• Thinking Outside the Box

    By Jonathan Turell

    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

15 comments

  • By Patrick
    December 14, 2009
    07:34 PM

    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
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Doug
    December 15, 2009
    01:07 AM

    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?
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Greg
    December 15, 2009
    02:13 PM

    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?
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By robert v. musilli
    December 15, 2009
    04:14 PM

    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
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Travis
    December 15, 2009
    06:49 PM

    I just realized that "Ran" is not included in the Kurasawa set!? I wonder why... Anybody else???
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Marvin
    December 15, 2009
    11:00 PM

    Criterion lost the rights to Ran not too long ago, if I'm not mistaken.
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Colin Brooker
    December 16, 2009
    02:30 AM

    Criterion... you made my day!
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Chris Harlan
    December 16, 2009
    02:48 AM

    Any hope that a Blu Ray version of Dersu Uzla will ever be released?
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Jonas
    December 17, 2009
    01:58 AM

    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.
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Stephen
    December 17, 2009
    05:53 PM

    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
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Vince
    December 22, 2009
    04:14 AM

    When is Criterion going to give us AK's "Dreams?"
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By PAUL
    December 22, 2009
    09:27 AM

    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?
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Mike Raines
    April 10, 2010
    02:27 AM

    I hope the blue version of the seven samurai is in color and in english
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Dan Smith
    July 18, 2010
    11:15 AM

    "I hope the blue version of the seven samurai is in color and in english"- Never! Keep the DNR minimal and have rich blacks please, nothing more is needed, Peace and looking forward to it.
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

  • By Stewart Gordon
    August 19, 2010
    03:56 PM

    I really want to buy the Che Criterion Blu Ray as the special features are not on the UK version. I would like to ask why is this locked to Region A?? In order for me to buy it I would have to find a way to hack my blu ray player which would be difficult.
    Reply

    • Or using your Criterion.com account.

      You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

Or using your Criterion.com account.

You are logged in to your Criterion.com account as . Log out.

Categories

RSS

Archive

Month
Year
 
  • All
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998
  • 1997
  • 1996
  • 1995
  • 1994
  • 1993
  • 1992
  • 1991
  • 1990
  • 1989
  • 1988
  • 1987
  • 1986
  • 1985
  • 1984
Go

Recent Comments

  • “Jigoku is one of those films where I didn't like it on the first view, but it grew on me after giving it some thought. It is a little absurd: nobody has a chance of getting to Heaven if simply suggesting . . .”

    Brady on Jigoku: Hell on Earth,
    30 minutes ago.

  • “Just finished watching this film; incredibly moving and beautifully made. ”

    FB on My Own Private Idaho: Private Places,
    about 6 hours ago.

  • “Such a haunting, poetic, and minimalist masterpiece.”

    David on La Jetée Captured,
    about 9 hours ago.

  • “Still no announcement yet for Wild Strawberries - from last year's hints.”

    DVD Phreak on Happy New Year!,
    about 10 hours ago.

  • “I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this great film for the first time the other day and realised that the voice over narration was by the photographer William Klein, credited as 'Bill Klein'.”

    Stevie G on La Jetée Captured,
    about 10 hours ago.

Newsletter

SIGN UP to receive info on new releases, Top 10 lists, contests, giveaways, and special offers