Customer Reviews
Rock-em sock-em Godzilla kaiju at its finest!! 
2008-01-30
This is a terribly entertaining Godzilla movie. I have heard fans complain that Godzilla movies, by the late 70's become too kid-oriented, but I beg to differ: I would rather have a kid-friendly Godzilla movie with lots of fighting as opposed to a boring, talky Godzilla movie. Astro Monster is a boring, dull Godzilla movie. Ghidorah: The Three Headed Monster - is an action-packed Godzilla movie that also manages to have some depth and good story and characters, without getting bogged down in it. The action scenes rock! The commentary on this new Toho release is wonderful and educational, and a lot of fun, and the film is offered in the original Japanese with subtitles for adults, as well as in English dubbing for the kids. These Toho editions are really, truly superlative presentations - a must have for any Godzilla fan. This title, in particular, is a real blast and is a very well rounded, beautifully produced monster movie. A lot of fun. Highly recommended! A+
Exactly as I remember it. 2008-01-20
First let me begin this review with the fact that my opinion is biased. That aside, lets start this with how great a Godzilla movie this is. I have been a Godzilla fan since the age of 8 and I am currently 32. I grew up with Science Fiction Theater, Movie Monster Sunday and other such special showcases that usually happened on TV on sundays back in the early eighties. TOHO is doing excellent work with reviving the series on DVD and doing even better as they are placing both the original Japenese film and the american edited versions in the packages. As someone who has seen all 28 films and now with these re-releases, actually own all 28 films, TOHO has made me a happy guy. They still have a few to re-release but I hope that those are not far off. I'd hate to think that I can only ever watch Godzilla vs. Megalon in VHS ever again. As the title of this review states, the film on the DVD is exactly as I remember it from when I was 8, a great, fun movie to watch especially with someone else who grew up with Godzilla. I know that it may be hard to bring in new fans but I always suggest that you introduce them to the classic Godzilla first before you show them any of the Millenium stuff.
GHIDRAH, GHIDORA, GHIDORAH 2008-01-18
No those aren't the names of the three different heads. Those are just the various way the monster's name has been spelled. This is one of my all time favorites. It is presented in 2:35.1 Tohoscope for both the English dubbed and Japanese spoken versions. As far as picture quality goes, both versions look very good. The Japanese version is better but the English version is not nearly as dreadful as some reviewers would lead us to believe. In fact it's not dreadful at all. Face it, do you know how lucky we are to have this movie available to us on dvd? And in widescreen. I don't know about you, but after nearly 20 years of a fullscreen only poor picture quality VHS, this DVD is more of a treasure than you'll ever know. Classic Media keep up the great work. I'm still hopeful that they will someday acquire the rights to the American International and Japanese spoken version of DESTROY ALL MONSTERS. One final word of warning. Do not confuse this DVD with the bootleg version that has the cartoony cover art, claiming to be widescreen. IT IS NOT! And the picture quality is awful.
Monster Movies, Woo-Hoo 
2008-01-07
Should allso be in Full screen, Wide Screen ruins it, and even a wide screen still gives black line at Top and Bottom. I have a 27 in screen, not a 23 in screen.
James bond meets a Godzilla 2008-01-04
What do you get when cross a B Movie together about a giant three headed dragon with and old fashion ganster and james Bond movie. The answer is a fantastically cheesy film Toho 1964 smash hit Ghiodorah the three headed monster. This was a turn point for a new transition in this film Godzilla role would be changed for humanities destroyer to his protector.Just like Gamera. This kid friendly godzilla would last until the mid 1980s with the release of Godzilla 1985 or Godzilla returns as it was called in Japan. When a royal princess plane is blown up she survivves see ends up in Japan and gains the ability to tell the future. A police man is set to protect here froma group of assians trying to kill her so here country will go the other way politically. If taht wasn't worse enough Godzilla and Rodan return and threaten Japan. And a metorite crashed onto earth. The princess claiming to be and alien from Mars/(Venusin the japanese version also included on the dvd revelies a shocking tale) It turns out the metorite is actually another gigantic super acent monster know as Ghidorah. To defeast ghiodrah the citizen of Japan called upon the assitance of the Peanuts"the twin fairs of infant island. They have one hope atr saving tokeyo that is if the new mothra larva (actually there were two larva in the previous film but only one makes and apperance in this one) can convince Rodan and Godzilla to but aside there differences and join forces with here to defeat ghiodora will it work and will the princess survive the assiansionation of the evil hired assians from here home countr or is Tokeyo and the princess doomed to be oblivated find out in the thrilling and earthing shattering conclusion. This dvd contains both relase of the film english edubbed in Japense and the english version weith a commentary for the english of the film. If you like this I also recommend the two dsik Gorjira, the original Godzilla versus Godzila versus mothra Japense and English single DVD. and Godzila Raids again and Invasion of the astro monster single addition two version single disk version also coming soon on DVD Godzila rvenge (All monsters attack japanese title) on one disk and Japenese and English Terror of Mechagodzila on one DVD.
It's a monster movie, but not as we know it.... 
2008-05-25
Ummm. How to review this one... it's not billed as a Godzilla movie, but of course it is, though it's 45 minutes before he appears (if you watch the Japanese subtitled original). The ponderous and convoluted plot about the princess who re-appears thinking she's come from Venus dominates the movie along with the gang of goons trying to shoot her (let's hope the Japanese did not manufacture those guns they couldn't hit an elephant in the high street) and of course, it all makes no sense. Its glorious nonsense. We have a fallen meteorite that spends half the movie being magnetic, glowing and growing. Then we get an explosion of monster action half way through which turns the more or less serious series of Godzilla movies into a cartoon for the first time.
The fight sequences between Godzilla and Rodan are hilarious, after a few aimless loops Rodan appears to be as flightless as a turkey and with the help of poor editing, he even makes a Godzilla noise. He fights more like a turkey than a bird of prey, too, but he's got a decent header on him. In the SFX department they've run out of blue flame and Godzilla shoots a sort of hairspray at Rodan which barely troubles him as he's got no hair.
When King Ghidorah finally appears the public relations department drives through the streets with a tannoy to announce his name. The scattering crowds say thank you! Well, you do like to know who is trampling your cities, don't you. The trampled Japs come out with some terrific expressions of shock: Juda! Yuh! Gua! Only in Japanese....
Mothra is in larvae form (there were two of her in the previous movie when she beat Godzilla) and holds an extended and quite sophisticated conversation with Rodan and Godzilla which they politely sit down for. When Ghidorah finally pitches into battle he's quickly taking on all three of them and his little yellow rays give Godzilla a thorough body search hitting him places any self-respecting monster would ordinarily regard as private. Godzilla can't be bothered to use his hairspray breath so he takes to kicking and throwing an awful lot of boulders. Mothra gums up Ghidorah's heads and he flies off, and the movie ends with the monsters just standing around.
This movie may well have marked the turning point when Godzilla movies (there are 28 so far) from semi-serious efforts into more comedic cartoonish films for big and little kids, but even compared to that prolongued phase in the franchise, this one doesn't score high marks for me. The initial plot is too slow moving and the monster action isn't as well conceived or executed. You have to take this in the spirit of fun it is made with and it is a hoot, but not as much of a hoot as some of the others. Entertainment more for serious (and sad) admirers (like me!) not the passing curious, I'd suggest! A true B movie.
Great DVD release of a silly but fun film 2008-04-01
Classic Media has done a wonderful service to Godzilla fans by releasing a number of the original Godzilla films on DVD the way they should be¡K.with both the original Japanese versions with subtitles and also with the Original American releases with the dub tracks intact, allowing viewers to see the films the way they like, and with their widescreen format intact!.
GHIDRAH is the 5th of the Godzilla series, and is a mixed bag. On the plus side is the eponymous creation. Ghidrah (or Ghidorah¡or King Ghidorah, as he¡she. whatever, is known) is an inspired and unique creation¡ 3 heads¡ 2 tails...it is a triumph of design and execution and a truly striking creation. Godzilla returns looking only slightly different that in his prior film. The look of the film...the music and color are all top notch. However, the story is a rather convoluted mess, with ideas introduced, and then abandoned, and the introduction of such ideas as the monsters talking and slapstick fights are a clear indication of the downward direction the Godzilla series was taking. Rodan isseen here for the first time since the 1957 original, has been re designed, and looks quite bad, with Glassy eyes¡a long bobbing neck and clumsy movements. However¡there is still enough in this film to bring a smile to the face of most Godzilla fans¡even if there are some winces as well.
The film also includes a commentary track, as do all the classic media releases. This one is done by David Kalat..Author of the excellent McFarland book on the Godzilla series. Its a strikingly different commentary that the other releases. Where the commentaries on the other dvds were fawningly informative, but dry to the point of numbing, Kalats commentary is rapid fire, informative and extremely enthusiastic, conveying his obvious love for the genre and this film. Some might find his approach too rapid and enthusiastic, but I found it great fun¡Kmore like a talk with a fellow fan than a dull presentation of names and dates. His main thrust is also to defend the shift to a more childlike¡Kor childish approach to the films and the advantages of the dubbed versions. I may disagree on the central premise¡Kthat the series was well served by the shift to a comedic slapstick style, but his enthusiasm is infectious and he ALMOST changed my mind. º
Almosl..lol
The print and sound quality on the film is quite good, and the DVD belongs in Any Godzilla Fans collection¡Kvery good job!
One of my childhood favorites 2008-03-30
This is a classic "japanese monsters vs. the big bad monster from outer space" film...they are all here ...Godzilla, Mothra & Rodan do battle with Ghidorah, the three-headed monster. While this is NOT of "original Godzilla" quality, it does avoid the ridiculousness of some of the films of the Godzilla series (mechanical godzillas, giant turtles. etc.). It is a distraction for 84 minutes and mildly entrtaining if you are a Godzilla, Rodan or Mothra fan.
A monster masterpiece. 2008-03-25
Its good to have two version on one disc. the US version and the original Japanese version. I hoped there will be more like this one. Its good to see them in their original widescreen format, so to see what the film was like in theaters back in the 1960s. A must have for all monster movie fans.
Ghidorah: how he was meant to be 2008-03-08
Usually the first movie is the best one, and here it is true. Ghidorah was always my favorie film in the Godzilla series. We have some great monster battles, well detailed sets for destroying, and get to see Ghidorah with the meanness he's meant to have, only otherwise seen in Destroy all Monsters. Both versions are very clean both visually and in audio. The dubbed version is probably the one we all grew up seeing... with a lot of the added in music which, I feel, adds greatly to the film. This is the copy all Godzilla fans ought to pick up.
