Description

Godzilla vs. Biollante – 4K Disc

Criterion Collection | 1989 | 105 min | Not Rated | March 18, 2025

Genres: Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Action | Foreign | Supernatural | Kaiju

Disc Specs

• 4K UHD Disc (BD-100)
• Video: HEVC / H.265 | Native 4K (2160p)
• HDR: HDR10
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Original: 1.85:1)
• Audio: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0
• Subtitles: English
• Region: 4K UHD Region-Free

Movie

3.0/5

Blending Cold War espionage, science-gone-wrong, and traditional kaiju chaos, Godzilla vs. Biollante is one of the oddest but most ambitious Godzilla entries. Giant plants, cloned cells, and shady biotech villains square off against the King of the Monsters in this surreal Heisei-era entry.

4K Video Quality

3.5/5

✅ Restored from the original camera negative by Toho Archive Co., Ltd.
✅ Presented in HDR10 (no Dolby Vision)

• Major upgrade over the 2012 Echo Bridge Blu-ray
• Improved color depth and dynamic range – especially in kaiju battle scenes
• However, edge enhancement, digital noise reduction, and smearing pop up occasionally
• Cyan hues sometimes overpower other colors in darker sequences
• Grain and texture are more natural in bright daytime shots, but effects scenes lose detail in 4K

➤ Appreciable boost in fidelity, but marred by heavy-handed digital touch-ups

Audio Quality

5.0/5

Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.0 mix is bold and immersive
Explosions, gunfire, and monster roars are crisp and punchy
Akira Ifukube’s musical cues are thunderous and clear
️ Dialog is clean, with outstanding subtitle translation

➤ Dynamic, clean, and faithful to the source – crank it up!

Special Features (on 4K Disc)

• ️ New Audio Commentary by critic Sam Deighan
  → Insightful discussion on Godzilla’s cultural legacy, director Kazuki Omori’s style, and the film’s blend of genres

Additional extras are located on the Blu-ray disc in the combo pack.

Overall Score

3.0/5 – Mixed but Meaningful

✨ This 4K release is a must-upgrade for collectors over the previous Echo Bridge Blu-ray
✨ While audio is stellar, the video quality is inconsistent, with some frustrating artifacts
Still, it’s a memorable, genre-mashing chapter in the Godzilla saga, bolstered by Criterion’s care

Recommended for kaiju fans and completists. Others? Proceed with caution.