Spine #1000 of the Criterion Collection is Radioactive! GODZILLA: THE SHOWA FILMS Coming to Blu-ray in Late October!

CRITERION PULLS OFF A MIRACLE AND RELEASES THE FIRST FIFTEEN GODZILLA FILMS IN ONE BEAUTIFUL BLU-RAY COLLECTION!

2019 has truly been the "Year of Godzilla" Vault Dwellers: GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS stomped its way into theaters (and into my heart), I attended GODZILLA-PALOOZA at The Mahoning Drive-In last month and saw six Godzilla classics in 35mm, and I attended my first ever G-FEST in Chicago mere weeks ago and met the amazing Akira Takarada!

After all of that, Criterion's (not so) surprising announcement of GODZILLA: THE SHOWA-ERA FILMS is the big red cherry on top! Though I'm hoping that they sneak in some more special features between now and the end of October, I readily admit that there is already a LOT to love about this collection! My only (minor) complaints are a lack of English dubbing for the majority of the films (only six of the movies in the set will have an English dub-track), and the absence of alternate versions of several of the movies (e.g. GIGANTIS, THE FIRE MONSTER, the alternate U.S. version of GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN).

That being said, this is a day one purchase for yours truly, and I cannot wait to have a Godzilla marathon once Halloween is over with this year! Let's take a closer look at this amazing Blu-ray collection fellow Godzilla fans!

Synopsis: In 1954, an enormous beast clawed its way out of the sea, destroying everything in its path — and changing movies forever. The arresting original Godzilla soon gave rise to an entire monster-movie genre (kaiju eiga), but the King of the Monsters continued to reign supreme: in fourteen fiercely entertaining sequels over the next two decades, Godzilla defended its throne against a host of other formidable creatures, transforming from a terrifying symbol of nuclear annihilation into a benevolent (if still belligerent) Earth protector. Collected here for the first time are all fifteen Godzilla films of Japan’s Showa era, in a landmark set showcasing the technical wizardry, fantastical storytelling, and indomitable international appeal that established the most iconic giant monster the cinema has ever seen.

Disc Specs:
GOJIRA (and GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS)
Not Rated | Black & White | 96 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p "Fullscreen" (1.37:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN
Not Rated | Black & White | 81 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p "Fullscreen" (1.37:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (Includes both U.S. & Japanese cuts)
Not Rated | Color | 91 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA
Not Rated | Color | 89 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

GHIDORAH: THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER
Not Rated | Color | 93 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

INVASION OF THE ASTRO-MONSTER (aka GODZILLA VS. MONSTER ZERO)
Not Rated | Color | 94 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

EBIRAH, HORROR OF THE DEEP (aka GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER)
Not Rated | Color | 86 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

SON OF GODZILLA
Not Rated | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

DESTROY ALL MONSTERS
Not Rated | Color | 89 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

ALL MONSTERS ATTACK (aka GODZILLA'S REVENGE)
Not Rated | Color | 69 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH (aka GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER)
Not Rated | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

GODZILLA VS. GIGAN
Not Rated | Color | 89 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural
 
GODZILLA VS. MEGALON
Not Rated | Color | 81 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA
Not Rated | Color | 84 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA
Not Rated | Color | 83 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - Japanese Monaural

Extras:

• High-definition digital transfers of all fifteen Godzilla films made between 1954 and 1975, released together for the first time, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks!
• High-definition digital transfers of GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, the 1956 U.S.-release version of GOJIRA; and the 1962 Japanese-release version of KING KONG VS. GODZILLA!
• Audio commentaries from 2011 on GOJIRA and GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS  featuring film historian David Kalat!
• International English-language dub tracks for INVASION OF ASTRO-MONSTER, SON OF GODZILLA, DESTROY ALL MONSTERS, GODZILLA VS. MEGALON, GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA, and TERROR OF MECHAGODZILLA!
• Directors Guild of Japan interview with director Ishiro Honda, conducted by director Yoshimitsu Banno in 1990!
• Programs detailing the creation of Godzilla’s special effects and unused effects sequences from Toho releases including DESTROY ALL MONSTERS!
• NEW! Interview with filmmaker Alex Cox about his admiration for the Showa-era Godzilla films!
• New and archival interviews with cast and crew members, including actors Bin Furuya, Tsugutoshi Komada, Haruo Nakajima, and Akira Takarada; composer Akira Ifukube; and effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai!
• Interview with critic Tadao Sato from 2011!
• Illustrated audio essay from 2011 about the real-life tragedy that inspired Godzilla!
• New English subtitle translations!
• Trailers
• PLUS: A lavishly illustrated deluxe hardcover book featuring an essay by cinema historian Steve Ryfle, notes on the films by cinema historian Ed Godziszewski, and new illustrations by Arthur Adams, Sophie Campbell, Becky Cloonan, Jorge Coelho, Geof Darrow, Simon Gane, Robert Goodin, Benjamin Marra, Monarobot, Takashi Okazaki, Angela Rizza, Yuko Shimizu, Bill Sienkiewicz, Katsuya Terada, Ronald Wimberly, and Chris Wisnia!

Criterion's GODZILLA: THE SHOWA-ERA FILMS is a G-Fan's dream come true, and will be released on October 29th, 2019. The set will cost between $150 - $225, though I do believe that the cost may drop even further as the street date nears. You can currently pre-order this bad boy from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from CRITERION.

Goodbye Godzilla: Suitmation legend Haruo Nakajima has passed on.

RIP - Haruo Nakajima (January 1, 1929 - August 7, 2017)

It is with a heavy heart, that I bid farewell to actor Haruo Nakajima, who passed away yesterday at the age of 88. Starting out as a little-known actor playing bit parts, Nakajima eventually cemented himself as a staple of kaiju movies, with the release of 1954's GOJIRA. As the first person to ever climb inside a Godzilla suit, Nakajima instantly became a trailblazer, and would continue to portray the King of the Monsters in eleven more Showa era films.

But his bragging rights do not stop there: Nakajima-san was also the first to don the suits of other popular giant Japanese monsters, including Rodan, Mothra, Mogera (in THE MYSTERIANS), Varan, Baragon, Gaira (the Green Gargantua), and Gezora (from SPACE AMOEBA, aka YOG: MONSTER FROM SPACE).

As a lifelong Godzilla fan, I've managed to get my paws on tons of collectibles featuring my favorite mon-star. But all of that stuff (movies, soundtracks, action figures, Christmas ornaments, comic books, posters, etc.) pales in comparison to meeting Haruo Nakajima in person! It's an experience that I shall treasure always!

I could barely contain the joy of meeting my childhood hero!

I met Nakajima-san at Chiller Theatre in October 2014. Despite the fact that I had to get up early and drive to Parsippany, NJ, I foolishly attended a 35mm EVIL DEAD film festival the night before in Syracuse, NY. Because of this, I was running on approximately three hours of sleep on my way to Chiller. Once there, I waited in line for an agonizingly long period of time, just to get into the hotel. Then I waited nearly two more hours just to be in the same room as Nakajima-san, as well as Kenpachiro Satsuma and Tsutomo Kitagawa, two other notable Godzilla performers.

In the end, it was well worth the lack of sleep and long lines, because I got to meet a living legend! I was able to shake the hand of the surviving member of Godzilla's "Founding Fathers, which at one time also included the amazing quartet of Director Ishiro Honda, Producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, Composer Akira Ifukube, and Special Effects Supervisor Eiji Tsuburaya! Nakajima signed my old Ian Thorne Godzilla book (which he seemed to puzzle over for a moment), and gave me a quick photo op.

But before parting ways, I issued him a heartfelt thanks for bringing me hours upon hours of joy during my tumultuous childhood. Although I'm not quite sure he understood everything I said, there was no mistaking my excitement and enthusiasm. (Unbridled joy is a universal language!) Sadly, this would end up being the first and last interaction I would ever have with Nakajima-san.

I will treasure this always!

While that realization fills me with sorrow, I take solace in the fact that I had the opportunity to meet one of my heroes. On top of that, Nakajima-san's filmography is readily available, so we can continue to enjoy all of the films that he starred in as our favorite kaiju characters. As long as we keep Haruo Nakajima's memory alive, he will never truly be gone, and we can continue to enjoy, and share, his legacy with newer generations!

Thank you Nakajima-san: You will be missed, but you will not be forgotten! And though we may meet again in another place, for the time being, I must sadly say....

Goodbye now Godzilla, Goodbye now Godzilla, until then.
Take care now Godzilla, take care now Godzilla, my old friend.
Sayonara till we meet again.

To Haruo Nakajima's family, friends, and fans, please accept my deepest sympathies in your time of mourning. But take heart knowing that he was well-loved, and will long be remembered for his contributions to (kaiju) cinema.

- The Vault Master