Godzilla (Superbit) (UK)

For my review of the film please see the ordinary disc

The change of packaging - the Superbit logo and the better quality picture and sound cannot change the fact that the film is rubbish. Enjoyable rubbish certainly, but nothing can change the obvious that the only interesting character - in fact the only character we care about - is the giant lizard.

So why did I buy the Superbit version - quite simply it's a fun piece of rubbish that I don't mind watching every so often. So I bought the Superbit copy to compare the two and to see whether Superbit was as good as Columbia claim.

The short answer is that Superbit is very good indeed - at least on my DV88 player and Philips 32" 16x9 TV. I can only suppose that the disc will look good on any player and TV, but it would be up to the individual to decide whether to spend their money on it. ( at the time of writing HMV has it for £22.99 - Play has the disc at £19.99 ).

If you have seen Godzilla you will know that the opening credits are fake newsreel - but after that - from the first shot of the Japanese factory ship you can tell that the picture is clearer, with better contrast and colour information. At times the picture is too good for the film. If you have the standard version and have listened to the commentary you will know that most of the rain in the film was faked, either the usual way of just pumping water over the actors on the set, or digitally. The opening sequence with Matthew Broderick shows this as you can now see blue sky reflected in the windscreen of his van, and even in the lenses of his spectacles. Not a genuine distraction, but the picture is that clear.

The night scenes in New York are wonderfully clear - you will only have seen better in a well projected real cinema. The only problem was that 2 or 3 times in the search of the subway - and the establishing shot of Madison Square Garden - you could see the Mattes, which gave away fact that you are watching a special effect. Apart from that this is the type of disc to show friends who want to know what DVD is capable of.

The only audio track is in English and for some reason the sound defaults to DTS - which is fine by me. I have said in other reviews that my preference is for DTS - particularly in modern features. Its not that the Dolby track has any faults - if the DTS track was not there I would be quite happy with the Dolby, but, when it comes to the choice there is not much comparison. The DTS track has so much more power, presents and clarity it wins hands down, but as I said if you do not have DTS - or for that matter cannot play the film loud - and remember this is a very loud film - then the Dolby track is fine.

I loved this disc and I was happy to spend the money to buy it, but I cannot help wondering at the logic behind the marketing at Columbia. Here is a disc with excellent picture and sound, but except for a few loonies like me who do they think is going to buy it? Most people want the 'extras' with a film, so how many do they think will buy two copies of a film? I have - and will continue to - argued that all films should be presented this way - the best possible print producing the best possible picture and sound with any extras on a second disc.