Criterion streaming Godzilla films + Criterion Showa Box Set

[goji1986]

My brain confusing Return of the Jedi (ROTJ) with Return of Godzilla (ROG)

[Chris55]

Haven't gone through all the extras yet. Only listened to a bit of Samm's commentary; sounds good, she's a pro.

Checked this out and I'm not the biggest fan. She mentions Invasion of Astro Monster and then gives the synopsis for Ghidorah 64. Later she states that every Godzilla film has segments of Ifukube's music-which is odd because she spends so much time talking about Godzilla 84 and there's no Ifukube in it. These are just a couple of examples but it was a frustrating listen at times.

[Legion1979]

That's the kind of stuff I was concerned about. Sounds like a huge comedown compared what we lost when Mill Creek wasn't able to use Ed's commentary.

Pretty nuts that Toho takes forever to approve things like commentaries but they don't catch obvious mistakes like that.

[UltramanGoji]

I honestly doubt Toho’s marketing team cares enough to fact-check the commentary, that’s mostly on Criterion I’d say.

[Legion1979]

I honestly doubt Toho’s marketing team cares enough to fact-check the commentary, that’s mostly on Criterion I’d say.

Apparently, Toho does goes through commentaries. The reason why we never got Ed's commentary is because Toho took forever to approve it.

[G-MAN]

I honestly doubt Toho’s marketing team cares enough to fact-check the commentary, that’s mostly on Criterion I’d say.

Plenty of this and past releases by them falls on Criterion and not Toho as much as people claim. Heck I remember the long given reason the Showa set had no new commentaries was because Toho doesn't allow them anymore. Well we got one on their new release and it's probably the most poorly done one I've seen on an official release with all it's inaccuracies and time spent focusing on the previous film.

[Angilasman]

Just listened to the commentary. I think y'all are majorly overreacting. Sure, she mixes up the titles of Astro-Monster and GTTHM, but that was in an anecdote that Miki was essentially and updated version of the concept of Princess Salno... which I hadn't actually thought of before, but I suppose is a natural connection. As for talking too much about G'84? This is a real head-scratcher of a complaint. Biollante is a continuation of the concept and themes of it's predecessor in regards to figuring out just what direction this Godzilla reboot would take. It's a natural inclusion. She also mentions stuff that happens in subsequent Heisei films to point out wider trends that run throughout.

Is it mostly information we all already know? Of course; we're lifelong fans, but as a primer and basic summary of the hows and whys of Toho's '80s reboot of the character and the talent involved it covers a lot of ground for the majority of the audience for this commentary for whom this is the first they're hearing abouy any of this stuff.

Actually, there were a few things I didn't know before, or at least forgot or failed to retain. I didn't realize how much of Biollante's production is defined by a kind of aftermath of the idol craze of the '80s. I had no idea that Omori was part of a directors group with guys like Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Sogo Iishi. I had no idea the female government official that keeps popping up is Akihiko Hirata's wife, a prolific actor in her own right. Most importantly: I didn't know that the actor playing Gondo appears in a bunch of Nobihiko Obayashi's films, which is news we all can use because those are gonna start getting released in North America soon!

Which reminds me; Samm Deighan does commit one error in the commentary that is unforgivable. She pronounces the name of Obayashi's most iconic movie not as "House," but "Hausu." She deserves jail for this as all those who make this same mistake do, but let's keep out priorities straight here people!

Also, as someone who's listened to pretty much every commentary done for an English release of a tokusatsu thing I've gotta say that this is nowhere near the worst, there are both less accurate and just worse performed commentaries in this space. I won't mention the worst, but the best commentaries, btw, are Ed and Steve's for Gamera 3 and Mike S. And crew for G2K.

[UltramanGoji]

Just listened to the commentary. I think y'all are majorly overreacting. Sure, she mixes up the titles of Astro-Monster and GTTHM, but that was in an anecdote that Miki was essentially and updated version of the concept of Princess Salno... which I hadn't actually thought of before, but I suppose is a natural connection.

In her defense, the titles for those two movies are practically interchangeable.

I got my copy from the Criterion flash sale in today, but haven't opened it yet. I've heard people say that the subtitle track is mostly "dubtitles", can anyone here (that I trust more) confirm that?

[goji1986]

I got my copy from the Criterion flash sale in today, but haven't opened it yet. I've heard people say that the subtitle track is mostly "dubtitles", can anyone here (that I trust more) confirm that?

They’re not dubtitles per se, they’re more of a reworking of the existing translated script which was used as the basis for the export dub. Some colloquialisms such as “Hot stuff” are replaced by “Do you believe that?” But otherwise, many lines are pretty much the same.

The other tell-tale sign is that there is no credited translator for this release, whereas G54, GvsKG, and GvsM (the latter two on the Criterion Channel) do.

[Angilasman]

It's like the dub script if every third line was somewhat different and occasionally totally different. Demon Kogure's lines are totally different, for instance. I imagine it's a revision of the subs they were given.

[JAGzilla]

Trigger pulled on my copy! I went with Amazon; I don't know if $37 is more than the flash sale would've been, but a few bucks extra is worth getting it here tomorrow while I'm off work.

[UltramanGoji]

Trigger pulled on my copy! I went with Amazon; I don't know if $37 is more than the flash sale would've been, but a few bucks extra is worth getting it here tomorrow while I'm off work.

With shipping, it'd probably come out the same.

Added in 1 minute 36 seconds:

They’re not dubtitles per se, they’re more of a reworking of the existing translated script which was used as the basis for the export dub. Some colloquialisms such as “Hot stuff” are replaced by “Do you believe that?” But otherwise, many lines are pretty much the same.

The other tell-tale sign is that there is no credited translator for this release, whereas G54, GvsKG, and GvsM (the latter two on the Criterion Channel) do.

It's like the dub script if every third line was somewhat different and occasionally totally different. Demon Kogure's lines are totally different, for instance. I imagine it's a revision of the subs they were given.

Hmm, alright. Kinda disappointed it's not a new translation like the Showa set/G54 were but doesn't sound like too bad of a script.

[Great Hierophant]

They aren't true dubtitles unless they include the classic line "Kirishima look, if we don't produce this bacteria, and sure as eggs is eggs someone else is gonna do it." Spoony bard territory there!

[Angilasman]

I could've sworn Shirigami's English almost sounded like it had an Indian accent. Commentary says the Indian dude who played the Saradian Agent was the on-site English coach!

[MaxRebo320]

The subtitles for a lot of the Ishiro Honda films streaming on Criterion Channel feel very lackluster and unfinished. Matango fares especially bad, with song lyrics going untranslated, and Hiroshi Koizumi calling everyone "sons" (I feel "kids" probably would have been the better translation for his uses of "musuko") giving it an almost bootleg vibe. Hopefully they're cleaned up if a physical release ever happens.

[Legion1979]

I'll take any subtitles at this point just to be able to upgrade my Media Blasters and Classic Media discs of the non-Godzilla stuff. These are easy releases for Criterion, and the titles are begging for a box set. What the hell are they waiting for?

[goji1986]

I'll take any subtitles at this point just to be able to upgrade my Media Blasters and Classic Media discs of the non-Godzilla stuff. These are easy releases for Criterion, and the titles are begging for a box set. What the hell are they waiting for?

Toho has the ultimate say, and I’m sure the fact that most of the non-Godzilla stuff has received a 4K remaster but no Japanese domestic home video release is a huge factor.

[Angilasman]

I'll take any subtitles at this point just to be able to upgrade my Media Blasters and Classic Media discs of the non-Godzilla stuff. These are easy releases for Criterion, and the titles are begging for a box set. What the hell are they waiting for?

Toho has the ultimate say, and I’m sure the fact that most of the non-Godzilla stuff has received a 4K remaster but no Japanese domestic home video release is a huge factor.

It seems to matter for Godzilla, but I read that Lady Snowblood not having a Japanese blu-ray release didn't prevent the American (Criterion) or British (Eureka) release. Maybe we'll be lucky for the non-Godzilla Toho genre films?

[MaxRebo320]

I'll take any subtitles at this point just to be able to upgrade my Media Blasters and Classic Media discs of the non-Godzilla stuff.

Well, I don't think it's too much to ask for a prestigious company like Criterion to proofread their subtitles just a little. They should certainly be a step above shitty labels like SRS Cinemas or (current) Media Blasters.

Toho has the ultimate say, and I’m sure the fact that most of the non-Godzilla stuff has received a 4K remaster but no Japanese domestic home video release is a huge factor.

All of the Honda titles streaming have been released on Blu-Ray in Japan, though not in 4K UHD. The transfers streaming on the Channel are those HD ones. I sort of doubt Criterion would have a 4K boxset in mind if they were to do such a thing, but I guess who knows.

It seems to matter for Godzilla, but I read that Lady Snowblood not having a Japanese blu-ray release didn't prevent the American (Criterion) or British (Eureka) release. Maybe we'll be lucky for the non-Godzilla Toho genre films?

Lady Snowblood (along with the Lone Wolf and Cub films) was a co-production with Katsu Productions, so that might have something to do with it being "allowed". Toho still apparently charges Hollywood-level fees for all of their titles, which is what's prevented so many fantastic titles (that aren't Kaiu or Kurosawa) from receiving US home video releases.

[Angilasman]

^ Ah, the Katsu Productions connection also explains Zatoichi and Lone Wolf and Cub!