by: Chris Eaton source: SciFi Japan
Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. This is possibly the best news I’ve heard all week. And it’s only Tuesday. After a few weeks of have they or haven’t they, Media Blasters has announced that they have acquired the North American rights to Destroy All Monsters and Godzilla vs Megalon. Both films will be released on both DVD and Blu Ray later this year. Since it’s Media Blasters, we can expect great quality in the film prints and extras!
This is big for a few reasons. 1: Destroy All Monsters has only been released once officially in the US. By the now defunct ADV. Their DVD release was the prime example of not giving a shit. A soso transfer, what passes for a menu, and no extras what so ever. Not only that, but the film was only available in the crappy International dub, and not the superior AIP dub. With Media Blasters, we can expect much more care to be taken into account for the release. 2: Godzilla vs Megalon has NEVER, repeat, NEVER been officially released on it’s own in the US on DVD. The only official time saw the light of day on DVD was on the Mystery Science Theater 3000 vol 10 set. Unfortunately, Toho didn’t give full approval, as the rights to the film were in dispute due to it being passed around in America like a joint at a ICP show. That DVD set was recalled and re-released with the Giant Gila Monster. Thus making the original release a highly sought after set that fetches up to $300 buck on Ebay at times. With the Media Blasters release, it’ll be the first time ever North America has seen a proper release, in high def.
Check out the press release below thanks to Sci Fi Japan.
MEDIA BLASTERS CAPTURES TWO CLASSIC GODZILLA EPICS!
(New York City) Amid a flurry of escalating internet rumors, Media Blasters Inc. and their Tokyo Shock label are proud to announce and confirm the acquisition of two vintage Toho produced Godzilla classics- DESTROY ALL MONSTERS and GODZILLA VS. MEGALON! For the first time, both films will be re-mastered in high definition and released on DVD and Blu-ray! DESTROY ALL MONSTERS will receive a worthy deluxe treatment to provide fans with a noticeable upgrade from its previous DVD incarnation. GODZILLA VS. MEGALON marks the first time that this long sought after title will be officially released uncut and widescreen on DVD and Blu-ray. Both films will feature exciting extras!
DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968) is universally considered a strong fan favorite of the entire Godzilla series! It’s an all-star monster rally of epic proportions featuring Toho’s greatest and wildest mammoth monsters in the ultimate, all-out rubber suit rumble! See Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah, Anguirus, Minya, Spiega, Baragon, Gorosaurus, Manda and Varan in all their titanic glory! The film was directed by the famed Ishiro Honda, director of the original 1954 film and the last entry to feature the dream team of special effects supervisor Eiji Tsuburaya, music composer Akira Ifukube and producer Tomoyuki Tanaka.
“DESTROY ALL MONSTERS represents a high water mark in the Godzilla series for its sheer spectacle… It’s Godzilla movie heaven.” – stomptokyo.com
GODZILLA VS. MEGALON (1973) has been the most elusive Godzilla film in North America. This is the film that most baby-boomers saw in U.S. movie theaters and then had to rely on badly cropped VHS and DVD bootleg copies to enjoy the film thereafter. This entry features Godzilla taking on Megalon and Gigan with the help of the unforgettable growing robot, Jet Jaguar! Reportedly cut to receive a G-rating upon its U.S. release, the film was hosted by John Belushi in a Godzilla suit for its national TV premiere. Tokyo Shock will present the film uncut on DVD and Blu-ray for the first time!
“GODZILLA VS. MEGALON completes the canonization of Godzilla, the creature who came from beneath the sea… to destroy Tokyo and has returned in sequels again and again to protect the land he once loathed. It’s been a remarkable transformation of character- the dragon has become St. George.”– Vincent Canby, The New York Times
Stay tuned for release dates and more details!