Kaiju Holy Grails

[Mattster]

Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965)
King Kong Escapes (1967)
Yog the Space Monster (U.S. dub) (1970)
Destroy All Monsters (U.S. dub) (1968)

These sure are holy grails eh?

[stareater]

I'd have to add:

Godzilla (1954)
Rodan
Daimajin
Gamera
Gamera vs. Barugon
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla



To add to the theme of the thread, I'd have to say the following films need to be included, even though they aren't Japanese:

King Kong
Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

King Kong needs to be mentioned since it really is the charter member of the genre. I guess a version of Mysterious Island from 1929 had a giant octopus and alligator ([posing as a giant sea monster) make appearances, but it certainly doesn't replace KK as the grandaddy of them all.

Beast needs status as well, since it's the mother of all giant atomic beast films. I'd say these two films are the Holy Grails of monster cinema, with everything else owing great debt to them, no matter where they were made. I guess I'm saying they should be pinned Holy Grails when discussing the merit of any giant monster films.

[Xenorama ™]

well, with any luck the first two will actually get a DVD release (negating my DVDrs, but that's OK). i have both of the other two- well, my Yog is a fullscreen transfer, which is cool for me, since that's how i first saw it on tv. and i have four copies of DAM, three of which are the AIP dub!

David

[Zone Fighter]

Dubs are awful. Original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles is the only way to go.

[stareater]

Dubs are awful. Original Japanese dialogue with English subtitles is the only way to go.

The thing is many people prefer to see the movie as they saw it on television, which is dubbed. Honestly, I don't really care if the audio track is a dub, as long as the film is the original uncut version. I'm more concerned about getting a top-notch print with none of the film cut out.

[Giganfan]

The "Holy Grail" for me would be coming across a butt-load of old VHS tapes that have been out of print for years at a garage sale or something. Stuff like THE MYSTERIANS, THE H-MAN, Vestron's old GODZILLA KING OF THE MONSTERS, etc. Basically, the original U.S. versions that I haven't seen. I already have all the Japanese versions, and picture/sound quality matters not. Though it'd be nice to get some good ones. I'd say the ones I'm looking for the most are:

THE MYSTERIANS (RKO)
BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE (Columbia)
THE H-MAN (Columbia)
YOG THE MONSTER FROM SPACE (AIP)
GORATH (?)
ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE (AIP)

Etc., etc., etc. I don't know the names of the companies that released any of these films on tape, but then again it's not like I'm searching far-and-wide, high-and-low for the things. I'm just kinda hoping they'll pop up somewhere. Actually, I'm more interested in the U.S. versions themselves, rather than the tapes but whatever.

[Xenorama ™]

me, i prefer the dubs i grew up with, but the newer movies i'd rather see subtitled, since the dubbing actors just don't measure up to those AIP/Glen Glenn ones.

i thought this meant "lost" movies!

Giganfan, i have DVDrs of the Mysterians (fullscreen) and YOG, and the new Matango disc has the exact same dub AIP used for it's tv release. if you still want a fullscreen copy i have one of those as well, from Sinister Cinema.

[WaverBoy]

I hear that Universal has just prepared new 35mm prints of both KING KONG VS. GODZILLA and KING KONG ESCAPES. If these hit DVD, well, the U.S. edit of the former I absolutely cannot stand in the least, so I'll stick with my fansubbed widescreen boot on that one. The latter is preferably viewed in the English version, as the male and female leads' dialogue is in English (although unfortunately Linda Miller was redubbed by one of the worst voiceover actresses of all time...WHY???). If KING KONG ESCAPES comes out on a lovely widescreen DVD, it WILL be mine.

[Xenorama ™]

Linda was probably worse. i never had a problem with the dub of KKE, though.

of course, i also like the US version of KKVSG simply because it's what i grew up with. it's not as good as the Japanese cut, but then it's nearly as horrible as some fans would have people believe.

[el-brazo]

The Holy Grails of Kaiju for any German fan would be:

o Godzilla Raids Again
o Dagora, The Space Monster
o Gamera Vs. Jiger

These movies were once released in Germany, but the dubs seem to be completely lost. Godzilla Raids Again was redubbed for the DVD release.

[Gwangi]

Destroy All Monsters (AIP of course)
Frankenstein Conqueres the World
War of the Gargantuas
King Kong Escapes

WaverBoy said:

I hear that Universal has just prepared new 35mm prints of both KING KONG VS. GODZILLA and KING KONG ESCAPES. If these hit DVD, well, the U.S. edit of the former I absolutely cannot stand in the least, so I'll stick with my fansubbed widescreen boot on that one. The latter is preferably viewed in the English version, as the male and female leads' dialogue is in English (although unfortunately Linda Miller was redubbed by one of the worst voiceover actresses of all time...WHY???). If KING KONG ESCAPES comes out on a lovely widescreen DVD, it WILL be mine.

I believe it was Julie Bennett who dubbed Linda and did many other voiceovers in cartoons and such. I don't think she was that bad. And remember, she also dubbed Mie Hama. There are bad dubs that's true, but those done by people who have actually acted, you can really tell the difference.

I can't wait to see KKE at the Egyptian if that is still planned. I seriously doubt though that Rhodes Reason will attend!

[Xenorama ™]

i hope both Kong movies get a nice widescreen release on DVD due to Jackson's film. i've heard the cartoon is going to be released as well, which would be great.

i'll be looking for people up in LA in June, for sure!