We were amazed at how many e-mails we received from people saying they already had twenty of the titles included in the new box set AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa. A big thank-you to all who contacted us about this. It’s never our aim to make you buy the same title over again. If we do rerelease a title, it’s because we feel it merits a new edition: a new transfer or new supplements, frequently both. We thought (and still think) of AK 100 as a great way to introduce your friends to Kurosawa—it’s really a magnificent present.
To answer the most frequently asked question: yes, we will be releasing separately the five titles in the set that had previously been unavailable from Criterion: Sanshiro Sugata; The Most Beautiful; Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two; The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail; and Madadayo.
As for other Kurosawa plans, we had hoped to celebrate the actual centenary, in March, with a Blu-ray edition of Seven Samurai, but weeks of additional restoration have turned into months—yes, it looks really amazing—and the release won’t be until later in 2010. Instead, on March 23, we’ll be releasing Kurosawa’s Yojimbo and Sanjuro. They look great, too. A last word about AK 100: if you haven’t had a chance to pick up, feel, and look at this beautiful, linen-bound box, you should. The design is great, and the book inside is wonderful. There are many iconic stills from the movies that you’ll certainly recognize, but what’s especially neat is that Kurosawa himself appears in many of the images, just outside the framing with which you’re familiar. It’s fascinating to see where he placed himself in the process.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season.
Jonathan
Categories: On Five
12 Comments
Mon 14 Dec at 07:34 PM
Patrick
Thanks for the post, Jonathan!
My guess was Seven Samurai would be released March 23rd. Although I’m ecstatic about the announcement today. Yojimbo and Sajuro will definitely tide me over until Seven Samurai is ready.
Glad to hear Criterion is taking such painstaking detail to ensure Seven Samurai looks magnificent on Blu-ray.
Keep up the great work!
All the best,
Patrick
Tue 15 Dec at 01:07 AM
Doug
That’s good news about the 5 previously unreleased. Will the Blu-ray releases be region free. I did buy Kagemusha (and Traffic) on Blu-ray only to discover that it is Region A (no mention of this on Amazon). I fail to see the need to Region code any of these films. Are there plans for Region B releases of Kagemusha & and Traffic?
Tue 15 Dec at 02:13 PM
Greg
Thanks for the heads-up on Seven Samurai. I figured a blu-ray release was likely, but I don’t have to fret.
But it brings up a better question. Crtierion is in the process of releasing a number of Kurasawa films on Blu-Ray. Any chance of an AK-25 Blu-Ray release?
Tue 15 Dec at 04:14 PM
robert v. musilli
great news about the seperate releases. It is welcome news indeed.can’t wait for these new releases whenever they come. thanks for the info
Tue 15 Dec at 06:49 PM
Travis
I just realized that “Ran” is not included in the Kurasawa set!? I wonder why… Anybody else???
Tue 15 Dec at 11:00 PM
Marvin
Criterion lost the rights to Ran not too long ago, if I’m not mistaken.
Wed 16 Dec at 02:30 AM
Colin Brooker
Criterion… you made my day!
Wed 16 Dec at 02:48 AM
Chris Harlan
Any hope that a Blu Ray version of Dersu Uzla will ever be released?
Thu 17 Dec at 01:58 AM
Jonas
If anyone’s wondering where the rights to Ran and Godard’s Contempt went, Lion’s Gate is releasing them on Blu-ray next year. Yes, Lion’s Gate.
Thu 17 Dec at 05:53 PM
Stephen
Great news Jonathan…you can ignore the lump of coal I sent you in the mail…:-0
Am I pushing my luck for Dersu Uzla
Tue 22 Dec at 04:14 AM
Vince
When is Criterion going to give us AK’s “Dreams?”
Tue 22 Dec at 09:27 AM
PAUL
great news on blu’s of yojimbo/sanjuro… which ones from the AK box will we have in the main collection and which will be in the eclipse set?
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