As it's likely a lot of opinions and reviews of the Japanese import blu-ray Toho Godzilla and related films will soon show up here due to the release of the various films in groups of 5 every two months, I thought it might be nice if there's one all-inclusive thread to cover the releases.
Anyway.........
I just got through viewing the Japanese blu-ray of the original Godzilla. Overall, I think fans of the movie will be very pleased with the transfer, extras and the overall package.
To preface my comments, I have bought this movie both US and Japanese import releases from vhs tape, through various laserdisc releases to dvd. I'm pretty familiar with how this movie could and should look.
Overall, the movie has never looked better on home video. Of course, there appears to have been some small sacrifice to get an overall superior presentation.
There is evidence of some DNR to clean up the print as in some scenes, daylight sky looks a little too smooth, grainless and flat in some scenes but on the other hand, fine detail in well lit scenes has never looked better. Obviously, because of the rather (now) primitive filming techniques and use of stock footage of varying film stocks as well as the age and condition of the original print, this movie is never going to look pristine or even on a level of similar b/w genre films already on blu-ray such as the original "The Day The Earth Stood Still." And it has to be said, the night scenes of Godzilla trampling through Tokyo are often oppressively dark with borderline black crush losing some very fine detail that can be previously seen on the washed out, brighter image on the first issue in the 80's of the Japanese laserdisc. However, much of this can be rectified by minor adjustment of black levels on the monitor.
The framing is identical to most other home video releases, notably the Japanese import region 2 dvd.
In fact, this release carries over a number of features from the Japanese dvd release. The audio option includes the original 2 channel mono PCM soundtrack as well as the music (left channel) and sound effects (right channel) audio track and a commentary track. It does not include a soundtrack only audio track like the dvd did though. Overall, the movie's audio track is a slight improvement over the Japanese dvd release - a bit more full and a tad more bass.
Regarding the extras, the (very) long video interview from the original Japanese dvd is ported over in standard definition. Trailers for the movie are included as well as a extensive stills gallery documenting the movie from the script through suit design and construction through filming. One of the nicer features is a PiP storyboard option while watching the movie. Also, there is a cool new short feature filmed in '08 that is a live orchestra playing key music cues to respective scenes from the movie.
The menu is initially a bit tough to navigate, primarily due to the language issue but visually from a graphics standpoint, it's nicely designed.
The slipcase is a typical BR case with a cardboard sleeve with matching artwork. There is a tri-fold sheet advertising not only Toho's next two batches of monster films coming on BR through the end of '09, but 3 volume "Akira Kurosawa - The Masterworks" collections. Also, there's a tiny blurb mentioning blu-ray releases of (wait for it........) the 1964 films "Mothra vs Godzilla" and "Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster" in March of 2010.
I revised my original Amazon Japan order after getting and being a bit disappointed with the Gamera '90's box set to only buy the original "Godzilla" and see how this one turned out befor springing for the rest of Toho's quickly blossoming blu-ray releases. Overall, I'm *very* happy with this release and look forward to emptying my wallet for the rest of Toho's blu-ray releases.
T.B.
Anyway.........
I just got through viewing the Japanese blu-ray of the original Godzilla. Overall, I think fans of the movie will be very pleased with the transfer, extras and the overall package.
To preface my comments, I have bought this movie both US and Japanese import releases from vhs tape, through various laserdisc releases to dvd. I'm pretty familiar with how this movie could and should look.
Overall, the movie has never looked better on home video. Of course, there appears to have been some small sacrifice to get an overall superior presentation.
There is evidence of some DNR to clean up the print as in some scenes, daylight sky looks a little too smooth, grainless and flat in some scenes but on the other hand, fine detail in well lit scenes has never looked better. Obviously, because of the rather (now) primitive filming techniques and use of stock footage of varying film stocks as well as the age and condition of the original print, this movie is never going to look pristine or even on a level of similar b/w genre films already on blu-ray such as the original "The Day The Earth Stood Still." And it has to be said, the night scenes of Godzilla trampling through Tokyo are often oppressively dark with borderline black crush losing some very fine detail that can be previously seen on the washed out, brighter image on the first issue in the 80's of the Japanese laserdisc. However, much of this can be rectified by minor adjustment of black levels on the monitor.
The framing is identical to most other home video releases, notably the Japanese import region 2 dvd.
In fact, this release carries over a number of features from the Japanese dvd release. The audio option includes the original 2 channel mono PCM soundtrack as well as the music (left channel) and sound effects (right channel) audio track and a commentary track. It does not include a soundtrack only audio track like the dvd did though. Overall, the movie's audio track is a slight improvement over the Japanese dvd release - a bit more full and a tad more bass.
Regarding the extras, the (very) long video interview from the original Japanese dvd is ported over in standard definition. Trailers for the movie are included as well as a extensive stills gallery documenting the movie from the script through suit design and construction through filming. One of the nicer features is a PiP storyboard option while watching the movie. Also, there is a cool new short feature filmed in '08 that is a live orchestra playing key music cues to respective scenes from the movie.
The menu is initially a bit tough to navigate, primarily due to the language issue but visually from a graphics standpoint, it's nicely designed.
The slipcase is a typical BR case with a cardboard sleeve with matching artwork. There is a tri-fold sheet advertising not only Toho's next two batches of monster films coming on BR through the end of '09, but 3 volume "Akira Kurosawa - The Masterworks" collections. Also, there's a tiny blurb mentioning blu-ray releases of (wait for it........) the 1964 films "Mothra vs Godzilla" and "Ghidorah, The Three Headed Monster" in March of 2010.
I revised my original Amazon Japan order after getting and being a bit disappointed with the Gamera '90's box set to only buy the original "Godzilla" and see how this one turned out befor springing for the rest of Toho's quickly blossoming blu-ray releases. Overall, I'm *very* happy with this release and look forward to emptying my wallet for the rest of Toho's blu-ray releases.
T.B.