The folks at the Criterion Collection are bringing home one of the most important monster movies ever made in 4K. As part of the label’s November releases, it’s been confirmed that Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla, aka Gojira, will indeed be getting the Ultra HD treatment. The 1954 kaiju classic will hit shelves on 4K UHD in November. Grab your wallets and plan accordingly, monster movie lovers.
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of its theatrical release, our new 4K edition of Ishiro Honda's GODZILLA (1954) enters the collection this November! https://t.co/PH7TKpPoM2
GODZILLA is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant… pic.twitter.com/wm2asgS15J
— Criterion Collection (@Criterion) August 15, 2024
The Godzilla 4K release is very similar to the Blu-ray release of the film that has been available on The Criterion Collection for some time, with many of the same special features. Most notably as part of the massive, coveted Godzilla: The Showa-Era box set. It even has the same cover art as the individual Blu-ray copy. The main benefit is a second disc that features the film on 4K. It retails for $49.95 but is currently available to pre-order for $39.96. As for what’s included? Here’s a breakdown of the special features…
Godzilla 4K UHD special features
- New 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack.
- One 4K UHD disc of the film and one Blu-ray with the film and special features.
- High-definition digital restoration of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, Terry Morse’s 1956 reworking of the original, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack.
- Audio commentary for both movies by film historian David Kalat.
- Interviews with actors Akira Takarada and Haruo Nakajima and special effects technicians Yoshio Irie and Eizo Kaimai.
- Interview with legendary Godzilla score composer Akira Ifukube.
- Featurette detailing Godzilla’s photographic effects, introduced by special effects director Koichi Kawakita and special effects photographer Motoyoshi Tomioka.
- Interview with Japanese-film critic Tadao Sato.
- The Unluckiest Dragon, an illustrated audio essay featuring historian Greg Pflugfelder describing the tragic fate of the fishing vessel Daigo Fukuryu Maru, a real-life event that inspired Godzilla.
- Trailers.
- Plus: An essay by critic J. Hoberman.
Even if this is a little similar to the Criterion Blu-ray release, it’s high time that Godzilla is given some form of physical 4K release. Without hyperbole, this is one of the most important movies ever made. While certain later entries in the series were far less serious, such as last year’s Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Hondo’s original film is a hugely impactful meditation on the impact that the atomic bomb had on the people of Japan. It is true cinema using a now-iconic monster as a vehicle to reckon with the atrocities of war.
I can also attest to how great it looks on 4K, having taken in a screening of it at the Drafthouse a couple of years back. For a movie that is now 70 years old, it’s remarkable how well it holds up. That’s part of why giving these classics the 4K treatment can be a worthwhile exercise. It ensures that future generations can enjoy them in a way that still allows them to feel fresh. This is a piece of cinema history deserving of eternal life.
Godzilla on 4K Ultra HD arrives November 5 and is available for pre-order now at Criterion.com. For more, get the details on the various home video releases for last year's Godzilla Minus One.
