Much like how the original Godzilla (1954) was re-edited into Godzilla King of the Monsters! (1956), the original Japanese version of King Kong vs Godzilla was re-edited for its Western release. The original Japanese version of the film was made as a comedy, using it's absurd premise as a social critique of overt commercialization and the rise of television in Japan at the time. While not a perfect satire, it is nonetheless is a highly entertaining spectacle with an intentionally comedic flavor. However, when the film was brought for international distribution it had to be re-edited. This meant adding new superfluous characters via a UN news report who's roles are mainly there to relegate and comment on the action. While I wouldn't say that the US version take the premise seriously either, it does removes a lot of the character comedy and satire of the original Japanese version. Eric Carter and his conversations with the scientist and reporters don't add much to the narrative and it's presented in a rather dull manner that slows the flow of the film. Gone are the lines that directly compares the fight to a wrestling match, or mentions getting Kong to smile for a drug commercial. For example, a line in the Japanese version that was changed for the US version deals with the protagonists discussing Kong's electrical powers in the battle. In the US version it's presented in a straightforward manner, "electricity makes him stronger". In the Japanese version however, it is likened to Popeye eating spinach. Another significant alteration is the exchange of the film's original score for stock music from the Universal library. There are times moments where the new music manages to enhance the comedy during the fight between Kong and Godzilla. However, there are also times where it falls into some annoying trappings such as cutting to a shot of Tokyo with a stereotypical gong. It should be no surprise then that the American version is inferior to the original, but I cannot deny that this version is still fun it's own right. Of course that's mainly a testament to just how entreating the original version that some of humor survived the localization, especially during the monster battle. There is something to be said in that the early Westernizations of these films were a necessity for them to find success globally but regardless of which version it is, Kong Kong vs Godzilla is too much fun not to like.