Media Blasters and Toho Settle

Media Blasters posted this a few days ago on their Facebook page:

Godzilla issues have finally come to a settlement with Toho so going back to the BDs and DVDs work but will take lots of time.

Since the issues concerning extras are now resolved, we can soon (we hope) scoop up those DVDs and Blu-rays of Destroy All Monsters (at least get it back in print) and Godzilla vs. Megalon (with extras). It took long enough, but at least they came to terms.

Barebones "Godzilla vs. Megalon" Ok'd

Media Blasters announced on their Facebook page that Toho has approved a "barebones" edition of Godzilla vs. Megalon.

This is due to a screw-up by Media Blasters in including some extras that Toho did not approve in their Destroy All Monsters release.

Media Blasters will announce a release date shortly.

"Gamera The Brave" Blu-ray Due Out May 22

Above, Gamera and Zedus locked in battle in Nagoya.

Media Blasters' Blu-ray edition of Gamera The Brave (2006) is set to hit shelves on May 22.

Above, "Gamera The Brave" Japanese poster.

Gamera The Brave is an entertaining movie targeted to the younger set, but it is "adult" enough so that it won't make adult viewers cringe.

For Media Blasters' website, go here.

"Gamera The Brave" Blu-ray Coming

Above, yours truly perusing the souvenir table at the 2006 "Gamera The Brave" Tokyo premiere from the Region 2 DVD.

Media Blasters announced on their Facebook page that they will be putting out a Blu-ray edition of the 2006 feature, Gamera The Brave.

I already have the Kadokawa Japanese Region 2 and the Media Blasters U.S. DVDs, so unless Media Blasters includes extras that their DVD doesn't include, I may pass.

If Media Blasters includes the April 2006 Tokyo premiere, I'll definitely get it.

Media Blasters' "Godzilla vs. Megalon" and "Destroy All Monsters" DVD/Blu-ray: AIP Dub Included?

Above, the box art for ADV Films' DVD of "Destroy All Monsters" from 2004. Media Blasters hasn't released any photos of their upcoming box art. They say they have a few "surprises" in store.

Media Blasters' DVD and Blu-ray editions of Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla vs. Megalon are days away (slated for October 25) from being released.

The big question in fans' minds is, "Will they include the AIP (original distributor American International Pictures) dub on DAM?" Fans generally agree that the Toho "international dub" is horrendous (I am in this camp) and that the inclusion of the AIP dub would be a big selling point.

Well, once people start receiving their discs and post reviews on the Internet, we will know for sure! It is rumored that the AIP dub had been sourced from a 16mm print of DAM.

The last video release of DAM by ADV was back in 2004 (for Godzilla's 50th anniversary) and it only included the "international dub." As a refresher, here's my 2004 review of that release:

Taking advantage of Godzilla's 50th Anniversary, ADV Films has produced a Special Edition DVD of Destroy All Monsters! (1968) complete with a soundtrack CD for the price of $14.99.

While I have other and better (including one with the original U.S. dubbing) copies of DAM, the price of $14.99 for a DVD with a CD were too good to pass up. Was this worth the $14.99? Easily yes!

On the DVD itself, it contains the "international" Toho dub that many fans aren't too fond of. Since I've owned the ADV VHS edition with the same dub, that really didn't bother me and I fully expected it.

However, the film transfer itself is not one that I would give high marks for. The print used was a bit worn to begin with and the "natural" enhancement that digital transfers do to older films only accentuate the film scratches and sound pops of the soundtrack. It was not anywhere near as obvious in the VHS edition of a few years ago. I would have expected that ADV would have been able to obtain a more pristine print of the film to make the digital transfers. Plus, there are no chapter stops or a menu (well, since there's no chapters, who needs a menu?) and no extras on the DVD. It would have been nice if they included the original Japanese and/or U.S. trailers. This is pretty bare-bones!

The soundtrack CD, on the other hand, is a gem of an item and it alone is worth the price of the item. There are 30 Akira Ifukube tracks on the CD. But, unfortunately, there's nothing in the package to tell you the titles of each track. Since most of us pretty much memorized the movie anyway, we can picture in our own minds which scenes each track came from. If you don't already have the soundtrack for DAM in your kaiju library, this item is a must-have. Your neighbors will love you for cranking up your system's volume while playing this!

I have to admit the packaging art for this DVD/CD is very nice. It is a lot better than the cartoony one ADV released before. "50th Anniversary" is quite evident in the packing art. The average person not "in the know" might be led to believe that it is the 50th Anniversary of Destroy All Monsters!, not Godzilla himself.

The DVD is in widescreen and 2.0 English.

My overall grade for this item is B. Too bad ADV didn't put out a product that matched or came close to their recent Gamera trilogy releases.

The DVD gets a C and the CD gets an A.

Media Blasters has promised a few "surprises" with their release. We'll see.

It's Official: Media Blasters To Release "Destroy All Monsters" and "Godzilla vs. Megalon"

Above, the U.S. poster of "Godzilla vs. Megalon."

After weeks of speculation and rumors, it is now official: Media Blasters has Godzilla vs. Megalon and, also, Destroy All Monsters.

According to their Facebook page:

Talking about Godzilla we can make it official now, we have DAM and Godzilla vs. Megalon. DAM is scheduled for October and will be both Blu-Ray and DVD releases. Do not know all the details about the extras yet. We will post with it later as they become available. Now for the funny part, we were not looking at Godzilla vs. Megalon till everyone said we have it so we asked they said ok so we picked it up.

There is no word as yet on the release date of Godzilla vs. Megalon, but it will likely be in 2012.

The last sentence from Media Blasters' announcement is interesting:

Now for the funny part, we were not looking at Godzilla vs. Megalon till everyone said we have it so we asked they said ok so we picked it up.

As mentioned previously, Robert Dunham's daughter Emiko Jade Frost said she was approached by someone working on the extra features for the DVD some months ago. Then, the word about it was announced by August Ragone. I posted the news here as Ragone has been a reliable source for news in the world of kaiju. Then Media Blasters said they don't have Megalon. After this, all hell broke loose and Ragone found himself on the receiving end of attacks by irate fanboys.

Perhaps the hullabaloo surrounding the Ragone announcement was a good thing in the end as Media Blasters acquired Megalon and it'll finally receive an official release.

As far as Destroy All Monsters is concerned, I have the ADV VHS and DVD releases. Unfortunately, both have Toho's international dub instead of the original A.I.P. dub. It is hoped that Media Blasters can release Destroy All Monsters with the A.I.P. dub or, at least, the Japanese language, but subtitled version. The international dub is atrocious.

Nevertheless, this is good news! (Now if we can only get Return of Godzilla (Godzilla 1985) and Godzilla vs. Biollante released on DVD.)

HERE'S ANOTHER CLUE FOR YOU ALL (The Walrus Is Paul)

The controversy over Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) has some G-fans at each other's throats.

Some are defending the original report that Media Blasters is prepping a release by August Ragone and his defense by the daughter of actor Robert Dunham, Emiko Jade Frost. While others are attacking Ragone and Frost (the most vicious taking place at the Toho Kingdom message board) with some even attacking her sanity.

Keith Aiken posted that he contacted Carl Morano at Media Blasters who denied Ragone's report. There are three possibilities here: 1.) Morano is telling the truth as he knows it (could be a case of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing); 2.) Morano correct in his denial; or, 3.) Morano's lying.

Flying under the radar is this post by Wayne Rose and reply at Media Blasters' "official" Facebook page (click on image to view larger):



This seems to support Ragone's report (although I wouldn't bet the ranch on it at present). Note that Media Blasters does not deny (or confirm) that the movie they hope to release is Megalon.

"Godzilla vs. Megalon" Release Story Turned Out To Be False?

It appears that the report by August Ragone about Media Blasters' impending release of 1973's Godzilla vs. Megalon was false. Or is it?

Keith Aiken of Sci-Fi Japan posted an article that refutes the Ragone report. He even quotes Media Blasters' Carl Morano as stating "this is all news to us."

According to Aiken's article, Megalon is not available due to muddled rights issues that date back to the Cinema Shares International (they were the original licensee) days. Toho won't make available any movie until all rights issues to it are cleared. Media Blasters is interested in acquiring the movie, according to Aiken's article, but Toho needs to sort out the rights "paperwork" so that they are satisfied that nobody can come out of the woodwork claiming that they have the rights.

Ragone generally doesn't post articles unless he is satisfied on its accuracy. He has since revised his article to indicate that this is not yet a done deal (and some items removed).

To read Aiken's article, go here.

To read Ragone's revised article, go here.

I am sure we haven't heard the last of this.

The End?

"Godzilla vs. Megalon" To Get Official Release

Above, the U.S. release poster featuring the World Trade Center, a scene that never took place in the movie.

August Ragone posted today that Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973) will see its official Region One release by Media Blasters.

While Godzilla vs. Megalon isn't one of my favorites, it is, admittedly, entertaining. I have two (ahem) boots of it: one with a very poor source print and one with a better source print.

Rather than have me prattle on about the release, go see Ragone's excellent write-up on it by going here.

Now, all we need is Return of Godzilla (1984) (a.k.a. Godzilla 1985) and Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989) released on DVD.

ADV Sale and "Destroy All Monsters"

Above, the poster for A.I.P.'s "Destroy All Monsters."

Since the report of ADV Film's sale, some have speculated that Sony, Media Blasters or Classic Media can acquire the video rights to Destroy All Monsters (1969).

According to the press release announcing the sale:

Through an asset purchase agreement, AEsir Holdings, LLC ("Aesir") acquired a subordinated interest in selected programming from ADV's film library together with other intellectual property subject to all liens and security interests of the Company's senior secured lender. The transaction requires Aesir to assume specific obligations and scheduled liabilities of the Company under legacy license agreements associated with the acquired programming.

Concurrently, the Company concluded an asset purchase agreement with SXION 23, LLC, doing business as "Section23 Films," a home video distribution company, under which it assumes account servicing and distribution operations in connection with the library acquired by Aesir, subject to all liens and security interest of the Company's senior secured lender.

Assuming that Destroy All Monsters is included in the asset purchase, the company buying the assets would then have the rights to the movie. According to kaiju expert August Ragone, the contract between ADV Films and Toho Co., Ltd. for Destroy All Monsters is still valid for several more years.

Presently, the only way another company can release Destroy All Monsters would be for them to buy the rights from the new owner of the former ADV Films' assets. Or, the present license expires and the rights revert back to Toho and they put it on the market. Seems pretty straightforward. But that only applies to the version ADV Films released.

Some are hoping that Destroy All Monsters with the original A.I.P. (American International Pictures) dub can be released on DVD. It currently circulates here & there on the bootleg market. The version ADV Films released was Toho's "international" version, with a much-inferior dub. It appears that this may never happen unless the current owner of the A.I.P. dub (whoever that may be) grants (i.e., sells) a license to do so.

But what if Toho Co., Ltd. doesn't want the A.I.P. version released and insists that only the "international" version can be released? Then we'd be stuck with no realistic recourse.

So if you are anxiously awaiting for a company to release Destroy All Monsters in the original A.I.P. dub, it is doubtful it will ever happen. But it would be a nice surprise to see it happen.

Gamera The Brave Box Art

The box art for Gamera The Brave (2006) has been revealed. The two-disc DVD will be available on December 30. It is being relased by Media Blasters.

For ordering information, go to CD Universe.