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Post by travis on Jul 22, 2006 13:59:19 GMT -5
I got some info today that may affect some of the box sets currently in print:
BCI Eclipse is starting to release films from the Crown international library, and that library will be ultimately turned over to them. Rhino had these movies before, hence why they were able to release titles like The Sidehakers, Hellcats, Wild Rebels, The Creeping Terror, and The Skydivers easily. Plus "Horrible Horrors" and other crap from that library.
I'm still trying to get more information, but this is what I got today:
Rhino may very well be able to keep their license on the titles they've secured for MST3k (Since Crown licensed the movies to them), but not future films. If this is the case, then we have nothing to worry about since there are no more Crown-owned titles for them to release.
While most fans might not care, since they already have the box sets, but I thought I should point it out anyway.
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Post by travis on Aug 28, 2006 13:22:39 GMT -5
I put my review in the "Volume 10 Screwups" thread.
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Post by travis on Aug 4, 2006 7:27:33 GMT -5
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Post by travis on Jul 21, 2006 6:49:44 GMT -5
I wonder why Deep Discount DVD is yet to list the set for pre-order? Amazon has it, but I'm waiting for the sweet price DDD usually has on the sets... DVD Empire has yet to list it too (on one of the box sets they were like the first to list it). And, Rhino's website hasn't mentioned it yet. I'm thinking the cover artwork/title selection was leaked out a bit too early?
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Post by travis on Jul 5, 2006 13:53:14 GMT -5
Toho owns the Japanese version and the English dubbed version (it's their International dub, afterall) Is it? Or is is an American dub prepared by whoever released the film in the US first? I know many of the dubs we grew up with aren't the same as the international versions being released on DVD (ie, Godzilla vs. Hedora/Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster.) I know at the end of the day it's still Toho's ball they can pick up and take home at any time. I'm just not so sure they actually would own the US made dubs/edits. I don't think anyone else could release them without Toho's ok, but I'm pretty sure this is why we didn't get the "Save the Earth" song on Hedora. Yep. You see, some US distributors chose not to create a new dub. Cinema Share's releases of Godzilla vs. Gigan ["Godzilla On Monster Island"], Godzilla vs. Megalon, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla ["Godzilla vs. Cosmic Monster"], and UPA's release of Terror of Mechagodzilla... all used Toho's international dubs. The Titra Studio dubs are great, it's a shame they couldn't be used for the recent DVDs.
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Post by travis on Jul 5, 2006 13:33:52 GMT -5
A friend of mine contacted Goodtimes (who are now out of business). They said all of their movies were sold or liquidated when Gaiem bought them.
This means it's very likely that Rhino bought the rights from Goodtimes. Keep in mind I didn't contact Toho LA, so some part of Toho might know about this.
This doesn't mean it would be accepted by Toho as a legit transaction. But it IS a possibility.
Let's keep an open mind about this, shall we?
... I'd recommend everyone be emailing Universal though (about MST the movie).
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Post by travis on Jul 3, 2006 18:48:42 GMT -5
Anyone ever find out who the hell owns PUMA MAN? It was originally released by Cinema Shares in the US. Okay.... call me a puss, but chills actually went down my spine when I read that email message from Toho. I saw that message to, but how do we know that it is true? Toho could have rights to the Japanese version, but not the Sandy Frank American dubbed version. From what I understand is that Goodtimes is bankrupt and the rights to the Sandy Frank version are up in the air, so Rhino is taking advantage of that. But I would love to see it on vol. 10 b/c it would be a better copy of the mst3k version of it. But either way I have it in my dvd collection. Toho owns the Japanese version and the English dubbed version (it's their International dub, afterall), as well as the monster character designs themselves. And as gfanikf just said, SF had nothing to do with it.
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Post by travis on Jul 3, 2006 13:18:00 GMT -5
If it's not Goodtimes' property in the US (at least until Goodtimes ceases to exist), why is Toho "examining the court procedures"? Goodtimes only has the home video rights, that's it (not TV or theatrical rights). They want to keep an eye on their property, it'll probably revert back to them soon if Goodtimes/Gaim don't choose to keep it. And what's this "of a certain version" stuff? I believe that just mean "any" release of Megalon, whether it be the MST3k version, a Film Ventures type treatment, or just a regular DVD of it. Anyhow, it'll be interesting to see what happens. I'm really looking forward to THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION on DVD. Where's our introduction from Bill Rebane? ;D I'm sure PARTS THE CLONUS HORROR will be on the next set...
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Post by travis on Jul 3, 2006 12:54:08 GMT -5
I think it probably has to do with financial woes. I haven't heard from Goodtime very often since DVD bumped VHS off. Goodtime does have one Godzilla release under their belts, an old out of print King Kong vs. Godzilla DVD that was full screen and reportedly very poor quality. But that was way back in 1998 and long off the market, so if they haven't released Megalon by now, they probably don't intend to. Goodtimes lisenced KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (and several other titles) from Universal. G vs M belongs to Goodtimes. Toho has no say in it. Maybe the people at Toho had weak english skills....or they said they didn't okay Rhino's release but didn't want to admit that it wasn't their property at the moment. (good to see that Godzilla 1985 could be released soon) Toho does have a say in it, it's still their property. From the info I got back, it looks like GT couldn't sublisence it. Anyhow, I'm thinking if GT did sublisence it to Rhino, Toho would know about it already since they've been watching the court procedures. As for GODZILLA 1985, Warner has it (through owning Lakshore Entertainment)... though Anchor Bay still claims they have it. It's an up-in-the-air situation sadly. One contact says "yes we have it", then another says "no, we don't". Just for the record, this is the email I got back:
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Post by travis on Jul 3, 2006 9:55:17 GMT -5
Hopefully this will all get straightened out, and we'll still be getting a set in August. With or without Megalon. Beats me why they're not putting more PD-movie episodes on these sets (thereby cutting the costs down for each one). That said, I know Goodtimes is supposed to have rights, but I've always been curious why, if they do, they haven't put out a DVD themselves. I'm also really curious if their rights would allow them to sublicense to Rhino for this. I'm no copywright lawyer, but I find this stuff interesting. I don't think Goodtimes could sub-lisence it, Toho they said they have all the rights "in and to.." Megalon. I'm curious to know Rhino's side of this story.. It's much more likely we'll see the GAMERA episodes on DVD actually. Rhino should get in contact with Kadakowa about 'em.
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Post by travis on Jul 3, 2006 8:31:32 GMT -5
THE LOWDOWN: Hi everyone, I contacted Toho International, and they did not authorize Rhino's release. Damn. Hopefully they'll have an episode ready to replace it (throw on a PD episode like Gila Monster instead).
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Post by travis on Jul 1, 2006 20:08:31 GMT -5
They may not have paid through the nose, but it's funny because I have a theory which I was going to put in my one Likelihood thread. My idea was that the only likeliness is that GoodTimes may be going out of business soon, and in a last ditch effort to help either A) make some fast money, B) try and help pay off debts is to lease the rights to Rhino Home Video. Of course, the good news is that even if Sony buys up the rights after GoodTimes goes under (if it does), then even they'll have to honor the contract. Torgo, maybe you could talk to those in the Godzilla community and see if anyone knows what's going down. I'd be intrested to hear. (though I doubt anyone else would) I'm one from the Godzilla community, and hopefully will get some info soon. Your theory about Goodtimes sounds good, hell, Rhino might have even bought their film library (just a wild idea..). I'm worried that if Rhino didn't get an OK from Toho (which they would very likely need to), the set may get stomped-out.
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Post by travis on Jul 1, 2006 18:55:25 GMT -5
I don't know if Rhino really had to pay through the nose to get Godzilla VS. Megalon like we think they do. I mean it IS a public domain title and it was only speculated that it MAY never be released because Godzilla is a trademarked character. But who the hell cares it's still being released.... WOOO HOOO! Godzilla vs. Megalon isn't public domain, and hasn't been for years. Has van hagar or whomever made the "possibility of MST episodes being released" updated that list yet, given the release of Volume 9 and what's coming out on Volume 10? I could work on that list if anyone wanted me to. I had a bunch of info that VanHagar was going to update it with. Hopefully Rhino did go through the proper channels, otherwise me might have another AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN incident. Anyhoo, Rhino has a very good amount of titles available to them to release on future sets (both PD and cheapies).
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Post by travis on Jun 29, 2006 21:00:46 GMT -5
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it!!! How the hell did Rhino get ahold of MEGALON? WOW!!!! :eek: The cover sucks (like almost all of Rhino's covers), it would be more suitible for a set w/ FUTURE WAR. But that's ok. GREAT list of extras too!!!!! I must be dreaming.... AND GIANT SPIDER INVASION! One of my favs from the SciFi channel era. This set looks like it'll be the best yet! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTT!!!!!! Don't count on Rhino releasing GODZILLA VS. THE SEA MONSTER though. Sony has the home video rights to that. Due to Goodtimes going bankrupt (who apparently had the rights), Megalon most likely reverted back to Toho (Since Gaiem didn't choose to buy their film libarary when they bought GT). Very interesting indeed. I certainly hope this doesn't hinder with the possiblity of a quality dual language/widescreen DVD release otherwise.
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Post by travis on Jun 26, 2006 5:12:33 GMT -5
I only listened to half of it before shutting it off. Pretty crappy IMO.
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