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| Gorgo(1961); Discuss the film here and VCI DVD here | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 8 2006, 07:11 PM (4,595 Views) | |
| packmule | Feb 8 2006, 07:11 PM Post #1 |
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Long in the tooth
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In 1961 Gorgo was released by MGM. The story: a salvage vessel is nearly wrecked by undersea volcanic activity off the Ireland coast. Two of the vessel's crew(played by Bill Travers and William Sylvester) go ashore into the local fishing village, befriending a boy and running afoul of the surly harbormaster. Nights later a 60-foot reptilian sea monster appears briefly, driven off by torchtossing villagers. The creature is subsequently captured by the salvage vessel crew, where it is brought back to London, and unceremoniously put on display as part of a circus show. In the meantime, the monster's 200 foot "mother" appears at Nara Island, wipes out the harbormaster's abode and then sets off to London to rescue her 'child"... Directed by Eugene Lourie. Produced by Frank and Maurice King. -- Post your thoughts and opinions about this film here. :) |
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| Ghost the Bat | Feb 9 2006, 08:20 PM Post #2 |
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Gorgo is pretty good, not at all much fun, but its still pretty good, Gorgo and Ogra were really cool looking, and the SPFX were almost as good as a Show Goji film. Decent storyline too. I'd give it a 3.2/5.0 |
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy
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| KaijuFanatic | Feb 9 2006, 08:31 PM Post #3 |
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Love the film, although it does tend to bog down from time to time, once London is under attack, all is good. I thought the effects were quite good and it's nice to see the beasties walk off, healthy and happy, in the end. |
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| packmule | Feb 28 2006, 02:06 AM Post #4 |
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Long in the tooth
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Have you picked up the new and improved VCI DVD of this film? It has a new 5.1 audio remix and an improved "print" of the movie. Very nice upgrade I think. I ordered mine direct from VCI. Very affordable at about $15.00, shipped. :) |
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| Ro-Dan | Feb 28 2006, 06:43 PM Post #5 |
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I have the previous print of GORGO and it's so dark that you can barely see the monster. Is the new one much brighter and clearer? |
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| packmule | Feb 28 2006, 09:56 PM Post #6 |
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Long in the tooth
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Yes, I think so. The video upgrade is noticeable, but the 5.1 audio remix, as opposed to the mono of the original release, is a very noticeable improvement. I was pleased with the upgrade. It will not blow your doors off, but for about $15(which included S&H), it was worth it. VCI Entertainment |
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| Ro-Dan | Feb 28 2006, 10:32 PM Post #7 |
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Yeah, maybe I'll get it. My print is so hard to watch. You can barely see the monster on my DVD. The print is that dark. |
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| packmule | Mar 1 2006, 05:20 AM Post #8 |
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Long in the tooth
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I used to have the original DVD release. It is disappointing to me that such a classic monster film had such a poor quality release. Give VCI credit for kicking out an improvement. The improved DVD also has a "stills" gallery and a short "Making Of Gorgo" featurette, and the format is true 1:85-1, not the 1:66-1 cropped and "altered widescreen" format on the original. :) |
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| KaijuFanatic | Mar 1 2006, 07:29 AM Post #9 |
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I haven't gotten the re-release, I've been holding out to see if the double-dip is worth it and it certainly sounds like it's something to consider. I had a VHS of this way back and if you can believe it, the DVD release was a vast improvement over the VHS, as far as nighttime scenes went. You could basically only hear what was going on, not see a thing! |
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| packmule | Mar 1 2006, 05:03 PM Post #10 |
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Long in the tooth
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It is. I ordered it from VCI's site. The movie itself was $9.99+tax and shipping(I chose standard ground and received it in about five days). My total cost was around $14.00. I ordered this upgrade immediately after seeing it advertised in a magazine called Fangoria, because you never know when something like this could be discontinued or rendered permanently out-of-stock(unlikely perhaps but not outside the realm possibility). :) |
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| Ghost the Bat | Mar 28 2006, 09:08 PM Post #11 |
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I still have the old VCI DVD, I will probably upgrade to the new one someday, seems worth the money. |
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| Ro-Dan | Mar 30 2006, 08:35 PM Post #12 |
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I recently saw the new DVD at Borders Bookstore for $9.99 but I still didn't get it. Eventually I'll replace that murky version I currently have...eventually. |
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| packmule | Mar 31 2006, 05:41 PM Post #13 |
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Long in the tooth
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It is worth the money. I bought the upgraded version of Gorgo and was most impressed with the 5.1. remix. The video is also an improvement, and this film can be ordered directly through VCI for around $9.99 plus tax and shipping. THis film is still one of my favorite non-Godzilla kaiju films(the other being Mothra, also released in 1961) :) |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jun 30 2006, 06:48 AM Post #14 |
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I just received the 'Destruction Edition' DVD for, Gorgo and noticed it states a different aspect ration than my original DVD of the film. The original states a 1.66:1 aspect ration, while the 'Destruction Edition' states an aspect ratio of, 1.85:1. Being totally ignorant on aspect ratios, I'm curious, does anyone know which was the correct and original ratio for this film? |
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| packmule | Jun 30 2006, 06:17 PM Post #15 |
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Long in the tooth
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I believe it was indeed the 1.66:1 ratio KF, but this is a guess, and I could be wrong. I can tell you that the change in ratios from the original DVD release(1.66:1) to the 1.85:1 ratio was done because of some distortion/compression issues(not egregious but noticeable in some scenes, most notably the "compressed" look of the Gorgo logo at the beginning credits of the first DVD release) that raised more than a few eyebrows, and the ire of fans of this classic monster film. busy bee |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jun 30 2006, 07:27 PM Post #16 |
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Thanks very much, packmule, I wasn't sure what to make of the change. I wasn't sure if I should hold onto my original DVD, but I may sit and try and compare the two in same scene checks. |
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| packmule | Jun 30 2006, 08:43 PM Post #17 |
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Long in the tooth
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Suggestion: keep them both. The original DVD release may become a collector's item one day. Or not. Besides, if one DVD, for some reason, decides to crap out you've got the other one to "fall back" on. thumbs up |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jul 1 2006, 07:15 PM Post #18 |
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Good thought! thumbs up I will keep both, most other DVDs that I have upgraded to, I have given to family or friends or let my roomie use them as trade-ins for credit towards some of her video game purchases at places like GameStop or EB Games. |
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| packmule | Jul 21 2006, 05:19 AM Post #19 |
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Long in the tooth
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Regarding the "Destruction Edition" of Gorgo(1961) Kimi, did you notice, watching it, the improvement in sound(from the 5.1 audio remix)? I thought the audio improvement was even more noticeable than the video upgrade. thumbs up |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jul 21 2006, 07:10 PM Post #20 |
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Yes, Lee, I did notice that, much more than I did the video upgrade. thumbs up |
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| packmule | Jul 22 2006, 10:33 PM Post #21 |
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Long in the tooth
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Pictured: the Destruction Edition DVD of Gorgo(1961), which includes a 5.1 audio remix of the film, and a reconfigured aspect ratio of 1.85:1 to reduce the "compressed" look of the opening credits movie title logo and other various scenes. |
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| packmule | Jul 24 2006, 08:16 PM Post #22 |
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Long in the tooth
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One interesting fact about this film...did you know Kimi that Gorgo debuted in theatres in Tokyo, Japan in December of 1960? Ironically, the last country to show this movie theatrically was Great Britain, in the fall of 1961. crazy |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jul 25 2006, 09:38 AM Post #23 |
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Wow! That is one bit of info I had no idea about...thanks for that info, Lee! That's odd that the film's country of origin was the last to show the film! :blink: |
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| Ro-Dan | Jul 25 2006, 10:58 AM Post #24 |
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Yeah, that is kinda "bass ackwards". Wonder what the reasoning for it was.... |
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| packmule | Jul 25 2006, 05:59 PM Post #25 |
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Long in the tooth
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I can tell you that when pre-production of this film began there was strong consideration given to using the coast of Japan as the backdrop for the first part of the film-as we know the actual setting is Nara Island(off the UK coast), where the volcanic eruption that frees the "baby"(60 foot) Gorgo, and subsequently, the 200 foot + "mother" Gorgo, takes place. Why consider the coast of Japan for the original setting? I do not know, although it wouldn't surprise me if the success of Gojira(1954) in Japan had some influence on the King Bros. and their efforts to get their own monster film, Gorgo, up and running. |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jul 26 2006, 11:53 AM Post #26 |
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I watched this film again, last night, I just love the Gorgo beasties. I'm going to have to recheck, but do the night scenes seem slightly brighter in this re-release? I thought they did appear brighter, but perhaps it's just wishful thinking on my part? |
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| packmule | Jul 26 2006, 05:22 PM Post #27 |
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Long in the tooth
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I'm fairly sure it's not your imagination Kimi. One of the most common(and persistent) complaints about the former DVD release(and VHS) of Gorgo(1961) was that the overall picture was too dark. I have read many members of various kaiju discussion sites remark similarly. The re-worked video of this film has, I think, addressed that complaint fairly well. thumbs up |
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| KaijuFanatic | Jul 27 2006, 06:26 AM Post #28 |
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Thanks, Lee. I thought many of the night scenes looked better, at least I could see what was going on, I have the VHS and the original DVD release and that was always my complaint, just far too dark. |
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| packmule | Aug 2 2006, 05:34 AM Post #29 |
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Long in the tooth
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I actually had one more complaint: the re-release took too damn long to happen . Better late than never I suppose.Image--- Out of time: Big Ben is about to get trashed by mama Gorgo-from Gorgo(1961) |
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| KaijuFanatic | Aug 2 2006, 07:17 AM Post #30 |
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That's a great photo! thumbs up I know a few complaints are made about the look of baby and Mama Gorgo, with the wiggly ears and such, but I think the beasties look quite cool, actually. :) |
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. Better late than never I suppose.
7:14 PM Jul 10