6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Time travellers from the 23rd century return to 1992 to warn Japan that Godzilla will cause a catastrophic nuclear incident in the 21st century and suggest a way to rid the world of him forever. They intend to go back to 1944, to Ragos Island, where a dinosaur was exposed to radiation from the Bikini H-Bomb test and became Godzilla. Upon completion of this task, King Ghidrah appears in 1992 and the visitors' true plan is discovered. They wish to destroy Japan so it will not become the dominant economic force. Luckily for the Japanese, Godzilla was still created and will now fight Ghidrah.
Starring: Kosuke Toyohara, Anna Nakagawa, Megumi Odaka, Katsuhiko Sasaki, Akiji KobayashiForeign | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 100% |
Fantasy | 71% |
Action | 65% |
Adventure | 6% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, French
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Note: 'Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah' is currently only available as part of a two-pack with 'Godzilla vs. Mothra.'
How does one keep Godzilla fresh? How about travel to the past, visits from the future, UFOs, secret political agendas, and
underhanded economic manipulation? How about an origins
story? Godzilla vs. King
Ghidorah doesn't retune formula or stray from the series' roots, but it does offer a nice little jaunt into thematically interesting and
canon-critical territory while still
maintaining classic Godzilla structure, i.e. the irradiated mega-lizard battling some equally oversized foe in and around Japan. Godzilla
vs. King Ghidorah sees the return of one of the series' classic villains resurrected for another round of devastation and combat in the midst of a
story centered on man's own hunger for power and control, going so far as to rework the past for his present (future) gain.
Do I look ready for my closeup?
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah's 1080p transfer isn't dynamic and flashy, but it's a serviceable, well-defined image that suits the material well. The image lacks that razor-sharp, lifelike crispness of what most would label "reference" material, but Sony's transfer showcases a solid image with adequate definition, little softness, and good coloring. Detailing proves adequate, with good, basic textures and definition on clothes and faces. Monster visuals reveal a good bit of intimacy, showing the finest ridges and lines on Godzilla's leathery reptilian body. Basic image clarity is strong, and light grain appears throughout. The World War II scenes appear a little more colorfully rich and dynamic but at the same time a touch smoother than the somewhat grittier (then) present day footage. Colors fare well. A bright red jeep and deep grassy greens satisfy, though the palette never exhibits much of a flashy, realistic tone. Black levels are fine, and flesh tones don't stray too far from natural shades. Minute blockiness creeps in from time to time, but never to the point of total distraction. The print shows little in the way of wear-and-tear. It doesn't dazzle, but Sony's transfer definitely gets the job done.
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah features a native Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0 lossless soundtrack. A companion dubbed English language track of the same configuration is also included. The differences between the tracks is stark, but not significant in the grand scheme of things. The Japanese track sounds much fuller, offering a more robust, richer experience than the more shallow and, frankly, unimpressive English version. Opening music offers a good example of the superior presence and weight the Japanese track produces, though certainly both fail to find a truly deep, immersive, lifelike presence. The lack of bass and the absence of real volume to the track is disappointing. Godzilla's footfalls -- particularly those of "dinosaur" Godzilla in the World War II sequence in chapter six -- are absent a true, thunderous power, playing quite punily, in fact, with the Japanese track only providing a little more sense of weight. Dialogue is shallow and inept on the English track. It's more forceful and clear in Japanese, but accompanied by underlying hiss. There's some decent reverberation and spacing in chapter four as sound bounces around the alien ship, but otherwise the track lacks much in the way of organic and exciting immersive support effects. Battle sequences, like the footfalls, offer basic, identifiable sound effects but never surround the listener or play with significant power. All around, a disappointing track but one that's fortunately a bit better in its native Japanese (optional English, English SDH, and French subtitles are included).
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah contains only a collection of original trailers: Teaser 1 (HD, 0:34, Japanese DD 2.0, English subtitles), Teaser 2 (HD, 0:35, Japanese DD 2.0, English subtitles), Teaser 3 (HD, 0:47, Japanese DD 2.0, English subtitles), and Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:20, Japanese DD 2.0, English subtitles).
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah embraces an attitude that allows it to relish in cheesy, goofy fun. It's never all that serious, even in its darkest moments of destruction and focused examinations of temporal manipulation for political and economic gain. The film does satisfy all basic expectations for a Godzilla film, with a suitable amount of mayhem, particularly in its closing act, and a basic assortment of human characters, this time complimented by a contingent from a couple of centuries into the future. Series fans will have a blast with this one, and it's a solid entry point for newcomers considering the origins groundwork laid down within. Sony's Blu-ray release features serviceable video and midlevel audio. Supplements are limited to an assortment of trailers. Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
ゴジラvsモスラ / Gojira vs. Mosura / Godzilla vs. Mothra
1992
ゴジラvsメカゴジラ / Gojira vs. Mekagojira
1993
ゴジラvsスペースゴジラ / Gojira vs. Supesugojira
1994
ゴジラvsデストロイア / Gojira vs. Desutoroiâ / Godzilla vs. Destroyer
1995
ゴジラ×モスラ×メカゴジラ 東京SOS / Gojira tai Mosura tai Mekagojira: Tôkyô S.O.S.
2003
ゴジラ×メカゴジラ / Gojira x Mekagojira
2002
ゴジラ × メガギラス G消滅作戦 / Gojira tai Megagirasu: Jî shômetsu sakusen
2000
ゴジラ ファイナルウォーズ / Gojira: Fainaru uôzu
2004
ゴジラ・モスラ・キングギドラ 大怪獣総攻撃 / Gojira, Mosura, Kingu Gidorâ: Daikaijû sôkôgeki
2001
ゴジラ2000 ミレニアム / Gojira ni-sen mireniamu / Godzilla 2000: Millennium
1999
ゴジラvsビオランテ / Gojira vs. Biorante
1989
ゴジラ / Gojira / The Return of Godzilla
1984
Mosura 3: Kingu Gidorâ raishu
1998
地球攻撃命令 ゴジラ対ガイガン / Chikyû kogeki meirei: Gojira tai Gaigan / Godzilla vs. Gigan
1972
ゴジラ対ヘドラ / Gojira tai Hedora / Godzilla vs. Hedorah
1971
ゴジラ対メガロ / Gojira tai Megaro
1973
怪獣総進撃 / Kaijû sôshingeki
1968
怪獣大戦争 / Kaijû daisensô / Godzilla vs. Monster Zero
1965
Gamera tai Bairasu
1968
モスラ対ゴジラ / Mosura tai Gojira
1964