In October last year, BFI released a new steel book edition Blu-ray of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai. The release was and still remains exclusive to Zavvi, but this will change in April when the edition will be available also from other retailers. BFI will also be releasing the new transfer separately on DVD.
The contents of the package are:
- Transfer digitally re-mastered in High Definition
- Playable with or without original intermission
- Original Japanese Theatrical Trailer
- The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-Cinema Expert Tony Rayns Discusses Kurosawa’s Career and Influence
- Fully Illustrated Booklet with Essays and Credits
It is a nice package and a good transfer so those looking for Region B (Europe) Blu-ray of Seven Samurai should definitely consider investing in the BFI release.
For more information about Akira Kurosawa’s films on Blu-ray, check out the Kurosawa Blu-ray list.
There is a nice review of the new release by Philip French of the Guardian/Observer. And yes, as numerous people mention in the comments below (good to see how many old Japanese movies nerds there are out there), the photograph illustrating the review is not actually Toshiro Mifune, and not from Seven Samurai.