Criterion streaming Godzilla films + Criterion Showa Box Set

[Rody]

At least in my age group, the Criterion Channel isn't very well known, and I don't know any people who purchase films from Youtube. And Max isn't even available outside the US. I don't blame people for not knowing where to look. You'll be surprised how many people only watch what shows up on Netflix and other popular streaming services.

People are lazy. Even without the Criterion Channel, it only takes a minute or two for a basic Google search to pull up a plethora of streaming options for films like Mothra vs Godzilla - Amazon Prime, Tubi, Crackle, etc. Obviously these options may vary on region, but they're absolutely out there and available to find with minimal effort. Many of the films are even flat-out FREE to watch on YouTube with ads.

I can only hope that between all these platforms, Toho is seeing enough revenue for Janus/Criterion to convince Toho that distributing the restored versions of the films will be worthwhile and profitable.

[UltramanGoji]

I’ve been in the fandom long enough to know that the Toho of years prior is far different from the Toho of today. Anything could’ve happened behind the scenes as far as I’m concerned.

The Criterion set came out in 2019. It's been a little under 5 years but I don't think Toho has changed enough to expect anything remarkable out of how Janus is able to handle the Heisei series. The more time has passed the more nuts Toho has been with how the movies have been handled internationally. I don't think that's changing now.

That post was in reference to the Kraken discussion. The Toho of 2014 (the one that drafted the initial agreements with Kraken for their releases) is a far different Toho from the one in 2019 that helped Criterion with their set. It’s entirely possible the way they handled in-house dub distribution changed in that timeframe and the Kraken films got the short end of the stick by mistake.

[Great Hierophant]

People are lazy. Even without the Criterion Channel, it only takes a minute or two for a basic Google search to pull up a plethora of streaming options for films like Mothra vs Godzilla - Amazon Prime, Tubi, Crackle, etc. Obviously these options may vary on region, but they're absolutely out there and available to find with minimal effort. Many of the films are even flat-out FREE to watch on YouTube with ads.

I can only hope that between all these platforms, Toho is seeing enough revenue for Janus/Criterion to convince Toho that distributing the restored versions of the films will be worthwhile and profitable.

While we are on the subject of the restorations, are we seeing anything other than the tired old Hi-Visions anywhere online? Other than 4K Ultra-HD Blu-rays, their corresponding 1080p Blu-rays and occasional airings on Japanese TV, I am not aware of any sources for the comparatively beautiful 4K restorations.

[Legion1979]

The only official releases the 4K masters have gotten so far have been the TV airings and the subsequent UHD/bluray releases. And I think it's going to be a very long time before they make their way here. I wouldn't be shocked if they don't get released here until all the films get the 4K treatment, and that's going to be a while.

[goji1986]

They just announced a series of theatrical screenings of the 4K restorations for G54, KKvG, GTTHM, and Biollante in Japan. Janus did screen the G54 restoration in 2021 but to my knowledge it hasn't been shown here theatrically since. It would make a whole lot of sense for them to at least start replacing those DCPs of the HiVision masters...

[Legion1979]

They just announced a series of theatrical screenings of the 4K restorations for G54, KKvG, GTTHM, and Biollante in Japan. Janus did screen the G54 restoration in 2021 but to my knowledge it hasn't been shown here theatrically since. It would make a whole lot of sense for them to at least start replacing those DCPs of the HiVision masters...

I don't think Toho is going to start offering them here until all the films are out in 4K in Japan and they can export the new masters in bulk into the US through Janus.

[tomjoad2020ad]

First four Heisei movies are now streaming on CC...excited to finally check out acceptable transfers of GvsKG and GvsM with subs.

[goji1986]

First four Heisei movies are now streaming on CC...excited to finally check out acceptable transfers of GvsKG and GvsM with subs.

The subs are likely going to be the only improvement here other than KG’s end credits being used in full. Sony’s releases utilized far better scans of the titles - albeit with the crummy video-generated credits - but then reverted back to the HiVision transfers for everything else.

[G-MAN]

First four Heisei movies are now streaming on CC...excited to finally check out acceptable transfers of GvsKG and GvsM with subs.

The subs are likely going to be the only improvement here other than KG’s end credits being used in full. Sony’s releases utilized far better scans of the titles - albeit with the crummy video-generated credits - but then reverted back to the HiVision transfers for everything else.

Well in terms of last two Heisei films the transfers will be entirely worse. As SpaceGodzilla and Destroyah were entirely Sony made transfers. I still am curiousnto know why they decided against using their other in-house transfers. But again yeah the subs could be an improvement. CC doesn't have the best subs out there though, not mention they will most likely conserve on disc space again like they do with most of their boxsets. Only reason people should buy this set is if for whatever reason they missed the Sony discs for the last 5 films. The Kraken disc for 84 and the EB or lionsgate diacs for Biollante.

And to be honest unless you got into the franchise after the first couple MV movies I don't see how fans would sleep on these. I mean I know one reason because people are obsessed with waiting for boxsets. But it's crazy how 84 was dirt cheap for 5 years and still so many slept on it. I do understand somewhat with Biollante as it esdnt in print with either label for all that long. But it still wasn't a rare release. And on that I question if the subs will be better than the EB release seeing as it was a pretty goodnjoh and offered three subtitle options.

I don't count on them doing commentary tracks which could be a nice reason to get the set. But nsybr they night surprise us with the inclusion of the great making of featurettes that the heisei series had. Even if we don't get all of them, if they don't include at least one for each film it will kind of be a loss for me.

[tomjoad2020ad]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'd consider it a meaningful improvement if we got even a slightly softer transfer that was true to the original release (no burned-in title overlays or missing credits) than a slightly better-balanced transfer of a damaged and messed-with international print like is present on the Sony releases.

[o.supreme]

So..in summation, I have:

Kraken BRD RoG
Echo Bridge BRD Gvs Bio

and the Sony BRD of all the other Heisei films.

1. What would be the pros/cons of purchasing a theoretical Heisei Box Set from Criterion?

2. I do not have the later Lionsgate BRD of G vs Biollante. But I assume it was essentially the same as the Echo Bridge one?

[Legion1979]

The pros would be new subtitles and hopefully some subtitled supplemental material from the Toho home video releases.

The cons would be that it's almost guaranteed the masters would just be the Hi-Vision transfers Toho has been using since the late 2000s.

[heiseigodzilla425]

1. What would be the pros/cons of purchasing a theoretical Heisei Box Set from Criterion?

Legion pretty much nailed it. We should get improved subtitles, but we'd also get the HiVision transfers. To dive a bit deeper, Toho gave Criterion their 2008 masters, not the slightly improved 2014 masters (which have minor fixes such as painting out the splice lines). So, its entirely possible Toho would do the same for the Heisei set. I'm not sure if anyone has compared whats available on the Criterion Channel with the 2008 and 2014 masters.

The Sony BDs used a mix of Sony's materials (KG, Mothra, parts of MG2) and the international versions (parts of MG2, SG, and Destoroyah). Sony also used a mix of subtitles and dubtitles, depending on the particular movie. I know that Sony and Toho used very different color grades for Destoroyah, so I'd expect Criterion's eventual release of that movie to look very different than the Sony release. So in short, expect Japanese visuals (including burnt-in Japanese subtitles for scenes that aren't spoken in Japanese) and improved subtitles.

2. I do not have the later Lionsgate BRD of G vs Biollante. But I assume it was essentially the same as the Echo Bridge one?

The initial Echo Bridge release had a flaw in its Japanese 5.1 track where one of the surround channels (I cant remember if it was left or right) and the subwoofer channel were empty. I was able to get a corrected disc from Echo Bridge back in the day, but I don't know how many were available on store shelves. I don't have the Lionsgate disc, but Ive seen it in person. The packaging looks identical, with only the studio logos being changed. I would hope that the Lionsgate disc has the corrected audio track.

[John Pannozzi]

Does the current Criterion streaming versions of GvsKG and GvsMothra include the full ending credits?

[MaxRebo320]

Godzilla and Seven Samurai 4Ks release this November. Never thought this would happen so soon in the US.

(EDIT) Link: https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse?p ... oming-soon

[goji1986]

Godzilla and Seven Samurai 4Ks release this November. Never thought this would happen so soon in the US.

(EDIT) Link: https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse?p ... oming-soon

To be clear (and manage expectations), this edition will only have the Japanese version in 4K. The accompanying Blu-ray will be the same disc as before, with KOTM as an “extra”.

While it’s indeed great to see a stateside 4K release so soon after the Japanese one, it’s unfortunate that KOTM won’t get a similar restoration for this release.

[Angilasman]

Wow! I guess it shouldn't be surprising to see Seven Samurai and Godzilla re-released for their 70th anniversaries, but it's still really cool!

With this, Minus One, Discotek Media, Mill Creek, and Mediablasters the second half of '24 has to be the richest in tokusatsu releases for the US... ever? If you widen the net to include Japanese ghost and horror films (with both Radiance and Arrow putting out big boxed sets in October) the numbers get even crazier. We're in a golden age of licensing Japanese stuff.

[Legion1979]

At the same time, this is the first physical release of an old (i.e. not Minus One) Godzilla movie in the US since the big Criterion set 5 years ago. Meanwhile, Criterion has a ton of classic non Godzilla Toho sci fi films and seem completely uninterested in putting them on disc.

Also, is the movie is going to be just a 4K transfer of the version Criterion already has, or have they been given Toho's own amazing 4K remaster? If it's the former then meh.

[goji1986]

At the same time, this is the first physical release of an old (i.e. not Minus One) Godzilla movie in the US since the big Criterion set 5 years ago. Meanwhile, Criterion has a ton of classic non Godzilla Toho sci fi films and seem completely uninterested in putting them on disc.

Also, is the movie is going to be just a 4K transfer of the version Criterion already has, or have they been given Toho's own amazing 4K remaster? If it's the former then meh.

It's 100% Toho's remaster. Everything Criterion puts out from Toho from here on out is going to be their masters.

[Legion1979]

Are you sure? The master Criterion had since 2012 came from Toho didn't it? Are you sure they just didn't remaster that in 4K on their own? I'm seeing people elsewhere speculate this is what's happening.