Awesome, although it is a bit sad it seems like it won't have the Attack Of The Monsters cut of Guiron and the UK dub of GOTU.
Looks like a great set, regardless.
Yeah, the UK dub with the techno music for GOTU is the only thing I could think of that could make this better, but that definitely falls into the "curiosity" bin and is far from essential. Already have my preorder in!
Limited collectors’ edition packaging, housed in a large-format rigid box, fully illustrated by Matt Frank
Casebound, fully-illustrated disc book containing eight Blu-ray discs
High Definition (1080p) versions of all twelve films, with lossless original Japanese audio and a complete collection of English dub tracks, including classic American International dubs on the Showa-era films remastered from original MGM elements
Hardback 130-page comic book including a full-colour reprint of the four-issue Gamera comic series originally released by Dark Horse Comics in 1996, and the first-ever English-language printing of the prequel comic The Last Hope by Matt Frank and Joshua Bugosh
Perfect-bound 80-page book including a new retrospective on the series by Patrick Macias, an archive interview with Noriaki Yuasa by David Milner, kaiju X-ray illustrations by Jolyon Yates, Fangoria set reports on the Heisei trilogy by Norman England, and a viewers’ guide to the English-dubbed versions of the films
Double-sided four-panel poster of “Gamera’s Map of Japan” in both Japanese and English
Collectors’ artcards for each film, featuring new artwork by Matt Frank
DISC ONE – GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera the Giant Monster, with lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio, and optional English subtitles
Commentary and newly filmed introduction by August Ragone
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gammera the Invincible (Blu-ray premiere), the American theatrical version of the film, with lossless mono audio and optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Remembering the Gamera Series, an archive featurette from 1991, including interviews with director Noriaki Yuasa, writer Nisan Takahashi and others
Interview with Noriaki Yuasa, filmed by Jörg Buttgereit in 2002
Gamera Special, an hour-long best-of compilation supervised by Noriaki Yuasa in 1991
Alternate English credits
Trailer and image galleries
DISC TWO – GAMERA VS. BARUGON / GAMERA VS. GYAOS
High Definition (1080p) transfers of Gamera vs. Barugon and Gamera vs. Gyaos, with lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio, and optional English subtitles
Commentary on Gamera vs. Barugon by August Ragone & Jason Varney
Commentary on Gamera vs. Gyaos by Stuart Galbraith IV
Newly filmed introductions to both films by August Ragone
High Definition (1080p) transfer of War of the Monsters, the shorter American edit of Gamera vs. Barugon, with lossless English audio
Alternate English credits for both films
Trailer and image galleries
DISC THREE – GAMERA VS. VIRAS / GAMERA VS. GUIRON
High Definition (1080p) transfers of Gamera vs. Viras and Gamera vs. Guiron, with lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio, and optional English subtitles
Choice of three different versions of Gamera vs. Viras via seamless branching (72-minute Theatrical Version, 81-minute Director’s Version and 90-minute US Extended Version)
Commentary on Gamera vs. Viras by Carl Craig and Jim Cironella
Commentary on Gamera vs. Guiron by David Kalat
Newly filmed introductions to both films by August Ragone
New featurette with actor Carl Craig showing his souvenirs and props from Gamera vs. Viras
Highlights from the G-FEST X convention in 2003, featuring Noriaki Yuasa and Carl Craig
The 4th Nippon Jamboree, a promotional film for the Boy Scouts of Japan directed by Yuasa in 1966
Alternate English credits for both films
Trailer and image galleries
DISC FOUR – GAMERA VS. JIGER / GAMERA VS. ZIGRA / GAMERA SUPER MONSTER
High Definition (1080p) transfers of Gamera vs. Jiger, Gamera vs. Zigra and Gamera Super Monster, with lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio, and optional English subtitles
Commentary on Gamera vs. Jiger by Edward L. Holland
Commentary by Gamera vs. Zigra by Sean Rhoads & Brooke McCorkle
Commentary on Gamera Super Monster by Richard Pusateri
Newly filmed introductions to all three films by August Ragone
Alternate English credits for all three films
Trailer and image galleries
DISC FIVE – GAMERA THE GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera the Guardian of the Universe, from a 4K restoration by Kadokawa Pictures
Original Japanese and dubbed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with optional English subtitles
Commentary by Matt Frank
Newly filmed introduction by August Ragone
A Testimony of 15 Years: Part 1, the first in an epic three-part documentary interviewing cast and crew of the Heisei Trilogy
Interviews with director Shusuke Kaneko and SFX director Shinji Higuchi, filmed by Jörg Buttgereit in 2002
Extended 90-min interview with Shinji Higuchi from 2001, focusing on the trilogy’s special effects
Behind the scenes featurettes tracing the film’s production from announcement to release
Alternate English credits
Trailer and image galleries
DISC SIX – GAMERA 2: ATTACK OF LEGION
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, from a 4K restoration by Kadokawa Pictures
Original Japanese and dubbed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with optional English subtitles
Commentary by Kyle Yount
Newly filmed introduction by August Ragone
A Testimony of 15 Years: Part 2, the next part of the documentary interviewing cast and crew of the Heisei Trilogy
On-set footage from the shooting of the film’s main unit and special effects filming
Behind the scenes featurettes tracing the film’s production from announcement to release
Alternate English credits
“Lake Texarkana” comedic dub track
Trailer and image galleries
DISC SEVEN – GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris, from a 4K restoration by Kadokawa Pictures
Original Japanese and dubbed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with optional English subtitles
Commentary by Steve Ryfle & Ed Godziszewski
Newly filmed introduction by August Ragone
A Testimony of 15 Years: Part 3, the final part of the documentary interviewing cast and crew of the Heisei Trilogy
Newly filmed interview with Kaho Tsutsumi about the DNA Tokasatsu exhibition in Tokyo, by kaiju historian Edward L. Holland
Behind the scenes featurettes tracing the film’s production from announcement to release
Deleted Scenes
The Awakening of Irys (Remix), a montage of behind-the-scenes footage and work-in-progress special effects footage
Alternate English credits
Spoof commentary by “Gamera” & “Soldier No.6”
Trailer and image galleries
DISC EIGHT – GAMERA THE BRAVE
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera the Brave
Original Japanese and dubbed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with optional English subtitles
Commentary by Keith Aiken & Bob Johnson
How to Make a Gamera Movie, a featurette hosted by director Ryuta Tasaki
Behind The Scenes of Gamera the Brave, an all-access on-set documentary
The Men That Made Gamera, a documentary looking back at the series from start to finish, featuring interviews with cast and crew
Opening Day Premiere, a featurette showing the cast and crew presenting the film at its first showing
Kaho’s Summer, an interview with the film’s young star
Special Effects Supercut, a montage of effects shots overseen by FX supervisor Hajime Matsumoto
Trailer and image galleries
This collection shows really impressive attention-to-detail, and [apologies for going slightly off-topic] simultaneously serves as an indictment against Toho and their marketing philosophy. No doubt Criterion would have liked to have done something similar with their Godzilla Showa collection, only to be thwarted by Toho.
Let's be honest, even without Toho, Criterion would have never put this much effort into Godzilla movies. They rarely go crazy like Arrow does with special features, let alone have nearly every special features ever released before on their new discs, especially with genre movies. Criterion usually prefer creating new exclusive features. Arrow is head shoulder above Criterion for movies like these, including in the art department.
I'm sure had Arrow released the Godzilla movies, even with how awful it is to deal with Toho, they would have given us a better release, even if it was just packaging wise.
Limited collectors’ edition packaging, housed in a large-format rigid box, fully illustrated by Matt Frank
Casebound, fully-illustrated disc book containing eight Blu-ray discs
High Definition (1080p) versions of all twelve films, with lossless original Japanese audio and a complete collection of English dub tracks, including classic American International dubs on the Showa-era films remastered from original MGM elements
Hardback 130-page comic book including a full-colour reprint of the four-issue Gamera comic series originally released by Dark Horse Comics in 1996, and the first-ever English-language printing of the prequel comic The Last Hope by Matt Frank and Joshua Bugosh
Perfect-bound 80-page book including a new retrospective on the series by Patrick Macias, an archive interview with Noriaki Yuasa by David Milner, kaiju X-ray illustrations by Jolyon Yates, Fangoria set reports on the Heisei trilogy by Norman England, and a viewers’ guide to the English-dubbed versions of the films
Double-sided four-panel poster of “Gamera’s Map of Japan” in both Japanese and English
Collectors’ artcards for each film, featuring new artwork by Matt Frank
DISC ONE – GAMERA THE GIANT MONSTER
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera the Giant Monster, with lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio, and optional English subtitles
Commentary and newly filmed introduction by August Ragone
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gammera the Invincible (Blu-ray premiere), the American theatrical version of the film, with lossless mono audio and optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Remembering the Gamera Series, an archive featurette from 1991, including interviews with director Noriaki Yuasa, writer Nisan Takahashi and others
Interview with Noriaki Yuasa, filmed by Jörg Buttgereit in 2002
Gamera Special, an hour-long best-of compilation supervised by Noriaki Yuasa in 1991
Alternate English credits
Trailer and image galleries
DISC TWO – GAMERA VS. BARUGON / GAMERA VS. GYAOS
High Definition (1080p) transfers of Gamera vs. Barugon and Gamera vs. Gyaos, with lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio, and optional English subtitles
Commentary on Gamera vs. Barugon by August Ragone & Jason Varney
Commentary on Gamera vs. Gyaos by Stuart Galbraith IV
Newly filmed introductions to both films by August Ragone
High Definition (1080p) transfer of War of the Monsters, the shorter American edit of Gamera vs. Barugon, with lossless English audio
Alternate English credits for both films
Trailer and image galleries
DISC THREE – GAMERA VS. VIRAS / GAMERA VS. GUIRON
High Definition (1080p) transfers of Gamera vs. Viras and Gamera vs. Guiron, with lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio, and optional English subtitles
Choice of three different versions of Gamera vs. Viras via seamless branching (72-minute Theatrical Version, 81-minute Director’s Version and 90-minute US Extended Version)
Commentary on Gamera vs. Viras by Carl Craig and Jim Cironella
Commentary on Gamera vs. Guiron by David Kalat
Newly filmed introductions to both films by August Ragone
New featurette with actor Carl Craig showing his souvenirs and props from Gamera vs. Viras
Highlights from the G-FEST X convention in 2003, featuring Noriaki Yuasa and Carl Craig
The 4th Nippon Jamboree, a promotional film for the Boy Scouts of Japan directed by Yuasa in 1966
Alternate English credits for both films
Trailer and image galleries
DISC FOUR – GAMERA VS. JIGER / GAMERA VS. ZIGRA / GAMERA SUPER MONSTER
High Definition (1080p) transfers of Gamera vs. Jiger, Gamera vs. Zigra and Gamera Super Monster, with lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio, and optional English subtitles
Commentary on Gamera vs. Jiger by Edward L. Holland
Commentary by Gamera vs. Zigra by Sean Rhoads & Brooke McCorkle
Commentary on Gamera Super Monster by Richard Pusateri
Newly filmed introductions to all three films by August Ragone
Alternate English credits for all three films
Trailer and image galleries
DISC FIVE – GAMERA THE GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera the Guardian of the Universe, from a 4K restoration by Kadokawa Pictures
Original Japanese and dubbed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with optional English subtitles
Commentary by Matt Frank
Newly filmed introduction by August Ragone
A Testimony of 15 Years: Part 1, the first in an epic three-part documentary interviewing cast and crew of the Heisei Trilogy
Interviews with director Shusuke Kaneko and SFX director Shinji Higuchi, filmed by Jörg Buttgereit in 2002
Extended 90-min interview with Shinji Higuchi from 2001, focusing on the trilogy’s special effects
Behind the scenes featurettes tracing the film’s production from announcement to release
Alternate English credits
Trailer and image galleries
DISC SIX – GAMERA 2: ATTACK OF LEGION
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera 2: Attack of Legion, from a 4K restoration by Kadokawa Pictures
Original Japanese and dubbed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with optional English subtitles
Commentary by Kyle Yount
Newly filmed introduction by August Ragone
A Testimony of 15 Years: Part 2, the next part of the documentary interviewing cast and crew of the Heisei Trilogy
On-set footage from the shooting of the film’s main unit and special effects filming
Behind the scenes featurettes tracing the film’s production from announcement to release
Alternate English credits
“Lake Texarkana” comedic dub track
Trailer and image galleries
DISC SEVEN – GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris, from a 4K restoration by Kadokawa Pictures
Original Japanese and dubbed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with optional English subtitles
Commentary by Steve Ryfle & Ed Godziszewski
Newly filmed introduction by August Ragone
A Testimony of 15 Years: Part 3, the final part of the documentary interviewing cast and crew of the Heisei Trilogy
Newly filmed interview with Kaho Tsutsumi about the DNA Tokasatsu exhibition in Tokyo, by kaiju historian Edward L. Holland
Behind the scenes featurettes tracing the film’s production from announcement to release
Deleted Scenes
The Awakening of Irys (Remix), a montage of behind-the-scenes footage and work-in-progress special effects footage
Alternate English credits
Spoof commentary by “Gamera” & “Soldier No.6”
Trailer and image galleries
DISC EIGHT – GAMERA THE BRAVE
High Definition (1080p) transfer of Gamera the Brave
Original Japanese and dubbed English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 audio, with optional English subtitles
Commentary by Keith Aiken & Bob Johnson
How to Make a Gamera Movie, a featurette hosted by director Ryuta Tasaki
Behind The Scenes of Gamera the Brave, an all-access on-set documentary
The Men That Made Gamera, a documentary looking back at the series from start to finish, featuring interviews with cast and crew
Opening Day Premiere, a featurette showing the cast and crew presenting the film at its first showing
Kaho’s Summer, an interview with the film’s young star
Special Effects Supercut, a montage of effects shots overseen by FX supervisor Hajime Matsumoto
Trailer and image galleries
What does it mean by Director's Cut of Viras? Which is the one Shout! released in the past? Is this in Japanese or is this an English only version? Come to think of it, I had no idea Viras (nor Jiger or Super Monster) were ever dubbed.
Set sounds to be just as awesome as the Godzilla Criterion one and it is going to look nice next to it. I cannot wait!
Viras and Jiger were dubbed by AIP TV and were retitled "Destroy All Planets" and "Gamera vs. Monster X" respectively.
The English version of Super Monster was only released in the Elvira's Movie Macabre double feature.
I've never understood how they got the names Destroy All Planets and Gamera vs Monster X for Viras and Jiger. Viras is not trying to destroy any planets and Jiger doesn't resemble an X at all.
Let's be honest, even without Toho, Criterion would have never put this much effort into Godzilla movies. They rarely go crazy like Arrow does with special features, let alone have nearly every special features ever released before on their new discs, especially with genre movies. Criterion usually prefer creating new exclusive features. Arrow is head shoulder above Criterion for movies like these, including in the art department.
I'm sure had Arrow released the Godzilla movies, even with how awful it is to deal with Toho, they would have given us a better release, even if it was just packaging wise.
If you want to compare the level of effort that you feel Arrow and Criterion put into their releases, fine. That wasn't the point I was trying to make. The extent to which Toho puts up roadblocks to foreign licensees makes packages like this Gamera set from Arrow a total non-starter. Even the inclusion of something as simple as English-language credits, or publicity stills, seems to cause problems for Toho.
I don't want to derail the thread, but I think it's safe to assume Criterion would have included all of the English dubs that would have been practical, along with the English-language credits for each, and would have commissioned commentary tracks for most (if not all) of the films in the Showa collection. Not to mention would have prepared new transfers for most/all of the films, as well. The point is, they weren't allowed to do any of that!
The specs exceeded my expectations. Not only are they including alternative credit sequences, but a whole HD transfer of War of the Monsters and seamless branching for three versions of Gamera vs Viras. I am amazed and excited.
I'll have to compare what's missing later. No extras from the MST3K DVD set as expected, but they got the Carl Craig commentary from the Retromedia release!
I've never understood how they got the names Destroy All Planets and Gamera vs Monster X for Viras and Jiger. Viras is not trying to destroy any planets and Jiger doesn't resemble an X at all.
They probably called Viras that since Destroy All Monsters was a big hit for them when it came out in theaters.
At first glance it appears all extras from the Shout, ADV, and Tokyo Shock DVDs are carried over. Not sure on the Mill Creek Blu-ray features, but perhaps they have been renamed.
Let's be honest, even without Toho, Criterion would have never put this much effort into Godzilla movies. They rarely go crazy like Arrow does with special features, let alone have nearly every special features ever released before on their new discs, especially with genre movies. Criterion usually prefer creating new exclusive features. Arrow is head shoulder above Criterion for movies like these, including in the art department. I'm sure had Arrow released the Godzilla movies, even with how awful it is to deal with Toho, they would have given us a better release, even if it was just packaging wise
I disagree. Criterion does a great job when they are given the ability to restore using prints. Their Godzilla set is great considering what they had to work with.
Awesome, although it is a bit sad it seems like it won't have the Attack Of The Monsters cut of Guiron and the UK dub of GOTU.
Looks like a great set, regardless.
The UK dub could be there. They mention a complete dub collection but only specify the AIP/MGM ones. There could be (should be) multiple English dub tracks for several of the films but it doesn't mention how many each film has.
I disagree. Criterion does a great job when they are given the ability to restore using prints. Their Godzilla set is great considering what they had to work with.
Um, I never mentioned prints... Criterion usually do a great job on a/v when they can.
At first glance it appears all extras from the Shout, ADV, and Tokyo Shock DVDs are carried over. Not sure on the Mill Creek Blu-ray features, but perhaps they have been renamed.
I'm not familiar with the earlier releases, so anyone want to chime in on what on-disc extras has Arrow produced for this? The Ragone introductions and that interview with Carl Craig about the props. Anything else?
I did a quick comparison of the extras. Some of the behind the scenes featurettes from the ADV and Mill Creek releases aren't listed but could be lumped under the "Behind the scenes featurettes tracing the film’s production from announcement to release" for each film. TV spots aren't specifically mentioned in Arrow's specs either.
The three Gamera-centered extra from the MST3K set are missing but that's pretty much it. Anything else could be lumped with trailer and image galleries.
-So Happy Together: A Look Back at MST3K and Gamera
-Gamera vs the Chiodo Brothers
-Gamera Obscura: A Brief History with August Ragone
I have no idea what extra were on the Japanese releases, but most of the new extras mention being new.
I have no idea what extra were on the Japanese releases, but most of the new extras mention being new.
There are a few extras here that are dated back to 1991, so those may be from a Daiei laserdisc box set that came out around that time. (One I had wanted to get back then, but couldn't afford).
The two Daiei DVD box sets (which I do have, and are briefly reviewed here https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s412gamera.html ), featured some brief, unsubtitled interviews with Noriaki Yuasa, and one kinda cool reconstruction of what was supposed to be the next film after ZIGRA, using models and artist renderings. But that was about it. AFAIK, the Daiei blu-rays of the Showa films featured only trailers as extras.
The original Heisei DVD box set from Daiei featured two full discs of extras. It sounds like some of that material is being used in this new Arrow collection. There are references to 2001, which is when that box set came out, and to featurettes that cover the films from announcement to release. Since that material was also unsubtitled in the Daiei box, it would be great to have it now with English subs.
If anyone finds out more details about these extras, from SciFi Japan or elsewhere, please feel free to share them here!
There are a few extras here that are dated back to 1991, so those may be from a Daiei laserdisc box set that came out around that time. (One I had wanted to get back then, but couldn't afford).
The two Daiei DVD box sets (which I do have, and are briefly reviewed here https://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s412gamera.html ), featured some brief, unsubtitled interviews with Noriaki Yuasa, and one kinda cool reconstruction of what was supposed to be the next film after ZIGRA, using models and artist renderings. But that was about it. AFAIK, the Daiei blu-rays of the Showa films featured only trailers as extras.
That featurette was included on Shout's release of Gamera the Giant Monster and appears to be included on the Arrow disc as well.
Quote:
The original Heisei DVD box set from Daiei featured two full discs of extras. It sounds like some of that material is being used in this new Arrow collection. There are references to 2001, which is when that box set came out, and to featurettes that cover the films from announcement to release. Since that material was also unsubtitled in the Daiei box, it would be great to have it now with English subs.
I think those were the same extras that were on the ADV DVDs.
I think those were the same extras that were on the ADV DVDs.
I never got the ADV discs, so I am unaware of what extras they included. But the Daiei discs must have included at least 4 (and probably more) hours of supplements. I'd be surprised if the ADV discs were anywhere near as exhaustive as the Daiei box was. It featured two loaded discs of nothing but extras.
I never got the ADV discs, so I am unaware of what extras they included. But the Daiei discs must have included at least 4 (and probably more) hours of supplements. I'd be surprised if the ADV discs were anywhere near as exhaustive as the Daiei box was. It featured two loaded discs of nothing but extras.
Each Heisei film released by ADV contained around a hour of extras. The behind the scenes featurettes were usually short though, with a buck of the runtime coming from the interviews.
The Arrow release appears to combine the Shinji Higuchi interview into one 90-minute special. The ADV DVDs split them across the three movies.
The Mill Creek Blu-ray also contained almost three hours worth of subtitled behind the scenes features. I think some of them were the same extras included with the ADV DVDs but not all. The ADV DVDs did not include the Awakening of Iris Remix feature, which was included on the Mill Creek Blu-ray and the Arrow set.
It does appear that Arrow's release of Gamera the Brave contains several extras that were not included with the Media Blasters release.
This dude would not shut up about how much he disliked Criterion's Godzilla set design but then shrugs his shoulder when the Gamera set was revealed to have a similar box design to the Godzilla set. What a joke.
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