Quote:
At this time, Toho refuses to spend the money on restoration -- about nine years ago, when Criterion released their DVD of Akira Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI (Shinichi'nin-no Samurai), Criterion did an extensive restoration (with the technology at the time), including a scene comparison. It was the inclusion of this comparison that enraged Toho, who felt that this implied that people outside their company knew better, and ordered that all of the DVDs be pulled. Criterion reissued the disc, sans the comparison, and also with the non-restored version of the film. The original issue of the disc has been worth top dollar, until recently.


Wow, I had no idea about the reasons behind deleting the restoration demo. I always assumed my Criterion second printing was their restored version. Well, that disc broke anyway and has now been replaced with the brand new Criterion 3-disc. It's a marvel, far more clearer and detailed than I've ever seen it. I wish GOJIRA looked as good, but it was a very different film made with special effects techniques vulnerable to the ravages of dust.

What is Toho's deal, anyway? When all the Shaw Bros and other Hong Kong greats were being given substandard treatment on home video releases, at least I understood the reason was the organized crime control over the companies involved.

Even if GOJIRA doesn't look as good as we'd all like it to be, the new DVD is pretty fantastic all the same and well worth picking up.