Unrefined Godzilla

[Vermin Boy]

Does anyone know where I can get the uncut, subtitled versions of the Godzilla movies (in a format playable on American VHS or DVD players), and which ones make for the most interesting comparisons to the American versions? Believe it or not, I managed to convince my teachers to let me do a project about the Americanization of Kaiju films, so any help would be most appreciated. King Kong vs. Godzilla is a given, as is King of the Monsters... Any others?

[Scott Davis]

Not godzilla, but the Power Rangers.

All the fighting scenes in Power Rangers are ripped off from various japanese action shows. Check out Henshin Video for copies of them .

I don't know about getting godzilla movies subtitles. I've only every seen them dubbed. And too my knowledge most of them are uncut except Godzilla; King of the Monsters and Godzilla 1985, which were editted to add Raymond Burr in.

[Squishy]

Ready to cut n'paste:

VIDEO DAIKAIJU
PO BOX 185
SUCCASUNNA NJ 07876

Unfortunately, they have no site--they had an unofficial site with a catalog listing but it's since turned into Pop-Up Hell. They have pretty much everything, and the heavy hitters come subbed or dubbed. Ask for their catalog.

You can also investigate Showcase Collectibles, which DOES have a website (http://www.godzillatoy.com) BUT my sole order with them to date is currently six months, three days, seven hours, fifty-two minutes and six seconds overdue...

What to compare? Get the one between the two you've already chosen. "Gojira no Gyakushuu"--AKA "Godzilla Raids Again," "Godzilla's Counterattack," and "Gigantis, The Fire Monster"--also suffered severe cut n'paste itself. If you can latch onto a copy, "Varan The Unbelievable" is a massacre of "Daikaiju  Baran."

After that period, most kaiju flicks went for simple dubbing, rather than additional footage...however, you can still provoke giggles with the US poster for "Godzilla vs Megalon," (1976), which tried to tap into the "King Kong" remake hype by showing the title combatants squaring off atop the World Trade Center towers of New York, which of course never happens in the film.

[Squishy]

Holy crap! Thanks for the link, SD!! With all the movies they have, they should've gone the rest of the way and carried kaiju...

[Flangepart]

By all means, yes! Daikaiju Baran is infinatly better then the Basterdised U.S.  Version. Godzilla 84 Is very interesting,as the treatment of the Russians in the story line is very different then, agine, the U.S. version. In the original, there are scenes of the Japanese Gov. Officials discussing the ramifications of letting forign countrys try to nuke G if he shows up in Japanese waters....the international implications of such creatures existing has rarely been addresses, and has a lot to recoment it. Conciter it for your paper. The ability to appreciate these films comes clearer when you get to see, and Hear, the acting as it was realy done. Haveing seen all the Toho, and some other companys, Kaiju films as they were made, helps me to appreciate them more. Go, and do likewise.