Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

I just got (and watched for the first time) the R2, un-Americanized Rodan and thought it was better, but certainly not as much a difference as the 2 Godzillas.
There are several shots that the US cuts out because no doubt they didn't feel the FX were up to snuff (i.e., they look like miniatures).

I actually enjoyed the lack of narration quite a bit. It's too syrupy in the American version (plus it seemingly leads the viewer by the hand - I can see what's going on without being told...!).

One thing that did kinda' (ahem...) blow me away was the scene where the young man's taking his ladyfriend's picture at the volcanic region. When they're buzzed by Rodan, you see a very distinct (and effective) shadow cross over the landscape, something that I never noticed (or wasn't there - ?) in the American version.

In the Amercian version there is a new prologue that shows stock footage of a nuclear test with some generic 50's white dude doing a voice-over.

How many Rodan props were there in the Showa films? Not suits but props?

One in rodan, one in Ghidrah, and one for destroy all monsters.

@modelfan:

> One thing that did kinda' (ahem...) blow me away was the
> scene where the young man's taking his ladyfriend's picture
> at the volcanic region. When they're buzzed by Rodan, you
> see a very distinct (and effective) shadow cross over the
> landscape, something that I never noticed [...] in the
> American version.

You are right, this can not be seen in the American version which is, for example, released on the Classic Media DVD. There are about 6 seconds cut from the Japanese version where you can see the young husband forsaking his wife while desperately trying to save his own life. Strangely, the same scene is left completely intact in the German version of RODAN (as it is released on VHS and DVD), despite the fact that the German version is based on the American one. Since this cut looks like it was done on purpose, I assume that the American DVD (and, maybe, earlier releases on VHS and/or LD as well) are not based on the original American theatrical version, but on another version that was slightly cut.

Y'know, I may get trounced for saying this: I have both versions Rodan and I prefer the American. The original Japanese was kind of a snoozer for me. Plus, there's just something appealing about those old 50's and 60's dubs. Call it nostalgia but to me it is just part of the enjoyment factor. Also, as we all know, the people who did dubbing back then (Titra, in particular) were real actors, not people pulled of the street like they do presently in Hong Kong.

If you listen carefully in the American dub of Rodan you'll hear none other than Star Trek's George Takei (Sulu) speaking the lines of a few different characters.