Some ‘Destroy All Planets’ DVD Controversy

As we’ve discussed in the latest Planet X Control Room episode about this story, I’ve been following this story for at least a few weeks from a member’s Blogspot website that there were some controversy pertaining to one of the latest Gamera DVDs, which is now available at Amazon at this point from what I checked.

From the articles and excerpts that he’s added onto his blog (which I’ll link to those articles below), many fans noticed that this DVD, released by a company named Retromedia DVD, appeared on Amazon out of nowhere with pre-ordering option with no release date. Shortly after the item was put up on Amazon.com, it was pulled down and there have been postings on the Monster Zero boards from August Rigone and Fred Olen Ray (Owner of Retromedia) on the issues surrounding the controversy, mostly pointing to rights issues.

However, the DVD is now back up on Amazon.com and available for purchase.

I’m not particularly sure why Mr. Ray didn’t just call Kadokawa Pictures to straighten this out in the first place, and too, I’m not sure why there’s another company releasing a Gamera film onto DVD when SHOUT! Factory has committed on releasing all Showa Era Gamera films on DVD, including Destroy All Planets (also known as Gamera vs. Viras). I rather purchase SHOUT! Factory’s Gamera vs. Viras version rather than Retromedia’s.

Gamera DVD Controversy Articles:
“Destroy All Planets 2010”: The Case of the Missing DVD
“Destroy All Planets 2010” Controversy – Part II
Fight Over “Destroy All Planets” Rights Brewing
DESTROY ALL PLANETS Gets A Release While No One Was Looking