Comments on: Akira Kurosawa’s Movies on DVD

By: Vili Maunula

Vili Maunula — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 06:15:41 +0000

Mike, off the top of my head (I don’t have the prints to compare, as I’m travelling at the moment), I think that it’s mainly because PAL format prints like BFI’s tend to run 4% faster than NTSC ones like Criterion’s. There is no extra footage on the Criterion print, although the opening and ending titles and/or intermission may be timed a bit differently.

By: Longstone

Longstone — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 09:17:36 +0000

Hi
apologies if this has been discussed before but I have a Red Beard DVD query,
I noticed that the time listed on the BFI release is 172 minutes and the Criterion release is 185 minutes ? Is there more footage ? or is it due to maybe differing lengths of the intermission ?
thanks very much
Mike

By: Diego

Diego — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:04:18 +0000

For the Italian-speaking Kurosawa lovers, can I suggest the Mondo Home Entertainment 2008 edition of Throne of Blood that I co-edited – double DVD with documentary on Noh theatre and film comment by Noh scholars.

A review (in Italian) here http://www.close-up.it/spip.php?article3945

By: Pradeesh

Pradeesh — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:57:42 +0000

Thanks Vili, really appreciated this. Will try contacting these people.

By: Vili Maunula

Vili Maunula — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:12:30 +0000

Pradeesh, I would imagine that you will want to contact Akira Kurosawa Productions Co. and possibly Toho Company Ltd. They will know who has the rights and where.

Good luck with the project!

By: Pradeesh

Pradeesh — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:58:05 +0000

Hi !
Need a bit of help from all.
I work with Sony Pictures India, and am a great fan of Akira Kurosawa. Most of his movies are not available in DVD’s here, so I am planning to release his titles in our label.
Would anybody be able to help me in contacting the right people who holds the rights ? I tried with criterion, but they have only rights in US.

Would much appreciate guys
Thnks,

By: Vili Maunula

Vili Maunula — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:42:57 +0000

Thanks for the heads-up, telamonides! I actually own the Criterion edition, but have apparently somehow forgotten to update the list when it came out. I’ll do so now.

By: telamonides

telamonides — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:20:19 +0000

Hello,

I am new to the site and noticed that in your dvd section you list the BFI version of ‘High and Low’ as the superior release. I am not sure if you are aware, but the re has been a rerelease of the movie by criterion with a better transfer and these extras:

SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE-DISC SET:

* New, restored high-definition digital transfer with original four-track surround sound
* Audio commentary featuring Akira Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince
* A 37-minute documentary on the making of High and Low, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
* Rare video interview with actor Toshiro Mifune, conducted by TV talk-show host Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
* New video interview with actor Tsutomu Yamazaki, who plays the kidnapper
* Theatrical trailers from Japan and the U.S.
* New and improved English subtitle translation
* PLUS: A booklet featuring a new essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien and an on-set account by Japanese film scholar Donald Richie

The BFI website lists these extras:

Extras
This DVD contains sleeve notes by film historian Philip Kemp.

It seems to me that a reassessment may be in order.

telamonides

P.S. Thanks for setting up this site. It looks great!

By: Vili Maunula

Vili Maunula — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:36:20 +0000

Is that poster designed for the new digital restoration? It looks interesting, I quite like the concept.

By: cocoskyavitch

cocoskyavitch — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:18:17 +0000

Rashomon is getting new cover art ? I dunno, I just always read the blog by one of Criterion’s artists: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_yxzBaPkfHdI/SgnwgVyMPrI/AAAAAAAABcg/jexcAGcTKTs/s1600-h/rashomonforwebsite.jpg

the new 35mm restoration is in NYC: http://www.filmforum.org/films/rashomon.html