I got the Criterion Blu-ray from the library which has both cuts. I'm definitely going to watch the Japanese version, but is the Raymond Burr version worth a watch as well?
shareI think so. While it is not as good as the original, if anything, I always thought the Raymond Burr version was better paced, with Burr doing some narration helping the movie move much more brisk.
shareIn my humble opinion, no. It's mediocre at best.
EDIT: Well, considering the date of OP, you have probably watched it by now.
One who's genuinely sleeping can be awoken, but one who pretends to be sleeping cannot.
Most of us grew up with the American version. I thought that it was good. But then again, I'm not a purist. I know that some people swear by the Japanese version and perhaps one day I'll sit down and examine both versions closely, but on a surface level, they are the same. The important parts of the film remain, including the incredible score, the attack scenes, etc.. what's more, the American version is dubbed, so that you don't have to read the subtitles which can be distracting.
shareThat's fair. I can relate to people growing up the American Version cause the Japanese were not available, Luckily I watched the original years ago and just recently watched the American. Although I disagree with you that they are the same thing. I think the Japanese version is more thought provoking, maybe because that Gojira is a symbol of atom bomb, pure destruction. Oh, and reading subtitle is not a problem for us whose native language is not English, we always have to read subtitles. :) even for English movies. So no big deal there. Either was it's not that distracting, since one simply can pause the picture when they speak fast.
One who's genuinely sleeping can be awoken, but one who pretends to be sleeping cannot.
You're absolutely right. I take back what I said.
I just finished looking at the Japanese version and the American adaptation. The Japanese version is by far the superior version. Watching the original and the adaptation, I don't understand why they just didn't dub the original, instead of what they did which was to introduce an extraneous character {Steven Martin, an American reporter played by Raymond Burr] and chop the movie up. It completely destroyed the film. Raymond Burr didn't fit in the movie, and it didn't make sense for him to narrate the movie when the dialogue in the original is so good and the flow of the movie is so perfect. The American version is a chopped up mess and the Burr character is clumsy and totally out-of-place.
I wonder if the many foreign versions [i.e. German, French, Italian, Spanish] used the American version or the Japanese original?
Anyway, the only reason that I imagine that an American character was introduced is that the distributors figured that this would be attractive to Americans.
I'm glad you watched it. And I'm more glad that we both agree that the Japanese version is better. :) You are right about Burr's character in the movie. The script needed and also deserved a better writing. Also agree about the reason for the introduction of such characters. While Hollywoodization can be sometimes good, but in this particular example it harmed the movie.
One who's genuinely sleeping can be awoken, but one who pretends to be sleeping cannot.
HI Reza, are you living in Iran? I'm asking because I'm wondering if Godzilla is known to Iranian audiences? Has the movie been aired there and if so, was it the American or original version?
shareHi, Ray.
Yes, I live in Iran. And Godzilla is well known to Iranians. It has even entered into our pop culture. For example if someone wants to make fun of someone who is extraordinary big, he may name him "Godzila" (pronounced like "Goodzeela" in Persian) Also both the original and the American version has been aired in Iran. My father says the original Japanese was released in Iran in theaters back in the day. The American version never released in theaters here, but years ago it was aired from national television. Also some of the sequels of the Japanese version were aired here. I can't remember which since I was a kid back then. Man, those were the days.
One who's genuinely sleeping can be awoken, but one who pretends to be sleeping cannot.
Wow! It's amazing how popular Godzilla is. I heard somewhere that he's Japan's most well-known export. I'm happy that Iranians have had the opportunity to enjoy Godzilla like the rest of us. Was the movie dubbed in Persian or was it subtitled?
Yeah, Gozilla is really popular around the world. Oh, and the ones which were aired was dubbed in Persian.
One who's genuinely sleeping can be awoken, but one who pretends to be sleeping cannot.
While Hollywoodization can be sometimes good, but in this particular example it harmed the movie.
While I can understand that certain assessment, one thing should be understood (because all of you are looking at this from a comfortable 2012 hindsight). Unlike today, subtitled films did not get a wide release (none of Akira Kurosawa's films at time like SEVEN SAMURAI, received such pleasure). The American distributors knew that, and in order get to their monster movie more widely seen, the dubbing and the starring of a Hollywood actor were made in order. And from a financial stand point, it worked out beautifully.
If one prefers the Japanese version, then that is all good and fine, but the franchise itself (and heck the whole kaiju genre for that matter) would not have the success it would without the dubs. And of course later, many of these films would widely be seen on mainstream T.V. and create another generation of fans. That didn't happen for subtitled films unless your local PBS station would show them.
One shouldn't have to like the American version, but because of its importance, one should not be denigrating it either (and that is one thing I've never understood from these so-called Godzilla "purists").
In the end, why should one not watch both? They can later make his or her mind about what they preferred.
Ah... I think you misunderstood OP, me and others, we are talking about the remake, not any dub version. Also I don't think anyone "degradeed" the American remake here, they just gave their opinion. Also the OP asked a question and we were just answering the question.
In the end, why should one not watch both? They can later make his or her mind about what they preferred.
Ah... I think you misunderstood OP, me and others, we are talking about the remake, not any dub version.
???
Actually, here is what the OP stated exactly:
I got the Criterion Blu-ray from the library which has both cuts. I'm definitely going to watch the Japanese version, but is the Raymond Burr version worth a watch as well?
No, its basically an incredibly dumbed down version of the original with Raymond Burr explaining everything thats happening as if we can't see it ourselves. The original is classic. I don't get why they have to adapt everything for us "dumbass americans" who wear shirts that say "I *beep* on the first date.
The American version is a chopped up mess and the Burr character is clumsy and totally out-of-place.
Raymond Burr is in the other version, the dubbed version or the American remake, which some consider it. It was that which the OP was referring to not the 1998 Dean Devlin / Roland Emmerich feature.
In the end, I think their decisions were the right ones.
You are probably right RezaRaiesie-Iran. The OP has probably seen both versions by now. I'm pretty sure he or she preferred the Japanese one, but curious to see what were the thoughts on the Burr version.
sharewhat's more, the American version is dubbed, so that you don't have to read the subtitles which can be distracting.
No, its basically an incredibly dumbed down version of the original with Raymond Burr explaining everything thats happening as if we can't see it ourselves. The original is classic. I don't get why they have to adapt everything for us "dumbass americans" who wear shirts that say "I *beep* on the first date.
shareI saw the American version first, then the Japanese version years later. The Japanese movie is a classic and it's definitely better, but the American version is still pretty good. It keeps the spirit of the original alive while making it more "accessible" to American audiences. But I felt like the original got the message across better and seemed darker and more depressing, but to the American version's credit it was still very dark and depressing and didn't try to Hollywood it up too much.
share