Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

Discuss internationally-released DVDs and Blu-rays or other international DVD and Blu-ray-related topics.
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htdm
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:46 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#176 Post by htdm » Sat Feb 27, 2016 5:17 pm

L.A. wrote:Received the Japanese disc of What Made Her Do It? just now and English subs are there. The running time is 78 minutes (so PAL-version would be 74 minutes, correct?). Nice booklet is included (in Japanese) and extras department offer photo galleries and a 35-minute fragment of a surviving film which I'm unable to identify. Anyone know the name of the title in question?
It is from Suzuki's 1927 yami no tejina (闇の手品), which literally means "magic in darkness".

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L.A.
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Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#177 Post by L.A. » Sat Feb 27, 2016 7:07 pm

^ Again, thanks for your help. Really appreciate it.

weremanutd
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 8:08 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#178 Post by weremanutd » Sun Feb 28, 2016 10:09 am

4K restoration of Kurosawa's Ran trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwP_kXyd-Rw

Notice that the image looks like it has been DNR-ed. Then I found that Ran was restored by Eclair Laboratory which previously ruined Children of Paradise and The Earrings of Madame de...Damn it!

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StevenJ0001
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 12:02 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#179 Post by StevenJ0001 » Tue Mar 08, 2016 12:54 am

I'm trying to determine which Ozu films have received Japanese Blu-rays that are worth picking up because they're from 4K restorations and/or are superior to their US or UK counterparts. Late Spring seems to be one; is Good Morning another? Any others? Criterion's Tokyo Story is from the 4K resto so I'm not counting that one (i.e. there doesn't seem to be an advantage in picking up the Japanese disc in that case.)

longstone
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Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#180 Post by longstone » Tue Mar 08, 2016 3:28 pm

So far there have been six Ozu restorations released in Japan , Tokyo Story which as you say has also been released by Criterion ,
Late Spring which I think was a crowd funded restoration ,
plus four colour films released individually or as a box set " Color 4 Ozu " containing Equinox Flower , Good Morning , Late Autumn and Autumn afternoon.
All six have English subtitles , I'm not qualified to comment on their technical quality but they looked very good to me.

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StevenJ0001
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Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#181 Post by StevenJ0001 » Tue Mar 08, 2016 3:50 pm

longstone wrote:So far there have been six Ozu restorations released in Japan , Tokyo Story which as you say has also been released by Criterion ,
Late Spring which I think was a crowd funded restoration ,
plus four colour films released individually or as a box set " Color 4 Ozu " containing Equinox Flower , Good Morning , Late Autumn and Autumn afternoon.
All six have English subtitles , I'm not qualified to comment on their technical quality but they looked very good to me.
That is fantastically helpful--thank you!!

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EddieLarkin
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:25 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#182 Post by EddieLarkin » Tue Mar 08, 2016 4:40 pm

Criterion's release of An Autumn Afternoon is from the new restoration also so there's no point in getting that either.

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StevenJ0001
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Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#183 Post by StevenJ0001 » Tue Mar 08, 2016 5:01 pm

EddieLarkin wrote:Criterion's release of An Autumn Afternoon is from the new restoration also so there's no point in getting that either.
Ah, good to know, thanks!

AK
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:06 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#184 Post by AK » Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:58 pm

I know that if help can be found in this matter, it's you who can deliver.

Now, The Tale of Genji is one of my all-time favourite books, and as I'm currently reading the new Dennis Washburn translation (and enjoying, no, savouring every moment of it, by the way), I was wondering if there's something you'd recommend in terms of film adaptations? I'd love to see the Yoshimura version, but I suppose that's unavailable beyond any remedy.

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The Fanciful Norwegian
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:24 pm
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Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#185 Post by The Fanciful Norwegian » Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:19 pm

I haven't seen any of the numerous adaptations (which include several TV versions, one of them animated), but the Yoshimura film does have an R2J release—almost certainly without English subs, but it sounds like you're more than familiar with the story, so you should at least be able to follow the narrative with no problems.

AK
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:06 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#186 Post by AK » Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:39 pm

The Fanciful Norwegian wrote:I haven't seen any of the numerous adaptations (which include several TV versions, one of them animated), but the Yoshimura film does have an R2J release—almost certainly without English subs, but it sounds like you're more than familiar with the story, so you should at least be able to follow the narrative with no problems.
Wow, thanks for that!

Jack Phillips
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:33 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#187 Post by Jack Phillips » Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:57 am

StevenJ0001 wrote: Criterion's Tokyo Story is from the 4K resto so I'm not counting that one (i.e. there doesn't seem to be an advantage in picking up the Japanese disc in that case.)
The color on the Japanese disc is very different than that of the US version. Of course, the film is in b&w, but the image on the J-disc has a near sepia quality. The US is more conventional looking. I don't know why the Shochiku release is the way it is, but I like it. It's nice having both versions for comparisons sake.

Calvin
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:12 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#188 Post by Calvin » Tue May 31, 2016 7:47 pm

Funimation have licensed the 2K restoration of Mitsuyo Seo's Momotaro's Divine Sea Warriors for the US (which they will seemingly release under the title Momotaro Sacred Sailors), with Anime Limited taking it for the UK. It screened in the Cannes Classics section earlier this month and there's more information about the restoration here.

artfilmfan
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Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#189 Post by artfilmfan » Sun Jun 05, 2016 10:03 am

The Blu-ray of the restored Early Summer is now available for pre-order at Amazon JP.

artfilmfan
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Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#190 Post by artfilmfan » Fri Aug 19, 2016 6:58 pm

Does anyone know whether the Shochiku Blu-ray of The Rendezvous (Saito Koichi, 1972) has English subtitles?

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htdm
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Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#191 Post by htdm » Sat Aug 20, 2016 1:22 am

No, only Japanese subs, I'm afraid.

artfilmfan
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Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#192 Post by artfilmfan » Sat Aug 20, 2016 7:42 am

Occasionally, Japanese releases come with un-advertised English subs. I was hoping this was one of those occasions. Oh well ...

Thanks for the reply!

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feihong
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:20 pm

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#193 Post by feihong » Sun Sep 11, 2016 2:37 am

Out of the blue, Toei is releasing on DVD Tai Kato's "Sasuke and His Comedians," or "Brave Records of the Sanada Clan." The street date is October 5th. No English subtitles listed, as can generally be expected. The details listed on Amazon include the mention of it being 16:9, but also a single-layer DVD. They really went overboard for this release––almost like they had the disc ready some time in the last century and just forgot to release it until now.

Nonetheless, I'm very excited for this one. It's a film that gets a very intriguing review in the TimeOut Film Guide, and I've been waiting to see it for years and years. Hopefully some intrepid fan will subtitle it. Recent releases of Tai Kato films have had their fan subtitles.

Moshrom
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Location: Canada

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#194 Post by Moshrom » Tue Sep 13, 2016 9:21 pm

artfilmfan wrote:The Blu-ray of the restored Early Summer is now available for pre-order at Amazon JP.
Here are some in-browser comparisons between the BFI blu-ray and the new Shochiku one. The improvement in stability is very, very impressive:
Sample 1, sample 2

But it sounds dreadful.
https://vimeo.com/182635098" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A few more details, if anyone's interested.

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htdm
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:46 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#195 Post by htdm » Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:58 am

feihong wrote:Out of the blue, Toei is releasing on DVD Tai Kato's "Sasuke and His Comedians," or "Brave Records of the Sanada Clan." The street date is October 5th. No English subtitles listed, as can generally be expected. The details listed on Amazon include the mention of it being 16:9, but also a single-layer DVD. They really went overboard for this release––almost like they had the disc ready some time in the last century and just forgot to release it until now.
For those who haven't seen it, Sanada Fuunroku (真田風雲録, 1963) is a delightful jidaigeki musical parody with political overtones (particularly relevant to the student-led U.S.-Japan Security Treaty demonstrations) which had only been available on a long out of print and very expensive VHS. Toei's release of this film is one of several new-to-DVD releases of his work at the studio which coincides with the director's centennial. Also on 10/5, Toei is releasing:
Shochiku have also announced upcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases of his:

Jack Phillips
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:33 am

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#196 Post by Jack Phillips » Wed Sep 14, 2016 3:19 pm

Moshrom wrote:
artfilmfan wrote:The Blu-ray of the restored Early Summer is now available for pre-order at Amazon JP.
Here are some in-browser comparisons between the BFI blu-ray and the new Shochiku one. The improvement in stability is very, very impressive:
Sample 1, sample 2

But it sounds dreadful.
https://vimeo.com/182635098" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A few more details, if anyone's interested.
Eng. subs?

Moshrom
Joined: Mon May 27, 2013 2:53 am
Location: Canada

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#197 Post by Moshrom » Wed Sep 14, 2016 4:28 pm

Jack Phillips wrote:Eng. subs?
Yes, and they're very good.

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perkizitore
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Location: OOP is the only answer

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#198 Post by perkizitore » Wed Sep 14, 2016 9:19 pm

Should I pick up Early Summer or wait for a possible Criterion BD? Can anyone comment if Equinox Flower, Good Morning, Late Autumn are vastly improved compared to the BFI releases?

Moshrom
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Location: Canada

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#199 Post by Moshrom » Wed Sep 14, 2016 9:59 pm

perkizitore wrote:Should I pick up Early Summer or wait for a possible Criterion BD? Can anyone comment if Equinox Flower, Good Morning, Late Autumn are vastly improved compared to the BFI releases?
Video-wise, they're astronomical improvements. Among the best-looking films ever released on the format -- really, no hyperbole.

artfilmfan
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 9:11 pm

Re: Japanese Films on DVD/Blu-ray

#200 Post by artfilmfan » Wed Sep 14, 2016 10:20 pm

Moshrom: Thanks for the report on the Shochiku Blu-ray of Early Summer. I ordered a copy and it should be delivered any day now. I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement in the picture quality, but not looking forward to that newly "processed" audio that you pointed out.

Did you check the audio track on the Shochiku Blu-ray of Late Spring to see whether the higher frequencies were cut off in a similar manner as on the Early Summer track? I went back to watch a couple early sequences in the film and now realized how poor it sounded. In previous viewings, I kept the volume low and therefore didn't notice (or didn't pay attention to) the quality of the audio.

Perkizitore: The Shochiku Blu-ray of Equinox Flower looks stunning. Don't hesitate to pick it up. I'll let others comment on the other two color films.

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