Godzilla/Gojira. Oh boy! Oh boy! OH BOY!

Big G on the rampage. Credit: Toho Co. Ltd.

                               
                                Godzilla/Gojira. Oh boy! Oh boy! OH BOY!

       It's been announced the original 1954 Godzilla is getting the ole Criterion treatment. This means high quality/high resolution restoration. NOT the kind where every little scratch, burn, cut, splice, hair, whistle, snap, crackle, n' poop comes in with crystal clarity on whatever old public domain print someone dug up from under an outhouse. No, it means the results from the best print obtainable will be presented as audiences saw it when it was first released.

      Not quite in this case. Due to the then gritty conditions at Toho studios back in the early 50s the original release prints had some defects. As I understand it Criterions' treatment will correct that. I am so waiting for this.

      And that's not all! Not only the original film but a second disc will have the version we older westerners grew up with: Godzilla King of the Monsters with Raymond Burr (Where Perry Mason takes the big guy on as a client. NOT!). This pairing has been done already by Classic Media, howsomever, through their contacts, Criterion has managed to obtain a "lavender" (first generation) print of the Burr version! Hopefully this is what is used in the restoration.

      Due out with extra features 1-24-12.

Websites of a couple of real G-fans here & here.

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