DVD Tuesday

[filkertom]

There are a few things out today that I want to eventually get. A cleaned-up version of The Muppet Movie (and the rest of the Muppet films, if ya want 'em). Mr. and Mrs. Smith. March of the Penguins. The director's cut of The Frighteners. (In case you didn't know, the director is Peter Jackson.) Sky High, which billroper insists I will enjoy.

But today for me is Teh Cheeze.

At last, at last, they're coming out with a combined release of King Kong vs. Godzilla and King Kong Escapes.

I have no idea what shape either of those films will be in -- if it'll be the American version of KKvG (which Kong wins) or the Japanese (which Godzilla wins [although docwebster says below that that's a load of hooey, both versions having Kong swimming away at the end]), whether they'll have the original Japanese soundtracks, or what.

But, if you have not seen it, King Kong Escapes is one of the greatest bad movies of all time. Delightfully fun. Robot Kong. Other giant monsters. Things blowing up. A really embarassing villain, Doctor Hu, voiced by Paul Frees. (His pillbox hat and shawl are so fetching.) The smallest buxom blonde on the Pacific Rim, with a voice that makes one yearn for the savory piquancy of marshmallows dipped in honey. And the worst Kong costume evah. You can easily see the square outline of the mask across his chest, for starters, but... well, let's just say Kong Got Da Mange.

I have loved this turkey since I was a child. The MST3K party will be incredible.

Comments

[docwebster.livejournal.com]

Tom, I'm here to tell you the old saw about the ending of Kong vs. Godzilla changing based on where you see it is a load of hooey. Somewhere around here I've got the subtitled Kong vs. Godzilla from Japan (I've got a lot of the subtitled original Japanese versions, comes to that) and in both versions, it's Kong swimming away at the end.

[zillafan.livejournal.com]

Too true. Never were alternative endings but wouldn't that have been a hoot if it was. I recall a Godzilla roar and Kong swimming away in G vs KK! Making it a draw. Maybe that was my wishful thinking... I'll have to watch it again! ;-)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Appreciate it. I shall amend the post above. Although it would be cool as heck if it were true.

[mrteapot.livejournal.com]

According to the Snopes.com story (http://www.snopes.com/movies/films/godzilla.htm), the ending was one of the few things not changed between versions. Most of the human level action was heavily reedited, with American actors added in, but the giant monkey versus giant lizard action was basically untouched.