http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ Akira Kurosawa Forums » Tag: dvd - Recent Posts en Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:45:19 +0000 http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/hidden-fortress-release#post-1757 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:00:27 +0000 Vili Maunula 1757@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>It's a plain no-extras release, in the same way as Rashomon was part of Vol. 1 and Ikiru part of Vol. 2. The transfer is the same as with Criterion's original release. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/hidden-fortress-release#post-1756 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:33:44 +0000 Christopher Rice 1756@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Is this an upgrade of a release?</p> <p><a href="http://www.criterion.com/films/655?utm_source=Listrak&#38;utm_medium=Email&#38;utm_term=%2ffilms%2f655&#38;utm_content=cjrice%40gmail.com&#38;utm_campaign=Essential+Art+House+Vol.+III" rel="nofollow">http://www.criterion.com/films/655?utm_source=Listrak&#38;utm_medium=Email&#38;utm_term=%2ffilms%2f655&#38;utm_content=cjrice%40gmail.com&#38;utm_campaign=Essential+Art+House+Vol.+III</a> </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/a-peek-into-criterions-new-high-and-low#post-928 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:34:38 +0000 cocoskyavitch 928@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Any scrap of Mifune is gold to me-so this is awesome news...I have got to get this just to see the Mifune interview!!!!! </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/a-peek-into-criterions-new-high-and-low#post-921 Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:57:40 +0000 Vili Maunula 921@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I got the new double disc <em>High and Low</em> a few days ago, and although the film club won't discuss the movie until next month, I decided to sit down and take a look nevertheless.</p> <p>I must say that the picture quality is really good. It is great to see Kurosawa so well handled -- but we wouldn't expect less from Criterion these days, now, would we?</p> <p>The only part of the set that I watched in its entirety was the Mifune interview from 1981. I think that we actually briefly discussed the interview last year, or at least I have the feeling that it was the same one that Deconstruct linked to <a href="http://akirakurosawa.info/2007/12/02/tsubaki-sanjuro-first-review/#comment-11299">last December</a> (the Youtube video has since been removed). In any case, while I actually didn't find the interview all that interesting, it was nevertheless good to see Mifune as Mifune, not one of the characters that he plays.</p> <p>The Japanese trailer also includes some footage from the scrapped final scene of the movie. The US trailer was also fun to watch, as usual! </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-195 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:11:39 +0000 Master Thief 195@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I just got back from a trip to find both the Criterion Dersu Uzala and Dodeska-den Laserdiscs I bought had arrived. As it is late and I am tired, I only had time to quickly scan them in the player. I haven't hooked up audio to the laserdisc player yet, so I am making an intitial judgment just on the picture &#38; sub-titles. </p> <p>The Dersu is probably as good as the Kino and better than the Artificial Eye and other releases based on the Ruscico version. The cover states: </p> <p>"Dersu Uzala was transferred from a 35mm anamorphic color reversal internegative in the Cinemascope aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Both the English and Russian soundtracks were created from separate 35mm optical soundtrack negatives. The intermittent film scratch on the left side of the screen is inherent in the source materials, which were the best available elements. The new English subtitles were created from an updated Russian-to-English translation"</p> <p>The Dodes'ka-den is a big improvement in colour richness &#38; sub-titles. It is also 1.66:1 ratio. Both the Mei Ah and French versions I have are 4:3. I don't know why they haven't released this on DVD. On the cover it says:</p> <p>"Dodes'ka-den is presented in the aspect ration of 1.66:1. This new digital film-to-tape transfer was created from a new 35mm composite print."</p> <p>It is copywrited 1995 The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Company">Voyager Company</a>. </p> <p>When I find the time I will transfer both to DVD and then post some screen shots. It might be some time though. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-194 Tue, 22 May 2007 06:52:43 +0000 Vili Maunula 194@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I am meanwhile trying to get hold of a Finnish DVD copy of Dersu. It was released as part of a "Russian Classics" collection of some sorts. I don't expect it to be any better than the other releases, though. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-193 Mon, 21 May 2007 12:07:03 +0000 Master Thief 193@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I just bought a Pioneer Laserdisc Player CLD-2950 for NZ$65 (about US$47.50). It has S-Video and optical digital outputs so I should be able to transfer the Kurosawa laserdiscs I have to DVD. I am hoping the Dodeskaden is a significant improvement on the MeiAh version. At least the subs should be better.</p> <p>I don't hold great hopes that either of the Dersu Uzala laserdiscs will be any better than what is circulating on DVD, but at least it will add to our knowledge for the project.</p> <p>I'll report further when the player and all the discs arrive. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-188 Wed, 16 May 2007 12:56:54 +0000 Master Thief 188@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Well my anxiety got the better of me and I bought both Dodeskaden &#38; Dersu Uzala. Now I really need to find a player to check these 2 out along with the others I recently acquired. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-187 Wed, 16 May 2007 12:29:04 +0000 Master Thief 187@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Yes here is the complete list from Wiki:</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Criterion_Laserdisc_releases" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Criterion_Laserdisc_releases</a></p> <p>The Kurosawa films were:</p> <p>Rashomon<br /> Hidden Fortress<br /> Ikiru<br /> Seven Samurai<br /> Yojimbo<br /> Throne of Blood<br /> Red Beard<br /> Dodeskaden<br /> Dersu Uzala</p> <p>I only have the Seven Samurai and am searching for the 2 colour films of course. There was a copy of the Dersu Uzala on <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/DERSU-UZALA-CRITERION-LASERDISC-LD-RARE-KUROSAWA_W0QQitemZ140110104730QQihZ004QQcategoryZ381QQcmdZViewItem">eBay</a> USA recently but I couldn't bid as it was restricted to US bidders. The person who bought it now has it for sale for <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Dersu-Uzala-Laserdisc-Criterion-256-Kurosawa-75_W0QQitemZ170112582766QQihZ007QQcategoryZ381QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem">US$49.99</a>.</p> <p>There are copies of <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&#38;item=9108690358&#38;ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSII_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&#38;refitem=280092787105&#38;itemcount=4&#38;refwidgetloc=active_view_item&#38;usedrule1=ItemToItem&#38;usedrule2=StoreCatToStoreCat&#38;refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget">Ikiru</a> and <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&#38;item=280092787105&#38;ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&#38;refitem=140110104730&#38;itemcount=4&#38;refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&#38;refwidgettype=osi_widget">Throne of Blood</a> currently open for bidding.</p> <p>. . and quite a few including <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/DODESKA-DEN-Kurosawa-RARE-Criterion-WS-2LD-Not-on-DVD_W0QQitemZ280114244486QQihZ018QQcategoryZ381QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem">Dodeskaden</a> if you do a search. This person also has <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&#38;item=280102367513&#38;ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSII_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&#38;refitem=280114244486&#38;itemcount=4&#38;refwidgetloc=active_view_item&#38;usedrule1=ItemToItem&#38;refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget">The Bad Sleep Well</a> which doesn't appear on the Wiki list </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-183 Wed, 16 May 2007 07:53:40 +0000 Vili Maunula 183@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Criterion used to do LDs, right? </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-180 Tue, 15 May 2007 23:31:29 +0000 Jeremy 180@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Laserdisc had its moment here in the US for a short time, although I dont know much, I was in elementary school around its arrival. My only experience with them was from the boring learning programs the school would use them for.<br /> The only one who bought them where the limited A/V gurus that had to have to newest stuff and schools, the general public never got into it and it died off quickly.<br /> I bought one long after the Laserdisc was replaced by the DVD, only to view some releases that at the time where only VHS and LD. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-176 Tue, 15 May 2007 06:44:25 +0000 Vili Maunula 176@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Did the Laserdisc ever actually really take off anywhere else than Japan? At least in (Northern?) Europe it never really even arrived.</p> <p>A bit like Minidisc, which was supposed to be the next thing, but turned out to be the "no-thing". </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-173 Tue, 15 May 2007 04:24:02 +0000 Master Thief 173@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Thanks Jeremy. The shipping to NZ would be expensive and it might get damaged on the way as well. I should be able to pick one up locally eventually or find somebody who has one. There is a Pioneer DVL-919e on our local auction site so I might bid on that. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-171 Tue, 15 May 2007 00:29:07 +0000 Jeremy 171@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>The pioneer CLD-D703, is among the best, they are hard to find here in the States so I wouldnt think you'll have better luck, but its your best bet to give a good comparison between its DVD versions.</p> <p>I have a handful of LDs but have never seen any ones you have bought.</p> <p>I have a Pioneer CLD-D705 that I will pull from the closet to see if it still works, LD player tend to only last 10 years and die when not used. I wouldnt mind giving it to you, I have no use for it, just shipping to NZ would be pricey- that thing is heavy. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/another-new-dersu-uzala-dvd#post-170 Sun, 13 May 2007 23:40:21 +0000 Master Thief 170@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I found a 1983 Laserdisc of Dersu Uzala on eBay and bought it. It is a Japanese pressing from Herald Enterprise and is spread over 3 sides. I am not sure if there is anything on the 4th side.</p> <p>As part of the same eBay purchase I also picked up 3 Toho Laserdiscs – Sanshiro Sugata I &#38; II and Kagemusha along with the Criterion Seven Samurai Laserdisc. </p> <p>Now my only problem is I don’t have a Laserdisc player and they never real caught on in New Zealand so second hand ones are rare. I am making some enquiries to see if I can find somebody who has one so I can see if the Dersu Uzala and the Sanshiro Sugatas are any better than any of the DVDs I have. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/the-idiot#post-165 Thu, 10 May 2007 17:16:40 +0000 Vili Maunula 165@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Indeed, a great service you are providing us, Master Thief! </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/the-idiot#post-162 Wed, 09 May 2007 01:39:36 +0000 Jeremy 162@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Thanks Master Thief for all the info </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/the-idiot#post-159 Tue, 08 May 2007 04:41:40 +0000 Master Thief 159@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Having watched the first 10 minutes of all 3 versions over lunch, I have to conclude that the Masters of Cinema is the best of the 3. The Madman is not far behind. The Shochiku has significant amounts of dirt on the print which is very disappointing given it is their production. </p> <p>From the Alex Cox documentary on the Masters of Cinema release I have learned that when Kurosawa returned to Shochiku to make Rhapsody in August, he personally searched the Shochiku vaults for the missing 100 minutes they cut from the original film. Needless to say he didn't find it. We live in hope it will be found one day. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/the-idiot#post-158 Mon, 07 May 2007 21:05:53 +0000 Master Thief 158@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>The Idiot was a Shochiku production so you would hope they have the best available sources. There is no indication (in English) on the DVD of the year it was released. However it is a single layer disc and has a small black border on both sides</p> <p>The Master of Cinema was released in 2005 and is a double layer disc. The booklet with it states:</p> <p><em>"All efforts have been made to use the best currently available source material. Shochiku provided us with an HD master from the best surviving film elements. Unfortunately, the negatives of Japanese films from this era were often overused for the process of striking new prints. Where negatives do still exist, they are often in poor shape.</p> <p>Various audio and visual problems including noise, interference, synchronization, and dirt have been addressed to increase viewing pleasure. nevertheless, some defects were impossible to remove."</em></p> <p>Shochiku also produced <a href="http://www.shochikufilms.com/film/detail.php?product_code=115">Scandal</a> (1951) and <a href="http://www.shochikufilms.com/film/detail.php?product_code=117">Rhapsody in August</a> (1991) and both are listed on their website as available on DVD.</p> <p>I will post further on which Idiot I prefer after watching them on my television set. Just need to find a few free hours. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/the-idiot#post-157 Mon, 07 May 2007 18:23:26 +0000 Vili Maunula 157@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Hmm. Based on the screenshots you posted, I would still go with Masters of Cinema.</p> <p>Some fairly interesting places The Idiot turns up in! <img src='http://akirakurosawa.info/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif' alt=':D' class='wp-smiley' /> </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/sanshiro-sugata-ii#post-156 Mon, 07 May 2007 18:19:57 +0000 Vili Maunula 156@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Thanks for the info, MasterThief. I might actually get those releases. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/the-idiot#post-154 Mon, 07 May 2007 12:16:07 +0000 Master Thief 154@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Here is where you can buy the <a href="http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=5918133&#38;style=ice&#38;cart=534678221">Shochiku</a>.</p> <p>Don't worry, it arrives in a plain brown envelope! </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/the-idiot#post-153 Mon, 07 May 2007 12:08:55 +0000 Master Thief 153@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I have 3 versions of this film. A region 2 release from <a href="http://www.eurekavideo.co.uk/moc/catalogue/the-idiot/">Masters of Cinema</a>, a region 4 release from <a href="https://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=5055&#38;method=view">Madman</a> and a region 3 release from <a href="http://www.shochikufilms.com/film/detail.php?product_code=116">Shochiku</a>.</p> <p>I have posted some screen shots of all 3 <strong><a href="http://kurosawa.jokerman.net/idiot.html">here</a></strong>.</p> <p>For my eyes on my PC screen, the Shochiku appears best in most scenes. In the second set of stills, it appears to be less cropped with the feet on the wall on the left fully visible and more of Mifune's shoulder on the right. The sub-titles appear to be very similar on all three.</p> <p>I will reserve final judgment until I have compared them more fully on a television screen.</p> <p>But for now my money is on the Shochiku as the one to have to watch. The Masters of Cinema is the winner for packaging and extras. </p> <p>I Googled upon the Shochiku for sale in the Adult video section of CD Universe of all places. Don't know how it ended up classified amongst the porn! </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/sanshiro-sugata-ii#post-152 Mon, 07 May 2007 00:37:54 +0000 BMWRider 152@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>I have Sanshiro as well. I had to convert it to region 1 but that was no big deal. I like the outtakes we got with that one. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/sanshiro-sugata-ii#post-151 Sun, 06 May 2007 23:40:43 +0000 Master Thief 151@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>If you haven't already got it, you should also order their Sanshiro Sugata I. Besides it being a far superior film, it is also in significantly better preservation than the later film. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/sanshiro-sugata-ii#post-150 Sun, 06 May 2007 15:06:50 +0000 BMWRider 150@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Thank you very much. I agree having it with subtitles that may be understood is huge. I ordered it on Friday. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/sanshiro-sugata-ii#post-149 Fri, 04 May 2007 17:31:25 +0000 Ben 149@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Much appreciated MT. From those stills it looks like there is a significant amount of combing in the Eastern Eye release, yes? Well it still looks above and beyond the MeiAh shit... just when you think about subtitles. </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/sanshiro-sugata-ii#post-148 Fri, 04 May 2007 12:10:06 +0000 Master Thief 148@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Not really. Just an image gallery with some stills from the film and a bunch of trailers from other Eastern Eye releases.</p> <p>I have been watching it tonight and it certainly is a big improvement on the BoYing. But still parts of it are not in very good shape. We can only be grateful that it has survived at all I suppose and that it has been re-issued with intelligible sub-titles.</p> <p>Another bit of trivia to note is that the American sailor in the opening scene is speaking English. The English in Kurosawa films that I now re-call is:</p> <p>1. Sanshiro Sugata II - American sailor in opening scene abuses rickshaw driver and Sanshiro in English<br /> 2. Ikiru - prostitutes singing the Rosemary Clooney #1 hit of 1951 - "Come on-a My House"<br /> 3. I Live In Fear - Public announcements in English over PA at airport<br /> 4. Rhapsody in August - Richard Gere when he arrives at airport asks a question in English </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/sanshiro-sugata-ii#post-147 Fri, 04 May 2007 10:55:59 +0000 BMWRider 147@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>Any extras on this Eastern Eye release? </p> http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/topic/sanshiro-sugata-ii#post-146 Fri, 04 May 2007 05:43:32 +0000 Master Thief 146@http://akirakurosawa.info/forums/ <p>My copy of the new <a href="https://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalogue.do?releaseId=7705&#38;method=view">Eastern Eye</a> release arrived today. Although I have not watched it fully yet, I can say that it is a big improvement on the BoYing (MeiAh) release I have.</p> <p>I have posted some screen captures <a href="http://kurosawa.jokerman.net/ss2.html">here</a>. Although it is hard to see any significant difference in the picture quality from these stills, the Eastern Eye has significantly less dust and dirt than the BoYing. Both have a lot of scratches though. I haven't always captured the exact same frame in these stills. The Eastern Eye has slightly darker contrast.</p> <p>The other big improvement in the Eastern Eye release is the sub-titles. Like all MeiAh / BoYing releases, the translations on their version are pretty mangled English.</p> <p>Anyway if you have a multi-region player I recommend you get the Eastern Eye. Even if you don't, it is easy enough to make a region free copy from your Region 4 version. </p>