Italian Colorized GODZILLA Director Luigi Cozzi Interview

[kpa]

SciFi Japan has an extensive interview with filmmaker Luigi Cozzi, the director of the notorious colorized Italian version of GODZILLA known as “COZZILLAâ€

[Tyler E. Martin]

[SeaHawk]

[kpa]

[godziwolf]

[quote="kpa"]SciFi Japan has an extensive interview with filmmaker Luigi Cozzi, the director of the notorious colorized Italian version of GODZILLA known as “COZZILLAâ€

[king_ghidorah]

Its wierd...but from some of the stills...I think that Cozzilla actually manages to capture alot of the atmosphere of the black and white film...the colors arent real and it creates an otherworldly, nightmareish tone

[MekaGojira3k]

What King Ghidorah said about the otherworldly-ness of the film is what makes me want to watch it so badly. I'd love to see it in motion.

[KaijuZoo]

[Zack Metoyer]

[SeaHawk]

[we77964]

[ryuuseipro]

[G2KMaster]

Here is my review of Cozzilla:

As many of you may know, I am a die hard kaiju fan. Though some people have told me that I need to be more than just a kaiju fan for the people who make the films think of super adicted fanboys to be odd but also it is "unhealthy". While I have made it my duty to not be akward like the stereotypical nerd (Revenge of the Nerds anyone?), I still manage to be a mega nerd when it comes to brains. And all who have them know about the colorized version of Godzilla, King of the Monsters. Now, most casual fans would not watch this version and since most casual fans I have known/seen, I would not prefer it unless stuff I mention in this review becomes rather to your liking. But to the rest of you, you have not had the full Gojira/GKOTM till you have scene this obscure yet obscene version out of the heart of Italy.

Now, this is what I take as the begining of when black and white movies were to be colorized. But, thoes who complained about the colorization look of the original King Kong are going to faint when they see what has happened to their beloved Godzilla. Edvidently, gels were put onto the film, therefore giving almost every shot in the film just one color (usualy yellow or blue). Kind of reminds me of a Kitamura picture, since Kitamura likes to color code his sets. The colorization I felt was more symbolic than anything. Not really done for the sake of there needing to be a colorized version since the original two versions were in black and white but just because. Really sloppy at first glance, but you get used to it by the time the cast get to Odo Island.

The Italian dubbing is much like American dubs done in Hong Kong. They are lifeless except for the Italian dubbing Raymond Burr. That was good. The storyline is though not changed at all from the original versions but rather use synonyms in the translation.

The SFX of the film is where the real changes come into play. The film is usualy started with Goji's breath attacking the boat or the scene where Steve Martin for a couple of seconds wakes in the debris of Tokyo. This film does something which is IMO a big plus for the film: shows footage of the atomic bomb, before and after. This is perfect to go along with an edited version of the original Godzilla, no sarcasm intended. I really did like it. The only thing is the music, which makes me think of something between a phycological thriller and some kind of bad metal show.

The Godzilla footage is rather done alot of harm. While little kaiju footage has been taken out, we still got one thing comming: replaying of the same footage over and over again. With the train station sequence extended by 3 minutes and the main attack on Tokyo extended by 5 minutes, you get alot of repetition and alot of disaster footage (from WW2 and from other events) comming your way. What realy makes it good though is that while the film is thematic enough if you see past the strong, ugly colors, but there is a scene that you would think that Godzilla is done attcking Tokyo and he is about to go into the ocean where the JSDF planes will scare him off. NO! This is not the same in this colorized version. Godzilla actualy attacks the JSDF, causes a gigantic wave to wash all over Tokyo, and all around the coast line - bombs the sixth of the size of the A-Bomb explode. And while all of this is happening, we got all sounds seemingly surpressed with the only soud you are supposed to be hearing is the prayer being sung. Really, it is the only scene in which this version can triumph over the Japanese and American versions of the film. Really feels like the end of G2K and feels like a Coppola directed scene. Such beauty.

Another really altered scene is where Ogata and Serizawa plant the Oxygen Destroyer. More suspence is added, only with there being added footage of a shark attacking an octopus before Godzilla's presence. Once the Oxygen Destroyer detonates the chemicals into the watry composition, Godzilla rises up for his final roar and all of this stock footage of a whole armada of Navy battle ships attack Godzilla. While this is not what happened in the US or JP versions of the film, it does make sence as to why this added scene actualy leaves no plot holes that at that exact moment Godzilla was vulnerable to weapons since the Oxygen Destroyer would have most probrably already weakened his hide. While I do not think this should have been added to the film, I do think it is a very interesting addition that makes the film more action packed so if you watch GFW and want more action, watch this film. The rest of the film is realy just like the US print, with part of Shinkichi's parent's deaths come, it is the JP version audio till US footage comes then the film goes on.

Overall, the film is nothing that people should really hate (says the guy who has a D-WAR obsession). But the film pales in comparison to both JP and US versions. While excelling in some areas, the coloring is just bad and some of the stock footage from Italy's film archives should have really been picked out better.

I give this film: 7/10

[TXKaiju]

[The Dark Uniter]

[TXKaiju]

[kpa]

[TXKaiju]

[kpa]

[TXKaiju]

[The Dark Uniter]

[Psycho Soldier]

[lhb412]

[jellydonut25]

[Jorzilla]