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Detail is on par, grain looks better though (not surprisingly since it's derived from a 4k restoration, is it not?)

I actually prefer the less-golden color of the BFI timing though.

Michael Kerpan wrote:

Jack Phillips wrote:Weirdly de-saturated look if the screen caps are anything to go by. Where are, for example, the vibrant reds? Anyway, a very different color scheme than what's on the Shochiku Blu-ray.

Did the Japanese Blu-Ray manage to eliminate the first reel stutter (or whatever it is)?

Yes (I believe it was a missing frame).

Fred Holywell wrote:DVDBeaver

Those screen caps convey a very different impression and lead me now to think that the new Criterion blu is very close to the Shochiku.

It could not have been just a missing frame -- and it happened more than once. It seemed more like some sort of slippage during digitization that wasn't caught and corrected -- and which then made its way into new 35mm prints. I'm pretty sure this phenomenon didn't show up in an old French DVD (which clearly was based on a totally different source).

Looks nice to me, but the costwise, and inclusion of the other films makes the BFI Ozu collection still very appealing.

Yikes, even though the DVD is window boxed I don't think I could be persuaded to upgrade.

the all new bluray color is better color than floating weeds or good morning though.

The new blu-ray is more accurate, as that greenish/warmish tone was inherent in the way the film stock developed. See the BFI blu-ray of Good Morning and MOC's Floating Weeds. This being a 4k restoration, it certainly seems that everything came out great.

Note that the BFI 100th anniversary print are using the same new 4K restoration, so it's not especially a scoop that the Criterion BD looks like them.

Michael Kerpan wrote:It could not have been just a missing frame -- and it happened more than once. It seemed more like some sort of slippage during digitization that wasn't caught and corrected -- and which then made its way into new 35mm prints. I'm pretty sure this phenomenon didn't show up in an old French DVD (which clearly was based on a totally different source).

Anyway, the problem(s) have been fixed.

tenia wrote:Note that the BFI 100th anniversary print are using the same new 4K restoration, so it's not especially a scoop that the Criterion BD looks like them.

This is different from their Blu-Ray, right?

Yes, the BFI Blu-ray uses the same HD master that Criterion used for their 2008 DVD.

Michael,

Your Ozu shrine looks impressive. And the grilled fish looks yummy. May I suggest adding a small bottle of sake to your Ozu shrine?

That's not the shrine itself -- this was just a little display using some shrine materials. We do have a bottle of sake on hand, but not a little one.

Oh! The shrine itself must be very elaborate. A large bottle of sake? I'm sure Mr. Ozu himself would have approved!

Ozu and Naruse share the shrine actually. ;~}

If I ever have a household shrine for them, they would probably share the same one, too. I keep items that relate to them together (DVDs, books, etc.).

I have both the BFI Blu-ray and the Japanese Color 4 Ozu box set . I just took a look at the opening sequence on both Blu-rays out of interest.
Certainly in the title cards everything has been stabilised for the Japanese 4K version, the colour fluctuations and image shake are gone but although I have no technical knowledge it looks like the grain is vastly reduced too compared to the BFI Blu ( this is only for the titles though ) .
The conversation sequence in the office, where on the BFI the image shakes and is slightly out of sync with the sound, has been fixed for the new restoration and is perfectly stable. Interestingly on both versions during this conversation there is one word spoken off camera ( Itsu ) that sounds like it's dubbed in later from a different actor to maybe replace a few missing frames ?
Otherwise both Blu-rays look excellent on my small screen regarding detail and colour, the Japanese seems to have a more bleached out sky in the opening factory shots . The English subtitles are quite different between the two but I assume the Criterion version will have a new translation .

EddieLarkin wrote:Yes, the BFI Blu-ray uses the same HD master that Criterion used for their 2008 DVD.

Exactly.

2008 master : Criterion DVD, then BFI BD
2013 : Shochiku restoration
2014 : Criterion BD based on it + BFI 100th anniversary

When I saw the DVDBeaver comparisons, I was surprised that the color scheme of the Criterion Blu-ray resembles that of the Panorama DVD. So, I went back and watched the Shochiku Blu-Ray again last night. This time around, I noticed that the color scheme of the Shochiku Blu-Ray is very similar to the Criterion Blu-Ray. Can someone else who has the Shochiku Blu-Ray take another look and compare it with the Criterion Blu-Ray?

Assuming the other Shochiku colour restorations are as lovely as this one, I'm a little fearful of what Criterion intend to do with Equinox Flower and Late Autumn. I adore both of them and always felt it was ridiculous they were restricted to an Eclipse set, and I'd hate to see Criterion leave them there since obviously the UK will be stuck with the older transfers.

The Shochiku restorations of Equinox Flower and Late Autumn are as lovely as their Autumn Afternoon. In fact, I've always felt that their Equinox Flower restoration is the best among the three, followed by Late Autumn.

artfilmfan wrote:The Shochiku restorations of Equinox Flower and Late Autumn are as lovely as their Autumn Afternoon. In fact, I've always felt that their Equinox Flower restoration is the best among the three . . .

Agreed. Back in the DVD days, though, Toho had a transfer of The End of Summer that beat any of the Shochiku color films on DVD. How I wish, wish, wish Toho would give us TEoS on blu!

anyone pick this up? How does it look?

How is the sound on this? There were issues with the sound on Shockiu's 4k versions of Late Spring and Story of Late Crysantheums.