Kraken Releasing to put RETURN OF GODZILLA on Blu-Ray

[lhb412]

Sci Fi Japan proper weighs in with the inside scoop!

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2016 ... releasing/

They explain just why the 'Godzilla 1985' version won't be included (which is sad, but understandable giving the circumstances described) and hint at further kaiju releases 'classic and modern' from Kraken, with more announcements this year!

[Psycho Soldier]

While I'm sorry to read the G85 cut won't be part of the package, I'm looking forward to this. The copy of ROG I watched had substandard video quality. The BD should be a major step up.

[Mac]

[lhb412]

^... but what could 'classic and modern' mean? The mind reels: pretty much every modern kaiju film has been Godzilla, Gamera, or Mothra and is currently already available stateside. What's left? Ultraman movies? Picking up the OOP Gamera: The Brave?

[Henry88]

[lhb412]

^
officially.

But, you know, officially no one should have a copy of the Star Wars Holiday Special.

[Specium Ray]

I have a great copy of Star Wars that removes the special edition stuff. It was cobbled together from blu ray sources and what was missing was remastered by fans. G85 could get a similar treatment now that we have a blu ray.

[Henry88]

[Destroysall]

I'm so excited for this, but I was one of the few who thought the 1985 dubbed cut was actually well done. Oh well, at least I have the VHS...

[Psycho Soldier]

[The Shadow]

[Dr Kain]

Wow, I've finally had time to process this and I'm still not sure it is real.

Couldn't care less about 85. It would have been a cool bonus like KotM was on the Criterion disc, but is ultimately worthless to me. I will definitely be preordering it as soon as it goes up on Amazon. It will be so nice to finally watch this movie with actual subtitles.

[O.Supreme]

[Tom R VanSlambrouck]

Very exciting news though it saddens me that G85 won't be included; oh well I prefer RoG better than 85 but 85 still holds nostoliga for me maybe I'll track down a VHS of that and convert it to DVD.

Hopefully Kraken decides or has already picked up MG74 and SoG. It'd also be nice if they sublicensed the Classic Media stuff so we can get that on Blu-ray but I highly doubt that has or will happen.

[DannyBeane]

I am very excited for this. I am also disappointed that the G 85 Dub won't be included. It was a classic dub with lots of cheesy quotable lines and Raymond Burr was fantastic. His speech at the end really puts the button on the tragedy that is Godzilla. That said, I know how much of a pain in the ass copyright laws and contracts are so I still will be picking this up first thing. Kraken has knocked all their other releases out of the park and I believe this will be no different.

[KaiserGhidorah]

I will be picking this up but am saddened knowing that G85 will not be included. I will have to stick with the Monsters HD disc that I have which is pretty good quality and that will have to last me. I still do have a VHS copy of the film but my VCR is long gone so it just sits there on my shelf. Oh well.....I am pleased that RoG is getting at least some kind of official release tho...

[O.Supreme]

[Henry88]

[canofhumdingers]

So Return of Godzilla will finally get its debut release in North America? That's AWESOME news and I'll certainly be preordering it!

And G'85 continues to languish in distribution rights hell, possibly for all eternity. That SUCKS. I'm beginning to really dislike our copyright system. The general intent is certainly admirable, but the laboriously bureaucratic mess that it has become is truly becoming a detriment to our cultural heritage. This is not the first film that we are very near to losing strictly because of legal mumbojumbo. Thankfully there are some fans in recent years who've attained the ability to actually scan 35mm film themselves at 2 and even 4K. They've been working tirelessly in the shadows to preserve films that would be lost if left to the legal owners. Looks like G'85 might need to be added to that list. :-/

As for the MonstersHD rip... I'll just say if you learn how to torrent (not hard to do, even for an old guy like me) it's not hard to find. Hope that's ambiguous enough to not break any board rules.

[Rody]

I think it's kind of amusing that we're finally getting the Japanese cut of the film, but at the expense (so to speak) of the American version. I mean, it's a shame we can't get it all, but it strikes me as rather ironic.
I'm not complaining, mind you - I'm totally excited for this. I'm also excited to find out whatever else Kraken has in store for this year (Ultraman titles, pleeeeeaase!).

[Dr Kain]

Was G85 ever remastered in HD?

I also hope Kraken has gotten the rights to the stuff Media Blasters no longer has.

[klen7]

[Henry88]

[TripMasterMunky]

Bout time we get some more Godzilla blu-rays. Especially 84. Can't wait to add this to my collection.

[Dr Kain]