AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa

[Napier]

There is not a single decent English-subbed edition of this sublime film available anywhere in the world to my knowledge. =D>

The Fox Lorber edition I've been watching for the last ten years has subs.

[StevenJ0001]

There is not a single decent English-subbed edition of this sublime film available anywhere in the world to my knowledge. =D>

The Fox Lorber edition I've been watching for the last ten years has subs.

Yes, it's the same one I've been watching, and it's most definitely not "decent."

[oldsheperd]

For 280 on Amazon I'm game to buy it. I only have like 4 CC Kurosawas so it'll be a nice pickup.

[Tommaso]

Yes, it's the same one I've been watching, and it's most definitely not "decent."

I always abstained from it because of what I saw at the Beaver. It really looks like it's one of the most disastrous dvd releases ever of a relatively recent film, on a par with the first "Irma Vep" disc.

[Napier]

It's still watchable though. If not for that DVD I never would have seen the film.

[StevenJ0001]

It's true that it's enabled me to enjoy the film many times, but the poor image quality is very distracting.

[Tommaso]

I was happy enough to see it on TV, but just once and with a German dub (aargh...). High time to revisit it, then. I could imagine that CC will release it on Blu and SD at the same time as a standalone release; but that could mean that we will have to wait until the end of last year or so, given that CC apparently have to let some time pass by after the Kurosawa films got their Blu releases in Japan before they can do their own.

[Napier]

Please revisit Madadayo Tommaso. It's always been one of my favorite Kurosawa's. A late great swan song if you will. A beautiful way to cap off a stellar career in directing. The film always brings me to tears.

[mteller]

I'm happy enough with the existing version of Madadayo, not one of my favorites anyway (it is touching, but kinda narcissistic). I just hope the first four get released as an Eclipse set eventually.

So, are we to assume the special features list means the discs themselves are bare-bones? I've already read Richie's book, and I can pick up the Prince from the library.

[StevenJ0001]

Please revisit Madadayo Tommaso. It's always been one of my favorite Kurosawa's. A late great swan song if you will. A beautiful way to cap off a stellar career in directing. The film always brings me to tears.

Me too, every time. And it's often hilarious, also.

[Tom Hagen]

The only Kurosawa I currently own is Ran. This is a tough call for me: I can either get the bulk of his filmography (in remastered transfers and with two good books) for under $300 or opt for the special editions of just the canonical releases (with the commentaries and docs) for about the same price. I think the box set is probably the way to go. With the size of my kevrip, I doubt that I will have the time to get through half a dozen Stephen Prince commentaries anyway.

[Michael Kerpan]

If Criterion does NOT issue all the unique films in the set separately (in due course), it will constitute quite a slap in the face of all those who have bought each new (separate) release as it came out. But, hey, it's their business -- and they can run it however they like.

[sidehacker]

I don't own any Kurosawa CCs (only have The Quiet Duel) so this is definitely ideal for me. I think it could look very nice next to my Ford at Fox boxset.

Edit: Forgot I had High & Low. Oh well, I'm still buying this.

[swo17]

I think the box set is probably the way to go.

Now I know what to get you for Christmas!

[Jameson281]

I'm surprised anyone expected this to also be available on Blu-Ray. The market isn't strong enough yet to support it, and Toho isn't going to allow all those films to be released on BD in the States before they are released in Japan.

I think Criterion will make the new titles available separately in some fashion; they'll piss off too many people if they don't.

[fiddlesticks]

Now I know what to get you for Christmas!

Underwear and socks?

[zedz]

I think the box set is probably the way to go.

Now I know what to get you for Christmas!

Now who's forgetting spoiler tags?

[Flike]

So, these will all be bare bones, then? And what about the transfers? I'm wondering if they'll use the new Rashomon print.

[swo17]

Special Features:
# "The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa", a book by Stephen Prince
# Book features an introduction and notes on each film by Stephen Prince
# "Films of Akira Kurosawa," a remembrance by Donald Richie
# Includes 4 films never released on DVD
# All films have new digital transfers
# Deluxe linen-bound collector's set includes 25 films plus illustrated book

Which sounds fishy to me. I mean, are they going to use a transfer for Dodes'ka-den or High and Low that's newer than the extant one?

[Flike]

... oops. Thank you.

[Perkins Cobb]

So I guess the wacky horse was as close as we'll get to Uma.

[Cinephrenic]

Those Who Make Tomarrow (1946)... I thought Janus had this?

[rossen]

I'm not sure that the book by Donald Richie will be in the set. It says "Films of Akira Kurosawa," a remembrance by Donald Richie, I hope I'm wrong though.

[Mr Sausage]

Those Who Make Tomarrow (1946)... I thought Janus had this?

Kurosawa only co-directed it, so I can see why they'd leave it out of a Kurosawa centenary set.

[captveg]

I see the following happening:

Box Set released

In following months, Eclipse set of the earlier 4 titles.

At some point a Criterion/Essential Art House release of Madadayo.

Additional Blu-ray releases of the bigger titles (Seven Samurai, High & Low, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, etc.) throughout 2010.