So, despite early info claiming otherwise, it looks like the Criterion Showa Era set will include the Japanese cut of KKvG!
Copy and pasted from the official site:www.criterion.com/boxsets/2648-godzilla-the-showa-era-films-1954-1975 said:
- High-definition digital transfers of Godzilla, King of the Monsters, the 1956 U.S.-release version of Godzilla; and the 1962 Japanese-release version of King Kong vs. Godzilla
Will this be from the same source as this broadcast? Better? Worse?
Really excited for this set.
No, Criterion explicitly stated upon inquiry that the 4K restoration is decidedly NOT what is being used.
From a Blu-Ray.com thread: “Both the KING KONG VS. GODZILLA and GODZILLA, KING OF MONSTERS will include the Japanese and US versions. All fifteen films in this set are high-definition digital transfers. We are working closely with Toho on this release and the 4K remaster you’re referencing was not something that was provided to us for this.”
Have fun with the ugly 2014 BD version America.