6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 2.6 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.6 |
A UN reporter broadcasts a report on the appearance of a prehistoric monster that emerges from hibernation while a pharmaceutical company seeks publicity with a monster of their own.
Starring: Michael Keith, Harry Holcombe, James Yagi, Tadao Takashima, Kenji SaharaFantasy | 100% |
Action | 78% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
With a brand spankin' new Godzilla set to invade theaters in less than a month, giant monsters movies are lumbering out of the sea by the dozen. Announcements, releases, bargain bin sequels aplenty... if it has Godzilla on the cover, it's suddenly all the Blu-ray rage. Even Universal is diving in headfirst, first with Ishirô Honda's King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) and then with Honda's King Kong Escapes (1967), the latter sans Godzilla. Normally, such a deluge of lesser Japanese big-creature features would be a godsend for collectors and completists. What could possibly spoil the fun? Particularly for those who have a special place in their hearts for Honda's so-bad-they're-a-blast Toho Company King Kong flicks? Not a whole lot apparently. Priced to sell and backed by fairly decent AV quality, there isn't much here to prevent diehard fans of the towering icons from taking advantage of the catalog-broadening opportunity Sony's Godzilla reboot has provided.
Hug it out, guys.
Print damage is the real monster of King Kong vs. Godzilla. Scratches, nicks, specks, top-edge tape marks, thin vertical lines and other distractions pop up on a semi-regular basis, particularly when the cameras cut away to sequences centered around either creature. Crush takes a slight toll too, although I'm pleased to report there aren't many other issues of note, other than perhaps the unevenness that sometimes affects the grain. And yes, you read that correctly: grain. Rather than make a feeble attempt to eliminate print damage and other inconsistencies with heavy-handed noise reduction (as is often Universal's practice when approaching a catalog title), the studio presents a rather faithful video presentation. It isn't a top-dollar remaster along the lines of a higher profile Warner release, mind you, but it preserves the filmmakers' intentions and strongly resembles film, and each one goes a long way. Optical softness is present throughout, but smearing and waxiness aren't a part of the image. Crisp edges, reasonably well-resolved textures and an overall boost in clarity are the norm, and the movie has never looked better. Skintones and colors are also decently saturated given the overcast, blue-leaning palette, even if a dusty veil of gray haunts Kong and Godzilla's climactic tussle. I have to admit I didn't expect to be impressed with this one. If it weren't for all the print damage, my score would be higher.
King Kong vs. Godzilla and King Kong Escapes offer comparable English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks, neither of which is all that problematic or remarkable. Dialogue is generally clean and clear, minus the usual tininess, ringing and prioritization mishaps that tend to be an inherent part of the sound designs of low-budget 1960s cinema. Effects are relatively weighty too, although I would have liked to see a more invigorating 5.1 remix (with booming LFE support and assertive rear speaker activity) alongside the original audio mix. Still, both tracks get the job done without major incident.
The Blu-ray edition of King Kong vs. Godzilla doesn't include any special features.
King Kong vs. Godzilla isn't the drag-out, icon versus icon smash-em-up fans might expect from the title, but there's a lot of so-terrible-it's-terrific fun to be had all the same. Universal's Blu-ray release has something to offer too, namely a fairly faithful AV presentation. Still, an abundance of print damage and a barebones disc hold back what could have been a better supported monster matchup.
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2004
ゴジラ2000 ミレニアム / Gojira ni-sen mireniamu / Godzilla 2000: Millennium
1999
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vsキングギドラ / Gojira vs. Kingu Gidorâ
1991
ゴジラ × メガギラス G消滅作戦 / Gojira tai Megagirasu: Jî shômetsu sakusen
2000
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×メカゴジラ / Gojira x Mekagojira
2002
ゴジラvsビオランテ / Gojira vs. Biorante
1989
ゴジラvsモスラ / Gojira vs. Mosura / Godzilla vs. Mothra
1992
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vsデストロイア / Gojira vs. Desutoroiâ / Godzilla vs. Destroyer
1995
ゴジラ / Gojira / The Return of Godzilla
1984
Mosura 3: Kingu Gidorâ raishu
1998
ゴジラ・エビラ・モスラ 南海の大決闘 / Gojira, Ebirâ, Mosura: Nankai no daiketto / Ebirah, Horror of the Deep
1966
1967
地球攻撃命令 ゴジラ対ガイガン / Chikyû kogeki meirei: Gojira tai Gaigan / Godzilla vs. Gigan
1972
Mosura 2: Kaitei no daikessen
1997
Mosura
1996
1987