Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954-1975 (Limited Edition) - November 25, 2019

[MechaGodzilla]

EIGHT-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION COLLECTOR’S SET FEATURES

• High-definition digital transfers of all fifteen Godzilla films made between 1954 and 1975, released together for the first time, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
• High-definition digital transfers of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, the 1956 U.S.-release version of Godzilla; and the 1962 Japanese-release version of King Kong vs. Godzilla, presented with its original 4.0 surround soundtrack.
• Audio commentaries from 2011 on Godzilla and Godzilla, King of the Monsters featuring film historian David Kalat
• International English-language dub tracks for Invasion of Astro-Monster, Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, and Terror of Mechagodzilla
• Directors Guild of Japan interview with director Ishiro Honda, conducted by director Yoshimitsu Banno in 1990
• Featurette detailing Godzilla’s photographic effects
• Toho Unused Special Effects Complete Collection, a 1986 documentary featuring archival making-of footage; scenes deleted from films including Destroy All Monsters, King Kong vs. Godzilla, and Mothra vs. Godzilla; and interviews with Honda, producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, special-effects director Teruyoshi Nakano, and others
• New interview with filmmaker Alex Cox about his admiration for the Showa-era Godzilla films
• New and archival interviews with cast and crew members, including actors Bin Furuya, Tsugutoshi Komada, Haruo Nakajima, and Akira Takarada; composer Akira Ifukube; and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai
• Interview with critic Tadao Sato from 2011
• Illustrated audio essay from 2011 about the real-life tragedy that inspired Godzilla
• New English subtitle translations
• Trailers
• PLUS: A lavishly illustrated deluxe hardcover book featuring an essay by cinema historian Steve Ryfle, notes on the films by cinema historian Ed Godziszewski, and new illustrations by Arthur Adams, Sophie Campbell, Becky Cloonan, Jorge Coelho, Geof Darrow, Simon Gane, Robert Goodin, Benjamin Marra, Monarobot, Takashi Okazaki, Angela Rizza, Yuko Shimizu, Bill Sienkiewicz, Katsuya Terada, Ronald Wimberly, and Chris Wisnia

It's worth noting that, unlike its North American counterpart, this version of the set is a limited release. Here's what Criterion's Jon Mulvaney wrote to me in an email:

Hi again,

Just wanted to send a quick follow up to let you know the Region B version of this set is a limited release so it may be best to pre-order sooner than later, if you are still interested. It's expected to ship in late November.

Here are the official listings:
https://www.zoom.co.uk/product/godzi...ection_blu_ray
https://store.hmv.com/film-tv/blu-ra...ilms-criterion

[CelestialAgent]

Back to Currently Unavailable on Amazon, but it's still available on Zoom

[Yautja_Warrior]

Got my copy from Zoom. Beautiful artwork.

[backslashio]

Resolution size is a bit overkill dude & I've got a 4K 43" monitor that can't even fit half a photo in fullscreen

[Yautja_Warrior]

Originally Posted by backslashio

Resolution size is a bit overkill dude & I've got a 4K 43" monitor that can't even fit half a photo in fullscreen

Big pictures for the big G.

Thankfully the site resizes them to make them more manageable, until you click on them anyway lol

[Faustus]

Films and Yuko Shimizu's artwork aside, some of which I love, Criterion's box set design is awful yet again. Cardboard is never a good idea for housing discs. Hopefully a standard shelf-sized edition is on the cards someday.

[Yautja_Warrior]

It's definitely not the best design to hold the discs in place. I don't mind the size too much, as I have a few places I can place it.

I will say the discs on the left side page are very easy to get out, as the card is a bit thinner and you can bend it very slightly to get the discs out. A couple of discs on the right side page are a tighter fit and harder to get out though, as the card won't bend easily because of the thicker back cover.

[Faustus]

Dwindling storage space has influenced my preference in packaging over the years, I have to admit. Unusual packaging is nice from a creative perspective, but I prefer standard keepcases (and have a special dislike of cardboard).

I was very much considering buying the Godzilla set, I even shuffled some pre-orders around to make it work financially, but I held off, fearing it'd be like the Zatoichi box.

I really would love the discs, though. Those are the real treasure there.

Only slightly related, I'm currently working my way through the Batman TAS set. It's a cardboard booklet type; I'm like a nervous surgeon when getting the discs in and out.

[Yautja_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Faustus

Dwindling storage space has influenced my preference in packaging over the years, I have to admit. Unusual packaging is nice from a creative perspective, but I prefer standard keepcases (and have a special dislike of cardboard).

I was very much considering buying the Godzilla set, I even shuffled some pre-orders around to make it work financially, but I held off, fearing it'd be like the Zatoichi box.

I really would love the discs, though. Those are the real treasure there.

Only slightly related, I'm currently working my way through the Batman TAS set. It's a cardboard booklet type; I'm like a nervous surgeon when getting the discs in and out.

I guess the other option would be a bit of DIY, if you are up for it.

Someone in the US thread made printable standard size cover, so people can buy a couple of cases and put the discs in them, instead of the giant book.

[Faustus]

I've did similar in the past. It's a good option.

I'm curious to see the artwork you mentioned. Can you link me to the post? Thanks in advance, if you can. I've to rush off now, so will check in when I get back.

[Yautja_Warrior]

Basically a smaller version of the actual set.

Post #717


Also found someone who made 15 individual covers for each movie, which looks to use the art from the book of each movie.

Post #3573

[Indiana Jones]

I printed off those custom covers for two 14mm cases, certainly more shelf friendly...

[jcmw98]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

I printed off those custom covers for two 14mm cases, certainly more shelf friendly...

what paper did you use to print the covers out?

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by jcmw98

what paper did you use to print the covers out?

Just regular printer paper, could obviously get better result with better paper but I just work with what I have access too.

[Faustus]

Originally Posted by Yautja_Warrior

Basically a smaller version of the actual set.

That's excellent. Thanks a lot.

I'll head over to the US thread and drop a thanks there, too.

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

I printed off those custom covers for two 14mm cases, certainly more shelf friendly...

They look excellent there, too.

[Aclea]

Got my despatch note on Thursday but despite Zoom usually living up to their name with their shipping no set yet.

[Takeshi666]

Originally Posted by MechaGodzilla

It's worth noting that, unlike its North American counterpart, this version of the set is a limited release.

Well that would've been nice to know in advance!

[M1987]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Got my despatch note on Thursday but despite Zoom usually living up to their name with their shipping no set yet.

Same here. Got the despatched e-mail from Zoom on Thursday but nothing's arrived as of yet.

[Ben_C]

Originally Posted by Takeshi666

Well that would've been nice to know in advance!

It was mentioned a few times occasionally, I think in the UK Criterion thread. I think the first we knew about its limited status was due to Zoom stating it was going to be available in “limited quantities”.

[Faustus]

Is it possible that the wording refers to a 'first run' only (book-style packaging)? Wishful thinking, I know.

I don't know if re-issues in reduced formats is something that Criterion do, but it'd be a real shame if the G movies disappeared off UK shelves. The franchise has been too long underappreciated in the UK by the big labels.

I've imported a few of the Heisei and Millennium era US discs, but most of them are region locked; I had to rip them to PC to view them. I wouldn't hesitate to order Region B versions of those, if they were to become available. I prefer those eras.