Godzilla vs. Biollante 4K UHD (1989) (Criterion Collection)

[MifuneFan]

Godzilla vs. Biollante 4K Blu-ray

Let's Go! Criterion have now entered the Godzilla Heisei era with Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) releasing on 4K in March.

https://www.criterion.com/films/3302...a-vs-biollante

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration, with 5.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• New audio commentary featuring film historian Samm Deighan, host of the podcast Eros + Massacre and coeditor of the book Revolution in 35mm
• Making-of program from 1993 featuring director Kazuki Omori and special-effects director Koichi Kawakita, among others
• Short documentary from 1993 about the Biollante and Super X2 vehicle concepts
• Deleted special effects
• TV spots and trailers
• New English subtitle translation
• PLUS: An essay by science-fiction and horror film expert Jim Cirronella

New cover by Eric Powell

[postmodel]

Is today even real?!!

[annubis44]

Shame they're not doing a Heisei set, but glad they're finally putting these out!

[SantosLHalper]

Originally Posted by annubis44

Shame they're not doing a Heisei set, but glad they're finally putting these out!

I'm a little surprised they aren't doing a set. I'll be interested to see how many of the Heisei they release.

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by SantosLHalper

I'm a little surprised they aren't doing a set. I'll be interested to see how many of the Heisei they release.

This could very well be a litmus test to see if the box set is commercially viable.

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by SantosLHalper

I'm a little surprised they aren't doing a set. I'll be interested to see how many of the Heisei they release.

At the rate Toho is going with releasing remasters in Japan, it could be three years at the least (as the most optimistic outcome) before Criterion could do a box set. Meanwhile people are buying up bootlegs because they're cheaper than the old OOP releases. I think this is the right call, though I do wonder if most of the other films will still be released as a set.

[strumdogg]

I got this release from Target waaay back in 2013, which isn't the best, so the 4K upgrade is much appreciated.

[ExcaliburZeta]

Did a double take on the announcement email! Not only this getting a release, but 4K too!

Was hoping for a Heisei set, but will be grabbing this one happily!

[Infallible Presence]

But, curses, it's sadly those biased English dub folks... Criterion. A pox upon thee!

[Bubbles-11]

Originally Posted by Infallible Presence

But, curses, it's sadly those biased English dub folks... Criterion. A pox upon thee!

This is actually because Toho only has rights to use the Japanese with English subs version as the English dub was previously owned by Dimension/Miramax.

The Echo Bridge and Lionsgate releases both have Miramax branding on it


While the old VHS release has the Dimension Films logo on it

[tuffy]

Most of the Heisei era films are still yet to arrive in Japan, last I checked, so a whole Heisei set this early wasn't realistic. But with a lot of Showa era arriving in the latest wave of films in Japan, maybe a new Showa era set isn't that far away.

[HippieDalek]

I know it's nothing to do with Criterion and entirely down to what TOHO have given them, but a shame to see that it's only SDR. Might pick this one up if it comes to the UK.

[BluProofie]

Terrific news!

[gigan72]

Didn't expect this at all, but I'll gladly pick it up! Hopefully more Godzilla is in the pipeline (or at least Blu releases of the adjacent Kaiju movies Toho has, like Rodan/Gargantuas/Varan/etc).

Originally Posted by HippieDalek

I know it's nothing to do with Criterion and entirely down to what TOHO have given them, but a shame to see that it's only SDR. Might pick this one up if it comes to the UK.

Sadly that will be true for every catalog Godzilla 4K, as Toho has done every single 4K master in SDR only.

[briwas101]

Originally Posted by gigan72

Didn't expect this at all, but I'll gladly pick it up! Hopefully more Godzilla is in the pipeline (or at least Blu releases of the adjacent Kaiju movies Toho has, like Rodan/Gargantuas/Varan/etc).



Sadly that will be true for every catalog Godzilla 4K, as Toho has done every single 4K master in SDR only.

That really blows. Do it right or not at all.

[MifuneFan]

It is interesting for them to start the Heisei era run. I wonder if they'll go back and release any more of the Showa era stuff on 4K too?

[WorkShed]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It is interesting for them to start the Heisei era run. I wonder if they'll go back and release any more of the Showa era stuff on 4K too?

I could see Criterion waiting and doing a full UHD Showa re-release (save for a couple of titles). Otherwise, at least with Criterion Channel, it appears that they've so far only licensed the first four Heisei titles with Biollante being the first that was available from Toho in UHD. Given that track, I'd guess we'll get Godzilla '84 and Mechagodzilla in about a year.

[DR Herbert West]

Yes!!!

[BluProofie]

Will be a massive upgrade over the old master. Surprised Toho allowed those extras too!

[Tylerfan]

From Echo Bridge to Criterion, what a jump