New Seven Samurai DVD???

[hallanthony]

I've been pondering on buying some of Kurosawa's films for a while now but have held off as there were rumours of a new Criterion edition of Seven Samurai due sometime, but this was rumoured probably a year or so back (anyone heard anything recently)... but I happened across this new release at HMV (http://www2.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=286;5;-1;-1&sku=152713) due in February, anyone know what this release is...

Or should I just pickup the Criterion Kurosawa box set?

[John Hodson]

It's Waterfall :gag: Avoid!

Get the box, you know it makes sense!

---
So many films, so little time...

[Silvio_Dante2003]

i haven't heard anything about a new Criterion? But the best option is the current Criterion version as it has feature length Audio Commentary where as the R2 version i think only has commentary on key scenes.

[visitor-q]

I definately recommend the Criterion box set. It's way cheaper than buying them separately. I've had the box set for months now and had only watched Seven Samurai. I finally got around to watching The Hidden Fortress the other day. It was brilliant. Can't believe I had it for so long and hadn't watched it. Am now eagerly waiting for the weekend to watch the other two movies in the set I still haven't watched yet.

[Aardvark_DK]

Well, if you look at DVDBeaver's Toho vs. Criterion comparison (http://207.136.67.23/film/dvdcompare/7sam/7samurai.jpg) the latter comes out looking pretty bad. I really, really hope that Criterion will release a new transfer at some point. Or I could just learn Japanese and buy the Toho version...

[Deaks]

Any of these dubbed? :nuts:

Seriously, for my Autistic step-son, he can't read.

Deaks.

[SimonI]

The rumours about the new version started with the theatrical releases last year in the US with new prints using new sub titles by Linda Hoagland. Whilst a new improved Criterion would be nice, the downside is that, from what I've heard, the new subs have a modern vernacular that will probably jar with a lot of people.

[hallanthony]

So it looks like I should be buying the Criterion edition of Seven Samurai then.

At £40 the boxset is great value, only thing about the other films is that Rewind indicate that the BFI releases of the other films are better, i.e. BFI has anomorphic release of Sanjuro and a commentary on Yojimbo...

So should I just get all BFI releases, or SS from Criterion and BFI releases for the others, or just get the Criterion boxset...

[cm-9]

I've watched the BFI release of SS and the image quality certainly seemed better than the Criterion screenshots shown on DVDBeaver, although not as good as the Japanese (Toho) edition, but not much to complain about either. The BFI disc comes with a short 25 minute commentary feature which I found very interesting, and much more useful to me than a 3 hour commentary which I'd never have the time to listen to.

Personally, I think that many early Criterions (up to about spine number 90) do not have very good picture quality; at the early stages of DVD I think they often simply re-used laserdisk materials. I also think that the BFI should be supported as they are doing some great work, just as worthy as Criterion, in releasing cinema classics in an accessible form on DVD.

I would say definitely get the BFI releases. Another advantage is that you will always be able to sell the BFI ones easily on Amazon.co.uk marketplace. While you can usually sell Criterions easily in the Classified section of the forums, you might find that the old Criterion SS becomes unsellable if Criterion do a re-release of that title.

[Jimmyboy]

There is a new release of Seven Samurai coming out in Febuary R4 and the distributors (Eastern Eye) have supposedly sourced the best print available.

They also have Yojimbo.

[BiscLimpkit]

Word on the street is that it's sourced from the excellent Toho transfer. Should be good...

[KeyserSoze]

has Yojimbo got a nice transfer in japan ?

dont think ill upgrade Seven Samurai.

[Rohail]

Originally posted by cm-9
The BFI disc comes with a short 25 minute commentary feature which I found very interesting, and much more useful to me than a 3 hour commentary which I'd never have the time to listen to.

The commentary for the Criterion Seven Samurai is superb :thumbs:

[Aardvark_DK]

Originally posted by Jimmyboy
There is a new release of Seven Samurai coming out in Febuary R4 and the distributors (Eastern Eye) have supposedly sourced the best print available.
Hmmm, they also have Volcano High. Maybe they'll release the uncut version? And an anamorphic edition of Yojimbo would be really nice (both the BFI and the Criterion editions of Yojimbo are supposed to be pretty poor).

edit: Eastern Eye can be found here (http://www.easterneye.com.au/). Alas, the Volcano High print they're showing is the 100 min. cut. Bugger.

[Jimmyboy]

Originally posted by Aardvark_DK
edit: Eastern Eye can be found here (http://www.easterneye.com.au/). Alas, the Volcano High print they're showing is the 100 min. cut. Bugger.

That's supposedly a typo and they claim to be releasing the longer uncut version.
Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[RealAkira]

Any new news yet? I cannot reach their website.

[Tony Soprano]

Maybe going off subject here but can anyone direct me to a DVD Site which sells Criterion's Rashomon for under £20 and will accept Solo. Cheers

[Minamoto]

What set is it you all speak of? I cannot find it.

[ian turner]

What set is it you all speak of? I cannot find it.
If you're looking at UK retailers then you won't find it as Criterion are an american company.
Probably they are referring to this (http://www.playusa.com/playusa.asp?page=title&r=R1&title=162378)

[Minamoto]

Many thanks.

[EvaUnit02]

I'd stay clear of the Eastern Eye Kurosawa releases - they've NTSC-PAL transfers.

[Aardvark_DK]

I'd stay clear of the Eastern Eye Kurosawa releases - they've NTSC-PAL transfers.
But at the moment they're the best versions available - if you want English subs. As far as I know anyway.

[EvaUnit02]

But at the moment they're the best versions available - if you want English subs. As far as I know anyway.They aren't in the case of the anamorphic widescreen OAR Kurosawa Criterions.

[Aardvark_DK]

They aren't in the case of the anamorphic widescreen OAR Kurosawa Criterions.
I didn't know Criterion had re-released them in anamorphic? Certainly neither Sanjuro nor Yojimbo?

edit: Oh, you probably mean Hidden Fortress and... uhm, some others. I agree, the Criterions are vastly superior. One can only hope that they'll re-release the two I mentioned above.

[EvaUnit02]

I didn't know Criterion had re-released them in anamorphic? Certainly neither Sanjuro nor Yojimbo?

edit: Oh, you probably mean Hidden Fortress and... uhm, some others. I agree, the Criterions are vastly superior. One can only hope that they'll re-release the two I mentioned above.Yup, I meant the likes of Hidden Fortress. I rather eat dog poop than go near Criterion's ancient non-anamorphic releases of Yojimbo/Sanjuro.

[Bonzo Banana]

I know its a long way from the best version but I find it perfectly acceptable;

http://www.dddhouse.com/dddhouse/en/index.jsp?action=productDetail&productID=133

Its £1.60 approx plus postage. Its also a flipper so you have to flip over the dvd half way through.