Reddit reviews The Return of Godzilla [Blu-ray]

Hi, everyone. Long-time lurker, first time poster. Thought I’d join the trend of showing off DVD/Blu-Ray collections, while also providing a buying guide and advice for UK fans (and fans generally).



First of all, due to the limited number of films released in the UK (Godzilla ’54, King Kong vs. Godzilla, Godzilla ’98 and Godzilla ’14), if you want to own all the films on physical media you will need a multi-region DVD player in order to watch them. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily need to buy a new DVD player, as there might be a way to make your current device read and play disc from any region. I recommend having a look at http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks to see whether the make/model of your current player has a way to convert it to multi-region playback. Please note that these are based on user reports and have not all been tested or verified by the site, so discretion is advised. From personal experience, I have altered two (maybe three) of my own DVD players for multi-region playback and all are functioning fine.



Now, here are some links and details for each of the films/boxsets in my collection:

• Godzilla ’54 – region 2 DVD – Japanese audio only - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Godzilla-DVD-Akira-Takarada/dp/B000CFX5M8/ref=sr_1_4?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485955687&sr=1-4&keywords=godzilla
  
  
• Godzilla Raids Again – region 1 DVD – Japanese and US versions - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Godzilla-Raids-Again-Region-NTSC/dp/B000MV8AJU/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485955727&sr=1-1&keywords=godzilla+raids+again This release is now out-of-print.
  
  
• King Kong vs. Godzilla – region 0 DVD – Japanese audio only - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/King-Kong-vs-Godzilla-Kingu-Kongu-tai-Gojira-1962-Japanese-Monster-Movie-DVD-/172235178598?hash=item281a044266:g:j80AAOSwMNxXWL0F This is a bootleg, but is currently the only way I have found to get the original Japanese version in the UK. The US version can be found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/King-Kong-Vs-Godzilla-DVD-x/dp/B000ESST38/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485955904&sr=1-2&keywords=king+kong+vs+godzilla A region B Blu-Ray is coming out later this month.
  
  
• Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster – region 1 DVD – Japanese and US versions - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghidorah-Three-Headed-Monster-Region-NTSC/dp/B000OCY7IU/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485956013&sr=1-1&keywords=ghidorah+the+three-headed+monster This release is now out-of-print.
  
  
• Godzilla: Showa Classics Volume 1 – region 4 DVDs – Japanese and English Dub (but not sure whether the US edits are present, or just international dub) - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Godzilla-Showa-Classics-Volume-1-DVD-Region-4-/152079377891?hash=item2368a325e3:g:EKEAAOSw2GlXKsup Includes the films: Godzilla ’54 (both Jap and ‘King of the Monsters’), Mothra vs. Godzilla, Invasion of the Astro Monster, Ebirah: Horror from the Deep (possible dub-titles as opposed to translated subs), Son of Godzilla, Destroy All Monsters.
  
  
• Godzilla: Showa Classics Volume 2 – region 4 DVDs – Japanese and English Dub (but not sure whether the US edits are present, or just international dub) - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Godzilla-Showa-Classics-Volume-2-DVD-Region-4-/131772716312?hash=item1eae441518:g:16EAAOSwWBJXA9yZ Includes the films: Godzilla: All Monsters Attack (A.K.A.: Godzilla’s Revenge), Godzilla vs. Hedorah (possible dub-titles as opposed to translated subs), Godzilla vs. Gigan (possible dub-titles as opposed to translated subs), Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1) (possible dub-titles as opposed to translated subs), Terror of Mechagodzilla.
  
  
• The Return of Godzilla – region 3 DVD – Japanese audio only - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/The-Return-of-Godzilla-DVD-Japanese-NEW-English-Subtites-Region-3-Sci-fi-/371213182923?hash=item566e07a7cb:g:3W4AAOSw7NNT8jhd I should note that I do not recommend this release. It is in letterbox 4:3, the interlacing is very bad, picture a bit dim and unfocused and the English subs share the screen with simplified Chinese (and aren’t 100% accurate). Your best bet would be the recent Kraken release on Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.co.uk/RETURN-OF-GODZILLA/dp/B01FZ8I7R4/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485956663&sr=1-2&keywords=return+of+godzilla Features Japanese and English audio (international dub), presumably a much better images quality, and according to Blu-Ray.com it’s region free (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Return-of-Godzilla-Blu-ray/156546/). Kraken also released the movie on region 1 DVD.
  
  
• Godzilla vs. Biolante – region 1 DVD – Japanese and English audio - https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/DVD-Blu-ray/Godzilla-Vs-Biollante-DVD-Region-US-NTSC/B00LVZJZ54/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485956902&sr=1-1&keywords=godzilla+vs+biollante The price of this seems to be going up recently, so might be out-of-print. Also, my DVD copy is actually region free.
  
  
• Godzilla: Heisei Series Boxset – region 4 DVDs – Japanese and English Dub - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Godzilla-Heisei-Series-DVD-Region-4-/141950367571?hash=item210ce6b753:g:VUUAAOSwSX9XA9yd Includes the films: Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for Earth, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (2), Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla (possible dub-titles as opposed to translated subs), Godzilla vs. Destoroyah.
  
  
• Godzilla ’98 – region 2 DVD – English (amongst others) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Godzilla-DVD-Matthew-Broderick/dp/B0002K118I/ref=sr_1_6?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485957393&sr=1-6&keywords=godzilla+1998
  
  
• Godzilla: Millennium Series Boxset – region 4 DVDs – Japanese and English Dub - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GODZILLA-THE-MILLENNIUM-SERIES-6-disc-Set-DVD-REGION-4-Sealed-/162215551486?hash=item25c4cce1fe:g:ndMAAOSwv9hW6W~A Includes the films: Godzilla 2000 (only the US version), Godzilla vs. Megaguirus, Godzilla-Mothra-King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack, Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla (3) (A.K.A.: Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla), Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S., Godzilla: Final Wars.
  
  
• Godzilla ’14 – region B Blu-Ray – English - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Godzilla-Blu-ray-Region-Aaron-Taylor-Johnson-x/dp/B00EXPOD9M/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485957670&sr=1-2&keywords=godzilla+2014 Also available on DVD.
  
  BONUS
  
• Gamera Trilogy – region A Blu-Ray – Japanese and English audio - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gamera-Trilogy-Blu-Region-Free/dp/B005X9BPZM/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1485957807&sr=1-2&keywords=gamera+trilogy This Blu-Ray set is actually region free (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Gamera-Trilogy-Blu-ray/27237/). Also, I recommend looking around at prices, you can pick this set up for less than half the price of this listing. In fact, importing the set from amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/Gamera-Trilogy-Blu-ray/dp/B005ENCIWG?SubscriptionId=AKIAIY4YSQJMFDJATNBA&tag=bluray-022-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B005ENCIWG&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER) is currently £13.36 incl. postage. This is what I did and I can confirm the set is region free.
  
  
  
  I hope you found this helpful. If you have any further questions, please let me know.
  

I found it on Amazon Here

https://www.amazon.com/Return-Godzilla-Blu-ray-Koji-Hashimoto/dp/B01FZ8I7R4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524512330&sr=8-1&keywords=godzilla+1984

Godzilla 1984 and Godzilla vs Biollante are available with subtitles on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01FZ8I7R4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484464212&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=godzilla+1984&dpPl=1&dpID=61YQi3DoKEL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LVZK1LG/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Amazon.] (https://www.amazon.com/Return-Godzilla-Blu-ray-Koji-Hashimoto/dp/B01FZ8I7R4)

Thank's everyone who responded when I initially asked this question! I was hoping there would be a big giant Blu-ray box set of all the classics, but of course such a thing doesn't exist, not does a Blu-ray set for all three classic eras in their entirety.

But here's what I did find, and it's far more affordable than I initially feared! "Affordable" is a subjective term of course, and I'm excluding the outlier that is Godzilla Vs. Biollante...


The entire Showa era will be released by Criterion in October of this year (thanks warghuul for revealing this to me!)

• GODZILLA: The Showa Era Films - The Criterion Collection - Releases October 29th, 2019
  
  The Heisei era does not appear to have a box set as far as I can tell, but (nearly) every film is available on Blu-ray individually or in two-packs as part of the Toho Collection.
  
  
• The Return of Godzilla
  
• Godzilla Vs. Biollante - This one for some reason is NOT affordable at this time, all the DVD and Blu-ray release of this are over $100 each
  
• Godzilla Vs. King Ghidora/ Godzilla Vs. Mothra 2-Pack
  
• Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II/Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla 2-Pack
  
• Godzilla Vs. Destroyah/ Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus 2-Pack - Not sure why there are packaged together, Vs. Destroyah is the final film of Heisei, and Vs. Megaguirus is the SECOND film of Millenium Era...
  
  The Millennium era also lacks a boxed set but continues the Toho Collection releases.
  
  
• Godzilla 2000
  
• Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus - Released as part of the 2-Pack with Godzilla Vs. Destroyah
  
• Godzilla: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack/ Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla 2-Pack
  
• Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S./ Godzilla: Final Wars 2-Pack

These are the current American blu-ray releases and their links to Amazon:

Godzilla

King Kong vs. Godzilla

Godzilla vs. The Sea Monster

Destroy All Monsters

Godzilla Vs. Hedorah

Godzilla Vs. Gigan

Godzilla Vs. Megalon

Godzilla 1984

Godzilla Vs. Biollante

Godzilla Vs. King Ghidorah / Godzilla Vs. Mothra

Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla II / Godzilla Vs. Spacegodzilla

Godzilla Vs. Destoroyah / Godzilla Vs. Megaguirus

Godzilla 2000

GMK / Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla

Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. / Godzilla: Final Wars

Shin Godzilla

The rest of the films are available on DVD, though some are out of print and are pretty expensive and hard to find.

Here’s hoping for that Criterion box set soon!