Written by: Michael Den Boer on April 14th, 2007
Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1964
Director: Ishiro Honda
Cast: Akira Takarada, Yuriko Hoshi, Hiroshi Koizumi, Yu Fujiki, Emi Ito, Yûmi Ito, Yoshifumi Tajima
| DVD released: | 2006 | 2007 |
| Approximate running time: | 84m59s (Japanese Version) 83m52s (US Version) | 88m36s (Japanese Version) 88m07s (US Version) |
| Aspect Ratio: | 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen & 1.33:1 Full Frame (US Version) | 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen & 1.78 Anamorphic Widescreen (US Version) |
| Rating: | M | NR |
| Sound: | Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Mono Japanese & English with English Subtitles | Dolby Digital Mono Japanese & English with English Subtitles |
| DVD Release: | Madmen Entertainment | Classic Media |
| Region Coding: | Region 4 PAL | Region 1 NTSC |
| Retail Price: | $24.95 | $19.95 |
Madmen Entertainment’s Region 4 DVD
A giant egg washes up on the shores of Kurata beach after a tropical storm. The egg is purchased by Torahata a wealthy land developer who quickly puts the egg on display. Torahata is asked by two fairies to give the large egg which carries Mothra’s offspring back he flat out refuse and even tires to capture them for exhibition. Everything appears to be fine until one day when a earthquake hits and awakens Godzilla from his slumber. Godzilla rampages through Tokyo as he searches for Mothra’s offspring. Mothra who refused to help the humans at first reconsiders when it finds out that its offspring is being threatened.
Both releases present the original Japanese version of the film in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The one thing that immediately caught my attention was just how different the flesh tones and colors are between the two releases. The region 4 release from Madmen Entertainment looks more colorful of the two while Classic media’s release looks more natural. Details also look slightly sharper on the Classic Media release. Both releases also include the US version of the film. Madmen present the film in a cropped full frame aspect ratio that looks washed-out and soft and fuzzy. Classic Media presents the US version in an anamorphic widescreen that frames the image at about 1.78:1 and while the image is cropped it is not as cropped as the image is on the Madmen DVD release. Colors look nicely saturated and details look sharp on the Classic media release of the US version.
The Madmen release comes with two audio options for the Japanese and English version of the film. Each version presents the audio in either a Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Digital Mono mix. The Japanese audio mixes sound the better then the English audio mixes and the 5.1 mixes for each version sound fuller then the mono mixes. All four mixes are satisfactory. The Classic Media release gives each version one audio option a Dolby Digital mono mix in either Japanese or English. Both audio mixes sound clean and fuller then the mixes included on the Madmen release. Both releases come with removable English subtitles that are easy to read and follow.
Madmen Entertainment’s release comes with the following extras the original Japanese trailer, a poster gallery with eight images, a trivia gallery and trailers for other titles released by Madmen including other Godzilla titles. This release comes with a reversible cover that has alternative cover art on the inside cover and Japanese text written on it. Classic Media’s release comes with the following extras the original Japanese trailer, a slide show still gallery, a thirteen minute tribute to Akira Ifukube and an audio commentary with Ed Godziszewski and Steve Ryfle. The audio commentary is only included on the US version of the film.
The clear winner hear is the Classic Media DVD release of Mothra vs. Godzilla which features a stunning audio/video presentation and it comes with a handful of interesting and insightful extras.