by Benjamin Haines » Wed Oct 05, 2016 10:10 pm
I've had time to watch everything on Kraken's new bluray. For context, I've had Toho's Japanese DVD since 2006. That disc has no English subtitles but there used to be a great website called Tokyo Monsters that provided downloadable English subtitle scripts for every Godzilla movie.* Those scripts made it possible to watch the Japanese DVDs with English subtitles on a computer and to burn subtitled DVD-R copies for viewing on a TV set.
*and still does through the magic of archiving: https://web.archive.org/web/20061113094642/http://www.tokyomonsters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=36
That's how I've been watching The Return of Godzilla for the past decade. I've been looking forward to Kraken's new bluray so I can have an official release with English subtitles, but I was particularly excited to be able to finally watch this movie with its international English dub. I'd never heard this dub before and I was really curious about it, so I checked it out, and what did I find?
The dialogue in the international dub is about 90% identical to the old subtitles from Tokyo Monsters. In many cases it's word-for-word. In most others it's just barely different. Here's an example from 1:04:33 into the movie, the radio newscaster:
KRAKEN SUBTITLES:
"We have received word from the Godzilla Emergency Countermeasures group. Having reached land, Godzilla is currently in the Nagata area and headed toward Shinjuku. Residents, please evacuate per the instructions of your local authorities."
INTERNATIONAL DUB:
"According to Crisis Center Headquarters, Godziller is passing through Nagatako, making for Shinjuko. All inhabitants are being evacuated! All residents are to evacuate immediately!"
TOKYO MONSTERS SUBTITLES:
"According to the Crisis Command Headquarters, Godzilla is passing through Nagatacho, heading for Shinjuku! All inhabitants must evacuate! All residents must evacuate immediately!"
Here's another example, the Prime Minister's speech to the American and Soviet ambassadors:
KRAKEN SUBTITLES:
PM: "Our country adheres to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles: the non-possession, non-production, and non-introduction of nuclear weaponry. It is my wish to preserve that policy in this situation as well."
USSR: "That shows the egotism of your country! WE are the ones who had one of our subs sunk by Godzilla. We have the right to seek vengeance."
USA: "This is no time to be discussing principles!"
PM: "It is precisely because things have come to this that I am adamant regarding this. There is no such thing as "safe" nuclear weaponry. What's more, should we use them just once, it would destroy the balance of power that has made them a deterrent force. It would lead to the world's end. That is the nature of nuclear weapons. If you would call Japan's Three Non-Nuclear Principles "egotism," then so be it. However, is not the Soviets' and the Americans' desire to use nuclear weapons also egotism? Well, gentlemen? Then we're out of options. I will speak to both countries directly and serve as the final authority.
INTERNATIONAL DUB:
PM: "Let me state clearly what principles are involved for Japan. We neither possess, nor use nuclear weapons. That being the case, we cannot permit their use now. That's final."
USSR: "Your country's pride is at stake here! But Russia has already lost a valuable nuclear submarine to Godzilla! We have the right to destroy him!"
USA: "This is no time to be discussing principles!"
PM: "It is the right time when principles are at stake. We can't lose our heads because of a crisis. Besides, we have no proof nuclear weapons are going to work. But once we do use them, who can say when they'll be used again? We've lost any rights. You accuse us of acting out of national pride, and maybe we are guilty of that. But what of your attitude? What right do you have to say we have to follow you? You are being selfish too. I will agree to discuss it with your leaders, I'll talk to them personally, on our stand."
TOKYO MONSTERS SUBTITLES:
PM: "Let me state Japan's overall principles. We neither possess, nor use nuclear weapons. With that being said, we cannot permit their use now. That is final."
USSR: "Your country's pride is at stake! Russia has already lost a valuable nuclear sub to Godzilla! We have the right to destroy it!"
USA: (unsubtitled because he's speaking English)
PM: "No, it is the right time when principles are at stake. We cannot lose our heads because of this crisis. Besides, we have no proof that nuclear weapons will work. If we use them, who can say when they will be used again… You think that we are acting out of national pride and maybe we are… But what of your attitudes? What right do you have to say that we must follow you? Have you decided? I will personally speak with your leaders regarding our country's stand."
So yeah, mind officially blown. I've long wondered how the dialogue in the international dub is worded, and then it turns out I've basically been watching the movie with dubtitles all this time.
I am very happy with this new bluray from Kraken Releasing. The picture quality is the best I've ever seen this movie look. Watching it with the new subtitle script was quite a revelation for me and I'm glad to finally have the international dub now. It is too bad that the US version of the movie couldn't have been included but that was never an option unfortunately. This release may not have much in terms of extras but it is cool to have the trailers for four different Godzilla movies all on one disc.
(Edited in 2023 to check the "Do not automatically parse URLs" box and make my old rudimentary translation comparison readable again.)
Last edited by
Benjamin Haines on Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.