Destroy All Monsters Blu-ray Jun Tazaki

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Kaijû sôshingeki" or "All Monsters Attack" or "Attack of the Marching Monsters" or "Gojira dengeki daisakusen" or "The March of the Monsters" or "Monster Attack March" pr "Monster Invasion" or "Operation Monsterland)

Directed by Ishirô Honda

Japan - 1968

The year is 1999, and all of Earth's monsters have been captured and detained at Ogasawara Island. All is well in the solar system until one day, a race of alien women brainwashes the monsters and releases them, causing havoc around the world. Godzilla attacks New York City, Rodan invades Moscow, Mothra lays waste to Beijing, Gorosaurus destroys Paris, and Manda attacks London!

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The original Godzilla team of director Ishiro Honda, special-effects supervisor Eiji Tsuburaya, and composer Akira Ifukube reunited for this kaiju extravaganza, which features no fewer than eleven monsters. Set in the remote future of 1999, when the people of Earth have achieved world peace by confining destructive creatures to Monsterland (until an alien race intervenes), Destroy All Monsters mounts a thrilling display of innovative action sequences and memorable images that have made it a favorite for generations of viewers.

Posters

Theatrical Release: August 1st, 1968 - Japan

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

A.D. Vision - Region 0 - NTSC vs. ADV Films (SE) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. ADV Films (SE) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Tokyo Shock (original release) - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Tokyo Shock (re-issue) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion (part of the Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 set) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) A.D. Vision - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) ADV Films - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Tokyo Shock (original release) - Region FREE - Blu-ray - THIRD

4) Tokyo Shock (re-issue) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) Criterion (Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975) - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray- RIGHT

Box Covers					This edition is only available in Criterion's *Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975* Blu-ray Boxset
Distribution	A.D. Vision Region 0 - NTSC	ADV Films Region 0 - NTSC	Tokyo Shock Region FREE - Blu-ray	Tokyo Shock Region 'A' - Blu-ray	Criterion - spine # 1000 Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:29:03	1:29:03	1:28:54.494	1:28:50.199	1:29:05.840
Video	2.14:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.9 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	2.14:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.9 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Sing-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,336,851,216 bytes Feature: 21,404,737,536 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.93 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	1080P Sing.-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 20,310,001,496 bytes Feature: 20,081,671,872 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.93 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,302,534,971 bytes Feature: 16,503,951,360 bytes Video Bitrate: 20.98 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: A.D. Vision
Bitrate: ADV Films
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Bitrate: Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 Blu-ray
Audio	DUB: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	DUB: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB DTS-HD Master Audio English 1563 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1563 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 1250 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1250 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 1737 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1737 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 112 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 112 kbps / DN -4dB	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1249 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1249 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 16-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 1738 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1738 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Dolby Digital Audio Japanese 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB	LPCM Audio Japanese 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit DUB: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	None	None	English, None	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: A.D. Vision Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 2.14:1 Edition Details: • None DVD Release Date: February 22nd, 2000 Keep Case Chapters 1	Release Information: Studio: ADV Films Aspect Ratio: Widescreen - 2.14:1 Edition Details: • Bonus CD of soundtrack music DVD Release Date: May 18th, 2004 Keep Case Chapters: 1	Release Information: Studio: Tokyo Shock 2.41:1 - 1080P Sing.-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,336,851,216 bytes Feature: 21,404,737,536 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.93 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • English commentary by Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski • Image Gallery • Promo Reel (2:04) • Production Art and Storyboards • 16mm films (7:29) • Credits Blu-ray Release Date: November 8th, 2011 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 10	Release Information: Studio: Tokyo Shock 2.41:1 - 1080P Sing.-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 20,310,001,496 bytes Feature: 20,081,671,872 bytes Video Bitrate: 24.93 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • None Blu-ray Release Date: September 2nd, 2014 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters: 10	Release Information: Studio: Criterion (Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975) 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 48,302,534,971 bytes Feature: 16,503,951,360 bytes Video Bitrate: 20.98 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Shares disc #4 with Son of Godzilla and Ebirah, Horror Of The Deep Blu-ray Release Date: October 29th, 2019 Custom Blu-ray Case Chapters 16

Comments:

NOTE: These Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Criterion's Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 Blu-ray set is FULLY REVIEWED HERE.

ADDITION: Criterion Collection - Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray - October 19': The Criterion Blu-ray of Destroy All Monsters is part of the Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 Blu-ray set appears to have best the image presentation of the Tokyo Shock Blu-rays. It's a less-robust transfer as it shares disc #4 with Son of Godzilla and Ebirah, Horror Of The Deep. But the image has richer colors and deeper contrast (better black levels) - it's just what this faded image needed. Audio is 24-bit via a linear PCM in the original Japanese and a lossy Dolby English DUB is included. No extras but the included other two films on this particular disc. This Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 set is looking appealing from what I have seen so far and this Destroy All Monsters is one of my favorite in this kaiju eiga cycle. This will be offered as a Region 'B' version available in the UK.

Criterion's Godzilla: The Showa-Era Films, 1954–1975 Blu-ray set is FULLY REVIEWED HERE.

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ADDITION: Tokyo Shock (re-issue) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (September 2014): This is a re-issue of the 2011 Blu-ray release (that is waaaay out-of-print) and it has some differences. Firstly, it is not region FREE - it is region 'A'-locked. Secondly, it does not have the Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski commentary of the original BD - or any of the extras - or any supplements at all. Lastly, it has the same video transfer (slightly more robust but same source) and same subtitles. The audio offers a Surround, standard Dolby, option for the Japanese track - and stereo, lossless, for both English and Japanese. A downgrade in some senses but pretty cheap for this Japanese monster 'classic'.

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ADDITION: Tokyo Shock (original release) - Region FREE - Blu-ray (November 11'): This is known as the mother of all Japanese Monster movies. Saturday afternoon paradise for any young adventure-seeking lad.

Tokyo Shock (Media Blasters) have easily bested the previous DVDs that were extremely poor (interlaced, only English DUB offered etc.) and we can also see the SDs were extremely cropped as well. This 2.41: aspect ratio Blu-ray is 1080P and housed on a single-layered disc with a decent bitrate. If I had to guess which colors were more accurate - I'd say the Blu-ray and that the DVDs were boosted and overly blue. But the HD transfer still seems flat and a bit dusty but in most respects this is surely far closer to the theatrical appearance of the film. This is probably a little faded but I thought it was 'alright' in-motion. Yellows and reds of the uniforms look acceptable but those monsters are always kicking up dust making those scenes appear more earthy brown.

A big bonus over the DVDs is the inclusion of the Japanese audio (although I still believe this is considered the 'US version') and Japanese title cards. It, and the oft-heard, English DUB are both available in lossless - and there are optional English subtitles (see sample).

We get a new (2011) commentary by Steve Ryfle (author of Japan's Favorite Mon-Star: The Unauthorized Biography of "The Big G") and Ed Godziszewski who talk up a storm about Destroy All Monsters , the 'Big G', Japanese monsters films and Ishirô Honda. Fans will definitely want to indulge - very interesting and entertaining. There is also an image gallery, production art and storyboards as well as a Promo Reel (2:04) and some 16mm footage (7:29.) Overall pretty good - nice to see some effort and the commentary is rewarding.

I have fond memories (as also related by Steve Ryfle in the commentary) of being swept up in my first viewing decades ago. It really is the most memorable of the Japanese monster genre and I was pleased to see it come to Blu-ray - especially as the DVDs were so pitiful. Fans - and you know who you are - there is little like watching Destroy All Monsters on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Much to appreciate about this Blu-ray and it is recommended!

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ON THE DVDs: One need only look at the bitrate graph... This is a great rip-off. This is the exact same DVD, repackaged with a terrible CD. "SE" they call it ?... lets see: non-original audio (a poor dub), cropped image, hazy colors, interlaced, no menus, no subtitles and no chapter stops and no extras. By far the Worst DVD of the Year award winner! DO NOT BUY THIS and DO NOT SUPPORT THESE BANDITS !

- Gary W. Tooze

Blu-ray (original) Menus (Neither DVD has any menus)