Source Japan | Publisher : Toho | Release date : 25 October 2023
Video format
2160p24 | Ratio 1.37
CSD | BT.2020
HEVC encoding | DI 4K
Soundtrack
Japanese LPCM 2.0
Subtitles
Japanese
Rated 3.5 out of 5
Artistic : 8 | Video : 7 | Audio : 6
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers that, in addition to the specified and used viewing equipment, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence notation. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
Test equipment and condition (Config. HP: 5.1.4)
Video broadcaster : Sony Bravia XR-65A95L (Professional CSD)
Sources : Oppo UDP-203 Audiocom Reference | Zappiti Reference
Pregnant : Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Max (DTS Neural:X), SVS SB-4000
WORK - Mother Nature's Anger
A series of unexplained shipwrecks unexplained the Japanese chronicle. At the same time, following several unsuccessful peaches, the islanders of Odo island organize a ceremony to appease the anger of "Gojira", a marine dragon venerated since time immemorial. But when night comes, something arrives on the island in a storm and tramples on the village...
Born in the heart of a traumatized Japan atomic bombardments of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Godzilla The first of the name reveals a relentless allegory of nuclear peril seen through the prism of its indestructible monster. Technically out of date today (the special effects having taken a hell of an old blow) but terribly out of date in his speech (The clock of Revelation since 2023 the most advanced hour in its history), this precursor of the kaijū eiga has also created a symbol of pop culture whose appearances have never ceased since then (38 films, comics, manga, series and even video games). But 70 years after his first appearance, wouldn't it be time to listen to this whistleblower?
« I hardly believe this Godzilla was the last survivor of his kind. If hydrogen bomb tests continue, other specimens may well appear elsewhere in the world. »
IMAGE - Postwar Japan
From a 4K scan of the best still existing elements (a duplicated negative of 1973, a duplicated negative of 1975 and a positive grain print at the end of 1983) due to the absence of the original 35 mm nitrate film (unfortunately having disappeared for years), this SDR UHD transfer completed by the Tōhō is not perfect (in contrast to encoding, very solid) but gives the opportunity to black and white images (the photograph is the work of Masao Tamai) to be as beautiful as possible... While keeping in mind the generational losses of the digitized elements used in this restoration.
There is still much damage (white dots, scratches, scratches) even if greatly reduced since the previous Blu-ray (automated tools would have been used for deletion), the silver texture is indeed present even if variable from one plane to another and the details, except when the definition falls terribly, gain noticeably sharpness.
Thanks to the WCG (here a 10-bit color coding in the BT. 2020 color space in CSD) and an improved contrast range (a new flash), blacks are much less washed and/or blocked than in the past (the homogeneity is much better) so that shadows are otherwise more legible. As for whites, they have a completely different purity.
SOUND - The roar of the beast
Certainly stifled in places and occasionally « Attacked » by a few distortions in the heights of the sound spectrum, the only track 2.0 (dual mono) remains a proven cleanliness (despite rare crackling and/or background noises) with a detonating dynamic on the legendary music ofAkira Ifukube and the mythical cries of his giant biped reptile. As of course, the sound design is dated.
CONCLUSION - Long Live The King!
While the ravages of time obviously do not spare, the pessimistic birth of the expiatory monster remains a great classic which, on 4K Ultra HD support (A/V services faithful to the technical limitations of the available material), roars as in 1954. A very happy birthday Gojira!
Other articles relating to Godzilla on MaG:
- Godzilla (2014) by the celest wolf
- Godzilla vs Kong by the celest wolf
- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire by the celest wolf
- Shin Godzilla, the Resurgence of the King of Monsters by the celest wolf
- The birth of the king of monsters until Godzilla Minus One by Guillaume Lopez
- Godzilla Minus One, towards a new era? by KillerS7ven
- Godzilla Minus One, the crowning of the King of monsters? by the celest wolf
[...] kaijū eiga is a genre of Japanese monster films initiated in 1954 by the mythical Godzilla of Ishirō Honda. Kaijūs are gigantic creatures rising from the ocean for [...]