Godzilla-Superbit (1998)
The review of the ordinary version of
Godzilla is Here
The change of packaging the Superbit logo and the better quality picture and
sound cannot change the fact that the film is rubbish.
Enjoyable rubbish certainly, but nothing can change the obvious that the
only interesting character in fact the only character we care about is
the giant lizard.
So why did I buy the Superbit version quite simply its a fun piece of
rubbish that I dont mind watching every so often. So I bought the Superbit copy to compare the two and to see
whether Superbit was as good as Columbia claim.
The short answer is that Superbit is very good indeed at least on my DV88
player and Philips 32" 16x9 TV. I
can only suppose that the disc will look good on any player and TV, but it would
be up to the individual to decide whether to spend there money on it.
( at the time of writing HMV has it for £22.99 Play has the disc at
£19.99 ).
If you have seen Godzilla you will know that the opening credits are fake
newsreel but after that from the first shot of the Japanese factory ship
you can tell that the picture is clearer, with better contrast and colour
information. At times the picture
is too good for the film. If
you have the standard version and have listened to the commentary you will know
that most of the rain in the film was faked, either the usual way of just
pumping water over the actors on the set, or digitally.
The opening sequence with Matthew Broderick shows this as you can now see
blue sky reflected in the windscreen of his van, and even in the lenses of his
spectacles. Not a genuine
distraction, but the picture is that clear.
The night scenes in New York are wonderfully clear you will only have seen
better in a well projected real cinema. The
only problem was that 2 or 3 times in the search of the subway and the
establishing shot of Madison Square Garden you could see the Mattes, which
gave away fact that you are watching a special effect.
Apart from that this is the type of disc to show friends who want to know
what DVD is capable of.
The only audio track is in English and for some reason the sound defaults to DTS
which is fine by me. I
have said in other reviews that my preference is for DTS particularly in
modern features. Its not that the
Dolby track has any faults if the DTS track was not there I would be quite
happy with the Dolby, but, when it comes to the choice there is not much
comparison. The DTS track has
so much more power, presents and clarity it wins hands down, but as I said if
you do not have DTS or for that matter cannot play the film loud and
remember this is a very loud film then the Dolby track is fine.
I loved this disc and I was happy to spend the money to buy it, but I cannot
help wondering at the logic behind the marketing at Columbia.
Here is a disc with excellent picture and sound, but except for a few
loonies like me who do they think is going to buy it?
Most people want the extras with a film, so how many do they think
will buy two copies of a film? I
have and will continue to argued that all films should be presented this
way the best possible print producing the best possible picture and sound
with any extras on a second disc.
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review Dec 2002