Amazon has revived one of the most popular box sets in the Criterion collection. Godzilla: The Showa Era Films, 1954-1975 is in stock for $112.48 ($225). It’s great timing on Amazon’s part, as the Criterion Collection will be half-off this weekend (December 7). At the time of writing, Amazon estimates that orders placed today will arrive before Christmas. This beautiful collection of 15 classic Godzilla movies is usually on sale at Amazon during these 50% off sales, but luckily Amazon has restocked it this time around.
Amazon also has the 4K Blu-ray edition of Godzilla vs. Biolante and the original 1954 Godzilla movie for at least 50% off. We said At least Because the 4K Blu-ray of Godzilla vs. Biolante is on sale for just $20 (was $50).
Godzilla: Relates to the Quality Repository
2 112.48 (was $225)
This impressive collection includes a total of 15 Godzilla films, all featuring Big Green during a time that was strange, imaginative and action-packed. The films have new HD transfers, include both English and Japanese language tracks, archive interviews and more bonus content. Additionally, it comes with a deluxe hardcover book and color art on its deluxe packaging, making for a very nice bundle overall. The full list of Godzilla movies is included here:
- Godzilla (1954)
- Godzilla Strikes Again (1955)
- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1963)
- Mortar vs. Godzilla (1964)
- Ghidorah, The Three-Headed Monster (1964)
- Attack of the Astro Monster (1965)
- Ibera, Deep of the Deep (1966)
- Son of Godzilla (1967)
- Destroy All Monsters (1968)
- All Monsters Attack (1969)
- Godzilla vs. Hedora (1971)
- Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)
- Godzilla vs. Maglon (1973)
- Godzilla vs. Mecha Godzilla (1974)
- The Terror of Mecha Godzilla (1975)
And here’s an extensive list of special features found in this eight-disc set.
- New HD Transfer
- English dub
- New English subtitles
- The Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla
- New and archive interviews
- Featurette on special effects during the Showa era
$20 (was $50)
Godzilla vs. Biolante joins the Criterion collection in March on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray. It was restored to its original aspect ratio in native 4K (2160p) with DTS-HD Master. Audio 5.1 surround sound track. This edition also includes English translations for the subtitles – the audio is in Japanese.
The 1989 film is a monster movie masterclass with compelling foes like the titular nemesis Biolante, who was created in a lab by combining Godzilla and human cells with plants. It’s well-paced and has impressive special effects for its time. Godzilla vs. Biolante is a lot of fun, but it also offers a sobering commentary on humanity’s relationship with technology and science. If you haven’t seen it, just know that there are good reasons why Godzilla vs. Biolante is only the second standalone Godzilla release.
Being a great mix of sci-fi, horror, and action, Godzilla vs. Biolante established the format that would be used for the rest of the heyday era. You don’t have to have seen any of the movies before, but it’s a sequel to 1994’s The Return of Godzilla.
As mentioned, the 4K Blu-ray edition is actually on sale for 60% off, so you can get it for the same price as the standard Blu-ray. The 4K edition also comes with a standard Blu-ray disc. Here is the list of features and bonuses:
- 4K Blu-ray Disc – Movie Only
- 1080p Blu-ray Disc – Movie and Special Features
- DTS-HD 5.0 mA
- New English subtitle translation
- New audio commentary with film historian Sam Deighan
- Making featurettes since 1993
- Short documentary (1993): Biolante and Super X2 vehicles
- Making programs since 1993 featuring director Kazuki
- Removed special effects
- Trailers and commercials
- Booklet: Essay by sci-fi and horror film expert Jim Ceronella
- Slipcover
$25 (was $50)
If you buy the Showa-era collection deal, you’ll already own the original 1954 film, but the native 4K (2160p) edition is a must-watch for big fans of the franchise. It doesn’t have surround sound, but uses the original uncompressed mono audio.
The 4K edition of Godzilla includes a fold-out case with pop-up artwork of Godzilla. The 4K edition is five bucks more than the standard Blu-ray edition, but it also comes with a standard Blu-ray disc with the movie and special features. One of the most interesting bonuses is a remastered edition of Godzilla, the 1956 version of the film directed by the king of the monsters, Terry O’Morris. This is basically Hollywood’s take on Godzilla.
- 4K Blu-ray Disc – Movie Only
- 1080p Blu-ray Disc – Movie and Special Features
- Nonsense mono audio
- HD Remaster of Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956)
- Audio commentary by historian David Kalat for Godzilla and Godzilla, King of the Monsters
- Interview with actors Akira Takarada and Haru Nakajima
- Interview with special effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Izu Kemai
- Interview with composer Akira Ifukube
- Interview with film critic Tadao Satu
- Featurette on photographic effects in film
- The Unfortunate Dragon: Illustrated Audio Essay
- Trailers
- Plus: an essay by critic Jay Huberman
Godzilla on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray
Fans should also check out the newly released Shin Godzilla Limited Edition Steelbook at Amazon for $35. It’s listed as temporarily out of stock, but you can still order a copy. If you don’t want to wait, the Standard Edition 4K Blu-ray is available for $30. Shin Godzilla is released on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray on October 28. Historically, this is the first film in Godzilla’s Riva era.
Godzilla Minus One, one of the best films in the franchise and the latest in the Reva era, is available on Blu-ray for just $14.53 and on 4K Blu-ray for $20. Fans can also snag the Godzilla double features on Blu-ray for cheap from Hessie and the Millennium Era. Godzilla vs. Biol Lante, for reference, is the second Hesse-era film after Godzilla Returns. The recent Hollywood blockbuster Monsterverse series got a new 4K Blu-ray box set earlier this year. Normally $70, you can pick up the Godzilla X Kong Monstrous 5-Movie Collection for just $55 at Amazon.
Riva Era: Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One deal
Hessey and Millennium Blu-ray Deals
Godzilla/Kong Monstrous series deals
On 4K Blu-ray:
On Blu-ray:
Godzilla DVD Deals
You can get the Godzilla movie box set and the animated series on DVD for cheap. Earlier this year, Warner Bros. released a 10-movie Godzilla and King Kong box set that included all of the Monsterverse movies, as well as contemporary and classic King Kong movies, for just $36. It’s temporarily out of stock, but once again Amazon is letting customers order it. Alternatively, you can grab Amazon’s limited-time deal on the Monsterverse 5 movie collection that drops the price of the DVD box to $17.49 ($25). There’s also a cool budget-friendly Godzilla Mega that focuses on the Hessie and Millennium Era movies for just $26 ($39).
On the comic book side of the franchise, fans should check out the ongoing IDW library collection. The Godzilla comic book series is written and illustrated by some of the top talent in the industry, and these chunky paperback collections are reasonably priced. IDW published volume 5 on November 18.
