Customer Reviews

Godzilla Raids Again

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

to be honest, i thought i was gonna get more outta this movie. i was soooo disapointed! it was nothing comparded to the original! but the dvd is a extremly good dvd, it just has everything,audio commentary and features, english and japanese version with subtitles. i only recomend it to collectors and people who want all godzilla movies.

But I'm a completist and that's why I would recommend the purchase of this film. If you have the first you have to have to second. Its that simple. Classic Media has done a great job, although its not the best Toho had to offer at the time.

This DVD is great, the picture quality on both the japanese and english version is excellent. The english version is slightly poorer in quality than the Japanese version, but still not bad. Both films look better than the recent 2 disc release of gojira/godzilla, less dust etc on screen. It is not as good of a film as the first godzilla, but definately worth owning. I got mine on january 5th and there is no trace of the problems mentioned below. The commentary is only on the english version, it is very informative and you find out alot about why the film was disquised as a non-godzilla sequel in its US release as Gigantis, the fire monster. Highly reccomended for godzilla fans and sci-fi fans in general.

And, more films are on the way, the following films will be released:

GHIDORAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER, INVASION OF ASTRO MONSTER/MONSTER ZERO, ALL MONSTERS ATTACK/GODZILLA'S REVENGE, and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA. There are plans to follow the Godzilla DVDs with Toho's RODAN and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS.

nice job! Cant wait for the japanese version of Rodan!

If there was a technical flaw on the dvd stream during the last ten minutes, as some have reported, then the problem must have been fixed, because my disc played fine for the duration of the film. Since I had never actually heard of this movie until recently, I didn't have very high expectations for it, but it turned out to be a great Godzilla film. While not perfect, the positives far outweigh the negatives, making this a very enjoyable viewing experience.

The negatives: the human story revolves around two pilots, and while actors give adequete performances, the characters are not particularly interesting. There are some minor problems with the overall pacing of the film. Additionally, the film does not have the social relevance of the first movie. The nuclear war metaphore is virtually lost. The film transfer itself is grainy in some places, as was "Gojira". This did not really bother me, however. Its not in Tohoscope, but that's forgivable because this film was made before the debut of the widescreen format.

The positives: The special effects are amazing, especially considering when this film was made. I was particularly impressed with the flying effects. They are much more realistic than in later Godzilla films. Sure, some of the crashes still look fake by today's standards, but that's what you expect when watching a Godzilla film. I think that the effects were much better than in the first film. And having Godzilla actually do battle with another monster (creating the formula for EVERY Japanese monster movie to follow) really heightens the enjoyment. The tone of the film and the acting are still played seriously. There is none of the cheese which was established in "Mothra vs. Godzilla" (which, don't get me wrong, I LOVE).

All things considered, this is an excellent Godzilla film.

Godzilla Raids Again was the second film in the first Godzilla series (there have been three now). This one introduces us to the second Godzilla monster and Anguires, before the series became "family friendly" and campy.

This one has it all: A hero full of self doubt, a comic relief best friend, a pretty romantic interest, and, of course, Godzilla.

Spoiler Alert: I'm always disapointed when the comic relief dies, but at least he went out a hero. This movie ends where King Kong vs. Godzilla starts, with Godzilla buried in an ice-berg.

I've been a fan of the Godzilla franchise since I was a child in the sixties and I've never out-grown him (her?) even after all this time. The new ones are great, but you can't beat the original series for sheer fun.

If you love Godzilla, get this, and all of his flicks, pop some pop-corn, and rewind time!

This isn't the best for special features but it is the only release of the SECOND EVER GODZILLA MOVIE! FOR THE LUVVA GOSH WHY THE HECK DO THEY DEPRIVE US? If you want a skinny case that won't take up that much space on your shelf, this one's a go. This also includes Japanese and American version (awesome) although the American version has been edited to fit the title, but besides that it's good. This has theatrical trailers and an Art of Suit Making Featurette, I mean, peoplez, it's hard to get special features for a 1955 film! It's only got one disc, fortunately it's single sided. I really love the packaging, nice material. The Movie itself well...lettuce see. The Japanese version is just a hand's down masterpiece. Not in the sense of Superman The Movie or The Black Knight no, but in the way any movie goer that has a life can enjoy. The American version will disappoint some (no actually, every) audience but myself. It takes out the name Godzilla and of course, replaces it with Gigantis. Godzilla was done in America I guess, and then that business that took the Japanese version and barfed all over it got bankrupt. However, The American version is quite enjoyable if you think outside the box. If your going suspension of disbelief you won't be happy, if you're going comparing, laughing at the little things, and still enjoying the fight scenes plus having the false feeling that you know the secret when everyone does it then you're gonna like the American version. But the Japanese version, except for the vision impaired and lazy is just plain a masterpiece.

This is the first time I have seen the Japanese verion of this movie and I find it is much better than the US version released as Gigantis, The Fire Monster. It doesn't have the hokey scenes of early Earth and if far more enjoyable even tho you have to read the subtitles.

I also recently got Gojira and the original is 100 times better than the Raymond Burr version.