016 4 It's a great time to be a kaiju fan , and the release of RODAN and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS give us even more reason to cheer . Both films are prized for their sequences of wholesale city smashing , as well as being great examples of what a kaiju film is all about . Monsters attack , the military is unable to deal with the threat , and science tries to figure out just what the new menace really is . The FX work is vintage TOHO and Tsuburaya , colorful , well photographed , not realistic in a western sense , but amazingly vibrant and a joy to see . GARGANTUAS is released in a 16x9 anamorphic print , finally putting an end to the horrible pan and scan approach that robbed the films of almost half their image . The film is available in a subtitled version ( which I prefer ) as well as the original AIP English dub , which does have a strong nostalgic appeal . Picture wise . . . the surprise here is how much better the English dubbed print looks over its subtitled cut . The picture is brighter . . . cleaner . . . and much more detailed , where the subtitled original Japanese version is too dark . . . and worst of all . . . . grainy and suffering compression artifacts galore . How Classic Media screwed this up so much is beyond me . I own the imported region 2 DVD from Japan and the quality is far superior . . . dark . . . but not over dark , and well detailed . To me it looks like a very poorly authored DVD . . . there is really no excuse for such shoddy work .
RODAN , the first TOHO kaiju film to be shot in color is also available Subtitled and dubbed , but stay with the subtitled print , which is superior in picture and sound . Rodan was shot in academy ratio . . . no wide screen here , but the subtitled print is a wonderful presentation , with bold colors and great detail . So much detail as a matter of fact that wires that were invisible in older prints are clearly visible in quite a number of shots . It would have been nice to have included a commentary track on these films , especially a subtitled version of the commentary from the original Japanese DVD .
The bonus feature is on the RODAN DVD . Titles BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE , and nicely narrated by filmmaker Alex Cox , it is a nostalgic trip thru SOME of Godzilla's history , and focuses on some of the unheralded talents behind the Godzilla films . Written by 3 of the better known Godzilla historians , Norman England , Steve Ryfle and Ed Godzeweski , the film is a nostalgic trip thru the Godzilla series . . . . well . . . Some of the series . It would be impossible to argue about their combined knowledge of these films , but they seem to feel that Godzilla Films ended around 1969 with DESTROY ALL MONSTERS . Having read quite a bit written by these 3 on Godzilla history , it was always clear that they have little use for the films made after the 70s . . . often lobbing attacks on the films while seeing the original films thru very nostalgic rose colored glasses . The series from 1985 thru 2005 ( 7 Heisie films and 6 Millennium films ) are only casually mentioned , with only Godzilla actor Satsuma and GMK director Shusuke Kaneko given anything to say . To overlook such excellent Godzilla films as GMK , BIOLLANTE and DESTROYER , films that restored the Godzilla series to a dignified status after so many dreadful productions , is a huge failing . These are the films that rescued Godzilla from being a punch line , and the people involved showed that using mostly traditional Tokuatsu techniques , amazing images could still be created . Not to mention that with GODZILLA vs MOTHRA ( 1992 ) Godzilla became , for the first and only time , the top grossing Domestic Japanese film . So , to quote Arthur Miller's brilliant play DEATH OF A SALESMAN . . . . . ATTENTION MUST BE PAID ! In spite of this kind of OTAKU approach , the documentary is enjoyable . If only it were more complete and less of a love letter to their youth
But back to the films . Any kaiju fan should love this set , and it's an amazing bargain , with 2 films , and 4 versions for one great price . So do not miss out , and hope we see more kaiju madness on DVD soon !
001 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
Following the release of GOJIRA ( Godzilla , King of the Monsters , before Raymond Burr was cut in ) and it's sequel , Toho made their first color giant monster movie : RODAN ( aka Radon , and Rodan , The Flying Monster ) . Unlike most creature features of the time RODAN doesn't make you wait 2 / 3 ' s of the movie for a monster to show up . Meganurons , giant prehistoric dragonfly larva make their appearance rather early in the film.It's this part of the film that's often compared to Them . However , in RODAN the giant insects are only the set up.In the most memorable scene , when the character comes out of shock , he not only remembers being trapped underground with the Meganurons but also the hatching of a Rodan chick from it's egg.Having the audience already in on the size of the larva provides instant scale , as the hatchling devours the Meganurons.To add to the excitement of the rest of the picture we learn that in fact two Rodans have hatched .
The film is played straight , unlike later entries in what's become known as the Godzilla series .
Although Rodan has appeared in other films , Gidorah , the Three Headed Monster , Godzilla vs Monster Zero ( Invasion of the Astro Monsters ) , and Destroy All Monsters , the look of Rodan was never as good as in this , the original .
Now for the first time Classic Media is presenting this film to American audiences in both it's original 82 min Japanese language version as well the 72 min English language version .
THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS makes it's DVD debut . It's also presented in both the Japanese Version ( 88 mins . ) , and English Version ( 92 mins . ) .
Special Features : Bringing Godzilla Down To Size a new Documentary ( 68 mins . )
If the quality of the re-mastering and source material remains the same , as it's been , since their Gojira release , in 2006 , this should be the best video release of RODAN ever .
002 4 Following the release of GOJIRA ( Godzilla , King of the Monsters , before Raymond Burr was cut in ) and it's sequel , Toho made their first color giant monster movie : RODAN ( aka Radon , and Rodan , The Flying Monster ) . Unlike most creature features of the time RODAN doesn't make you wait 2 / 3 ' s of the movie for a monster to show up . Meganurons , giant prehistoric dragonfly larva make their appearance rather early in the film.It's this part of the film that's often compared to Them . However , in RODAN the giant insects are only the set up.In the most memorable scene , when the character comes out of shock , he not only remembers being trapped underground with the Meganurons but also the hatching of a Rodan chick from it's egg.Having the audience already in on the size of the larva provides instant scale , as the hatchling devours the Meganurons.To add to the excitement of the rest of the picture we learn that in fact two Rodans have hatched .
The film is played straight , unlike later entries in what's become known as the Godzilla series .
Although Rodan has appeared in other films , Gidorah , the Three Headed Monster , Godzilla vs Monster Zero ( Invasion of the Astro Monsters ) , and Destroy All Monsters , the look of Rodan was never as good as in this , the original .
Now for the first time Classic Media is presenting this film to American audiences in both it's original 82 min Japanese language version as well the 72 min English language version .
THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS makes it's DVD debut . It's also presented in both the Japanese Version ( 88 mins . ) , and English Version ( 92 mins . ) .
Special Features : Bringing Godzilla Down To Size a new Documentary ( 68 mins . )
If the quality of the re-mastering and source material remains the same , as it's been , since their Gojira release , in 2006 , this should be the best video release of RODAN ever .
003 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
RODAN and THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS are two of Toho's best giant monster films , and both were subjected to awkward and unnecessary Americanization jobs . With this welcome release , USA fans can now easily and cheaply make their comparisons , as Japanese and USA versions of both films are generously included .
GARGANTUAS is especially long-awaited , but , sadly , Classic Media's transfer of the Toho version is a letdown . Toho's print has always been darker , with less-saturated color than the UPA ( not AIP ! ) print . This transfer , however , is WAY too dark , and not terribly sharp ; in the scenes with Gailah vs . the military , he often looks like little more than a shadow . . . just awful ! No , my TV settings are not to blame - this transfer is plain inferior to Toho's Laserdisc and DVD releases , which is odd when you consider how many nice DVDs of the Godzilla titles have been released by Classic Media . All the more unfortunate is that the Japanese version of GARGANTUAS works much better as a movie than the English-dubbed one . That version LOOKS much better on this DVD , but its problems are well-known and numerous . Said problems are probably the fault of the late and notoriously clueless producer , Henry Saperstein . . . I can just envision him looking at the rushes , smoking a huge cigar , and saying , Don't look like no Frankenstein to me ! . So , the Frankenstein references are gone , along with much of the integrity of the screenplay . Gone , also , is much of Ifukube's fine score . ( replaced by stupid library music , and even by Ifukube music from previous films : why ? ) Add to this some ill-advised editing , and Russ Tamblyn instead of Nick Adams . . . Tamblyn is clearly about half past give-a-damn throughout , though his presence may not be all UPA's fault . Bottom line : this kaiju classic was nearly ruined by gaijin interference . Still , this is the version that most USA fans fondly remember , and the monster mayhem and great Toho cast make GARGANTUAS pretty tough to dislike , so it's good to finally have it .
Both versions of RODAN are fine , and the Japanese print looks great . The USA version has been released before , has many of the same issues as GARGANTUAS , but isn't nearly as painful to watch , apart from the absurd stock footage and narration . I've always been fond of RODAN .
No trailers , galleries or commentaries are included here , which doesn't bother me that much . What is included is the outstanding documentary , BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE . . . no , it doesn't sing the praises of GODZILLA VS . MEGALON and the like , and that clearly irks some fans , but it does pay attention to several lesser-known ( but still significant ) Toho FX craftsmen . I thoroughly enjoyed it .
All things considered , a flawed but still worthwhile release for Kaiju fans , especially at this bargain price .
004 4 RODAN and THE WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS are two of Toho's best giant monster films , and both were subjected to awkward and unnecessary Americanization jobs . With this welcome release , USA fans can now easily and cheaply make their comparisons , as Japanese and USA versions of both films are generously included .
GARGANTUAS is especially long-awaited , but , sadly , Classic Media's transfer of the Toho version is a letdown . Toho's print has always been darker , with less-saturated color than the UPA ( not AIP ! ) print . This transfer , however , is WAY too dark , and not terribly sharp ; in the scenes with Gailah vs . the military , he often looks like little more than a shadow . . . just awful ! No , my TV settings are not to blame - this transfer is plain inferior to Toho's Laserdisc and DVD releases , which is odd when you consider how many nice DVDs of the Godzilla titles have been released by Classic Media . All the more unfortunate is that the Japanese version of GARGANTUAS works much better as a movie than the English-dubbed one . That version LOOKS much better on this DVD , but its problems are well-known and numerous . Said problems are probably the fault of the late and notoriously clueless producer , Henry Saperstein . . . I can just envision him looking at the rushes , smoking a huge cigar , and saying , Don't look like no Frankenstein to me ! . So , the Frankenstein references are gone , along with much of the integrity of the screenplay . Gone , also , is much of Ifukube's fine score . ( replaced by stupid library music , and even by Ifukube music from previous films : why ? ) Add to this some ill-advised editing , and Russ Tamblyn instead of Nick Adams . . . Tamblyn is clearly about half past give-a-damn throughout , though his presence may not be all UPA's fault . Bottom line : this kaiju classic was nearly ruined by gaijin interference . Still , this is the version that most USA fans fondly remember , and the monster mayhem and great Toho cast make GARGANTUAS pretty tough to dislike , so it's good to finally have it .
Both versions of RODAN are fine , and the Japanese print looks great . The USA version has been released before , has many of the same issues as GARGANTUAS , but isn't nearly as painful to watch , apart from the absurd stock footage and narration . I've always been fond of RODAN .
No trailers , galleries or commentaries are included here , which doesn't bother me that much . What is included is the outstanding documentary , BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE . . . no , it doesn't sing the praises of GODZILLA VS . MEGALON and the like , and that clearly irks some fans , but it does pay attention to several lesser-known ( but still significant ) Toho FX craftsmen . I thoroughly enjoyed it .
All things considered , a flawed but still worthwhile release for Kaiju fans , especially at this bargain price .
006 4 The wait is over ! Devoted fans of Toho's classic Japanese monster movies can now add this excellent two-disc set to their collection . This is a perfect double-feature : RODAN and WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS are two of my favorites . Plus , there's also a wonderful documentary , BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE .
So with all this going for it , why does this set only get four stars ? Well , not to be an ingrate , but I do have some minor quibbles . Both RODAN or WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS are bereft of Extras . . . no commentaries or theatrical trailers . Nothing . ( On the Japanese laserdisc edition of RODAN , the lovely overture is included , as well as an exciting theatrical trailer . Why couldn't those have been included here ? ) Also , the Japanese print of WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS is too dark during several passages , while the American print is sharp and clear . Perhaps a commentary track would have explained this discrepancy .
That said , however , I'm grateful to have these films in both the American and original Japanese editions . These titles have often been severely underappreciated by film historians and scholars . But fans know that these are two top-notch efforts brimming with superb special effects , representing those talented Toho craftsman at their very best . What's Japanese for Hallelujah ! ?
007 4 Classic Media's RODAN / WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS collection will also include an all-new documentary entitled BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE .
Running 68 minutes , BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE goes behind the scenes of a filmmaking style that remains firmly rooted in the past even as special effects leap into the future . From the original GOJIRA ( 1954 ) through 50 - plus years of sequels , spin-offs and imitations , this original documentary tells the story of the genre's creation and evolution via exclusive interviews with filmmakers , special-effects artists , actors and monster stuntmen .
Featuring Akira Takarada , Hiroshi Koizumi , Yoshio Tsuchiya , Shogo Tomiyama , Haruo Nakajima , Kenpachiro Satsuma , Tsutomu Tom Kitagawa , Shusuke Kaneko , Teruyoshi Nakano , Akira Tsuburaya , Ryuji Honda , Shinichi Wakasa , Yasuyuki Inoue , Toshiro Aoki , Akinori Takagi , Toshio Miike , Shiro Sano , and narrated by self-proclaimed Godzilla fan Alex Cox ( director of REPO MAN , SID & NANCY ) , the film celebrates the artistry behind the world of Japanese monsters and ponders the future of Godzilla and his city-smashing analog brethren in the digital age .
The website SciFi Japan has an exclusive first look at BRINGING GODZILLA DOWN TO SIZE , packed with photos and information on this great bonus feature for the upcoming Classic Media DVDs .
019 4 Being a fan of TOHO Monster movies this is a very good I love the restred version of RODAN with its add seens and as for WAR OF THE GARGANTUAS I love what they did to this movie and how well its been restored just like I remeber seeing it at the drive-inn.This movie will make a fine addtion to your TOHO ( GODZILLA ) MONSTER MOVIE DVD collection .
026 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
A drilling team disrupts the 200 million year old nest of a pair of Petranodons deep within the Earth's crust , causing the creatures to take flight and begin attacking Japan ! RODAN ( RADON in Japan ) was Ishiro Honda's first major monster feature following the success of GODZILLA . It exhibits many of the signature trademarks which he stamped on each of his films , including a supreme attention to human interest , impotent leading characters , and a helpless military force that is at the mercy of the attacking monster . Honda also treats the Rodans as natural animal characters that find themselves thrust in to a world that is foreign to them . Honda is reunited with many of the skilled team members from GODZILLA , including more of the studio's finest special effects work designed by Eiji Tsuburaya and a powerful and expressive score provided by Akira Ifukube . In addition to more incredible miniature cityscapes being razed by the Radons ' supersonic waves , Tsuburaya also introduces a series of aerial dogfights between the Japanese fighters and the flying menaces that equally impressive . RODAN briefly touches on the same atomic fears as GODZILLA had , but they do not become the same driving theme of the picture . Honda and Toho studios strike another great success with this memorable addition to their monster line-up , and Rodan would appear in numerous crossovers in to the GODZILLA franchise in the decades following .
- Carl Manes
I Like Horror Movies
027 4 A drilling team disrupts the 200 million year old nest of a pair of Petranodons deep within the Earth's crust , causing the creatures to take flight and begin attacking Japan ! RODAN ( RADON in Japan ) was Ishiro Honda's first major monster feature following the success of GODZILLA . It exhibits many of the signature trademarks which he stamped on each of his films , including a supreme attention to human interest , impotent leading characters , and a helpless military force that is at the mercy of the attacking monster . Honda also treats the Rodans as natural animal characters that find themselves thrust in to a world that is foreign to them . Honda is reunited with many of the skilled team members from GODZILLA , including more of the studio's finest special effects work designed by Eiji Tsuburaya and a powerful and expressive score provided by Akira Ifukube . In addition to more incredible miniature cityscapes being razed by the Radons ' supersonic waves , Tsuburaya also introduces a series of aerial dogfights between the Japanese fighters and the flying menaces that equally impressive . RODAN briefly touches on the same atomic fears as GODZILLA had , but they do not become the same driving theme of the picture . Honda and Toho studios strike another great success with this memorable addition to their monster line-up , and Rodan would appear in numerous crossovers in to the GODZILLA franchise in the decades following .
- Carl Manes
I Like Horror Movies
056 4 To all the new / old heads out there , ive been ( like other fans ) waiting a LONG time 4 WOTG to hit dvd.After having a vhs copy for some time ( also in lbx ) i know it wnt b able to touch the LBX DVD VERSION ! ! ! ! Im curious about the audio however , since its such an old movie.Ive been a fan of japanese monster flicks ( back in the 60s when i was a kid ) a long time.This is one of TOHOs REAL DEAL classic kaiju films ! ! NO cgi , which has its place too . . . mmm , maybe a REMAKE ! Anywho , thank u Classic Media for FINALLY doing it in my lifetime ( smile ) ! Enjoy , all u old school fans of the sci fi action film ! ! FINALLY ON DVD . . . SANDA AND GAIRA , wink-wink ! ! ! ! ! ! Oh , and Rodan . . . . well duh ! ! ? ? Great double feature ! !
062 4 Im VERY Disapointed in this release . 2 words tells you why : NO COMMENTARIES . I have loved the commentaries on all the other classic media japanese Monster films , they are interesting and informative , and you got to learn a bit about what was going on behind the scenes when the films were made . The other commentaries are like audio documentaries about the films that you listen to while you watch the movie .
I had been looking forward to this release , to see these great movies on DVD , and finally seeing the japanese version of Rodan . Other than the first godzilla movie , Rodan was always my favorite japanese monster movie . I was looking forward to a great commentary on rodan . Now , I'm just not looking forward to this release as much as I once was .
I'll still buy it , I'm sure I'll enjoy it , but not as much as I would have with the commentaries on it . So here's my 1 star ranking as a protest . Classic media , you let me down on this one , and others I'm sure .
I mean you put a commentary track on godzilla's revenge / all monsters attack , the worst godzilla movie ever made , but not these films ? You've got to be kidding me .
what a shame .
From the director that brought you the original 1954 GODZILLA , 1962 ' s KING KONG VERSUS GODZILLA , and 1968 ' s DESTROY ALL MONSTERS comes . . . FURANKENSHUTAIN !
Franken - what ! ?
Remember , I'm not talking about Rodan and War of the Gargantuas ; I'm talking about Frankenstein Conquers the World ( 1965 ) and War of the Gargantuas ( 1966 ) . In Japan they had that kooky Furankenshutain name . . . roughly translated to Frankenstein . Sadly , Director Ishiro Honda died in 1993 so we won't be able to ask him how ( or if ) he ever got rights to use the Frankenstein franchise name for a series of two movies that don't really look or feel anything like the Frankenstein that we over here in the US know and love .
The only resemblance to Frankenstein in Honda's Furankenshutain movies is that the Gargantuas are indeed fuh-uh-uhg-ly , but they look much more like the King Kong that Honda created for the 1962 battle against Godzilla and later in 1967 for King Kong Escapes .
I remember vividly from my last viewing of War of the Gargantuas in my pre-teen years that it was a shocking G-rated film . There was a good Gargantua ( the brown one ) and a bad one ( the green one . . . the fugliest of them all ) . And they were Godzilla-sized . . . not Frankenstein-sized . The green Gargantua bloodily , bone-crunchingly munches on people whole and spits out their bloody clothes . I'd like to see THAT try to get a G-rating today .
In War of the Gargantuas everyone thinks that there's only one murderous Gargantua . Until the brown one shows up at the scene of a crime and tries to stop the green one . The green one wants blood and refuses to live and let live , and the two Gargantuas fiercely battle through the rest of the movie .
Devo must have been a fan of this flick , because they did a remake of a featured song in War of the Gargantuas called The Words Get Stuck in My Throat . At least I think that Devo's version was a tribute to the movie ? Too bad a Gargantua didn't eat Devo back in the 70s .
Anyway , I'm sure that my subconscious , pre-teen mind is telling me that this flick is better ( and more shocking ) than it really was . But I'm glad to see that Gargantuas was finally released . Check out War of the Gargantuas . Skip Rodan .
005 4 Rodan's great , but War of the Gargantuas is the treat here . With all very due respect to the original Godzilla and King Kong , I'm just going to throw out there that there is no better giant monster movie than WOTG . I've seen it many times since it gave me nightmares the first time I saw it when I was 5 or so , and it's still nearly perfect . At least in the American version , there are almost no slow spots , some genuine terror and horror , and the monsters are onscreen for an amazing amount of time . Of course there's no putting a movie like this together without some cheeziness , but even that fits perfectly with it being a sixties film .
It's all in there : an almost funnily disinterested performance by Russ Tamblyn ( looking a little unenthused and questioning whether he should have taken this gig ) as the lead scientist , his babe-aliciuos assistant Kumi Mizuno , the chick lounge singer crooning , Gargantua vs octopus , Gargantua vs military ( including masers ) , Gargantua vs Gargantua , Gargantuas vs city , a volcano . . . it's got it all . Of course the music is awesome , and I can't believe I'm going to see it in a wider screen view than I ever have . Can't wait !
008 4 Why Amazon does not carry this title anymore is a mystery . These are the definitive versions of these films . Please do not get ripped off by independent sellers of this film . This film can be bought direct from Classic Media on their website . classicmedia.tv
009 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
I have been waiting for ' War of the Gargantuas ' to be released on DVD for many years . I had not seen this film in 30 years and I have to say the wait was worth it ! The U.S . film print here looks very good and the film is more fun than I remembered . Even better is the inclusion of the original Japanese release . Unfortunately , the Japanese print is dark and not very crisp , but since my concern was for the film I grew up with , this is acceptable to me . The Japanese version is nice to see for curiosity , but I don't see me watching it more than once or twice .
Now about the film , if your a fan of Godzilla type films ( ToHo ) , I really don't need to point out that these films are not meant to be taken too seriously . . . . at least in America ! This film is a hoot and the FX are actually pretty good for the most part . The scene with the green Gargantua attacking the airport is a stand out !
This film was a quasi-sequel to ' Frankenstein Conquers The World ' , but all references to the first film were removed when release in the U.S . ' Sanda VS Gailah Frankenstein's Monsters ' ( the original Japanese title ) has never looked so good !
' Rodan ' which is featured on the first disc in this 2 disc set is another good film from the studio , but unfortunately , my copy would not play , so I sent for a replacement , it wouldn't play either ! ? ? I am surprised I am the only reviewer who has experienced this problem . . . or at least mentioned it . The ' Rodan ' disc has a new documentary on it , which is very interesting with tons of obscure photos and insight . Happy Shocktober to all my horror buddies ! from yours truly Dr . Shock !
* * * DVD Update * * *
I sent for another replacement many months later and finally received a Rodan disc that works perfectly . It appears the problem discs have been corrected .
* * * End Of Update * * *
010 4 I have been waiting for ' War of the Gargantuas ' to be released on DVD for many years . I had not seen this film in 30 years and I have to say the wait was worth it ! The U.S . film print here looks very good and the film is more fun than I remembered . Even better is the inclusion of the original Japanese release . Unfortunately , the Japanese print is dark and not very crisp , but since my concern was for the film I grew up with , this is acceptable to me . The Japanese version is nice to see for curiosity , but I don't see me watching it more than once or twice .
Now about the film , if your a fan of Godzilla type films ( ToHo ) , I really don't need to point out that these films are not meant to be taken too seriously . . . . at least in America ! This film is a hoot and the FX are actually pretty good for the most part . The scene with the green Gargantua attacking the airport is a stand out !
This film was a quasi-sequel to ' Frankenstein Conquers The World ' , but all references to the first film were removed when release in the U.S . ' Sanda VS Gailah Frankenstein's Monsters ' ( the original Japanese title ) has never looked so good !
' Rodan ' which is featured on the first disc in this 2 disc set is another good film from the studio , but unfortunately , my copy would not play , so I sent for a replacement , it wouldn't play either ! ? ? I am surprised I am the only reviewer who has experienced this problem . . . or at least mentioned it . The ' Rodan ' disc has a new documentary on it , which is very interesting with tons of obscure photos and insight . Happy Shocktober to all my horror buddies ! from yours truly Dr . Shock !
* * * DVD Update * * *
I sent for another replacement many months later and finally received a Rodan disc that works perfectly . It appears the problem discs have been corrected .
* * * End Of Update * * *
011 4 I'm so pleased to see Rodan finally released remastered with the uncut japanese version included . I just wish the soundtrack for the japanese version was given a little more attention remaster wise . There are faint snaps and pops throughout the film . Maybe it was unavoidable but idi ( i doubt it ) . Probably one of Akira Ifukube's greatest scores for a monster film . It was great to see War Of The Gargantuas finally released as well .
012 4 Years ago you were lucky to find any Toho movies on VHS ( ! ) and they were usually the scan and panned , dubbed versions that played on TV , which always looked cheap and gave the genre a negative image .
The folk at Classic Media have made a dream come true by making these films available in their original formats and language , with beautiful prints , sumptuous packaging and extra features as well . This is treating the genre with respect .
Rodan is technically impressive , even if the story drags a big , but to have the film in its original format is a major plus .
The real treat here is War of the Gargantuas , a totally bonkers kaiju epic that is a sequel to Frankenstein Conquers the World with two protagonists in the title slugging it out across Japan . The visual effects are often stunning even if the Gargantuas look a bit like Odd Bod from Carry On Screaming .
The icing on the cake here is both the Japan and US version , the latter having some scenes printed slightly brighter , with different takes used and a lot of the Ifukube score replaced with stock cues from both US and other Toho films - bizarre !
Fantastic stuff , its a pity that rights issues mean Classic can't work their way through the whole series of Godzilla and other Toho classic , but what they have done is wonderful .
013 4 Chances are , if you're reading this , you're already a fan of Japanese sf / monster films , so I'll cut to the essentials .
This is a wonderful package , the kind many of us have learned to expect from Classic Media , including the attractive paperboard case for this two disc set . You are really getting 4 films , not counting the featurette on special effects . You get the two versions of each primary film , Rodan in English ( with an annoying narrator who I thought unnecessary and irritating ) and Japanese with subtitles ( and without the added-for-American-audiences narrator ) , and the same treatment for War of the Gargantuas . As another reviewer commented , Rodan , the giant pterodactyl , never looked better than in this first appearance , who would be teamed up with Godzilla in later films . The second disk contains the venerable slugfest , War of the Gargantuas , both in its English version ( where we hear a rather subdued Russ Tamblyn deliver lines in his own voice , sounding a little wry , particularly when he offers a sarcastic line ) and again the Japanese version , longer and more explanatory in relating the film as a sort of sequel to the earlier Frankenstein Conquers the World .
So there you have it , two complete versions of each primary film in DVD and a special featurette in an attractive case . What could be reasonably better ?
014 4 I see another viewer mentioning this but most are not . I'd give this 4 stars if the subtitles worked ( not 5 because the dubbed print of Rodan is visually god-awful regardless ) . War of the Gargantuas looks great , however .
015 4 Classic Media has once again put out an amazing product with its two disc set of Rodan and War of the Gargantuas . This is the first time I have been able to see the Japanese versions of these films and what a difference it makes . The pointless and schmaltzy voice over narration from the dubbed American version of Rodan is mercifully absent from the original version , both of which are presented here . The picture from the Japanese version looks clean , with great colors and is presented in its original full screen ratio . The transfer is so clean in fact that you can actually see the strings on Rodan in a couple sequences . I was also surprised to hear the scientists discussing global warming in a kaiju film , and one that is over 50 years old !
The documentary , Bringing Godzilla Down to Size , also included on the Rodan disc , is interesting and informative , though it shortchanges a bit in the clips department .
The War of the Gargantuas is a wonder to behold in widescreen . Several other reviewers have mentioned that the Japanese language version is a bit dark , however , I didn't find that it detracted from my enjoyment of the film , it just made it seem moodier . If you're that concerned about it , you can watch the brighter dubbed version which is also available on this disc . The Japanese version restores the references that clearly place this film as a sequel to Frankenstein Conquers the World . Again the picture and colors look good , and the film was just as much fun as I remembered from seeing it in my childhood . It was odd hearing Russ Tamblyn dubbed in the Japanese version however .
All in all , a fantastic bargain for the price , and probably as good as you're going to get for these films .
017 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
This is a great double DVD set with both Rodan & War of the Gargantuas . .
First about War - is a sequel to Frankenstein Conquers the World . I have watched this movie for over 30 years . This one has Russ Tamblyn & famous Godzilla actors Kenji Sahara , Jun Tazaki , Kumi Mizuno ( they are in quite a few Godzilla movies ) The Brown Gargantua vs the Green Gargantua ( Green is the evil one ) Yes they are men in monster suits but the effects , models are all really good , the movie is fast paced , entertaining , good music score . These movies made lots of money in the Tokyo box office . Thoroughly enjoyable - I would recommend this to anyone curious about giant monster movies that like Godzilla , this is made by and acted by the same crew .
Rodan ( aka Radon in Japan ) - 2 flying giant monsters terrorize Japan in the first Kaiju movie in color.The effects were decent ( too many strings in some scenes ) - it starts out with big bugs eating miners , who discover an egg and out comes Rodan who eats the bugs ( they are tiny to Rodan ) soon the 2 Rodans are flying everywhere .
These 2 movies have something in common - a volcano does them all in . . .
The DVD from classic media - if you are someone who likes English dubbed language - then it is as good as it will get on DVD , clean widescreen transfer on War . Rodan got lesser treatment as it is the same old VHS print used . English subtitles as well for those who want to see it for the original Japanese version . My DVD worked fine with subs . I think this is a must and great treat for fans of giant monster movies . Worth the price just for War alone ! : )
018 4 This is a great double DVD set with both Rodan & War of the Gargantuas . .
First about War - is a sequel to Frankenstein Conquers the World . I have watched this movie for over 30 years . This one has Russ Tamblyn & famous Godzilla actors Kenji Sahara , Jun Tazaki , Kumi Mizuno ( they are in quite a few Godzilla movies ) The Brown Gargantua vs the Green Gargantua ( Green is the evil one ) Yes they are men in monster suits but the effects , models are all really good , the movie is fast paced , entertaining , good music score . These movies made lots of money in the Tokyo box office . Thoroughly enjoyable - I would recommend this to anyone curious about giant monster movies that like Godzilla , this is made by and acted by the same crew .
Rodan ( aka Radon in Japan ) - 2 flying giant monsters terrorize Japan in the first Kaiju movie in color.The effects were decent ( too many strings in some scenes ) - it starts out with big bugs eating miners , who discover an egg and out comes Rodan who eats the bugs ( they are tiny to Rodan ) soon the 2 Rodans are flying everywhere .
These 2 movies have something in common - a volcano does them all in . . .
The DVD from classic media - if you are someone who likes English dubbed language - then it is as good as it will get on DVD , clean widescreen transfer on War . Rodan got lesser treatment as it is the same old VHS print used . English subtitles as well for those who want to see it for the original Japanese version . My DVD worked fine with subs . I think this is a must and great treat for fans of giant monster movies . Worth the price just for War alone ! : )
020 4 I was enchanted to hear that Gargantuas was finally being released on dvd
a little surprised it was not paired with Frankenstein conquers the world
but enchanted just the same . As with all of Classic media's past releases
this one has the American & Japanese version of Gargantuas and Rodan This
was my first time seeing Gargantuas in an American widescreen version All
versions prior were always full screen . ( there is a momentary sound pause
after the credits which leads me to believe that two different sources of
film might have been used ) For those who are fans of the Japanese version
which uses more of the Akira score , BEWARE that this print of the film is
extremely dark so dark in fact that many of the night shots come out very
shadowy . This was my first and only complaint with Classic Media who have
up to now have always presented such high quality films prints . That said
all else including the Rodan prints were flawless . Also included is grand
little featurette which showcases the unsung heroes and technicians that
made Toho studios this is really a well put together piece that shows the
care ( and sometimes turmoil ) of the greatest monster studio that ever was
What a great treat for anyone who first saw these movies at the drive-in
or on late night television .
022 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
Amazing . Simply amazing ! After about 10 years into the DVD era , The War of the Gargantuas is finally coming out on DVD . I have not been in Amazon for a few weeks . I was checking some other items out but as always when I come here , I will check to see if there is any news on War of the Gargantuas . I almost died when I saw a release date for it . I can't believe that I will finally be able to see this after basically disappearing from cable tv . For years , as a previoius review listed , it would be on WPIX 11 in New York . I remember thinging at 5 years old ( I am 40 today ) , what the F * * * is this . Something about it caught my attention and I always loved the movie , even though I have seen it less than 5 times in my life . You just had to be lucky to catch it . Even years later on TBS you had to be lucky to see it . Anyway , I will freak when I see the package in my mail box and make a huge bag of popcorn and pop the dvd in . Who would of thunk it . War of the Gargantuas is finally coming out on dvd . What's next , a remake of the classic King Kong vs . Godzilla . Maybe I am getting greedy , but it could not hurt to ask .
023 4 Amazing . Simply amazing ! After about 10 years into the DVD era , The War of the Gargantuas is finally coming out on DVD . I have not been in Amazon for a few weeks . I was checking some other items out but as always when I come here , I will check to see if there is any news on War of the Gargantuas . I almost died when I saw a release date for it . I can't believe that I will finally be able to see this after basically disappearing from cable tv . For years , as a previoius review listed , it would be on WPIX 11 in New York . I remember thinging at 5 years old ( I am 40 today ) , what the F * * * is this . Something about it caught my attention and I always loved the movie , even though I have seen it less than 5 times in my life . You just had to be lucky to catch it . Even years later on TBS you had to be lucky to see it . Anyway , I will freak when I see the package in my mail box and make a huge bag of popcorn and pop the dvd in . Who would of thunk it . War of the Gargantuas is finally coming out on dvd . What's next , a remake of the classic King Kong vs . Godzilla . Maybe I am getting greedy , but it could not hurt to ask .
024 4 Thanx to Classic Media the long wait is over for ' War Of The Gargantuas ' . And if that wasn't enough , they have thrown RODAN into the mix . Superb extras and a superb package make this an essential purchase for all Toho / Godzilla fans !
025 4 These two classic monster movies deserved to be released early than they have been planned . But the wait was worth it ! These two films are some of the best daikaiju movies that you will find anywhere .
Finally we get to see the uncut versions of Rodan and War of the Gargantuas ! These classic Toho movies should get remakes ( and no not by Hollywood , I still carry a grudge against Delvin & Emmerich ) . Here is some monster movies that Toho should consider remaking : Frankenstein vs . Baragon ; Rodan ; War of the Gargantuas ; Varan ; Dogora ; and Space Amoeba . With the special effects of Today , these movies would become great remakes . Think about it , since Godzilla is taking a vacation , shouldn't Toho make other giant monster movies until he returns ? !
Well , anyway these two movies are great ! Buy these movies and enjoy ! There is plenty of entertainment here !
028 4 I remember watching these movies on tv when I was growing up with fondness . I purchased this dvd set hoping my sons would enjoy it too . It was a huge hit !
Thinking these old movies from the 50s and 60s would be a great alternative to current PG - 13 movies ( but my friends watched it ) that I feel my sons are too young to see , I threw Rodan on amid protests . The silence was immediate as the movie started . Both my boys were spellbound by these movies although the second one , Gargantuas , was the favorite . We watched them together and I have to say , it was fun to watch as an adult too . After watching , my kids were full of comments and questions - quickly followed by , Are there any more ?
As a parent , I had a moments hesitation as the bad Gargantua ate a woman but it was implied and no blood was shed . I'll take old fashion violence over today's too realistic onscreen version .
This set was a great walk down memory lane as I watched monster movies from my childhood and a great introduction for my kids to classic monster movies . These movies never go out of style !
029 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
The first time I watched Rodan was creature features with Bob Wilkins fell in love with toho
production Rodan , Godzilla , Gramera all those great movies . This double feature brings back
those memories of Saturday night and creature features .
030 4 The first time I watched Rodan was creature features with Bob Wilkins fell in love with toho
production Rodan , Godzilla , Gramera all those great movies . This double feature brings back
those memories of Saturday night and creature features .
031 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
War of the Gargantuas is one of the best giant monster movies . Starts off with monsters and the monsters stay on the screen the whole movie . Somehow the plot keeps rolling along and there is mild love interest between girl and monster , and brotherly love turned cold between monsters . I love Godzilla , but so many of them are really stories about people dealing with Godzilla and he gets precious little screen time . This one is pure monster attack . Rodan is bonus . Much longer to get to the star of the show .
032 4 War of the Gargantuas is one of the best giant monster movies . Starts off with monsters and the monsters stay on the screen the whole movie . Somehow the plot keeps rolling along and there is mild love interest between girl and monster , and brotherly love turned cold between monsters . I love Godzilla , but so many of them are really stories about people dealing with Godzilla and he gets precious little screen time . This one is pure monster attack . Rodan is bonus . Much longer to get to the star of the show .
033 4 I have always been a fan of the classic Japanese monster movies , but while I love Godzilla , Mothra etc . , my all-time favorite was War Of The Gargantuas . I hadn't seen it in years , but I happended to stumble onto it at a store . It was really cool not only to see the dubbed version , but to see the original Japanese version as well . I never knew that War was a sequel to Frankenstein Conquers The World or that the Garagntuas had names ( Green Gargantua is Gaira , Brown Gargantua is Sanda ) . I had always kind of thought that the Gargantuas were Toho's spin on the Yeti legend .
Anyway , if you love these kind of movies , War is the best . The tight costumes that the actors who portrayed Gaira and Sanda wore allowed them freedom of movement that you just don't see in the Godzilla movies . The fact that the eyes were cut out of the masks so that you can see the actor's eye movements gives the Gargantuas a really creepy feeling .
Gaira is awesome . He's mobile , agile and hostile ! The laser attack on him was really well choreographed . Gaira's fight with the giant octopus and his sinking of an unfortunate fishing boat at the movie's start really got the ball rolling early . His preferred choices of snacks can give you a genuine chill that Godzilla doesn't . Plus , I really love his roar . Do any of you know how the filmmakers created Gaira's roar ?
Botto line , if you are a fan of the 1960s Japanese monster movies , War of The Gargantuas is a must have for any collector .
034 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
I grew up on these films as a kid . Both Rodan and War of the Gargantuas are outfitted in this amazing two disc collection that gives us both the original Japanese dialect as well as the American dubbed versions . Remastered with great audio sound , they look as good as they did when i first saw them years ago . So far , i have all of Toho's recent special editions to their first few Godzilla adventures ; i recommend grabbing all of them if your a diehard fan .
035 4 I grew up on these films as a kid . Both Rodan and War of the Gargantuas are outfitted in this amazing two disc collection that gives us both the original Japanese dialect as well as the American dubbed versions . Remastered with great audio sound , they look as good as they did when i first saw them years ago . So far , i have all of Toho's recent special editions to their first few Godzilla adventures ; i recommend grabbing all of them if your a diehard fan .
036 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
Rodan was always my favorite . Godzilla was cool , but Rodan was way cooler and to me way bader ! The DVD is excellent , with both the Japanese and American versions . It's a must own for any Godzilla / Rodan fan . The picture quality is perfect and the special features are great .
037 4 Rodan was always my favorite . Godzilla was cool , but Rodan was way cooler and to me way bader ! The DVD is excellent , with both the Japanese and American versions . It's a must own for any Godzilla / Rodan fan . The picture quality is perfect and the special features are great .
038 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
I didn't think I would find this flick on DVD but amazon came through again . thank you
039 4 I didn't think I would find this flick on DVD but amazon came through again . thank you
040 4 Rodan was awesome . . . and just watched War of the Gargantuas for the first time since I was a kid sleeping over at my cousin's house when I was 10 years old . This movie awakened great memories for me . In fact we would go out play War of the Gargantuas in the backyard many times after we saw this movie as kids . While I didn't go out and turn cars over and knock down buildings after my most recent viewing , the film was as great as ever .
I watched the film on a portable dvd player and the transfer by Classic Media was super with brilliant color and great film making . The classic ending and long duel between the brown and green Gargantua was a great ending that really didn't end after all . The Brown giant takes a royal beating in this film but the green giant gets his due from the Japanese military in the form of some electrifying moments . . heh heh . . .
Enjoy this Toho classic from the 60 ' s ! ! ! It's a great add to your collection of classic monster films . I watched the Japanese version of the movie and enjoyed every second . The subtitles do not take away from Ichiro Honda's greatness ! ! ! ! !
041 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
Anyone old enough to remember the 4 : 30 movie in the Tri-State area will remember Godzilla , King Kong , and these 2 movies . What a thrill it is to finally see these 2 movies not only in their original language , but also in their Original Aspect Ratio .
Hopefully the words won't get stuck in my throat , but I have been waiting a long time for these movies to be released on DVD . Thank you Classic Media for all the titles you have released . If you grew up watching Monster Week on the 4 : 30 movie , or the King Kong and Godzilla movies on Thanksgiving Day , and the Friday after , you must pick up this DVD set .
042 4 Anyone old enough to remember the 4 : 30 movie in the Tri-State area will remember Godzilla , King Kong , and these 2 movies . What a thrill it is to finally see these 2 movies not only in their original language , but also in their Original Aspect Ratio .
Hopefully the words won't get stuck in my throat , but I have been waiting a long time for these movies to be released on DVD . Thank you Classic Media for all the titles you have released . If you grew up watching Monster Week on the 4 : 30 movie , or the King Kong and Godzilla movies on Thanksgiving Day , and the Friday after , you must pick up this DVD set .
043 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
War of is a great movie , the darkness ' that everyone's talking about in the Japanese version is not a problem , it adds to the mood . And of course , Rodan is a classic . . .
044 4 War of is a great movie , the darkness ' that everyone's talking about in the Japanese version is not a problem , it adds to the mood . And of course , Rodan is a classic . . .
045 4 Nostalgia is a strange thing . It makes us rate with five stars such a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad film . I saw this film when I was 11 and couldn't sleep near a window for years ( remembering the airport scene ) . And the kid within me was scared again when I watched it again . It happened again with Count Yorga films . KNowing the inner kid is alive and well . That alone deserves a five star .
046 4 A great release ! The classic film Rodan , restored and featuring a bonus Godzilla documentary , and a smashing bonus , War of the Gargantuas ! ! ! I've been waiting for this one for years ! Film is cleaned up and sound is great ! Recommended !
> > > > > > >
047 4 At last , the waiting is over . The official War of the Gargantuas DVD is released in its full glory . ( Widescreen , original japanese language w / english subtitles etc . ) No more need to search for bootleg copies of this movie , which are sold at other collectors on the web . Unfortunately , Rodan did not receive the full treatment . Although its been remastered and shown with the original japanese language , the DVD release does not display it in 16 : 9 but rather full screen ( 4 : 3 ) . Also , now that it has been restored , you can really see the cables in the background lifting Rodan as he attacks Tokoyo , which unfortunately spoil some of the realism of the movie . Other than this , the DVD pack is worth the money and you can now have the official War of the Gargantuas for your japanese monster DVD collection .
048 4 This is a good time to be a fan of Japanese kaiju flicks . For years we suffered through badly edited and badly dubbed releases just to get a glimpse of our favorite monsters . But now there is Classic Media , putting out the best releases of some of the most obscure kaiju films , and doing them with a respect and quality I never imagined possible . It is a dream come true !
This two DVD set contains two of the most sought-after films , 1956 ' s Rodan ( Sora no daikaiju Radon or Giant Monster of the Sky Radon ) and 1966 ' s War of the Gargantuas ( Frankenstein no Kaiju : Sanda tai Gaira or Frankenstein's Monster : Sanda vs . Gaira ) . Both have had previous US releases , but with considerable edits and we are seeing the full films here for the first time . As with other Classic Media titles in the Godzilla series , both versions of the films are included , the original Japanese release and the US dubbed and edited version . It is nice to have both , but it doesn't take a genius to know which one you should be watching ! Interesting bonus documentaries are also included , making this set an absolute must have .
Rodan was the first kaiju flick filmed in color , and the mutated pteranodons still look great . Although a single Rodan would soon crossover into the Godzilla series with
Ghidorah : The Three-Headed Monster
, here there are actually two of the beasties to torment Japan , a male and a female . Because they can fly , Rodan is quite quick paced and action-packed compared to many kaiju flicks , as the two monsters zoom around doing battle with jet airplanes and destroying bridges . No slow motion stomping here . Without giving away any spoilers , the ending of Rodan is a tear-jerker , a hard task for a film featuring men in giant rubber suits .
War of the Gargantuas is a real treasure , and I am so happy to finally have a nice copy on DVD . A sequel to the 1966
Frankenstein Conquers the World
, ( but not to the planned but never produced Godzilla vs . Frankenstein . Sigh . . . ) , the story has the mutated cells of the Frankenstein monster spawning two giant hairy beasts , Sanda ( mountain monster ) and Gaira ( outside monster ) . Because the both monsters are human-like , the suitimation really shines here , and the two beasts are able to get really down and dirty in their battle . In fact , their fight was the basis for the battle between The Bride and Elle Driver in
Kill Bill
. It is knock-down drag out .
If you like giant monster flicks , you are going to want this DVD . It is that simple .
049 4 I cannot believe this is finally here.I have been waitng for both of these for a long time.Rodan ( in my oppinion ) is one of the best acting and absolutely the best dubbed of the giant monster movies .
I am looking forward to the Japanese originals of both.It's obvious that a lot of people are also anxious for this .
All thats left now is Godzilla vs Megalon.Hopefully soon .
Wonder if other studios are going to follow.I would love to see the Johnny Sokko movie Voyage into Space in original Japanese .
CAN'T WAIT Walt
woonsocket RI
050 4 First let me say how odd this package is . Why package the horribly boring Rodan ( that about sums up as much as I'll say about Rodan in this review ) with War of the Gargantuas instead of bundling War of the Gargantuas with its true sister film titled Frankenstein Conquers the World .
The real gem in this release is War of the Gargantuas . I can hear the voiceover for the trailer of Gargantuas : From the director that brought you the original 1954 GODZILLA , 1962 ' s KING KONG VERSUS GODZILLA , and 1968 ' s DESTROY ALL MONSTERS comes . . . FURANKENSHUTAIN !
Franken - what ! ?
Remember , I'm not talking about Rodan and War of the Gargantuas ; I'm talking about Frankenstein Conquers the World ( 1965 ) and War of the Gargantuas ( 1966 ) . In Japan they had that kooky Furankenshutain name . . . roughly translated to Frankenstein . Sadly , Director Ishiro Honda died in 1993 so we won't be able to ask him how ( or if ) he ever got rights to use the Frankenstein franchise name for a series of two movies that don't really look or feel anything like the Frankenstein that we over here in the US know and love .
The only resemblance to Frankenstein in Honda's Furankenshutain movies is that the Gargantuas are indeed fuh-uh-uhg-ly , but they look much more like the King Kong that Honda created for the 1962 battle against Godzilla and later in 1967 for King Kong Escapes .
I remember vividly from my last viewing of War of the Gargantuas in my pre-teen years that it was a shocking G-rated film . There was a good Gargantua ( the brown one ) and a bad one ( the green one . . . the fugliest of them all ) . And they were Godzilla-sized . . . not Frankenstein-sized . The green Gargantua bloodily , bone-crunchingly munches on people whole and spits out their bloody clothes . I'd like to see THAT try to get a G-rating today .
In War of the Gargantuas everyone thinks that there's only one murderous Gargantua . Until the brown one shows up at the scene of a crime and tries to stop the green one . The green one wants blood and refuses to live and let live , and the two Gargantuas fiercely battle through the rest of the movie .
Devo must have been a fan of this flick , because they did a remake of a featured song in War of the Gargantuas called The Words Get Stuck in My Throat . At least I think that Devo's version was a tribute to the movie ? Too bad a Gargantua didn't eat Devo back in the 70s .
Anyway , I'm sure that my subconscious , pre-teen mind is telling me that this flick is better ( and more shocking ) than it really was . But I'm glad to see that Gargantuas was finally released . Check out War of the Gargantuas . Skip Rodan .
051 4 I pre-ordered this dvd and received it today ! I was so happy to get it one month before it comes out !
Anyway , The picture and audio quality for the Japanese versions of the films are excellent , featuring very little grain . Rodan only contains a small number of scratches . I was suprised for a movie that is 53 years old . War of the Gargantuas also features a great video presentation .
The US versions of the films don't look as good , though . The US version of Rodan has pretty bad quality video presentation . The US version of War of the Gargantuas looks pretty good , though .
The DVD set features a documentary called Bringing Godzilla Down To Size : The Art of Special Effects . The documentary is very entertaining and has many new interviews with the stars and filmakers of the 50s , 60s , and 70s as well as interviews with filmakers of the Heisei and Millenium series ' of Godzilla films .
Overall , this is another excellent DVD from Classic Media . It is just as good as their Godzilla DVDs . Any fans of Toho or Godzilla films wait to pick this dvd up .
052 4 The product description states ' fullscreen ' . These films were shot in panoramic widescreen or ' Tohoscope ' in Japan . If this release is indeed fullscreen , then I don't know why they bothered . Those who already their copies have made no mention of it . Anyone up with this info ?
053 4 I sometimes wonder when I see all these glowing reviews so soon after a new DVD comes out . . .
I have gotten two copies of the set from Amazon so far and on both of them the English subtitles don't work ; don't come on at all . Seems like a problem with the run of the disks . Beware .
054 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
When i saw this on my recommendations list i quickly listed my vhs tape for sale and it sold the next day.I made a profit on it to boot.I cant wait to get it on dvd.War of the gargantuas has never been on dvd and the price for it along with rodan is a bargain.A great addition to my dvd collection and long awaited.Finally we will be able to buy it on disc .
055 4 When i saw this on my recommendations list i quickly listed my vhs tape for sale and it sold the next day.I made a profit on it to boot.I cant wait to get it on dvd.War of the gargantuas has never been on dvd and the price for it along with rodan is a bargain.A great addition to my dvd collection and long awaited.Finally we will be able to buy it on disc .
057 4 I have always loved The War Of The Gargantuas since the early 1970s when it aired on Chiller Theater WPIX 11 New York . And Rodan is something I've come to know in the last 15 years . Now these awesome fun films are finally coming to DVD . Well Rodan has been on DVD . But now we'll get a letterbox Gargantuas and a originally filmed in full screen Rodan Both Japanese spoken and American dubbed for both movies . Other reviewers that have more inside info mentioned really cool bonus features . Some people say the Rodan in this version is the best looking Rodan . I respectfully disagree . I think the best looking Rodan was in Invasion Of The Astro Monster . But the Rodan in this movie is treated more respectfully , film maker wise . And have you ever noticed Sanda the brown Gargantua looks alot like Lurch from The Addams Family TV show ?
059 4 Finally , after how many years ? ? ? ? ? ? What huge conglomerates cant do , classic media does and then some . Both of these films are amazing and i will gladly put them up against any supposedly cutting edge cgi that exists or will exist and these special effects win every time . You also get to see where devo got the inspiration for the words get stuck in my throat , so , a winner on every single count . Thankyou again classic media .
060 4 This review is from :
Rodan / War of the Gargantuas ( DVD )
I have to thank Classic Medea for their upcoming releases . War of the Gargantuas great Toho classic . See two giants battle each other . Then you get Rodan a prehistoric bird causing hovac on tokyo . The best is the price that Amazon is selling it for . So don't miss out !
061 4 I have to thank Classic Medea for their upcoming releases . War of the Gargantuas great Toho classic . See two giants battle each other . Then you get Rodan a prehistoric bird causing hovac on tokyo . The best is the price that Amazon is selling it for . So don't miss out !
