The Godzilla Americans don't know

This month, Gojira (the original Godzilla), finally received its first video release ever in the U.S. This new 2 Disc DVD set includes both the original 1954 Japanese version, and the heavily altered U.S. version that was released 2 years later called "Godzilla: King of the Monsters!", starring Raymond Burr.\nThe original Japanese version, Gojira, begins when two Japanese naval ships mysteriously blow up near some islands off the coast of Tokyo, followed by the destruction of a small village nearby. A research party investigates and finds one of Gojira's huge footprints. Paleontologist Kyohei Yamani (Takashi Shimura) finds a trilobite at the footprint site and discovers that the sand there also emits high amounts of radiation. He concludes that the creature is prehistoric and genetically mutated from nuclear bombs and testing. Gojira then appears again and commences to tear Tokyo apart, showing no signs of weakness from military defense.\nMeanwhile, Kyohei's daughter, Emiko (Momoko Kôchi), attempts to convince scientist Daisuke Serizawa (Akihiko Hirata) to use a device he invented called the "Oxygen Destroyer" that splits oxygen atoms in water and vaporizes anything in it. Daisuke is hesitant because of the power of the device, and the moral dilemma he faces is a result of his fears of the effects of nuclear power.\nAt the time, the Japanese were no strangers to issues regarding nuclear weaponry since it was less than a decade since the U.S. had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Gojira made references to these events and the devastating effects of nuclear weapons, which were the reasons the U.S. version omitted them and instead, replaced them with terrible dubbing, unfitting stand-in actors, and Raymond Burr as a useless journalist named Steve Martin who stands around observing, smoking his pipe, and sharing his thoughts in the form of voice-over.\nGojira may have been inspired by American movies like The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, but it's substantially different from the U.S. version, which is pretty much the same as the other Hollywood monster B-movies of that era. Gojira does a fine job of providing a solid and socially conscious narrative, a memorable score by Akira Ifukube, and a wonderful cast. Incidentally, Takashi Shimura, who plays the role of the paleontologist, was also a favorite of legendary director Akira Kurosawa and in several of his films including Seven Samurai, which beat Gojira for best picture at the Japanese Academy Awards.\nOverall this is a good DVD set. It includes audio commentary by Steve Ryfle, author of "Japan's Favorite Mon-star (The Unauthorized Biography of Godzilla)" and his publisher Ed Godiziszewski, an original movie posters slideshow, a "Making of the Godzilla Suit" documentary, director's notes, and a 16 Page Booklet. However, Sony could have spent a lot more time on the picture quality by cleaning up several white and dark spots throughout the film. Nonetheless, it has both films and is a must-own for any Godzilla or Monster enthusiast.