tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post2796846597067508799..comments2024-03-14T02:13:38.885-04:00Comments on Radiator Heaven: DVD of the Week: Godzilla: Criterion CollectionJ.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11823190634186509982noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-35857245799526366252012-02-06T16:21:52.643-05:002012-02-06T16:21:52.643-05:00The Sci-Fi Fanatic:
Thank you for the kind words,...The Sci-Fi Fanatic:<br /><br />Thank you for the kind words, my friend.<br /><br />I agree that the US version is definitely substandard and the Japanese version is the way to go. It has much more of an impact and is also scarier.<br /><br />You make some excellent points on why the Burr version doesn't work. I couldn't agree more!<br /><br />Yeah, give me the rubber suited Godzilla over Roland Emmerich's CGI debacle any ol' day.<br /><br />I do like later films, esp. when you do get those big battle royales between several creatures. They're not art but hey, they don't pretend to be either.<br /><br />I haven't read Kalat's book but his commentary tracks were very informative. The man certainly knows his stuff.<br /><br />I enjoyed your thoughts on the politics of GODZILLA. You certainly don't go away from this film thinking that the filmmaker doesn't have a POV on the subject of atomic testing and the nuclear arms race that's for sure!<br /><br />Thanks again for leaving such great comments.<br /><br /><br />le0pard13:<br /><br />Yeah, hold on to that Classic Media version if only for the extras. But the Criterion edition features an incredible transfer - definitely worth the upgrade.<br /><br /><br />Brent Allard:<br /><br />I know what you mean about the first GODZILLA film being so different from the others. I hadn't seen the original in ages and was struck by how serious and scary it was... something that tends to be missing from most of the sequels.<br /><br /><br />Sam Juliano:<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by, Sam and for your wonderful comments. I too have fond memories of watching this film (and its sequels) as a kid.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-77866501816239938512012-02-04T10:40:24.090-05:002012-02-04T10:40:24.090-05:00I will be securing my own copy very soon as well. ...I will be securing my own copy very soon as well. The dearth of extras is less important to me than the upgraded transfer. This has been a favorite since childhood when I watched it repeatedly on Ch. 9's MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE or on Saturday mornings. You do a fabulous job in showcasing the film's long standing cult value.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-30126931848319311982012-02-04T05:41:43.808-05:002012-02-04T05:41:43.808-05:00great points here. I've seen all the Godzilla ...great points here. I've seen all the Godzilla movies many times and never really thought about how different this one was. Godzilla's cautionary tale status certainly diminished when the focus shifted to which monster he'd fight this time. But as symbols go, he's still a hard one to miss, never moreso than here. Enjoyed the background details too, I'd never heard that boat story. well done!INDBrenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11606473452389713844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-53962613917478481052012-02-03T00:39:27.041-05:002012-02-03T00:39:27.041-05:00Great look at this sci-fi classic, J.D. I have tha...Great look at this sci-fi classic, J.D. I have that Classic media DVD, glad to hear that I should keep its supplemental material. I got to pick up this Crit Coll. Thanks.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5407391624985829089.post-58466139906574825262012-02-02T10:53:57.290-05:002012-02-02T10:53:57.290-05:00J.D.
Gojira is an always worthy spotlight and, as...J.D. <br />Gojira is an always worthy spotlight and, as usual, you give the film its proper due.<br /><br />That Japanese version is the one to see. i've seen them both and the American version is so distracting with Burr. <br /><br />It's a shame they decided to repackage the film for America in this way because Burr, through no fault of his own, simply removes us fromt he tension. In fact, those Burr elements are visually disruptive too because the quality of those edits is quite different from the work filmed by Honda. It definitely takes you out of the tension and atmosphere of the original film as envisioned by Honda.<br /><br />I really like your assessment about the rubber suit or even the hand puppet used. The film isn't played with the wink or nudge of some of those later films where Godzilla is more comedic in some of his actions or hero to the children. This Godzilla is purely an act of nature and man's influence. <br /><br />To be honest, I like this one alot and I even like the later ones for different reasons, but as cinema goes this is an authentic picture worth seeing.<br /><br />Additionally, I have David Kalat's book and it is very good. I have yet to finish reading it, but the man certainly did his homework and I enjoy most of it despite some difference of opinion on the politics.<br /><br />Speaking of which... as tragic as the events of those atom bombs were on Japan and the consequences of those events on civilians- truly horrific- let us not forget Pearl Harbor and those events that actually pre-date the atom bombs. There is undeniably a chain of events in motion throughout World War II that led to these devastating decisions and thus a resulting film classic called Godzilla. <br /><br />Without question the events of the atom bomb and Japan's relationship with nuclear energy has informed how they approach their culture and their popular culture to this day. The impact is profound from film, Godzilla, anime to how they handle nuclear energy.<br /><br />Anyway, great spotlight J.D. Sorry if I went a little long. Just adding a few thoughts my friend. best, sffSFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.com