Godzilla 1985 Coming to American DVD and Blu-ray for the First Time Ever – Sort of
Having already given American Blu-ray releases to Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, and Godzilla vs. Gigan, Kraken Releasing surprised everyone with the announcement that they’re bringing the highly sought after Eighties Godzilla flick The Return of Godzilla to DVD and Blu-ray for the first time ever in North America.
Notice I wrote The Return of Godzilla, not Godzilla 1985 as it was released in the United States. The rights to the Americanized version of the film have been embroiled in an ongoing legal quagmire with Anchor Bay, which is why that film remains the only Godzilla flick to be stuck in VHS limbo.
Sci-Fi Japan broke the news that Kraken Releazing (a Section23 Films division, formerly ADV Films) has made a deal with Toho to release the original Japanese version The Return of Godzilla, released in Japan in 1984 but never before in its original form in North America. Kraken promises we will get both the original Japanese audio with English subtitles and an English dubbed version.
What we won’t be getting is the heavily-edited Americanized Godzilla 1985 version of the film that trimmed 20 minutes from the Japanese print, re-edited other scenes to alter plot points (Russians intentionally trying to nuke Japan), added new footage featuring American actors (including Raymond Burr), made the tone more jokey in areas, and let’s not forget all that Dr. Pepper product placement that was inserted. A DVD/Blu-ray release of Godzilla 1985 has been long sought after and petitioned for by Zilla fans for years; they’ll have to keep on waiting.
But we will be getting the movie as it was originally intended on September 13th and at a reasonable price. The DVD will retail for $9.98 and the Blu-ray for $14.98. The only extras will be a slew of Godzilla trailers.
Rumors are swirling Kraken might be making a play to secure Son of Godzilla and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974) for future hi-def releases. We shall see.
Categorized:News
