4,400th Post Celebration!!!: Godzilla 1985 vs. The Return of Godzilla (1984)

 Alright, let's go full nerd for this big post! 

Yes, starting now.
Shut up.

Do I need to listen to a Remix of the Blue Oyster Cult Song while I do this?

In 1984, Japan made the first Godzilla Film in around a Decade- The Return of Godzilla.  Fittingly, this was a direct Sequel to the Original and it came on the 30th Anniversary of said Film.

In 1985, the Film ended up with a US Distributor- New World Pictures (aka Roger Corman's company).  He apparently won out when Toho tried to get ALOT for the rights (some say $4 million in 1985 money).

His cut is, well, a bit different.  Let's see how...

VS

**** Before the Film, Godzilla 1985's VHS includes the Cult Classic Cartoon entitled Bambi Meets Godzilla.  It's silly and short & likely Public Domain.  See it here.  ****

The Intro- involving a Ship in peril and mutated Sea Louse- is otherwise unchanged.

However, the US Cut abandons the Louse aspect entirely, while the other does not.
We also see 'photos' shown of the original Godzilla attack- cut in the US Version.

Oddly, they then ADD IN Stock Footage of the same attack later.  Why?!?

So much of the Plot hinges upon the then-current Cold War.

As such, the Japanese Version shows a Russian Nuclear Satellite and....a US Nuclear Satellite.

Corman and company cut the latter.

In another bit that is cut for, well, American pride, a Japanese Politician talks about how the struggle between the US and Russia is mostly at-fault for all of this.

You don't talk about us like that...when we Dub the Audio.

The biggest change in the 1985 Cut is that they added in a bunch of new footage.

They parallel the bits with the Japanese Politicians/Leaders with some on the American side.  No Russians though- it is 1985, after all.

This new footage includes Raymond Burr, who is once again inserted into a Godzilla Film as 'Steve Martin.'

More egregious- the product placement from Dr. Pepper, which netted them $10 million!

The biggest Plot change here is that the inciting conflict- a Russian missile launched at Japan during Godzilla's attack plays out two different ways.

In Japan, the launch is accidental, due to Godzilla's attack.

In 1985, the attack is *intentional* on the part of Russia.  Kind of notable, no!

As noted in a previous piece, Godzilla 1985 is now the only Godzilla Film without a DVD Release, so enjoy the video contrast.

Besides that, we get random Edits like cutting a Guard screaming before Godzilla stomps on him and an Audio recut to say that the last appearance was in 1956 (the year that Godzilla: King of the Monsters was released in America).

Once you take out the casual xenophobia towards Russia and Raymond Burr, it's a mostly 1-to-1 thing.

Besides, Raymond Burr is 'in it to win it' here with his super-serious Acting (even if he shot it in one day and never learned his lines).  

Why does Godzilla 1985 get so much hate (from the like 10 people who remember it)?

In total, Godzilla 1985 is a streamlined cut with minor additions- for better or for worse.  It lacks some depth in the Story that was deemed 'dull' or cut for Pacing, mostly.
The Return of Godzilla is probably better, since it is objectively the Film that they were trying to make.

Even so, how can I stay mad?

Thanks to a Scene or two with some Russians (in both Versions), we get the joy of double Subtitles!

The Return of Godzilla is out on DVD for a reasonable price.  In contrast, Godzilla 1985 goes for around $40 online.

Hmm....I should sell mine to some sucker...I mean, fan.