Regarding the two Toho King Kong movies; Toho has no distribution rights to either film in the US. The project that became KING KONG VS GODZILLA was brought to Toho by producer John Beck, and the deal to make the movie gave Beck ownership of the film in North America and other English speaking markets. KING KONG ESCAPES was a similar deal; the American company Rankin/Bass approached Toho to co-produce a live action movie based on R/B’s KING KONG cartoon show, with the two companies splitting the rights. Both Beck and Rankin/Bass sold their rights to Universal, and what Universal received were English dubbed and edited versions. So the Universal DVDs are US versions only , and Toho has never released the films English dubbed/subbed because their rights are limited to Asian markets.

One related correction to Cody’s post: the villain in KING KONG ESCAPES comes from the Rankin/Bass cartoon and is named “Dr. Who” not “Huu”…

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The Criterion GODZILLA has much better picture quality than the Classic Media releases. Both the Criterion version and the Classic Media DVD (not Blu-ray) have unique (and excellent) extras, so if bonus features are important to you they’re both worth getting.

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/02/13/review-the-criterion-collections-godzilla/

Classic Media’s releases include the Japanese and US versions of the films plus audio commentaries and other extras. The RODAN/WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS double feature comes with a great feature-length documentary about Toho’s special effects techniques.

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/07/29/rodan-and-war-of-the-gargantuas-cover-art-and-dvd-specs/

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2008/08/30/sneak-peek-classic-medias-rodan-and-war-of-the-gargantuas-dvd-set/

Media Blasters’ DESTROY ALL MONSTERS has the Japanese version and both the international and US dub tracks, plus extras. GODZILLA VS MEGALON has only been released on DVD; it has the Japanese and English audio tracks.

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2011/10/22/destroy-all-monsters-final-blu-raydvd-cover-art-and-specs/

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/03/22/media-blasters-announces-new-release-date-for-godzilla-vs-megalon/

Media Blasters' MYSTERIANS has Japanese audio and a new English dub. VARAN is Japanese language only with subtitles. ATRAGON, MATANGO, DOGORA and SPACE AMOEBA have Japanese audio and international dubs. FRANKENSTEIN CONQUERS THE WORLD has the Japanese version and a recreation of the US version. LATITUDE ZERO has three versions of the film.

Sony Pictures (which owns Columbia and TriStar)has released a great Toho set containing Japanese and American versions of THE H-MAN, BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE and MOTHRA (with commentaries on the latter two films). Sony has also released GODZILLA VS THE SEA MONSTER, SON OF GODZILLA, GODZILLA VS HEDORAH, GODZILLA VS GIGAN, and GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA with Japanese and international audio. Their double feature of GODZILLA VS KING GHIDORAH/GODZILLA AND MOTHRA is pan & scan, dubbed only. Their double feature of GODZILLA VS SPACEGODZILLA/GODZILLA VS DESTOROYAH is dubbed only. Their double feature of REBIRTH OF MOTHRA 1 and 2 is dubbed only. GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA II has Japanese and international dub tracks.

Sony’s GODZILLA 2000 is US version only. The other Millennium films have Japanese and international dubs, though some (like GMK) have dubtitles.

Echo Bridge’s GODZILLA VS BIOLLANTE discs have the film with Japanese and international audio, plus a great making of documentary from the Japanese laserdisc set.

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2012/11/27/godzilla-vs-biollante-on-blu-ray-and-dvd/

Discotek Media has released Japanese/international dub DVDs of WAR IN SPACE and SAYONARA JUPITER.

ADV released OROCHI THE EIGHT HEADED DRAGON with Japanese and international dub tracks.

The Australian label Madman Entertainment has released 4 boxed sets of the Godzilla films…

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2009/10/19/australian-godzilla-dvd-box-sets-from-madman/

http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2013/03/04/godzilla-millennium-series-australian-dvd-box-set/

The Madman Heisei and Millennium sets are recommended because they include all the films in their theatrical aspect ratios, Japanese and international audio (except G2000 which is US version only), proper subtitles rather than dubtitles, some extra features, and no English title overlays like on the Sony DVDs.

Toho aspect ratios…
1954-56 films are 4:3 fullscreen
1957-77 movies are 2.35:1 widescreen
Heisei Series are 1.85:1 widescreen
Millennium Series are 2.35:1

Keith
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Last Edited By: Keith Aiken Oct 11 13 8:03 PM. Edited 2 times.