Criterion's Godzilla box set and the state of Godzilla on home video

After nearly two years of rumors, speculation and anticipation, the Criterion box set is finally here! Here's a video as massive as the set itself, featuring a rundown of what's included (and what's not), a history of Godzilla on home video up to now, and a few thoughts on what the future holds.

Cold open - 00:00
Intro - 00:54
I: Godzilla in America then, a minute ago, and now - 02:23
II: Road to Criterion - 11:41
III: What's in the box? - 15:44
IV: Toho vs. the box - 44:52
V: Conclusion - 54:56

This is a critical/educational work and constitutes fair use of copyrighted material under US law.

#Godzilla #Criterion #CriterionCollection

[KyodaiKino]

Just a minor thing I want to correct -- at 54:17 I state that the low-contrast prints used for Toho's HD transfers are at most 20 years old; I think when I wrote that I was assuming that they were struck for Toho's DVD releases, which they started doing around the turn of the millennium. While I can't recall the specifics offhand, I've since gathered that they were probably used for video releases as far back as the 1980s. That's still newer than the Champion Festival dupe elements, and I think the larger point still stands, but the difference in age between these materials is apparently less dramatic than I believed when I was writing this video.

[ChrisPeteG]

Looking forward to the future, there are a few key factors:
-The 70th anniversary of the franchise in 2024, which might see the release of a new Monsterverse film AND a new Toho Godzilla film - which would make it a much bigger year than 2019 and the 65 year anniversary.

-I think Criterion is playing for keeps with these films, or this franchise. They recently screened both The Return of Godzilla and Godzilla vs Biollante, and those screenings had the Janus logo on the front. We can probably assume that Criterion's business with Godzilla has been lucrative and they want to continue beyond the Showa era.

-Classic Media first put out bare bones dub only DVD releases of 5 Godzilla Films before later putting out Collector's Editions with extras and other versions. Criterion was given a lot of freedom when they released the original film in 2012.

So I don't think we are in a case where Toho "Never ever always and forever" would allow Criterion to do more with these films.

-Toho is also slowly restoring all of the films into 4K.

-Criterion has shown in the past that they will spend years developing certain box set releases(Olympics set) and that they will "upgrade" prior releases into new formats or releases.

-Something tells me that 2024 might be an opportunity that is seized upon to get "something much more and much better" on the Criterion-Godzilla front.

-Just as Criterion's first release was only the first Godzilla film, and then that film was folded into a larger release that put all of the Showa films into a single box....maybe in 2024 we will see the Showa films folded into a release(or series of multi-volume releases) that includes more films.

-I think Sony's Heisei films licenses are sliding out of their hands. I think in 2023 the rest of them go.

-So the stars are certainly aligning for Criterion to continue to become the de-facto home for all of the vintage Godzilla Films

-I have a hope that Criterion playing nice with Toho and continuing the partnership will pay off down the road.

-I hold out hope that at SOME point(2024 would be nice) that Criterion will return to Godzilla and will hopefully take a long time and be provided enough freedom by Toho to finally give us all the releases of the films we want to see.

-4K restoration sources, US alternate versions and multiple English Dubs, more archival and new audio commentaries, perhaps multiple volumes covering the first 50 years of films

Maybe releases that could include tangential films like Rodan, Mothra and War of the Gargantuas.

Who knows...But I'm an eternal optimist. I hope that Criterion and Toho will come to an agreement that is mutually beneficial and worthwhile and ultimately gives the fans what we all want to see...which would be a line up of consistent, quality, comprehensive releases for the entire Godzilla library.

I even hope that Toho caught wind of the Arrow Gamera set and is perhaps looking to blow it away out of sheer pride and pettiness.

[seangentry]

This is a MASSIVELY informative video that covers a ton of ground very eloquently. My copy of the set is waiting for me at my local B&N right now and I am very much looking forward to picking it up tomorrow despite the compromises. Toho‘s lack of commitment to restoring these movies is a never-ending frustration but considering I grew up with these films on VHS, I can live with soft blu-rays...for now.

[BrendanJSmith]

Toho is just like Hammer. God forbid the rest of the world gets to see their movies!

[BrendanJSmith]

This is still the best way to watch the Showa Era movies. Hopefully Criterion can get a second try with these films so we can get the perfect collection of the original Godzilla series. And then hopefully they can get started on the Heisei Era films which should be much easier to release.

[ramsesjfg]

Criminally underrated video. Was not expecting so much depth of info.

[joshuampayne]

this was good and pretty informative. I knew how tricky the state godzilla home video has been but having it all laid out was very nice. Also I was kinda ignorant about just how bad Toho's pure hi-vision stuff was and just the nature of how they were made until now.

[thenerdofalltrades]

Finally, a review that actually talks about the video quality of these discs, and not just the giant book! Thank you!

[csam]

I’m just glad in the UK we are actually getting these films released on disc. They all got vhs transfers in the 90’s

[dennislancaster]

Absolutely one of the best if not the best review of this criterion package. Extremely well researched and invaluable for those looking to purchase this package. Congratulations!
Also a big thank you for explaining the situation that licenses have with Toho and regards to their transfers. Allow me to add a little more clarification with attitude. Back in the laser disk days there was a large laser disc store that I would go to. They would frequently have on the counter, a glossy brochure to give away which would announce upcoming releases. The guy running the store knew I love the Godzilla films and I would buy a lot of Japanese import laser disk from him. On this particular brochure, he pointed out a double page spread announcing the criterion is Ishiro Honda laser disc collection.. Six of Honda Godzilla films would be given a restoration and lavish treatment by criterion.
I waited and waited for these disc, but nothing was released. About a year later, I asked the clerk what happened to thediscs and he told me that they would not be coming out and it had to do with criterions release of the seven samurai. It seems that criterion had done an extensive restoration on this Japanese classic and in an act of goodwill they sent the results Of their restoration work to Toho. Tell her was completely offended that someone would show more care to their films than they did and canceled the release of the Godzilla discs. Yep, they were offended that someone showed more care than they did and showed them up. This kind of behavior from Toho is not a surprise.
In regards to King Kong versus Godzilla, Toho did indeed cut their negative and lost the trims. When it came time to release the film on VHS and laser disc, Toho had to utilize a faded scope, print of the film to fill in the missing footage and it looked horrible . When they re-issued the film a second time on laser disk, Toho had the tools to color correct these scenes so that they would look a little better. Period.
My understanding, the new 4K is sourced from a recently discovered print that reportedly looks terrific. Fat chance seeing anyone in the states being able to license it.

[lotusglobe]

Thanks for mentioning Nick Adams and it's great to hear someone else expressing his enjoyment of his role as Glenn. Nothing against Raymond Burr as Steve Martin, but Nick Adams was TONS OF FUN to watch. His charisma in that film almost made Monster Zero feel like a Western in space at times. Such a great American actor who I see died 3 years after Godzilla vs. Monster Zero was released. And he was only 36.

[EastwoodEscape]

I got that OG Blu-ray for "Destroy All Monsters" that Media Blasters put out.

[homevideohustle]

Thank you for all the info in the video! Sucks that Criterion was held back from releasing these in the definitive set we all wanted but it will be nice to have them all in one set. About to go grab my set from Barnes and Noble now.

[TheHMan]

Excellent video, thank you for your work!

[stephenbieth]

That was excellent, thank you very much. I was on the fence because it’s really expensive and I am only missing two of the films. I think after weighing out the good and bad I will make the investment. Again, really well done.

[jadedinosaur]

I know what I’m getting for Christmas.

[johnsundberg]

Thanks for this. You’re the only one that bothered to talk about all the video details on YouTube that I could find. Some really disappointing things about this. I was all in, but after this I think I might just be out. It’ll be painful for me to rewatch the softer transfers compared to the recent releases. Ugh. I guess I also might have finally reached my limit on how many times I can buy these films over the decades. I do think the packaging is gorgeous though.

[michaeleberl]

Thanks for this in-depth review of this collection. Best one I've seen yet.

[LandonBarton]

Wow my dude, you killed it in this. So much detailed information.

[TFrail]

Best review I've seen so far for this release. So detailed and your explanations of how these films were transferred was excellent. Kudos Kyodai!