The Happiness of the Katakuris - R2 DVD Details

[Julian K]

Tartan's Asia Extreme label is releasing Miike Takashi's outrageous 2001 black comedy The Happiness of the Katakuris on DVD on the 29th of September.

Their Region 0 disc features an anamorphic 1.78:1 transfer. There's a choice of Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1 Japanese audio, with optional English subtitles. Bonus materials include a director's commentary track, a half-hour Making of... featurette (not 61m, as the sleeve claims), a Miike Takashi interview, the theatrical trailer, six other Takashi trailers, production notes, filmographies and a 30" TV spot. Not mentioned on the sleeve are bonus interviews with various cast members, and an Animating the Katakuris featurette. (It's possible that the sleeve will be corrected before the disc hits the shops). RRP is £19.99.

For more details, and some menu screen grabs, visit Zeta Minor (http://www.zetaminor.com/whatsnew.htm)

[BiscLimpkit]

Thanks a million Julian,

It seems that this release just beats the region 1 version?

The Tartan R2 might be the one to own.

[danielzavitz]

yeah well i'll wait until i hear what the transfer is like before i spend any money, tartan have a patchy record on transfers to say the least.

[kanedaa]

Can you tell us if the Audio Commentary is Japanese with English subtitles, or is it the American voiceover version?

[Julian K]

Can you tell us if the Audio Commentary is Japanese with English subtitles, or is it the American voiceover version?
For more details, and some menu screen grabs, visit Zeta Minor (http://www.zetaminor.com/whatsnew.htm)

[BiscLimpkit]

It's in Japanese with optional English subs.

[kanedaa]

Doh, I just looked at the menu shots.

[Julian K]

yeah well i'll wait until i hear what the transfer is like before i spend any money, tartan have a patchy record on transfers to say the least.

I've watched about twenty minutes. The source they've used is very clean (no dirt, etc), and it has good contrast. detail and colour balance.

The encoding isn't so hot though - there are frequent MPEG artefacts and smeariness, especially on shots where there's lots of movement (the rainstorm near the beginning is particularly bad - the whole screen breaks up into tiles).

On the whole, though, it's a damn sight better than a lot of Tartan discs I've seen.

[Julian K]

Doh, I just looked at the menu shots.

If you'd read the text on the News page, the answer to your question was there! :)

[Joe91]

Originally posted by Julian K
On the whole, though, it's a damn sight better than a lot of Tartan discs I've seen. Faint praise indeed :rolleyes:

[kanedaa]

Originally posted by Julian K
If you'd read the text on the News page, the answer to your question was there!

I'd already worked that out (took me a while though).

Based on what you've said about the video quality any hope that Tartan are improving just flew out the window. I can't describe just how depressing it is reading about each new acquisition they make :(

[BiscLimpkit]

Originally posted by Julian K

The encoding isn't so hot though - there are frequent MPEG artefacts and smeariness, especially on shots where there's lots of movement (the rainstorm near the beginning is particularly bad - the whole screen breaks up into tiles).



Hmm would you say that it would spoil the enjoyment of the movie greatly?

IE would you say that it's still watchable?

I wonder if this problem is present on the R1...I'm quite keen on the extra interviews and featurette!

Cheers once again!

[kanedaa]

The interviews and featurette are on the Region 1 DVD. The confusion here comes down to this:

R1 - You get a 'Making of Featurette' that is 61-minutes according to the rear cover. When you choose this from the menu it plays a 30-minute featurette, which is then followed by a Takeshi Miike Interview, further interviews with the cast members and finally a featurette on the Clay Animation seen in the film.

R2 - They've done the same thing on the rear cover - listed as 61-minute 'Making of Featurette', but on the DVD they've actually split the interviews and Clay Animation featurette into smaller selectable bonus features.

[niz]

is there any reviews for this R2 release yet? does R1 or R2 have better picture?

[BiscLimpkit]

Apparently the R1 has better picture but the R2 is better in terms of extras (i.e. a proper subbed commentry as opposed to dubbed..etc..).

I'm gonna go for the R1. £12.99 @ *********.

[ChrisParrott]

Saw a trailer for this on a Tartan disk.

Is the film any good?

[ChrisParrott]

Oh, forgot to mention.

There's a trailer here...

http://asiaextreme.co.uk/asiaextreme2003/katakuris/trailer.html

[Squirrel God]

This was my third Takashi Miike movie (first was Audition, second was Visitor Q) and it was the first to disappoint. Not a bad film but I just expected more innovation in content; it's in abundance in style only.

[Joober]

About time this was moved to the World Cinema Forum :)