Per Cinescape.com: On September 5, Classic Media, the Sony-distributed independent that holds the current rights to Godzilla King of the Monsters and several other early Toho giant monster movies, have announced the release of a special 2-pack DVD of both the Japanese and American versions of the film.
Both films will be remastered in High Definition and maintain their original 1.33:1 aspect ratios. Several extra features are being considered for inclusion, such as the commentrak included on the British Film Institute release. Classic Media is also preparing a much bigger Japanese sci-fi box set. Fans are hoping this set will include both Japanese and American versions of all the Toho films in Classic Media’s library: GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN, GODZILLA VS. MOTHRA (1964), GHIDRAH THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER, MONSTER ZERO, GODZILLA’S REVENGE, RODAN and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA. It’s too early to speculate as yet, but CM has set up a special website at www.godzillaondvd.com to disseminate information.
Obviously that is all good, but the thought of the Ghidrah finally coming out…it’s never been on DVD…is especially mouth-watering. It was only a matter of time before somebody figured out that fans wanted more than the lame discs Scimitar had provided for most of these movies, and it looks like Classic has exactly the right idea. Let’s keep out fingers crossed here.
Spring Break Shark Attack is out on DVD today. Wheee!
Upcoming DVD treats later this year include the complete Superman theatrical serials from 1948 and 1950, respectively, all part, of course, of the tie-ins for the new Brian Singer movie due out soon. The gigantic Superman box set, meanwhile, will include a two-disc special edition (!!) of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, news that will get the saliva of any Jabootuist running freely.
Retromedia is putting out The Lon Chaney Collection, although in this case it’s Lon Chaney Jr., we’re talking about. (He dropped the ‘Jr.’ at one point in his career.) This four-movie set includes three items so obscure that I’ve never seen them. This isn’t a complaint, as I love the idea of such truly odd stuff being available. The set will include Manfish (sadly not a monster movie), Golden Junkyard, which is a rare straight dramatic lead for Lon; Lock-Up, a murder mystery, and Indestructible Man. The latter is out on a zillion public domain discs, but Retromedia is promising “for the first time from a 35mm source!”
Lion’s Gate continues to follow in the shoes of the sadly dormant Midnight Movie double feature DVDs, offering later this year the AIP ‘classics’ The Day the World Ended / The She Creature, and The Viking Women and the Sea Serpent / Teenage Caveman. The only bad thing about this is that unlike MGM’s Midnight Movie discs, the Lion’s Gate double bills have so far not bothered to present the films in widescreen, and there’s no indication that they are started here. That sucks, but then again, two long-awaited movies on each $10 disc, so you can’t complain too much. (Well, yes I can. Widescreen, dammit!)
BCI has gained the rights to six Paul Naschy movies, Night of the Werewolf, Exorcism, Vengeance of the Zombies, Human Beasts, Horror Rises from the Tomb, Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll (aka House of Psychotic Women), as well as some other Euro horror flicks. They reportedly plan to release the films in HD anamorphic widescreen with lots of supplementary material.
