Matango and Mysterians Dvd Discussion

[WitchKing667]

<font color='#000F22'>Does anyone know if a DVD release of Matango (Attack of the Mushroom People) is possible? Does anyone know who owns the film or has it slipped into public domain. If it has, I think Alpha Video should release it, though they will probably use the terrible red tinted 16mm print that Something Weird used, but it's much better than nothing, as I think Matango is Toho's best film aside from the original Godzilla and deserves some kind of DVD release here. Is Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell in the public domain too, as it was distributed by Sinister Cinema, the now apparently defunct Video Yesteryear and I think Something Weird until fairly recently. Retromedia should release a DVD double feature of both Matango and Goke, since they are both very similarly morbid Japanese horror flicks.
But I really wish Alpha Video and Retromedia would work slightly harder at getting better materials for their films or at least try to do a bit of a remaster job with what they've got, I have seen some of their Gamera DVDs (today I picked up War of the Monsters/Gamera vs. Barugon) and I thought the DVDs all look pretty bad. The AIP dubbing was 100 times that of Sandy Franks but the film just looked so beat up, the film had multiple splices, the color was sickeningly faded, etc, especially compared to the prints Sandy Frank used, which were so much more pristine and beautiful. But I got for six bucks, the price of lunch, so I'm not complaining.

[Doctor Whu]

V1DEO DIKAIJU had a wonderful transfer of Matango. It really is a great atomic horror film.

AMC had shown it about 2 years ago and it was an awful version.

[WitchKing667]

<font color='#000F22'>Yeah, Daikaiju's version is great, the 16mm TV print really weeks havok on the amazing widescreen composition, it's so damp and nightmarish.
I just wish the film could have a R1 DVD release so more people could see it and sadly the chances of a widescreen and subtitled release are nil and a crappy public domain version is better than no version.

[kpa]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (WitchKing667 @ Feb. 28 2004,16:47)]Does anyone know if a DVD release of Matango (Attack of the Mushroom People) is possible? Does anyone know who owns the film or has it slipped into public domain.

The rights have reverted to Toho.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]If it has, I think Alpha Video should release it, though they will probably use the terrible red tinted 16mm print that Something Weird used, but it's much better than nothing, as I think Matango is Toho's best film aside from the original Godzilla and deserves some kind of DVD release here. Is Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell in the public domain too, as it was distributed by Sinister Cinema, the now apparently defunct Video Yesteryear and I think Something Weird until fairly recently. Retromedia should release a DVD double feature of both Matango and Goke, since they are both very similarly morbid Japanese horror flicks.

Toho is fiercely protective of their rights and would be all over any company mass-marketing unauthorized DVDs of their movies. Alpha learned that awhile back.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]But I really wish Alpha Video and Retromedia would work slightly harder at getting better materials for their films or at least try to do a bit of a remaster job with what they've got, I have seen some of their Gamera DVDs (today I picked up War of the Monsters/Gamera vs. Barugon) and I thought the DVDs all look pretty bad. The AIP dubbing was 100 times that of Sandy Franks but the film just looked so beat up, the film had multiple splices, the color was sickeningly faded, etc, especially compared to the prints Sandy Frank used, which were so much more pristine and beautiful. But I got for six bucks, the price of lunch, so I'm not complaining.

One way they could improve their product is to actually pay for the rights to the movies they release. That would give them access to the original source material, but Alpha and Retromedia are more interested in a fast buck than a quality DVD.

Sinister Cinema and Something Weird have also released a ton of pd titles in the past but they would make more of an effort to find good materials. Something Weird's STARMAN Dvds are particularly nice.

[Emperor Violenjiger]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Monster Master @ Feb. 28 2004,22:10)]Maybe ADV will pick it up.

I hope not.

[WitchKing667]

<font color='#000F22'>Why not? They are more likely to release in it subtitles and even if they don't they'll give us a nice dubbed letterboxed print like they did with Destroy All Monsters. I'd buy then, happily.
But honestly, when will the films that have reverted back to Toho be released on DVD here? I haven't seen any sign of a release of films like Godzilla vs. Hedora, Godzilla vs. Gigan, etc. I really wish someone, like ADV, would release those beautiful, letterboxed prints aired on Sci-Fi.

[Emperor Violenjiger]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (C-R-V @ Feb. 29 2004,16:02)]

Mabey someone should hop on the bandwagon and make a petitionfor ADV to release TOHOs Godzilla films, and the international/japanese versions of the showa gamera films!

PLEASE!

That would be a nightmare.... &nbsp;

[Emperor Violenjiger]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (WitchKing667 @ Feb. 29 2004,17:39)]

And I thought Canada gets the same R1 releases that we do. I did see lots of ADV anime DVDs and videos on sale in a comic shop on Prince Edward Island.

I've never seen anything ADV available up here anywhere ('cept Amazon.ca, which doesn't count). And if that's the case, then I don't see why Blockbuster couldn't acquire them for me when I had them special ordered.

[kpa]

Thanks to Diabolik on the MZ boards:

Trailer
http://www.sonypictures.com/previews...5544_main.html

Sony Godzilla DVD Website
http://www.sonypictures.com/homevide...avs.gigan1972/

[UltraGojira]

Hmm, when I read the review of the Godzilla vs. Gigan/Hedorah/Mechagodzilla DVDs, they said that they used the teaser trailer for GMMG... but looking at the site, they looked like promos to me...

Oh, well. The promo looks really great! Nice use of the footage from Godzilla: Tokyo SOS! Did you guys noticed the Ebirah cover during the end? Press pause and look closely...

[Gorjirus]

Now I wonder when we will get the release date for that.

[Charles RB]

Now that was cool.

Pity they didn't use any footage from the movies besides Tokyo SOS though.

[Alien-G]

after visiting Toho Kingdom, I saw that January 25, 2005, Tokyo Shock is releasing this movie on DVD.

[Solar_Behemoth]

Is it going to the American or Japanese version?
I've always wanted to the see the Japanese version with high quality picture (and not the terrible U.S. print) with subtitles; I have the rare Goodtimes 1994 release. The Mysterians is an excellent film if you expect what you are about to see... in other words, this is NOT a big kaiju film. Showa Moguera is only in 10% of the film, as it mostly focuses on Earth weapons having explosive, extreme wars with Mysteroid forces.

So, don't expect a kaiju film to the extent of Godzilla or Gamera when you buy this DVD; you will be disappointed if you do. Moguera is barely in this film. I happen to be a big fan of 50s Toho action films, so I of course found this film to be wildly entertaining. Most of you guys probably will hate this film because there isn't enough "kaiju-action" in it.

[Baran-no-goji]

I think Tokyo Shock released the wide screen english subbed version of Gappa, so likely w\ all the respectable jobs (better than tri-star) they put on their relases this will be a real treat. The widescreen for this film is amazing. I also hope they plan to release more classic Toho films.

[Alien-G]

I will enjoy this movie, with Ishiro Honda and Akira Ifukube's genius, it'll be worth the money.

[The Great MM]

Originally Posted by Project Pimp

Hopefully people will BUY it, so MB releases other classic Toho films with subtitles.

Come on uncut Gorath and Lattitude Zero!

[Zillamon51]

Originally Posted by Monster Master

Come on uncut Gorath and Lattitude Zero!

Latitude Zero is doubtful. I think the rights to that movie are so messed up, that Toho hasn't even released it in Japan. I do think this is a great opening for subtitled Toho classics to get released in R1, especially since Sony is reportedly hesitant to pick up some of the earlier G-films that don't have international dub tracks available.

[Solar_Behemoth]

Originally Posted by Mothraleo

I will, most definetaly.

Same here.
I want to see this film as it was meant to be seen!
It's gonna be a real treat seeing this on widescreen and Japanese w/ subtitles!
I'm hoping to see Dogora released on DVD as well. That is a film Toho-fans will need to see!

[Alien-G]

I would love to see them release movies such as Yog, Frankenstein, Gargantuas(Even though these already have planned releases), Mothra, Atragon, I think I've made my point, I have never seen a Tokyo Shock DVD before, but I've heard good things, now if only they could release better versions of the showa Gamera series.

FCTW and WOTG are owned by Classic Media so it's up to them. With an uncut Godzilla '54 on the way, there is some hope. Mothra is owned by Sony, and unfortunately so is Battle in Outer Space. I'd have to loved to see the Mysterian's sequel get the MB treatment as well... assuming MB's treatment doesnt suck, heh.

I may not know what the hell I'm talking about, but I would assume films up for grabs are GRA, Varan, Gorath, Ghidrah, Dogora, Yog, Megalon, and The War in Space.

[Solar_Behemoth]

Originally Posted by Kaiju_Sensai

According to CD Universe it will in fact be subtitled.

That is GREAT news!
I'm definitely picking up this DVD when it comes out!

Now I won't have to put up with the brown, fuzzy, American print.

[The Great MM]

Originally Posted by Kaiju_Sensai

According to CD Universe it will in fact be subtitled.

Crap... I for one prefer em dubbed... then I don't need to read what they are saying when I'm on the computer...

oh well... Moguera is worth it alone.

[Mothraleo]

Originally Posted by Monster Master

Crap... I for one prefer em dubbed... then I don't need to read what they are saying when I'm on the computer...

oh well... Moguera is worth it alone.

You do realize that Moguera has little to no screen time, right? (kinda like Manda in Atragon)

[baragon2005]

Originally Posted by DarkGojiLord

He has about 5 mins in the American version and 8 in the Japenese.

More like 5 in the American version and about 6 in the Japanese one. The lastr scene with Moguera lasts about a minute.