DVD REVIEW: GOJIRA
DVD REVIEW: CLASSIC MEDIA [ 2006 ] 96' / 80'
DVD REVIEW: AVG. BITRATE: 6.21 / 6.20 Mb/sec
WTFFILM RATING:

Ever since it was first announced many have looked forward to this release from Classic Media - the first of their second take on the Godzilla series. Their initial releases from several years ago were disappointing to say the least - the films were present in their American form only, cropped to 4:3 where possible, and completely void of palpable extras. It was hoped that this first new Godzilla release would begin to set right all of those wrongs. While it did to a certain extent, this release is more of a disappointment than anything else.

THE FEATURE PRESENTATION:

Classic Media's transfer of the original GOJIRA is a new HD one mastered from a Toho provided print. After seeing it one wonders why they didn't opt for simply using the one Toho had already done for their domestic R2 release (while far from perfect, that mastering job had none of the issues that make this presentation such a deal breaker for me). To start things off, the feature is interlaced. Contrast levels seem to have been boosted, with blacks being too black, to the point that action is occasionally obscured and an amount of detail lost. The image is also cropped slightly on all for sides and presents less visual information than either Toho's original disc or the recent BFI R2 release of the film. While all of these things are certainly annoying, the real deal breaker is the fact that the version of the feature on display here is an edited one. No fewer than three new digital transitions were added to the print somewhere down the line (my recent investigating leads to Toho Co. ltd being the likely culprit in this case) that replace the original transitions in the film. Why this was done is beyond me and that it was done at all is positively inexcusable.

The subtitles present on this disc are yellow in color and, due to the lack of a sufficient black border, appear nearly illegible on a standard television set. The audio is sufficiently reproduced in its original monophonic form, but the aforementioned changes to the film itself cause on or two aggravating transitions in the audio track as well. GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS is presented on disc two of this set. The print appears to be the same as the one used for CM's first release of the film a few years back, but the transfer itself is new. It is also interlaced and has the same issues in regards to contrast as the uncut print but, to the best of my knowledge, isn't edited from its original form. A decent presentation, but most of those who purchased this set will already have one or two copies of this version of the film.

THE EXTRAS:

Fairing better than the feature presentation are the extras for this set. On disc one we are treated to two featurettes: Godzilla Story Development and Making of the Godzilla Suit. Both are full of generally interesting information presented entirely disinterestingly. The collection of stills and promotional material present in these make them more worthwhile. The trailer for the original Japanese version of the film is present as well. A full length feature commentary provided by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski rounds out disc one. Steve saves the majority of the information presented in this commentary from suffering the same fate as that which is provided in the two featurettes. Disc two has a few extras to boast as well. First up are the original credits for the American version of the film, though they are rather roughly incorporated. The Japanese trailer for the American version of the film is next, with a feature length commentary covering the production of this version of the film rounding out disc 2. More certainly could have been included that would have made this department of the set more worthwhile, but it could also have been a lot worse.

THE OVERALL PRESENTATION:

GOJIRA comes packaged in a two disc digipack case with a black base color. Artwork is attractively presented on both the front and back, with two stills from the film's advertising campaign present beneath the two plastic disc trays. Holding everything together is a lap band that boasts about the contents of the disc. The menus present are in line with those on both of the more recent CM releases but are interlaced as opposed to progressive scan. Features are easily accesible and the overall look of the package is aesthetically appealing. This is the one part of the production that I really have no qualms with.

THE VERDICT:

While the extras and overall presentation could have left this a decent if unremarkable release, the alterations made to the original feature film as well as its rather lacking presentation leave a bad taste in this reviewer's mouth. The two most recent additions to CM's Godzilla catalog have faired much more favorably, with GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN featuring a transfer superior to that of the Toho region 2. It's a pity that this release turned out the way it did. I can't recommend this release at all, especially with the perfectly fine job that BFI did with the title. My recommendation is to stear clear of this one and go for the BFI PAL disc.

For an exceptional comparison of this release with BFI's, check out DVDBEAVER.