7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
I can see why they pushed back the release date., November 8, 2006
This review is from: Godzilla Raids Again (DVD)
So while viewing the film after I had purchased it through Classic Media's website, I can see why they pushed the release date back. For some reason the quality of the video stream becomes real pixelated and wavy towards the end of the film, the BEST PART! It's annoying because it looks off and your eyes are doing a double take just to watch it. This is probably a flaw that they are going to correct for the Spring of next year, however I do not see why they were selling this item on their website even with the flaw. I am an editor at a film college and this irritates me because it is a simple "rendering" and "compression" issue that could have easily been fixed. Other than that, I have no complaints about this DVD. The quality of the film (except for the end) is good, the extra content (the art of suit acting, etc) is decent. I'm just glad it finally saw official release! I would wait until the film comes out next year because this flaw will probably be taken care of by then. Overall, an entertaining Godzilla film.
*NOTE*
The 3 out of 5 stars is due to the quality shift and the flaw towards the end of the film. This flaw is a biggie for me and takes me right out of the film. If not for the flaw I would've given it 4 out of 5.
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17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rarely seen in the US, the 1st Godzilla sequel "raids again!", October 3, 2006
This review is from: Godzilla Raids Again (DVD)
FILM HISTORY
This film made in 1955 is the very first sequel made to the original "Gojira" aka "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" in its US release. The film was rushed into production in order to capitalize on the popularity of the first film. In the US it was apparently released by a different film company than the first film, so the title was changed such that the word "Godzilla" didn't even appear in it! The US theatrical release title was "Gigantis the Fire Monster." The film has been released in the US under other titles over the years, such as "The Return of Godzilla" and as "Godzilla Raids Again" when it was on VHS tape. The original Japanese title was apparently, "Gojira no gyakushû" or "Gojira Strikes Again" in English.
I am a huge Godzilla fan and have been since I was a small child, and in all the years I watched these films on TV, in the theater, and on home video, I've never seen this film broadcast on television and I apparently missed it when it was available on VHS. I didn't even know it existed until I saw it listed in Michael Weldon's Psychotronic Film Guide years ago. It seems that the fact that this film was not released in the US by the same company that released the original film has doomed this one to obscurity for an extremely long time. However, this situation is now corrected with the release of the film to DVD.
FILM SYNOPSIS, PRODUCTION TRIVIA, COMMENTS
As was stated in the original Gojira, it does turn out that there are more of these monstrous creatures in the sea than just the one Godzilla that was destroyed at the end of the first film. This film is more of a typical 1950s "monster smash 'em up" picture than the original film and less of a statement on nuclear horror. This sets the tone for many Godzilla pictures to come. There were also some apparent changes to the Gojira costume for this film as well as to the focus of the story. It also began the now long-standing tradition of matching Godzilla up with other monsters as Angiurus, sometimes called Anguilas, makes his debut in this film. He's the monster that looks a bit like an ankylosaur with a touch of giant hedgehog.
This film is a fairly average entry in the Godzilla series with little of the serious dramatic metaphors for and references to nuclear war so prevalent in the original Japanese version of the first film, but kaiju completists and monster movie fans will probably want to see this film because it has been so rarely seen or available up until now. The Japanese version is coherent, fairly well-acted and enjoyable. The American version is so hilariously bad that it's hugely entertaining as unintentional comedy! The American version is filled with nonsensical dialogue that has nothing to do with the original Japanese, it's loaded with cheesy stock footage that does not appear in the original film and it's voiced-over by a narrator (Keye Luke) that NEVER stops talking. Seriously, the American producer insisted on non-stop narration that never shuts up and insists on describing things that are clearly portrayed visually in the film. It's just terrible, but funny terrible! The American version would have been a great subject for Mystery Science Theater 3000. Be sure to listen to the commentary track on the American version after watching the film once without it. It's informative and highly entertaining.
DVD INFORMATION ON CONTENT INCLUDING EXTRA FEATURES
This DVD contains both the original 1955 Japanese version of the film as well as the 1959 American release dubbed in English. George Takei (Star Trek) and Keye Luke (Charlie Chan, Gremlins) both supplied voices for the English version. The subtitles for the uncut Japanese version were newly produced for this release. Like the recent excellent 2-disc DVD release of the original Gojira, this disc has commentary and featurettes by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski.
Note that the general release date for this DVD was originally supposed to be in November 2006, but it has been pushed back till spring 2007. This information comes directly from the godzillaondvd website, which is the official website of the producers of this DVD and the only place where the DVD can be purchased until general release.
I'm giving this release 3 stars for the movie and 5 stars for the great DVD treatment for a final rating of 4 stars. Monster flick fans can celebrate now that "Godzilla Raids Again" raids again!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Remastered?, December 30, 2006
This review is from: Godzilla Raids Again (DVD)
This was a good effort by Classic Media. 1st time available on region 1 DVD. I have viewed both the Japanese and American versions that are on this DVD. The American, quality wise, is the worse of the two. The film shows quite a bit of wear. Worth watching, though in order to see the differences between this and the FAR superior (story wise) Japanese version. The Japanese version of the film comes across as much more somber, moody and makes more sense (story wise).
There is a comentary track on the American version that is a must listen and I hope CM will keep doing these on future releases. So far, this is ONLY available thru Classic Media's Godilla website. I ordered it right before Christmas and got it christmas eve. Highly reccomended for anyone interested in Godzilla films!
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