Monster Zero x SciFi Japan - Archive Only

Does the widescreen side have the title "Godzilla VS the Thing" or "Godzilla VS Mothra" ?

The widescreen side does indeed show the 'Godzilla vs. the Thing' titles. And very nice they are too.
(though not as nice as the Japanese 'Mothra vs. Godzilla titles', IMO. Lovely colours!)

Ah, okay, thanks.

Is that the one to get then? I've heard the Classic Media one isn't too great... although there is hope for another release from them, supposedly.

Yep, there's a lot of artifacts and bad blends in the picture. Turning down the color levels can help make it smoother, but you end up with a bland-looking movie afterward. The Simitar GvsMothra's only greatness comes from the fact that it's both widescreen and has the classic dub (the only Godzilla dub I've ever liked).

But compared to the latest Sony R1s, the picture quality of the Simitar disc is as old hat as it gets.

Thanks for the scans, James. Hmmmm, hard to tell if Classic Media's pan & scam transfer is any good, though the sky color certainly looks better than the Simitar.

Something I don't know: if someone like Classic Media has the video rights to a film here in the states, can they get stuff from Toho, or are they "on there own" as to finding materials for their transfer? I mean, could they just release the Toho transfer subbed and dubbed (getting it from Toho, of course)?

Interesting - I wonder if it's how Toho's international prints are processed that results in the very minor edge clipping of the widescreen versions. The prints Sony obtained from Toho for their recent Showa releases have the same effect. I'm not complaining mind you, just stating my observation.