Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster, Godzilla vs. the Bionic Monster)

Sony

Remember what I said about Sony’s other 2004 DVDs? Same story here: widescreen presentation, dual language tracks, and a few mostly unrelated trailers. There’s an omission in the subtitles, though. In a scene where a scientist talks about his special pipe, the crazy-sounding metal it’s made of is subtitled, “a???” Either the subtitler forgot to add it before the disc was released or he didn’t bother to figure out how to write it. Some people—like me—may find this humorous.

Buy it here.

Terror of Mechagodzilla

Classic Media

This is arguably Classic Media’s best release next to Gojira/Godzilla, King of the Monsters. It includes the original Japanese version, which is the biggest plus. However, unlike with the other DVDs, the American version in this one is the “extended” cut shown on television. It contains most of the original Japanese footage (except for some brief “nudity” during a medical operation) and a “history of Godzilla” sequence made by editing together footage from several 1960s Godzilla films. This was done to pad out the film to fit in a two-hour timeslot. Both versions are in widescreen (except for the aforementioned “history of” sequence, but the aspect ratio switches when it’s done). It includes an entertaining commentary and an image gallery, but no other special features, which is the only downside. This is a must-have.

Buy it here.

Come back next week for Part Two!