Gaming News - March 2006
New York, NY (March 10, 2006) - Classic Media today announced that it
will release the complete, uncut, Japanese original, Gojira (Godzilla), on DVD
for the first time ever in the US on September 5th.
From Classic Media:
From legendary Japanese filmmaker Ishiro Honda, Gojira quickly became a
monster classic. Gojira will only be available as part of a special DVD 2-pack
that also includes the re-edited US version, Godzilla: King of the Monsters,
starring Raymond Burr. Both versions have been digitally remastered in HD. The
Gojira/Godzilla: King of the Monsters DVD 2-pack stomps onto retail shelves late
summer for $21.98 SRP.
Robert Mayo, SVP of Home Video at Classic Media, said, “It’s really exciting
to be able to finally bring this classic film to DVD for the American audience.
Fans have been looking forward to the release of Gojira for several years.”
For more information and updates closer to release date, fans can log onto
www.godzillaondvd.com.
A Monster Metaphor
Ishiro Honda’s 1954 black-and-white classic spawned a new genre called the
“kaiju eiga” or, Japanese monster movie, giving way to countless sequels. With
its 50th anniversary theatrical re-release in 2004, audiences rediscovered the
strong anti-nuclear message of the original Gojira film.
Gojira contains 40 minutes of footage that was not seen as part of the
re-edited, re-dubbed Americanized Godzilla: King of Monsters. In the US version
40 minutes were cut and 20 minutes of new scenes were added, starring Raymond
Burr as an American reporter. As a result, the original tone of the movie was
changed and the anti-H-Bomb message dropped.
Gojira (1954)
Run Time: 98 minutes
When several ships mysteriously explode and sink off the coast of Japan, the
country begins to panic. Authorities are convinced that the unexplained activity
was caused by underwater mines or volcanoes and sends officials to Odo Island to
investigate. Days later, something comes ashore and destroys several neighboring
houses, killing many locals. Renowned paleontologist, Dr. Kyohei Yemane (Takashi
Shimura), is called to lead a new expedition and uncovers the source of the
problem – a 400-foot tall mutant dinosaur the natives call Gojira. The Doctor
insists that the monster, which was awakened from a million-year sleep by
nuclear bomb tests in the South Pacific, be studied not destroyed. Gojira soon
begins a rampage that threatens to destroy Japan. Can the powerful monster be
eliminated before it is too late?
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1956)
Run Time: 78 minutes
When American reporter Steve Martin, played by Raymond Burr, investigates a
series of mysterious disasters off the coast of Japan, he comes face to face
with an ancient creature so powerful and terrifying, it can reduce Tokyo to a
smoldering graveyard. Nuclear weapon testing resurrected this relic from the
Jurassic age, and now this behemoth is stomping and smashing his way through the
city. Conventional weapons are useless against him; but scientist Dr. Serizawa
has discovered a weapon that could destroy all life in the bay – including
Godzilla! But, which disaster is worse, Godzilla’s fury, or the death of Tokyo
Bay?
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