Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Now that we're seeing HD re-issues of the Godzilla movies, I started wondering about this. How would you react if Toho started meddling with the special effects in their catalogue titles? In particular, where would you draw the line in what you would consider acceptable? From least to most intrusive, I would class the tiers as:

- Digital clean-up. A step on from the more common practice of removing dust and scratches, this level would include wire removal and enough digital grading to ensure consistent colour timing between shots.
- Digital compositing. In practice, this would probably be impossible, as I doubt the original effects elements still exist. However, if they did, this level would include re-doing all composited shots digitally.
- Stylised digital grading. Rather than just ensuring consistent colour timing, this level of digital grading would alter the look of whole scenes. This could give scenes a more 'modern' or stylised look, albeit at the expense of the director's original intent.
- Effects replacement: mild. This would include creating new CG effects for beams and missiles.
- Effects replacement: moderate. Replacing model vehicles with CG. Replacing matte paintings/set backdrops with new renders.
- Effects replacement: high. CG monsters.
- Effects replacement: total. 100% CG for all all effects shots, including cityscapes.

For the sake of argument, assume that any new CG effects would be of the same quality as Godzilla 2014 rather than what we could more likely expect on a Toho budget.

I think they did some wire removal on a recent reissue of Rodan, they also did CG monster recreation in GxMG's 1954 scenes. So they have covered some of this ground already

A small part of me kinda digs seeing wires because it reminds me how difficult it must have been to really nail some shots considering how many people had to coordinate on them. But I could deal with wire removal, methinks.

Also, some color-correction to make stock footage look more seamlessly integrated.

That'd be about it though. Anything beyond that would be too much, for me.

bad idea. Movies are and should remain a product of their time. Just because you CAN do something is no reason you should do something. I don't mind clean ups and dirt removal, but everything else? nothing is perfect (something Mr. Lucas should try to remember) and every effect, flawed or not, is a hand made and a product of hard work, something that's sorely lacking with CG.

death to wires!.

As far as wire removal goes, I quite frankly could not give a crap if they choose to remove it or not. Or even cleaning up prints for that matter (which is still a controversy for the same reason Luddites exist).

Outright George Lucasing everything else though, is a big no no for me.

Second thought: DEATH TO WIRES.

Wire removal, cleaning up prints, etc is fine by me. Adding additional effects? Nope, nope, nope.

Couple thoughts on this topic.

I have no problems with enhancements as long as decent copies of the original still exist. This is something Lucas doesn't do an one of the reason's people resent him so much. I also don't support any change which affects the story. So for example, no knew scenes like Han and Jabba or Greedo shooting first. So with that in mind, here's the changes I support and do not support.

Support
- Image color correction
- Print imperfection removal
- Wire removal
- Optional soundtrack mix

Iffy
- Changes in rotoscoped effects. So things like beam color correction, or efforts to make them 'pop' more. This also would include adding a film consistent effect for Godzilla in Ghidorah the Three Headed Monster.

Do not support
- Additional CGI anything
- Edits
- Additional scenes

I'd be okay with it, as long as I can still get an untouched version as well. In my opinion, all the cheesy low budget stuff that is laughable about Godzilla films, is one of the things that make the genre so good. We don't take it too seriously when it's not necessary. I'd be interested in this idea, but I think people would try to make these movies more serious than they need to be with edits and additional scenes.

What a good restoration needs to do is make sure the films looks and sounds as good as it did when originally released, anything more than that is unnecessary and potentially disrespectful.