Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 (The Criterion Collection Blu-ray Box Set) [USA]

[PunkNinja]

Release Date: October 29, 2019
Purchase links: Amazon - Criterion
Prices: $164.99 (Amazon) - $179.96 (Criterion)

 

[PunkNinja]

All Hail The King This October, we’re celebrating the arrival of spine number 1000, and it’s a collector’s set fit for the granddaddy of all movie monsters! Our landmark edition gathers for the first time all the Godzilla films from Japan’s Showa era: Godzilla (1954) Godzilla Raids Again (1955) King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963) Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964) Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965) Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966) Son of Godzilla (1967) Destroy All Monsters (1968) All Monsters Attack (1969) Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971) Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972) Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975) In 1954, an enormous beast clawed its way out of the sea, destroying everything in its path—and changing movies forever. The arresting original Godzilla soon gave rise to an entire monster-movie genre (kaiju eiga), but the King of the Monsters continued to reign supreme: in fourteen fiercely entertaining sequels over the next two decades, Godzilla defended its throne against a host of other formidable creatures, transforming from a terrifying symbol of nuclear annihilation into a benevolent (if still belligerent) Earth protector. Collected here for the first time are all fifteen Godzilla films of Japan’s Showa era, in a landmark set showcasing the technical wizardry, fantastical storytelling, and indomitable international appeal that established the most iconic giant monster the cinema has ever seen. These fifteen films, all presented in high-definition digital transfers, are accompanied by a slew of supplemental material that brings the King of the Monsters to life in a giant deluxe hardcover book, with new essays and newly commissioned illustrations from sixteen artists; new and archival interviews with cast and crew members; and much, much more!

 

[PunkNinja]

@bloodsnake007 @tridon @TheJoker

 

[bloodsnake007]

@bloodsnake007 @tridon @TheJoker

@PunkNinja AWESOME edition!

But that price! "F**K THIS! I'm out!!!"

 

[TheJoker]

@bloodsnake007 @tridon @TheJoker

This might just be what I’m looking for!! If this doesn’t come to the uk I hope those discs are region free

 

[tridon]

@PunkNinja AWESOME edition!

But that price! "F**K THIS! I'm out!!!"

Gotta hit that during Barnes & Noble's November Criterion sale!

 

[tridon]

I'm tempted, but I'll ultimately pass. As most know, I was never really huge on the "goofier" Godzilla movies after the 1954 masterpiece. I've always prefered my Big G with a more serious, darker undertone.

This is one hell of an amazing set, though! The artwork is really cool and it's incredibly awesome that Criterion chose Godzilla as their 1000th release.

 

[Noodles]

Heard there may be a chance that this'll show up in the UK, so gonna hold off for now... not that I can currently afford it at that price anyway lol.

 

[PunkNinja]

Heard there may be a chance that this'll show up in the UK, so gonna hold off for now... not that I can currently afford it at that price anyway lol.

I think Criterion is planning to release them separately as well. As digibooks or digipacks, just like the Godzilla (1954) (Criterion Collection).

 

[PunkNinja]

 

[PunkNinja]

SPECIAL FEATURES AND TECHNICAL SPECS:

• 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 transfer of Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956), the U.S.-release version of Godzilla
• Japanese-release version of King Kong vs. Godzilla from 1962
• 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
• Programs detailing the creation of Godzilla's special effects and unused effects sequences from Toho releases including Destroy All Monsters
• 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

BOX SET CONTENT:

Godzilla
1954 • 96 minutes • Black & White • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 1.37:1 aspect ratio

Godzilla Raids Again
1955 • 81 minutes • Black & White • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 1.37:1 aspect ratio

King Kong vs. Godzilla
U.S.-RELEASE VERSION
1963 • 91 minutes • Color • Monaural • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Mothra vs. Godzilla
1964 • 89 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
1964 • 93 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Invasion of Astro-Monster
1965 • 94 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio
1966 • 86 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Son of Godzilla
1967 • 85 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Destroy All Monsters
1968 • 89 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

All Monsters Attack
1969 • 69 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Godzilla vs. Hedorah
1971 • 85 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Godzilla vs. Gigan
1972 • 89 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Godzilla vs. Megalon
1973 • 81 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla
1974 • 84 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

Terror of Mechagodzilla
1975 • 83 minutes • Color • Monaural • In Japanese with English subtitles • 2.35:1 aspect ratio

 

[PunkNinja]

 

[Noodles]

I think Criterion is planning to release them separately as well. As digibooks or digipacks, just like the Godzilla (1954) (Criterion Collection).

Oh man, love the art on those!

 

[C.C. 95]

@PunkNinja AWESOME edition!

But that price! "F**K THIS! I'm out!!!"

 

[bloodsnake007]

@C.C. 95 LMFAO!!! This is by far the BEST gif I've ever seen! Definitely bookmarking this for future use!

Thanks man!

 

[C.C. 95]

@C.C. 95 LMFAO!!! This is by far the BEST gif I've ever seen! Definitely bookmarking this for future use!

Thanks man!

A little known fact, that cinema historians ignore:
Godzilla enjoyed Taco Time before battle.

 

[Noodles]

 

[Noodles]

A quick look at the set from one of the illustrators...

 

[hatredhorror]

great and huuuuge set (tcm for comparison)