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I see that amazon.uk has the majority of Ingmar Bergman titles from Tartan on sale for 60% off! I'm interested in picking these up but I'm concerned about Tartan's quality. From what I gather their releases can be rather unpleasant. For 7.97 (pounds) per title I'm almost certain you couldn't go wrong. Right?

Also, does this low price suggest perhaps new reissues of these titles will be forthcoming?

Tartan's b&w Bergmans are fine - I've got them all.

headacheboy wrote:I see that amazon.uk has the majority of Ingmar Bergman titles from Tartan on sale for 60% off!

They've been at that price for a few weeks. I went nuts and bought them all, picking up the ones that weren't discounted from a used dealer who had them at about 50% of retail. Deep Discount DVD's Criterion sale was on at the same time, and I got a big batch of Bergmans out of that, also. It was crazy fun going from exactly one Bergman on the shelf to more than a dozen all at once!

I imagine that would be enjoyable! I think I'll do the same--order everything that I don't currently have. That price is too good to ignore.

Just received Tartan OZU#3 box set... On initial dip, it seems indeed that Tartan have cured their transfer problem... Crisp clean image from film, no conversions, or tape source, it appears to me... And there's before and after restoration featurettes showing significant work there... And their GOOD MORNING trounces the CC disc - a really lovely picture...

The DVD Times's reviewer seems to be very closely wed to the conventional wisdom as to what Ozu films to value (and what to value in them). ;~}

Agree that that's a point to disagree with DVD Times on... I got this set primarily for TOKYO TWILIGHT and EQUINOX FLOWER, although it's good to have a better print of GOOD MORNING too...

Wonder now how long it will take for Vol 4 (LATE AUTUMN & AUTUMN AFTERNOON) to come?...

I'm gradually getting rid of, and occasionally supplementing, Ozu tape copies... but unfortunately have to hang onto VHSs of RECORD OF A TENEMENT GENTLEMAN & THE FLAVOUR OF GREEN TEA OVER RICE, due to foul reported transfer on Tartan Ozu #2!

The Shochiku "Green Tea" didn't look all that good -- so I don't expect much from any other DVD version.

Supposedly Tartan forgot to subtitle the recitation and song at the reunion (near the end) in "Equinox Flower". If so, that's too bad.

I guess the better set 3 sells, the sooner set 4 will arrive. ;~}

Whoops! - you're right Michael... Everything else is subtitled in the scene but not the words of the song & recitation... Have to hold onto my off air Film 4 VHS for reference, where this passage is properly subtitled...

Here are those lines translated...

(This recitation is based on a farewell poem
by the patriot Masatsura Kusunoki)

The precepts of my father remain deep in my memory
The edict of the Emperor I will follow faithfully

(This is quite a long poem so drink while you listen)

Ten years of patience
Now the great day is here
Strike a mighty blow!
Fill the enemy with fear!
For the Emperor's cause we fight once again
We vow to do battle and die as men
Our band of 143 warriors united as one
Determined we are to fight until we have won
In death heroes gain an eternal flame
Cowards suffer everlasting shame
With arrowheads we shall rewrite or history
With sword-blades we shall carve our destiny
Look to the north!
We are outnumbered by the enemy
Seek out the general, deal him a death-blow

(That's about enough… …That was inspiring. I agree)

In Sakurai the trees are in leaf
Twilight is the time of sorrow and grief
The warrior ponders: what is the world coming to?
Glistening on his armour, teardrops or the dew?

(BRIDGE AND WATER SHOT)

From the DVD Times review of Ozu Box Set 3:

Video
The picture quality on Tokyo Twilight is reasonably good ... The timings indicate PAL speed-up, so perhaps these are not the usual NTSC to PAL conversions as previous releases. There is however still a little blurring and judder in movement. Obviously though, in an Ozu film, there is not a great deal of movement.

There are also a few jerky movements in the transfer of Equinox Flower, but in all other respects Ozu's fist colour film looks phenomenal...

The blurring and judder in movement, the jerky movements ... these are the BIGGEST problem in their first box set. I can't believe Tartan still can't correct this problem. You did it again, Tartan!

Let's give credit where it's due: Tartan has made a quantum leap from their first two Ozu boxes. The screencaps at DVD Beaver are breathtaking.

No NTSC-to-PAL ghosting, decent subtitlong, and the color choices look spot-on. And...finally, we have a watchable DVD of Ohayô/Good Morning!

A "few jerky movements" I can deal with. This looks to be the quality Ozu release I've been praying for. And many thanks to Doug & Nick for persuading Tartan to get these right.

Let's give credit where it's due

I could only go by the only source of information that I had, which was the DVD Times review, at the time that I wrote my comment.

Glad to know that peerpee contributed to the improvement. I was just thinking, prior to reading your post, why couldn't Tartan enlist peerpee's help (with the transfer)?

You're right, artfilmfan. My apologies.

Now the Beaver declares "The Tartan is the definitive version at present"...

The image issues are extremely important... but I'm really looking forward to seeing these films with better subtitles. That would be the deciding purchasing factor for me (taking into account my weak American dollar, of course).

Criterion DVD of Good Morning looks horribly bad in comparison to Tartan!

The Criterion DVD looks horribly bad compared to the older HVE video. The Tartan video seems to look lovely. ;~}

2 rare Bergmans are coming to DVD from Tartan in June. Music In Darkness and Prison. I'm sure DVD Times is mistaken saying the discs will be anamorphic widescreen.

iangj wrote:Tartan's b&w Bergmans are fine - I've got them all.

Even the Bo Ying pirate versions are fine And at US $2 each, they're bloody marvellous.

From Screen Daily @ Cannes...

Tartan Video has acquired the UK DVD rights to a number of Pier Paolo Pasolini's classics from the 1960s. The titles are Accatone, Rogopag, The Gospel According To St Matthew, Comizi D'Amore, Oedipus Rex, Hawks And Sparrows, and Pigsty.

... they already have and have released The Gospel According to St Matthew, so that must a renewal of rights...

Anybody know why a whole bunch of Tartan (US) discs just went out of print?

Anatomy Of Hell
Arakimentari
Doppelganger
H
Heroic Duo (Movie-Only Edition/ Tartan Video)
Hillside Strangler (R-Rated Version)
Hillside Strangler (Unrated Version)
Japon (R-Rated Version)
Japon (Unrated Version/ Director's Cut)
Koma
Memento Mori
Phone
Samaritan Girl
Snake Of June
Sorum
Suspicious River
Tale Of Two Sisters (2003/ 1-Disc/ R-Rated Version)
Tale Of Two Sisters (2003/ 2-Disc/ Unrated Version)
Tetsuo: The Iron Man
Whispering Corridors
Wishing Stairs

Hmm, thanks for the heads-up. I should probably grab Japon while it's still available...

think they took them out since Tartan US has a new distributor,
i think lions gate bought them? not sure.....

Actually the deal is with Genius (ugh, Weinsteins).

Video Business wrote:Genius also looks forward to future revenue from its other new content partners. In recent weeks, Genius signed pacts to exclusively distribute discs from labels Tartan Video USA, Peace Arch Entertainment and Liberation Entertainment.