{"product_id":"aba-blu-godzil042-cc307","title":"Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975  (BLU-RAY)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1954, an enormous beast clawed its way out of the sea, destroying everything in its path—and changing movies forever. The arresting original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGodzilla\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e soon gave rise to an entire monster-movie genre (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekaiju eiga\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e), 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"header_lvl2\"\u003eFILMS IN THIS SET\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eGodzilla\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eGodzilla\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(a.k.a.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGojira\u003c\/i\u003e) is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at a time when the country was reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing in the Pacific. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning almost thirty sequels. A thrilling, tactile spectacle that continues to be a cult phenomenon, the original, 1954 Japanese version is presented here, along with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eGodzilla, King of the Monsters,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethe 1956 \"Americanized\" version.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eGodzilla Raids Again\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToho Studios followed the enormous success of the original\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGodzilla\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewith this sequel, efficiently directed by Motoyoshi Oda as a straight-ahead monsters-on-the-loose drama. An underrated standout among the Showa Godzilla films,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGodzilla Raids Again\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eintroduces the monster-versus-monster format that would dominate the remainder of the series, pitting Godzilla against the ferocious, spiny Anguirus as the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekaiju\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ewreak havoc in the streets of Osaka in a series of elaborate set pieces that succeed in upping the ante for destruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eKing Kong vs. Godzilla\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter his first two cinematic rampages, Godzilla was revived as an adversary for the Hollywood import King Kong. When Kong is discovered on a remote island by a publicity-hungry pharmaceutical company, the giant ape is set on a collision course with Godzilla, and Japan braces for a double dose of devastation. Both the Japanese-release version and the U.S.-release cut were rousing hits, cementing Godzilla’s status as a series-worthy star.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eMothra vs. Godzilla\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGodzilla faces off against the benevolent insect monster-god Mothra in this clash of the titans, a crossover battle between two of Toho Studios’ most popular monsters—the last in which Godzilla would figure as a malevolent villain rather than a fearsome hero.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMothra vs. Godzilla\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emarks a creative high point in the Godzilla series, with pointed social commentary from director Ishiro Honda, a masterful score by Akira Ifukube, and astonishing special-effects work by Eiji Tsuburaya.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eGhidorah, the Three-Headed Monster\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter laying waste to an alien civilization on Venus, the three-headed, lightning-emitting space monster Ghidorah brings its insatiable thirst for destruction to Earth, where fierce foes Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra must join forces in order to deal with the unprecedented threat. An electrifying screen debut for Godzilla’s archenemy Ghidorah, this film also marks a turning point for the series, as the first time the King of the Monsters acts to protect the planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eInvasion of Astro-Monster\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAliens from Planet X make an irresistible offer to the people of Earth: let them borrow Godzilla and Rodan to help defeat King Ghidorah, and in return they will provide a cure for all known human disease. But the aliens’ duplicity is soon revealed, as they deploy all three monsters in their quest to conquer Earth. This retro romp, featuring American star Nick Adams, stands as a high point in the Showa Godzilla series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eEbirah, Horror of the Deep\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first Godzilla film directed by Jun Fukuda, who would go on to direct four more, is fast-paced and light in tone, and builds to a riveting race-against-time finale. On a secluded island in the South Seas, a group of castaways stumble upon a paramilitary organization whose nefarious nuclear activities threaten the world at large—and set the stage for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekaiju\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eclashes involving Godzilla, Mothra, and the giant crustacean Ebirah.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eSon of Godzilla\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn director Jun Fukuda’s second Godzilla outing, secret weather-control experiments create a radioactive storm and Godzilla must rescue monster hatchling Minilla from the giant mutant insects that result. Featuring a buoyant score by Masaru Sato and impressive wirework by special-effects director Sadamasa Arikawa,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSon of Godzilla\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eis lively, comic, and timely in its addressing of contemporary anxiety about worldwide food shortages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eDestroy All Monsters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original Godzilla team of director Ishiro Honda, special-effects supervisor Eiji Tsuburaya, and composer Akira Ifukube reunited for this\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ekaiju\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eextravaganza, which features no fewer than eleven monsters. Set in the remote future of 1999, when the people of Earth have achieved world peace by confining destructive creatures to Monsterland (until an alien race intervenes),\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eDestroy All Monsters\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003emounts a thrilling display of innovative action sequences and memorable images that have made it a favorite for generations of viewers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eAll Monsters Attack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirector Ishiro Honda returned again for the first Godzilla movie expressly for children. Economizing by reusing effects shots from other films in the series,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAll Monsters Attack\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003etells the story of Ichiro, a lonely latchkey kid who finds solace in his dreams of befriending Minilla, the titular progeny of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eSon of Godzilla,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ewhose parent is also often absent.\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eIn this thoughtful, human-scale story, boy and monster learn together what it means to grow up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eGodzilla vs. Hedorah\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntended to address the crisis levels of pollution in postwar Japan,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGodzilla vs. Hedorah\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efinds the King of the Monsters fighting an alien life form that arrives on Earth and steadily grows by feeding on industrial waste. Director Yoshimitsu Banno infuses the film with equal parts ecological horror, humorous monster antics, and sixties psychedelia straight out of San Francisco, making for a truly unique—and divisive—entry in the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eGodzilla vs. Gigan\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn alien invasion prompts a tag-team battle between Godzilla and Anguirus, the planet protectors, and King Ghidorah and the new monster Gigan, a cyborg with scythe-like claws, an abdominal buzz saw, winglike back fins, and pincerlike mandibles. In this action-packed film, which veers from the sublime to the ridiculous, the cockroachlike aliens—disguised as humans—use Gigan and King Ghidorah as weapons of conquest in their plot to take over a contaminated Earth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eGodzilla vs. Megalon\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNuclear testing unleashes mayhem on the undersea kingdom of Seatopia, causing a series of environmental disasters that nearly wipes out Rokuro, the schoolboy protagonist at the center of this film. To exact revenge, Seatopia unleashes Megalon, a gigantic beetle with the ability to fire ray beams and napalm bombs. Meanwhile, Rokuro’s brother creates Jet Jaguar, a flying robot with a built-in moral compass. The inevitable matchup of Godzilla and Jet Jaguar versus Megalon and Gigan decides the world’s fate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGodzilla’s evil twin Mechagodzilla first reared its head in this Jun Fukuda–directed film. A robot designed by aliens to conquer Earth, the enduringly popular villain has since been resurrected by Toho Studios several times.\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eWith the help of earnest direction, spectacular pyrotechnics, and guest appearances by veteran genre actors, this film recaptures the feel of the sixties Godzilla movies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cheader class=\"product-detail-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-detail-title\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"header__primarytitle\" itemprop=\"name\"\u003eTerror of Mechagodzilla\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/header\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-summary\" itemprop=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Godzilla’s last gasp of the Showa era, aliens retrieve Mechagodzilla’s remains and rebuild it with the aid of an unhinged biologist (a scenery-chewing Akihiko Hirata), in hopes of defeating Godzilla for possession of planet Earth. This film marked the return of director Ishiro Honda, who had retired years earlier, disheartened by the increasingly kid-friendly approach of the series. For this final entry, Honda steers the King of the Monsters back into grim territory, interweaving an alien-invasion plot with a tale of tragic romance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch4 class=\"header_lvl2 hideSmall\"\u003eEIGHT-BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION COLLECTOR’S SET FEATURES\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-definition digital transfers of all fifteen Godzilla films made between 1954 and 1975, released together for the first time, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh-definition digital transfers of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGodzilla, King of the Monsters,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ethe 1956 U.S.-release version of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eGodzilla;\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand the 1962 Japanese-release version of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eKing Kong vs. Godzilla,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"redactor-invisible-space\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003epresented with its original 4.0 surround soundtrack.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAudio commentaries from 2011 on\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eGodzilla\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eGodzilla, King of the Monsters\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efeaturing film historian David Kalat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternational English-language dub tracks for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eInvasion of Astro-Monster, Son of Godzilla,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eDestroy All Monsters, Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eTerror of Mechagodzilla\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDirectors Guild of Japan interview with director Ishiro Honda, conducted by director Yoshimitsu Banno in 1990\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeaturette detailing\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eGodzilla\u003c\/em\u003e’s photographic effects\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eToho Unused Special Effects Complete Collection\u003c\/i\u003e, a 1986 documentary featuring archival making-of footage; scenes deleted from films including\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eDestroy All Monsters,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eKing Kong vs. Godzilla,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMothra vs. Godzilla;\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand interviews with Honda, producer Tomoyuki Tanaka, special-effects director Teruyoshi Nakano, and others\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew interview with filmmaker Alex Cox about his admiration for the Showa-era Godzilla films\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew 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\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInterview with critic Tadao Sato from 2011\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustrated audio essay from 2011 about the real-life tragedy that inspired\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eGodzilla\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew English subtitle translations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrailers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePLUS: 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\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Criterion Collection","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41280917995720,"sku":"CC3075BD","price":289.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0598\/8486\/3688\/products\/godzillashowa.jpg?v=1647543714","url":"https:\/\/videomatica.com\/es\/products\/aba-blu-godzil042-cc307","provider":"Videomatica Ltd (since 1983)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}