The Bizarre Failure of Godzilla 1985: Nearly Lost & Full of Dr. Pepper

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In 1985, the iconic Japanese monster Godzilla returned to the big screen in an American version titled "Godzilla 1985" which was a re-edited version of the 1984 Japanese film "The Return of Godzilla."
But the production of Godzilla 1985 was plagued with problems, that also led to a bizarre marketing campaign involving Dr. Pepper soda.
In this video, we explore the strange history of "Godzilla 1985", from its troubled production to its almost-lost status in the years following its release.
We'll also take a closer look at the odd partnership between the New World and Dr. Pepper, which included a unique promotion that saw the soda company release a limited edition can featuring Godzilla himself and an amazing music video. Join us as we delve into the bizarre failure of "Godzilla 1985" and discover the strange story behind this cult classic.
Paper Finz video on the Godzilla 1985 and The Retrun of Godzilla differences: • Godzilla 1985 Differences
The amazing FT Depot KZbin channel: / ftdepot
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www.denofgeek....
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[@PaperFinz]

Thank you for the shout out! It’s quite the honor to be featured on one of your videos. :)

[@wstine79]

Dan Larson is a brave man. Many people who do videos about Godzilla get attacked by something worse than a Kaiju, a TOHO lawyer.

[@deralfenderson]

Their lawyers are THE WORST.

[@thecommenter578]

Looks like the character they are talking about is Godzilla, but due to international copyright laws, it's not.

[@CMOJoker]

@@thecommenter578 this made me laugh harder than it probably should have but kudos to you.

[@aaronorenstein5963]

“Still, they are talking about it like it is Godzilla!”

[@MikeV1018]

And the only thing worse than a TOHO lawyer is a Disney lawyer.

[@AbuseSweden47]

Godzilla 1985 was released on DvD here in Norway. A Box Set with Godzilla The Original, vs, Biollante, , vs. Destroroyah, vs. kig Ghidorah , vs. Mothra and Return of Godzilla. Return Of Godzilla was actually my first intruduction to monster movies when i was 12 years old.

[@darrenheideman2546]

I always loved Raymond Burr's speech at the end of the American version. Poignant, powerful, and memorable.

[@darrenheideman2546]

@AT Productions I always wondered if it was true that Burr himself wrote that. Wouldn't surprise me if that was the case.

[@andrewmeyer3599]

It does kinda bother me that people shit on Raymond Burr and his affiliation with Godzilla. Yeah, sucks that his character was created simply to narrate what we were already looking at, but Raymond was atleast respectful. He understood what Godzilla meant as a symbol and to the Japanese people, he understood how important this icon is/was and I will always appreciate him having such respect for something from Japan in what was a very openly racist America

[@TraxelAxel]

@@andrewmeyer3599 very well said! Apparently Godzilla 85 was supposed to be a spoof, but when Burr said he would have no part in a parody it got changed to the typical Godzilla fare.

[@alucard624]

@@andrewmeyer3599 The fact he took the material serious in both films is what makes his performances work.

[@gabrielboorom2683]

@@andrewmeyer3599 Well said. Compare Godzilla, King of The Monsters to Varan, The Unbelievable or even Gigantis, The Fire Monster and you'll see a remarkable difference. The other re-edits treat not just the monsters with disrespect and disdain, but the culture and people of Japan disrespectfully as well. Raymond Burr never once mocked the Japanese or belittled the nation of Japan, even when he started the film as a skeptical journalist.

[@mattfrank85]

G’85 forms one of my core memories: crying my eyes out as Godzilla falls into the volcanic pit at the end of the movie, elevated by Burr’s monologue and Reijoro Koroku’s soundtrack.

[@metal_helm]

don't forget the added cues from Chris Young from def-con 4 that really was on par with Koroku's work!

[@bigboi5545]

The ending of Godzilla 1985 almost makes that version of the film worth it... almost.

[@sonicguyver7445]

God yes! I first saw it when I was 5 on TV and ugly cried at the end. Through high school I couldn't watch the end without choking up. That music while Burr frames Godzilla as a victim of this world was just too much for me.

[@gjergjaurelius9798]

1st time I cried about a movie!😢😂

[@blueskiesj]

solidarity. Godzilla vs Destoroyah gets me so bad that I can rarely watch it. especially since Junior is one of my favorite kaiju in the series. really hard to watch.

[@buttontr]

'Godzilla 1985' was the first movie I remember watching and not only did it kickstart a lifelong obsession but it's also a wholesome memory. Thank you for invoking it when I least expected.

[@dadahyena]

Great to see you begin touching on the gigantic topic of Godzilla! On the Dr. Pepper subject, there's an anecdote where apparently the advertisers desperately wanted Raymond Burr in the movie to be drinking the soda on camera...but everyone was too scared of him to make him do it (one person asked and was met with a "withering glare", which coming from a man the size of Burr must have been like facing against Godzilla himself!).

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

I mean the hilarious irony is Japanese movies/shows/anime are notorious for putting product placements in stuff. But even they wouldn't undercut a scene by someone taking a sip of Dr pepper. I mean a vending machine in the background fine that seems at least reasonable. But whoever thought undercutting an important dramatic scene like that was a good idea should never work in the industry.

[@andrewmeyer3599]

It was the director, he asked Burr and received that glare as an answer. He didn't ask Burr a second time

[@alucard624]

@@andrewmeyer3599 Good on Burr for that.

[@nocategories3398]

the director told dr pepper that they would have to ask Burr themselves after the "glare"...from what I've seen/heard of Burr, the story fits well with him.

[@RobertLundgren]

Ive seen Godzilla 1985 and Return of Godzilla. I've got two favorite Godzilla bits of media. "Godzilla vs Destroyah" has everything, a long sequence stolen from Aliens, death of two main characters, and a giant glowing Godzilla. My favorite movie however is Godzilla, Mother, King Ghidora Giant Monsters All Out Attack, its just great, and the video of the Baragon suit actress growling while she was in the suit is adorable.

[@restionSerpentine]

Marvel's Godzilla Comic, With the Fantastic Four and Avengers fighting Godzilla. Particularly the scene with J.Jonah Jameson screaming at him.

[@tskmaster3837]

I like Godzilla 1985 more than the Japanese version as I just can't take that one seriously. Not because of what the American version did to it but because what it did to itself. Example: I love Burr's ending narration over the solemn scenes of groups of people silently watching Godzilla "not die" by slowly falling into a volcano. The original version? Solem groups of people silently watching Godzilla "not die" by slowly falling into a volcano ... for FIVE MINUTES! After a minute I started laughing and just did not stop. For a movie that still has its plot resolved with Godzilla following the call of migratory birds into a volcano, it takes itself a TOUCH too seriously.

[@patrickmasell5639]

Despite all the valid criticisms of Godzilla 1985, I actually prefer it over Return. I find the improved sound design and some of the editing much better. The pace of the Super X fight is way better in the American version. Also Raymond Burr's monologue mostly justifies the presence of the US scenes, even if the rest of it is superfluous.

[@BensBrickDesigns]

I was a kid in Denver when this came out. Fox was kind of new and was running a promo when the movie came to TV. To tease viewers, they played "who's coming to fox 31" ads that were basically the trailer for this movie. I recognized the promo, sent in a post card, and won. 12 pack of Dr. Pepper, inflatable godzilla and dr. pepper can, a camera, and I got to be on the ad promoting the event. They were very surprised I guessed so quickly, and I was like, "You used the movie trailer in your contest." O___o

[@azhorsley]

I love this film. Ray Burr reprising his role was awesome.

[@animezilla4486]

Too bad never got a DVD or Blu-ray release because of legal issues

[@SweetStevieAaron]

@@animezilla4486 what?! I own the DVD! Region 2 or 4 though I think…

[@animezilla4486]

@@SweetStevieAaron really because as far as I know the American version of Godzilla 1985 only had a VHS release but never a DVD or Blu-ray version but the uncut original Japanese version was finally released in America a few years ago

[@lutherheggs451]

@@animezilla4486 Why in the bloody blue hell would anyone ever want to watch an English dub of any of the Godzilla movies...They butcher and bastardize the movie, usually turning it into something stupid. The Japanese Return of Godzilla has been available on blu-ray in the US for quite sometime, the harder one to get hold of is the direct sequel Godzilla v Biollante because Miramax has the US distribution rights and are just sitting on it..... Biollante is the only Godzilla blu-ray im missing and you couldn't pay me to watch an americanized, bastardized English dub of any of them..Even the Japanese version of King Kong v Godzilla is wildly superior the the awful Universal US version and im a fan of very few of the Showa era movies. The Heisei and Millennium era movies were so much better.

[@thingfish000]

The original Godzilla film, westernized by the addition of Burr, was shown in Japanese movie theaters. Once again it was a financial success.

[@brandonandcharlene9527]

I remember being so upset as a kid, not being able to see this in the theater because my parents figured it would be in theaters for a" long time". I rented it as soon as it came out, and recorded it off TV in 1987. I obtained a copy of the original New World VHS in the early 90s and still have it. That whole comment about Toho not wanting people to watch this version is so true, and sad. They want to wipe out all versions and dubs they weren't directly involved with, which is sad. I'm so glad fans have made HD preservations of all of these films, as Dan said, if you know where to look. I'm so glad I still have access to such a rare film any time I want to watch it.

[@nickbartkoski3868]

8

[@andrewmeyer3599]

Is it really that hard to find? I got my copy off Amazon for like 20 bucks I think?

[@coyoteboy5601]

@@andrewmeyer3599 It's more available now, but I looked for '85 for years with no success. You can even stream it free now (rather poor quality) if you Google 'where can I watch Godzilla 1985 for free?' I 'm watching it now for the first time in many years.

[@treystephens6166]

I saw the Laserdisc in Florida regret not buying it 😢

[@JeffreyPiatt]

Toho hasn't been dropping all of the old dubs the first two films can still be found in there American edits and uncut Japanese release.

[@R3troZone]

Godzilla 1985 is my favorite Godzilla movie and I still have a VHS copy of it.

[@freakctc]

From all the research I've done, the only real thing keeping the 1985 cut from being re-released is a 'copyright' issue with some of the music New World used. They didn't have permissions to use it, and now it becomes a legal issue that Toho just doesn't want to deal with, and they don't want to sink any more money into it to re-score it. I've actually been told that Toho wants to re-lease the double set of Rebirth/return of Godzilla and 1985, seeing as a LOT of the fans saw 1985 first, and it's what made them lifelong fans. Awesome video. keep up the good work.

[@Squall1980]

I got into a Godzilla phase last week after twenty years. I'm trying to watch all the 80s and 90s. It's crazy how I get back into something out of nowhere and new stuff comes out talking about it days later. Me and a friend went old school and played the NES to SNES games last Sunday to top off the phase so this video came out at the perfect time.

[@HelloBoy145]

Yeah I got into the Godzilla phase again after so long during the pandemic

[@andrewmeyer3599]

Dude I feel it. I went and saw King of the Monsters and it was like the 5 year old in me who used to watch Godzilla vs Gigan on repeat awoke and took over. I now own all the movies minus Biollante and own some of the original Godzilla movie posters all with certificates and stamps of authenticity, Kiryu model I built and a Heisei Godzilla figure

[@Squall1980]

@@andrewmeyer3599 That's awesome

[@andrewmeyer3599]

@@Squall1980 Tell my bank account that 😆 😂

[@joeolivo8847]

My beloved Godzilla 1985, I really do wish we got that movie when Return of Godzilla was released on Blu ray. The Godzilla Era of Toy Galaxy has begun!!

[@davidlogeman1197]

Bambi vs Godzilla was easily the funniest thing I had seen in my short life up to that point.

[@petermartin9224]

This and Destroy all humans were my introduction to Godzilla, good ole vhs tapes!

[@williamcrowe2576]

There was a small amount of comedy in Godzilla 1985/Return of Godzilla; a bum enters an abandoned eatery and cooks up a "last meal" for himself while the city is being destroyed around him.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

That actually does sound darkly hilarious.

[@preslove]

Shin Godzilla (2016) is one of my favorite movies. The first part is a dark comedy that skewers bureaucracies, but then it settles into a great sci-fi thriller. Def my favorite piece of godzilla media

[@mattfrank85]

On the subject of "current favorite Godzilla media," we started making G comics again over at IDW! I'm working on some new stuff but for the time being there's some cool stories from the GODZILLA: RIVALS comic series and there's a fun mini series called Monsters and Protectors for the all-ages crowd!

[@ziltoid420]

Godzilla 1985 is to this day one of my favourite films. As far as humans go it had the most interesting cast and the story is really serious.

[@jasonwolf3591]

I saw Godzilla 1985 in theaters as a kid. I remember the Bambi short. It was the first time I heard about the then theory that birds and dinosaurs were related and him ultimately being led into a volcano by a random flock of birds was brilliant to my 5 year old mind.

[@Moonbeam143]

I have this figure of Godzilla I've had since I was a kid during the 90's from Trendmasters. He's a cool dude.

[@TOKYOTOYBANZAI]

Godzilla 1985 was my first introduction to Godzilla, on VHS when I was 5 years old. Freaked me out in all the best ways, and the ending where Godzilla falls into the volcano while crying out in fear burned into my memory as one of my first experiences getting goosebumps. Still gives me goosebumps to this day. Too bad that the TOHO edit's ending sound for Godzilla falling isn't as dramatic. Love both versions. The sequel, Godzilla vs Biollante is also in my TOP 5, along with the original 1954 film & 2016's Shin Godzilla.

[@jhtzlx]

The scream actually does originate from Toho. It can be heard in (I believe) the mono version of the international cut of Return of Godzilla. But I do agree, the scream sells that scene. BTW love your channel!

[@nocategories3398]

That's my exact top 4, for 5th, it's either the well produced but silly Godzilla vs Kong or the underrated Godzilla Raids Again, which I hated as a kid, but watching the more serious Japanese version later changed my mind.

[@DakoGuyver]

I really liked Godzilla 1985. It was the first Godzilla film I watched as a kid. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@blueskiesj]

ahhhhh I just picked up 1984 uncut so this has been on my brain!!

[@philwatkins2800]

I'm a simple man, I see Toy Galaxy covering Godzilla, I click.

[@ChadCWatson]

One of my very favorite, if not favorite Godzilla movies

[@dsmoove1736]

I started my fascination with Godzilla here in NY on ABC’s 4:30 Movie. Monster week. They would usually show Godzilla King of the Monsters, Destroy all Monster and some others. At my young age not a teen in the early 70’s I couldn’t appreciate KotM as it was in black and white and that made it in my eyes inferior to Godzilla vs The Cosmic Monster which I actually saw in theaters. I know have almost every Godzilla film on either dvd or Blu-ray. As much as I enjoy Legendary pictures offerings I am waiting for Tojo to either give us s sequel to Shin Godzilla or just an out right new movie. I will forever be a fan.

[@RileyZilla1001]

Not 50 years more like 68. Damn, Godzilla is nearly 70. Even I am starting to feel old. Lol

[@xanderunderwoods3363]

My favorite Godzilla movie by far!

[@pathevermore3683]

final wars, fight me.

[@mechachonkzilla2315]

I saw this in 1985 in the theater... (that was practically empty). I thought it was one of the best Godzilla movies then, and still do. I still have the companion book that was put out at the time.

[@chefjrmz]

Thus was the first movie I remember shedding a tear to, when they nuke him at the end. Ol Yeller, ET, Bambi... nothing. G85 made me feel.

[@blahblahpocalyspe8323]

Godzilla 1985 was probably my first Godzilla movie! It definitely was the first I remembered when I was 3 years old. We cried when he was defeated. It's what made me love Godzilla

[@wstine79]

This was probably the first legacy sequel. The Godzilla resign was awesome besides his eyes. This was a great start to the Heisei Era.

[@Call_Of_Cuchuco]

PSYCHO II (1983) says hi - full with Anthony Perkins back as Norman Bates. It does good by the original 👍🏼

[@wstine79]

@@Call_Of_Cuchuco That was a good one. I was thinking of a sequel that ignores previous entries.

[@theCreature22]

A childhood favorite. I've still got my big rubber Imperial figure and it's one of the few Godzilla toys I'm planning to hold onto when I eventually move (can't take 'em all abroad, unfortunately!). Both the movie and the toy are classics.

[@aikisteven0616]

I remember we could have this one playing in the background of the video store I worked at with very few augments (the owner did NOT give us a big list of what we could play in-store, so we got tired of things QUICK, and danggit Megan, no we are NOT going to watch 16 Candles for the 300th time!!!), so you know it's a good film!

[@mikekz4489]

I was watching the Godzilla movies on TV when I was a kid and then I saw Godzilla 1985 at the video store and was amazed by the movie. It was like Star Wars compared to old Flash Gordon serials. Godzilla looked great. I got the Blu-Ray of the movie a few years ago.

[@sonicguyver7445]

I have been a Godzilla fan for as long as I can remember. This movie made me cry hard at the end. But I was five or so when I saw it and a day later my dad had taped, "Godzilla vs The Cosmic Monster" and I was convinced that after Godzilla fell in the volcano he burrowed his way back to Tokyo to inexplicably emerge from the warehouse to face off against his faker. I had one of those small Godzilla toys as well, and trust me when I say it was a treasured item up to adulthood. My parents still remember when I was in grade school I loved anything with Godzilla on it. My dad joked he could have gotten me an Offical Godzilla Shovel and I would have dug up the yard with it. I also got the first VHS release of Godzilla 1985 for my 10th birthday. I know I still have it too. I got the DVD of Godzilla returns and was fascinated by how different it was. I had seen 85 enough times that I could easily see the differences. Like the the fight with the mutant lice at the start was cut really short in the American version. I think it was also suggested it was a trilobite. And the Russian scene leading up to firing the missile I was really blown away by how they changed that to make the Russians more like villians.

[@BenBootKHTwo]

Thanks for plugging Paper Finz. I follow his channel. Godzilla has been with me since the ABC after movie showed Godzilla.

[@brycevo]

I'm really glad this wasn't the last Godzilla released. The Heisei and Millennium sagas were great

[@petermartin9224]

Also, there is a third version of this film, an English dub over the uncut Japanese footage that was used in some markets (that of course doesn't feature the American additions)

[@AndrewDasilvaPLT]

Radio Shack had a gigantic inflatable R/C Godzilla. It was still around in the late 80's and my preschool self was scared s#!tless any time I saw it when we ate at the pizza parlor next door.

[@t.nelson9345]

I watched this movie at an Japanese movie theater in Japan while serving in military overseas.

[@RileyZilla1001]

The old 1985 added "Godzilla death scream" freaked me out as a kid. SKREOOON*high pitched Goofy scream*

[@davefoster8845]

The death scream was from an alternate scene in which you see Godzilla actually die in the volcano. Looks similar to the meltdown at the end of Destroyah.

[@vincentfranklin17]

I saw this film in a theater in 1985. I was 19 years old. I'm ashamed to say, I heckled it.. Now that I'm more mature, and a HUGE Godzilla fan, I hang my head in shame and sorrow...

[@MJRLHobbyStuff]

FYI. There is a Manga adaptation of this movie that was also released in normal America comic book format by Dark horse comics. The artwork is absolutely astounding. It’s 90% typical manga style, then 3 pages in some graphic detailed art showing the dead sailors. Crazy stuff

[@Sea-Salt]

I'm lucky enough to have some of those issues. Really makes me wish all those older Godzilla comics would get a reprint, though I'm guessing there's a lot of legal red tape in the way.

[@BRAINFOXINFINITE]

@@Sea-Salt IIRC they had manga adaptations for all of the Heisei films and even 2000, which really went nuts by making Millenian have a whole backstory from what I remember.

[@williamrogers4917]

Godzilla 1985 was the first Godzilla movie I saw and got me into the whole series. I did not get to see the original till a few years back, but I still like 1985 if not but for one line "Nature has a way of reminding man just how small he is." After watching it, I watch all the Godzilla movie in our family movie store. Most where the ones before 1985.

[@AaronLitz]

I grew up watching Saturday afternoon TV Godzilla monster movie marathons with my dad and my little brother, so from the time _Godzilla 1985_ was released when I was 9 til we finally got to rent it on VHS maybe a year later we were _super, super excited_ to see it, and we were _not_ disappointed. I still remember when the _Godzilla vs Bambi_ cartoon short popped up on the tape before the movie, and how it made all of us absolutely crack up laughing. I still love this movie.

[@brookswilliams5239]

You must be around my age mid to late 30s? I'm guessing

[@AaronLitz]

@@brookswilliams5239 46 actually. 😃

[@Dynaman21]

The commercials didn’t have anywhere near the amount of “Godzilla approves” memes the 2014 movie did, which might explain a few things. And it still went over better than 1998, where Sprite made a commercial to specifically mock the overhype.

[@deralfenderson]

Even Sprite knew that we’d all want to forget that one.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

@@deralfenderson I don't say it often but Sprite made a good call. Maybe they just learned that even Dr pepper couldn't save 85.

[@jackielinde7568]

I don't normally watch "Professional Wrestling", but I would definitely watch the Kaiju Federated Wrestling League.

[@TitularHeroine]

Kaiju Big Battel (yup, spelled that way; typo on the 500 t-shirts they had printed as swag, so they just changed the name😂) is a wrestling circuit that features cheesy rubberry costumes and sometimes little buildings in the ring. I've seen some here on YT and some are funny as #!&@.

[@jackielinde7568]

@@TitularHeroine Funny you should mention it, but someone one one of the discords I belong to also recommended the channel. :D

[@danmillar6323]

This was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw and after we watched it we went straight back to the video store to rent as many other Godzilla movies as they had available.

[@geoffreyclark7513]

I'm convinced Roger Ebert just hated fun. And scifi. He did not like scifi.

[@stargazerlaurent6780]

Godzilla 1985 will always be my favorite. The Cold War tension, the aesthetics of 80s Tokyo at night, and yes Raymond Burr’s gravitas. It was the closest to a Kubrick made Godzilla film

[@j453]

When I was younger, I loved Godzilla 1985, I saw it many times both from rental and when it was on tv. It makes me sad it has been lost to obscurity due to licencing issues.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

Somebody said the US version has music that toho simply doesn't want to have to pay to re-licensed. That sounds about right.

[@ProfessorHurt]

I have VIVID memories of this movie from when I saw it as a wee one. It was the first Godzilla movie I saw on the big screen. Even with the intro of Bambi vs. Godzilla, this movie blew me away. I remember the rundown theater I saw it in. I remember the chairs and that large cardboard cutout of the movie near the concession area. I never owned the VHS. But this movie hits a spot for me. It should be noted around the same time the Krakken release came out, some genius took the closest cleanest HD version of the American scenes of 1985 and put them with the Krakken release so we have the cleanest version of the film. They posted in Facebook and well, I so downloaded it and then had a friend burn me a copy of it. Said copy is comfortably in the Godzilla 1984 in a spare sleeve. So I have BOTH versions in that Blu-Ray case. The other thing (which I'm surprised wasn't mentioned in the video), Godzilla 1985 popped up once on a poll on Turner Classic Movies website in the late 00s or early 10s. TCM would do this for rare and hard-to-find movies and the winner of the poll would have the movie be released on DVD via the website to purchase. It was the only showing ever of the film on the list for the one selection (at least that I'm aware of). Many Godzilla fans tried to vote for it, but the franchise in the US wasn't popular again yet. So it didn't win.

[@nathancook1404]

I have to agree with you that it sucks that Godzilla 1985 never got a DVD release expect for its Japanese Version from 1984 which was the only one I could find and as for Godzilla King of the Monsters from 1956 it would get a DVD release on the same DVD with the 1954 Godzilla Movie which gives you an options on playing the 1954 Film or the ReEdited 1956 Version with Raymond Burr.

[@entertainmentpowerfuchs5744]

I'm a Fan of Dr Pepper and Godzilla. To see he drinks it is Awesome

[@junethefox5834]

God bless Raymond Burr

[@deralfenderson]

Lifelong G-Fan here. I love the serious and embrace the silly. My favorite is *still* Godzilla Vs. Gigan. It has my favorite kaiju monster (Gigan). It’s the last Godzilla film featuring the original dude in the suit. It has a Japanese hippie carrying around an ear of corn wrapped in foil. It has Godzilla having an actual conversation with Anguirus! It has Monster Island complete with a Godzilla building with an elevator going all the way to the head. And it has aliens trying to take over the world, revealed in a weird pre-They Live way to be giant cockroaches disguised as humans!! What’s not to love??

[@dmitch1983]

Dan Larson + Godzilla = Quality Entertainment

[@ZeroBusterXX]

The "999" in Galaxy Express 999 is pronounced as "Three Nine" you goobers. Love the video though!

[@badhareday7509]

"But Godzilla 1985 ultimately revealed that the best way to kill Godzilla, was to make him American." And I declare thee... King of Burns.

[@maxcooper6554]

Burr's monologue, the musical cues...and that scream... chills. Also a HUGE fan of the JSDF march during the set-up montage! Favorite G-Film has got to be G Vs.MechaG and Tokyo SOS, love me some Kiryu!

[@chon9527]

Love and appreciate the research that goes into your content. Toy Galaxy should do a video on the cartoon, James Bond Jr.

[@BigEpinstriping]

I remember this show for some strange reason. Probably the theme song mostly. Sort of like Sherlock Homes in the 22nd century. Both really weird premises for cartoons.

[@chon9527]

@@BigEpinstriping I agree. I was barely old enough to full grasp the show as a kid. James Bond Jr. was throw in the lineup with all my other 90s cartoons after school and thats my only real memory of the show. The fact that it existed is all I can recall of the show. Cheers, mate.

[@ScrapKing73]

I expect it would be unwatchably bad if I revisited it now, but I have a soft spot for the animated Godzilla series (and the Marvel comic that come out at around the same time).

[@darktetsuya]

huh, don't think I've seen this one but sounds like it at least turned out better than Godzilla '98? I have seen the Dr. Pepper/Godzilla ads on random VHS tapes people have uploaded to youtube, so nice to get some context! I was wondering if it was streaming online anywhere, guess I'll have to look it up. I think my favorite Godzilla film has to be Godzilla: Final Wars. Something about the Sentai/Earth Defense Force (like the recent games) setting I thought it was kinda cool.

[@chaunceyhaworth4884]

Dear Producer Greg, as a fan of Horror first and toys as a close second I love your choice of clips. Not the first to say it, and I'm hopefully not the last. ... Dan, you're good too...

[@darklordchauncy]

Was the first Godzilla movie I got to see as a kid. I hunted down every VHS release I could find after that I could find. In had no idea how different the American version was from the original till they released the bluray.

[@Gappasaurus]

2:03 Looking forward to the next 50 years of Toy Galaxy 😊

[@RileyZilla1001]

I just rewatched 1985 and I will say it is the BEST sequel to Godzilla King of the Monsters 1956 ever made.

[@michaelleary9233]

This sounds like the reverse of what happened when Super Sentai was adapted to Power Rangers. The original was more serious and the American version campy, but the audience ate it up.

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

I always feel like Power Rangers is right place, right time,right product. It doesn't mean that Super Sentai isn't vastly superior it just means the intended audience could look past the obvious issues and still enjoy it. These days you could never get away with that but back in the day (30 years ago) it was perfect.

[@michaelleary9233]

@@JohnDoe-wq5eu Exactly. There had just never been anything like it over here. Godzilla was probably the closest cause it was live action, but it needed the colorful costumes like Ultraman and the American cast to really hook the kids.

[@jinpei05]

Sucked that Godzilla 1985 didn't do better in the US, because the Heisei era of Godzilla films absolutely kick ass. But give the circumstances and quality of the edit, I can't say I'm shocked.

[@BronzeAgeBryon]

I used to watch the campy Godzilla movies as a kid on Saturday's as part of a show called "Supe's On". Hosted by a middle aged Dad bod man in an oversized Superman suit. Doing sort of what Svengoolie has been doing for some time. But as an 8th grader in 1985 and allowed to go to the mall on my own now, I thought I was hot shit going to see Godzilla 1985 on a Friday night. Actually enjoyable then, but kind of just nostalgic now. So glad to get a look at the inner workings of the film from a competent talent like Dan. Thanks Dude.

[@aaronorenstein5963]

YES! The Big G’s been finally covered on the show! I can draw a few parallels between this film and another and certain comic books, if you stretch it a bit. 1984’s The Return of Godzilla is what The Dark Knight Returns was to Batman two years later, while 1995’s Godzilla vs. Destoroyah was what The Death of Superman was to the Man of Steel two years prior.

[@davidpaul1970]

The video hasn't even started and already I can tell this is the BEST vid you have ever made. GODZILLA 4EVER!

[@mattr75]

I remember watching Godzilla 1985 as a kid thanks to that Anchor Bay release. It definitely pales in comparison to the original version, but it's okay

[@badbirdkc]

I vividly remember the "Broadcast Television Debut" of this movie, but for the life of me couldn't tell you what channel. I DO remember the Dr. Pepper promotions. I remember really liking the movie. Haven't watched it in a while, but not for nothing, this movie has a great score that sounds like something Bernard Herman would have made for a 70s thriller. I love the opening credits as well. I understand Toho's reluctance to snuff the movie out, but I'm also a believer in preserving history and the documents within, including movies. This is the version I grew up with. This is the version I would like to see again, as well as watching the original as it was intended.

[@ryanspengler4877]

After you get from @00:01 to @00:26...it's totally understandable to stop for a 👏. 👏. 👏. Wow. Nicely done, DL.

[@kevinoverbeck4250]

Godzilla 1985 was the only movie I saw with my grandfather. He passed away some years ago now, but Id love to see that version again.

[@ciscodeer9094]

Yeah this was way before my time, but I have seen the 1998 version with Jean Reno

[@HeadCannonPrime]

I have no memory of this film yet I'm pretty sure I have seen it.

[@ryansease7066]

This movie was my introduction to Godzilla. I remember seeing it with my dad when I was a wee lad. Also, my Godzilla figure as shown in the video is still in my families possession as is a fondly remembered toy for me.

[@paahl1572]

Godzilla 1985 was the first Godzilla movie I ever saw. I have a soft spot for it. I was a kid and I was in love. To this day it’s still my favorite Godzilla movie. I’m hopeful for a DVD or Blu-ray release but I’m not holding my breath.

[@imahoare4742]

The problem with americans making Godzilla and Kaiju movies in general is that in Japan the cheesy effects and melodramatic acting are almost always in service to an allegorical story about the Human condition and it's hubris. The Kaiju boom of the 60s and 70s was a direct result of firsthand nuclear devastation and a fundamental change of culture and lifestyle, something most americans have no concept of living through. It's my opinion that this and pandering to "general audiences" is why America can't seem to make a kaiju movie that's little more than popcorn cinema.

[@abhirao8582]

Yeah there's a reason the Monsterverse has missed the mark. In the west we never had to suffer in the same way. We don't understand what informed them. We could potentially make a Godzilla film inspired by a tragedy in the west or one that actively holds us accountable but no one in Hollywood wants to do that

[@JohnDoe-wq5eu]

As much as I want to give them credit for not giving us another terrible 1997 version of Godzilla the fact of the matter is even the modern ones have been very meh. The fact of the matter is the Japanese ones even without an enormous budget are just superior. Hollywood just turns it into a big dumb monster movie you can't expect too much more than that. It's a shame because yeah the allegories and the actual meaning behind Godzilla is where so much of it's incredible qualities come from.

[@bigbaddwolf90]

Godzilla was my main obsession growing up. Loved this video. Thanks for handling it so well.

[@digitalmagicAR]

I saw this at a drive in theater in 1985. Still remember the Bambi meets Godzilla cartoon at the start. They were playing Girls Just wanna have fun and Godzilla 1985. We only watched Godzilla. I was super excited to see this since I loved Godzilla. Main things I remember were the laser tanks shooting up at him, which were also featured in the promo. And it seemed off how the bearded man (Raymond Burr) seemed disconnected from the film. Later on I found out his scenes were shot and added later to an original Japanese film so it made since why it seemed extra. And I also seem to remember a helicopter rescue from a building which we all thought was unrealistic

[@Aegelis]

Another recurring theme in Godzilla is how ridiculous our busy daily lives can be even when there are much bigger problems to worry about. This was the first Godzilla movie where "I got it", whereas before I though it was TV filler, because this time I was focused on it showing in a dark room on a large screen. It was a lot less campy, still needed imagination, but has a moral, themes, and nice effects. Amazing how much better a movie is when it's not just running in the background interrupted by commercials.

[@trogo5858]

There just are no words to describe the feeling, the memories of G85 gives me. Longing to fill the emptiness after Ultraman left American airwaves, I was so happy they were not just bringing him back to the fearsome boss kaiju he is, but also updating the look. Let Gamera defend the earth (love him too) but somebody gotta keep mankind in check. No one ever seems to talk about the makeover look too - he is sooooo much better looking with the sharp cat teeth, Japanese lion and snarl and Dragon tail with well defined stegosaurus-like spinal fins. I love them both, but I want to see the Martain-less original version of G85. Much more foreboding. And the final scream when he's trapped and falls into the lava- heartbreaking and relief - all at the same time.

[@grapeshot]

Yes I remember this movie and the American version having a more comedic nature. The American version not taking it very seriously and of course there was the whole Soviet subplot it was a cold war after all.

[@nine_tails137]

15:42 Aww man! I remember owning a copy of that exact VHS tape long ago.

[@venom7558]

This is my favorite Godzilla movie and the first one I saw in a theater back in 1985. The Japanese version has more development to it,but I actually prefer the American cut. It flows much better and has better suspense to it,despite the goofy Dr. Pepper ad placement. But this one holds a special place in my heart. I just wish we'd get a proper DVD release.

[@deadinside777]

This was my first Godzilla film and instantly became a fan. I remember picking up the VHS tape when our parents took us to the video store to rent some movies for the weekend. Maybe it's nostalgia, but I consider it one of the better "serious" Godzilla films.

[@billlange9408]

Godzilla 1985 was the first G film I ever saw when I was a child of 5. I saw it on the WLVI Creature Double Feature and haven't looked back since. In a lot of ways, it's still my favorite Godzilla film. I couldn't believe when they released the '84 version on BR. It was a wild day in the fandom. Since them, I've mostly watched the original, but will still watch 1985 every so often. I think it flows better for a Western audience and Raymond Burr is great. His monologue during the ending of the film is haunting and poignant. A way better way to end this movie than the Japanese did in the original cut. Also, this Godzilla film used a freaking 15 foot tall CYBOT for some of the scenes! While it looked clunky at times, it gave Godzilla a much greater range of expression and looked amazing in some of the shots. Granted, it made him look uh....derpy in other shots. Are there better Godzilla films? Absolutely. There are also worse. I think the three standalone Godzilla films from Toho ('54, '84, and 2016's Shin Godzilla) are all really, really well done. They make Godzilla into an actual terrifying creature. They also have political takes on Japan at the times they were released and strike a chord of truth in those ways. I love the channel, and I'm really glad you did a video on my favorite G film! Here's hoping you'll delve into some of the other more interesting ones!

[@Llyander]

1985 was the film that got me into Godzilla when I was a kid. We rented it from our local store. I had no idea there was an original Japanese version, though I suppose it makes sense given what they did to the original Godzilla for its release in the West.

[@WackyT08]

Loved watching "Creature Double Feature" on Saturday mornings in the late 70's/early 80's on Boston's Channel 56 while getting ready to go play hockey.

[@triggerfingerstudios]

I saw this on TV in 85/86 and I thought it was cool