One final thing you forgot to mention, Alex. The soundtrack of the Japanese cut of "King Kong vs Godzilla" is the 4.0 Perspecta Stereo audio mix that was presented in its 1962 release in Japan's theatres. The audio on all of the other seven discs, is uncompressed LPCM mono.
I agree, this is a very special release. I love having KKvsG in the original Japanese. But, and maybe I'm the minority here but I still love the re-edited American version. I still think its enjoyable. It would have been nice to get some new audio commentaries on the films. Especially KKvsG. I agree, hang onto those Classic Media releases. The audio commentaries on those are some of the best you'll ever get. Great review!
Thanks so much for your review! I was really worried about the Japanese version of King Kong vs Godzilla so you have reassured me. I'll be picking it up. Subscribed.
@@capsortee Some have English dub tracks. (But for some reason, on MY disks, you have to turn on the Japanese language to get the English dub and vice versa. Weird. Anyway...) The movies with English dub tracks are: Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Obviously) King Kong vs Godzilla (American version. Again, obviously) Invasion of Astro Monster Son of Godzilla Destroy All Monsters Godzilla vs Megalon Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla Terror of Mechagodzilla The rest only have Japanese tracks. That's probably to the delight of so-called "purists" but it sucks for a dyslexic fan like me who has trouble reading fast enough to follow subtitles. It also sucks if you are a parent hoping to introduce your young ones to Godzilla. Most children won't sit through a subtitled movie.
Mine's arriving tomorrow!! Can't wait!! I've already seen the Japanese version of King Kong Vs Godzilla because I streamed it online on some random website, and it's BY FARR!! the superior version, back when I had only seen the American version I didn't like the movie very much, but when I saw the Japanese version It shot up to one of my favorites. I can't wait to see Son of Godzilla in blu ray quality!! I know it's an unpopular opinion but Son of Godzilla is my favorite Godzilla movie ever... which explains the name of my CZcams profile and its pic haha.
Same! I was not expecting to get it. I'm so excited. The art work is amazing. And yeah the discs are like in the pages with no real easy way to take them out. I didn't want to touch them 😂😅
He said you can get rid of the Kraken blu rays for Ebirah, vs. Hedorah, vs. Gigan. Actually the Krakens have the English dubs for these particular films while Criterion does not. Those are worth hanging on to.
I've read some bad comments regarding the picture quality of it. It's an old early to mid-2000s transfer and it was mucked up with weird lightning effects at the bottom where it wasn't matted correctly. Plus, some of the discs don't work properly. I didn't get it despite being a huge Godzilla fan because of those reviews.
I’ve been doing live watch alongs of the series and using this set to watch the Showa movies. I’ve never encountered any problems with the discs not working.
I'm kinda confused by what i'm seeing online. Can I ask a question...Does EVERY one of these films in this collection have an English Dubbed version or not?
Only a few movies have an English dub track. Those movies are Astro-Monster, Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, Megalon, and the two Mechagodzilla movies. Then of course there’s the two re-edited American versions of the original Godzilla and King Kong vs. Godzilla.
Criterion? Not a chance. The Heisei and Millennium eras do not hold the same historical importance that Criterion is known for. Now that being said I would love to see Shout Factory/Scream Factory release box sets of those movies. They’re pretty much the Criterion Collection of genre films
Thank you for your review of the set and the King Kong vs. Godzilla Japanese version in particular. I am surprised not to have heard more people comment on that, as this seems like a big deal as the first time it’s ever been released in the US. It’s my first time seeing it, and I think the biggest difference for me is the music. The American version uses music from Creature from the Black Lagoon, already overused in that movie. Ifukube’s music is beautiful and it’s always a shame when American cuts replace it. Other than that and the dubbing, and the added UN narrations, are they that different? The set is a mixed bag. I love the artwork and having Japanese versions of all the movies in one place. I also like the essays and having cast and crew in a concise, readable format. The disc arrangement is unfortunate and having them slide out doesn’t seem good for disc longevity. Also they should have kept to one movie per disc. My biggest gripe though is for the lack of English dubs for some films. While I understand this is probably due mostly to Toho, I am legally blind, and watching the films w/subtitles is challenging for me. I bet that Criterion could have fought harder or paid more to acquire these, especially if they argued for them on accessibility grounds. Plus I am a completionist too, and want to eventually have every Godzilla movie in both Japanese and English versions on disc. Some are out of print and expensive, so it’s going to take me awhile, even having this already expensive set (I ordered it before hearing about the B&N discount), and some of the more readily available Showa entries (dub versions of G vs Kong, The Thing, Hedorah, and MechaGodzilla).
Thanks for the comment and checking out the review. Outside of the music, the Japanese version of KKvG is very different. It’s more humorous and it’s basically a satire on the Japanese television industry. Back then the industry would create these absurd shows and publicity stunts to drive up ratings and bring in viewers. Honda just decided to use Godzilla and Kong to play up that theme in a giant monster movie like how he played up Godzilla in the 1954 movie as a metaphor for the Hiroshima bombings. That element along with the films humor was completely cut because it’s not something Americans would understand. Why the American version replaced Ifukube’s score is something I’ll never understand.
How does the Japanese version play up the humor and media satire more? Are there specific changes in scenes or dialogue you’re thinking of? I always found Mr. Tako as well as Kong’s buffoonish antics to be humorous in the dubbed version. The satire of media also seemed very clear, since Tako is so concerned about Kong drawing viewers and enraged at the attention to Godzilla (something the dub voice actor really plays up). Even at a young age, I remember seeing the dub on TV with wrestlers siding with either G or K before commercials and thinking that made the monster action like a media circus. Watching the Japanese version for the first time today, I didn’t feel either of these elements were treated differently, but I’d have to watch the English version again to say for sure.
Dude, your full of shit on the King Kong vs Godzilla Japanese version. I saw the yellow on Godzilla's fins, but I also saw it on the American version. The American version does have better color and is a little brighter, but both versions are really about the same. What is really worth talking about is that King Kong vs Godzilla is one of the weaker films in the series. Sorry, but just about every Godzilla film after Kong is better, especially in the visual effects department. The fight scenes are not that great. They really only meet two times, and the first time is Kong getting scared off. The other battle scene is short and not that great. The film makers just didn't know how to have the monsters fight in an interesting way. Now, once you see Mothra vs Godzilla, there is a complete 180 on that film. Everything works, the story, the character and the action. From then on the series is going full steam ahead.
Thank you for proving my point. The American version having better color proves that the Japanese DVD isn’t a very good transfer As for loving the Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla, I’m not so much talking about the monster action as I am about some of the other elements. I did a full review last year.
@@AlexanderRobinsonMovieReviews The yellow is still there in the American version, and while better, it's still not that great. The Japanese version is good enough. The Japanese version is solid.
Look up other comparisons of the original transfer on the Japanese DVD and the American transfer. Other sites like movie-censorship and Toho Kingdom clearly show a difference and how the Japanese DVD looked terrible
The Criterion set isn't that special if you were able to purchase these movies from Tri Star and Classic Media a few years back. In most cases, the HD quality is hardly noticeable. That's due to a process that was used called TeleCine. It's a faster process of converting video into HD. The extras aren't that magnificent with the exception being the Japanese cut of "King Kong Vs. Godzilla," and the essays of the movies provide no new information. If you've purchased any books from Steve Ryfle, David Kalat, or any others who've provided a thorough covering of the series, then you know all there needs to know.
Yeah, my one gripe is that the picture can look a bit rough. Some of it doesn't bother me, sometimes it does (Mothra vs Godzilla is my favorite, and it's the worst looking on it's disc) but as someone who missed most of the DVDs when they first came out (I am so stupid for that), I'm really glad this exists.
One final thing you forgot to mention, Alex. The soundtrack of the Japanese cut of "King Kong vs Godzilla" is the 4.0 Perspecta Stereo audio mix that was presented in its 1962 release in Japan's theatres. The audio on all of the other seven discs, is uncompressed LPCM mono.
Love the enthusiasm but please work on those audio transitions.
I was so scared that my headphones were going nuts, but thanks to you I don't have to spend money. Cheers ✌
7:31
Mr. Robinson: *sounds like MIB*
Me: Ladies and Gentleman... WE GOT HIM!
I agree, this is a very special release. I love having KKvsG in the original Japanese. But, and maybe I'm the minority here but I still love the re-edited American version. I still think its enjoyable. It would have been nice to get some new audio commentaries on the films. Especially KKvsG. I agree, hang onto those Classic Media releases. The audio commentaries on those are some of the best you'll ever get. Great review!
Thanks so much for your review! I was really worried about the Japanese version of King Kong vs Godzilla so you have reassured me. I'll be picking it up. Subscribed.
stuck in quarantine. most of the criterion collection is on sale on amazon so I finally bought this for 112$. excited to binge all these!
I heard that all the movies included in this set are subtitled ONLY and no English dub versions,, is that true? I
@@capsortee Some have English dub tracks. (But for some reason, on MY disks, you have to turn on the Japanese language to get the English dub and vice versa. Weird. Anyway...) The movies with English dub tracks are:
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Obviously)
King Kong vs Godzilla (American version. Again, obviously)
Invasion of Astro Monster
Son of Godzilla
Destroy All Monsters
Godzilla vs Megalon
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla
Terror of Mechagodzilla
The rest only have Japanese tracks. That's probably to the delight of so-called "purists" but it sucks for a dyslexic fan like me who has trouble reading fast enough to follow subtitles. It also sucks if you are a parent hoping to introduce your young ones to Godzilla. Most children won't sit through a subtitled movie.
@@the_narthex I was interested in this set but this is an automatic killer.
Mine's arriving tomorrow!! Can't wait!! I've already seen the Japanese version of King Kong Vs Godzilla because I streamed it online on some random website, and it's BY FARR!! the superior version, back when I had only seen the American version I didn't like the movie very much, but when I saw the Japanese version It shot up to one of my favorites.
I can't wait to see Son of Godzilla in blu ray quality!! I know it's an unpopular opinion but Son of Godzilla is my favorite Godzilla movie ever... which explains the name of my CZcams profile and its pic haha.
I just bought this today thanks to your review! :) Keep up the awesome work!
Awesome!!! Glad you enjoyed the review and I hope you enjoy the set!!!
18:57 - 19:00
Your video just scared the shit out of me. I thought the left side of my brand new Bluetooth headphones weren't working.
Sorry about that...lol. The mic that I was using will rarely do stuff like that.
@@AlexanderRobinsonMovieReviews It's chill. Nice informative video.
Hi I just got this for Christmas and I was just wondering is there a easy way to get the disks out without smudging the disk or anything? Great review
Same! I was not expecting to get it. I'm so excited. The art work is amazing. And yeah the discs are like in the pages with no real easy way to take them out. I didn't want to touch them 😂😅
You were right on about the art that looks like it is from the VHS days. :)
IT's a great collection.....but man are those bluray hard to get out
Now if we could only get this for all 7 Heisei films (especially since Godzilla vs. Biollante is out of print)
Speaking of pop art why do you look like Keith Haring 🧐😍
Ghidorah the 3 Headed Monster is your second favorite Godzilla film.
Happy 65th birthday Godzilla!
He said you can get rid of the Kraken blu rays for Ebirah, vs. Hedorah, vs. Gigan. Actually the Krakens have the English dubs for these particular films while Criterion does not. Those are worth hanging on to.
Godzilla actually did fight hedorah in the city. Their very first fight in the movie.
Where would KOTM rank in your list on all the movies?
It’s in the Top 20 above Mechagodzilla II and below Biollante
Also the Gamera box set was a cool collector's item for the Kaiju genre.
Which unfortunately I missed out on with the limited edition…😔 However I did buy the two standard editions
I've read some bad comments regarding the picture quality of it. It's an old early to mid-2000s transfer and it was mucked up with weird lightning effects at the bottom where it wasn't matted correctly. Plus, some of the discs don't work properly. I didn't get it despite being a huge Godzilla fan because of those reviews.
I’ve been doing live watch alongs of the series and using this set to watch the Showa movies. I’ve never encountered any problems with the discs not working.
@@AlexanderRobinsonMovieReviews It could be region coding on those other's discs.
Dude it’s so Cool 😎 but at Barnes & Noble how much is it?!
Right now it’s $209, but if you wait for their next 50% Criterion sale, it’s gonna be much more affordable
I'm kinda confused by what i'm seeing online. Can I ask a question...Does EVERY one of these films in this collection have an English Dubbed version or not?
Only a few movies have an English dub track. Those movies are Astro-Monster, Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, Megalon, and the two Mechagodzilla movies. Then of course there’s the two re-edited American versions of the original Godzilla and King Kong vs. Godzilla.
Ok...so this collection has the Raymond Burr version Godzilla?
Yes it does
@@AlexanderRobinsonMovieReviews Thank you.
I'm getting this box set from my aunt for Easter
Lamont Sanford got the box set for his Aunt Ester. Fred wasn't too happy about that, he wanted a Godzilla box set for himself.
Great video Alex. Are you going a review of 'Terminator: Dark Fate' during the week?
I’m working on it right now
happy birthday Godzilla
Happy birthday godzilla!
18:20 Fuck that. They look better than what's on here detail wise. Plus, they have the dubs which this set doesn't have.
will they make a Heisei series version? And a Millennium series one eventually?
Criterion? Not a chance. The Heisei and Millennium eras do not hold the same historical importance that Criterion is known for.
Now that being said I would love to see Shout Factory/Scream Factory release box sets of those movies. They’re pretty much the Criterion Collection of genre films
YES
Anyone get it in 2021? Can you confirm that it’s in English now?
dude you seem high. great vid man
I am...I am high on Godzilla!!! Thank you!
Thank you for your review of the set and the King Kong vs. Godzilla Japanese version in particular. I am surprised not to have heard more people comment on that, as this seems like a big deal as the first time it’s ever been released in the US. It’s my first time seeing it, and I think the biggest difference for me is the music. The American version uses music from Creature from the Black Lagoon, already overused in that movie. Ifukube’s music is beautiful and it’s always a shame when American cuts replace it. Other than that and the dubbing, and the added UN narrations, are they that different?
The set is a mixed bag. I love the artwork and having Japanese versions of all the movies in one place. I also like the essays and having cast and crew in a concise, readable format.
The disc arrangement is unfortunate and having them slide out doesn’t seem good for disc longevity. Also they should have kept to one movie per disc. My biggest gripe though is for the lack of English dubs for some films.
While I understand this is probably due mostly to Toho, I am legally blind, and watching the films w/subtitles is challenging for me. I bet that Criterion could have fought harder or paid more to acquire these, especially if they argued for them on accessibility grounds. Plus I am a completionist too, and want to eventually have every Godzilla movie in both Japanese and English versions on disc. Some are out of print and expensive, so it’s going to take me awhile, even having this already expensive set (I ordered it before hearing about the B&N discount), and some of the more readily available Showa entries (dub versions of G vs Kong, The Thing, Hedorah, and MechaGodzilla).
Thanks for the comment and checking out the review. Outside of the music, the Japanese version of KKvG is very different. It’s more humorous and it’s basically a satire on the Japanese television industry. Back then the industry would create these absurd shows and publicity stunts to drive up ratings and bring in viewers. Honda just decided to use Godzilla and Kong to play up that theme in a giant monster movie like how he played up Godzilla in the 1954 movie as a metaphor for the Hiroshima bombings. That element along with the films humor was completely cut because it’s not something Americans would understand.
Why the American version replaced Ifukube’s score is something I’ll never understand.
How does the Japanese version play up the humor and media satire more? Are there specific changes in scenes or dialogue you’re thinking of? I always found Mr. Tako as well as Kong’s buffoonish antics to be humorous in the dubbed version. The satire of media also seemed very clear, since Tako is so concerned about Kong drawing viewers and enraged at the attention to Godzilla (something the dub voice actor really plays up). Even at a young age, I remember seeing the dub on TV with wrestlers siding with either G or K before commercials and thinking that made the monster action like a media circus.
Watching the Japanese version for the first time today, I didn’t feel either of these elements were treated differently, but I’d have to watch the English version again to say for sure.
Uhhh
I think you mean bootlegs and not imports. Toho has never had English subtitles on a release they put out.
Dude, your full of shit on the King Kong vs Godzilla Japanese version. I saw the yellow on Godzilla's fins, but I also saw it on the American version. The American version does have better color and is a little brighter, but both versions are really about the same. What is really worth talking about is that King Kong vs Godzilla is one of the weaker films in the series. Sorry, but just about every Godzilla film after Kong is better, especially in the visual effects department. The fight scenes are not that great. They really only meet two times, and the first time is Kong getting scared off. The other battle scene is short and not that great. The film makers just didn't know how to have the monsters fight in an interesting way. Now, once you see Mothra vs Godzilla, there is a complete 180 on that film. Everything works, the story, the character and the action. From then on the series is going full steam ahead.
Thank you for proving my point. The American version having better color proves that the Japanese DVD isn’t a very good transfer
As for loving the Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla, I’m not so much talking about the monster action as I am about some of the other elements. I did a full review last year.
@@AlexanderRobinsonMovieReviews The yellow is still there in the American version, and while better, it's still not that great. The Japanese version is good enough. The Japanese version is solid.
Look up other comparisons of the original transfer on the Japanese DVD and the American transfer. Other sites like movie-censorship and Toho Kingdom clearly show a difference and how the Japanese DVD looked terrible
The Criterion set isn't that special if you were able to purchase these movies from Tri Star and Classic Media a few years back. In most cases, the HD quality is hardly noticeable. That's due to a process that was used called TeleCine. It's a faster process of converting video into HD. The extras aren't that magnificent with the exception being the Japanese cut of "King Kong Vs. Godzilla," and the essays of the movies provide no new information. If you've purchased any books from Steve Ryfle, David Kalat, or any others who've provided a thorough covering of the series, then you know all there needs to know.
Yeah, my one gripe is that the picture can look a bit rough. Some of it doesn't bother me, sometimes it does (Mothra vs Godzilla is my favorite, and it's the worst looking on it's disc) but as someone who missed most of the DVDs when they first came out (I am so stupid for that), I'm really glad this exists.