Comparison between "Seven Samurai" Criterion and Toho editions

Playitagainsam · 01-15-04, 06:00 AM

Hi there,

There was a site some time ago that made a nice comparison between the two DVD editions of this great movie: the one put out by Criterion and the other made by Toho in Japan.

Does anyone happen to have the link to that side-by-side comparison? I tried google, but I got swamped with bad links...

silent · 01-15-04, 06:09 AM

were you looking for this perhaps?

edit: were there not some rumours of a CC rerelease of seven samurai in 04/05?

RichDB10 · 01-15-04, 07:36 AM

You can also find a comparison here :-

http://www.dvdbeaver.com

under the DVD comparison section

QuiGonJosh · 01-15-04, 08:02 AM

I once saw a DTS edition of Seven Samurai: Criterion at the used section of FYE...wish I had bought it...but I cant seem to find any info about it...has anyone heard of such a thing?

lcnickell · 01-15-04, 09:57 AM

a dts criterion version is a bootleg

FreshOne · 01-15-04, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lcnickell
a dts criterion version is a bootleg

Either that or a rare test pressing that contains the lost DTS track for this excellent classic.

Richard Malloy · 01-15-04, 11:06 AM

DTS track for one-channel... what's the point? You don't need to use a lossy compression scheme for a mono track; LPCM would be better. (Bootleg or no.)

QuiGonJosh · 01-15-04, 01:19 PM

I just found it really weird since I had never heard of a DTS Seven Samurai...

boston george · 01-15-04, 02:20 PM

I'm still hoping Seven Samurai gets re-released this year!

shizawn · 01-15-04, 02:23 PM

I heard Criterion is redoing the subtitles (I assume to make them more accurate). Anyone heard of any other differences?

Playitagainsam · 01-15-04, 04:31 PM

yes... the DVD Beaver comparison (with screenshots) is what I was looking for. Thanks!

brizz · 01-15-04, 07:04 PM

If Criterion is redoing this, will it come with a better transfer?

FilmFanSea · 01-15-04, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brizz
If Criterion is redoing this, will it come with a better transfer?

Absolutely, and from better elements (which was the main problem with the current release--they were stuck using the substandard elements Toho provided). Most of us expect a definitive 2-disc set, but whether we see it in 2004 or 2005 is anyone's guess.

Unlike Ikiru and Rashomon, the original negative for The Seven Samurai still exists, so I hope they'll be able to work from a sterling interpositive.

jough · 01-15-04, 10:58 PM

Criterion is supposedly on the case, but they will take their time and put this out when they're done with it.

I'll wait. I have the current version and my bootleg DTS version* to tide me over until then.

* I had bought SS: CC on Ebay thinking it was the real deal (since the auction claimed it was the real item - no mention of a DTS track in the listing). After filing complaints with Ebay, Paypal, the FBI, and the AMPAA, no one seemed to care or be willing to help me get my money back. The FBI would have helped except the seller was in Canada.

So, my only recourse was to provide negative feedback for the seller. Big whoop. But I opened it just to see if there really was a DTS track. I was actually kinda impressed - it was a real DVD-9 dual-layer factory made disc with the full Criterion menus, etc. The image quality is exactly the same as the real disc (since they probably just copied the VOBs) and the DTS track, while not sounding any better, was at least a true DTS track (albeit with no separation).

In any case, I'd avoid the bootleg and pick up the current version if you're unwilling to wait for the eventual re-release.

01-15-04, 06:00 AM	#1
Playitagainsam Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 922	Comparison between "Seven Samurai" Criterion and Toho editions Hi there, There was a site some time ago that made a nice comparison between the two DVD editions of this great movie: the one put out by Criterion and the other made by Toho in Japan. Does anyone happen to have the link to that side-by-side comparison? I tried google, but I got swamped with bad links... __________________ Play it, Sam...

01-15-04, 06:09 AM	#2
silent Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: stuck in R2 land Posts: 93	were you looking for this perhaps? edit: were there not some rumours of a CC rerelease of seven samurai in 04/05? Last edited by silent; 01-15-04 at 06:13 AM.

01-15-04, 11:06 AM	#7
Richard Malloy DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,428	DTS track for one-channel... what's the point? You don't need to use a lossy compression scheme for a mono track; LPCM would be better. (Bootleg or no.) __________________ "Support our Tropes"

01-15-04, 02:20 PM	#9
boston george DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,399	I'm still hoping Seven Samurai gets re-released this year! __________________ PSN: MattyB-37

01-15-04, 02:23 PM	#10
shizawn DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Santa Clara, California Posts: 8,055	I heard Criterion is redoing the subtitles (I assume to make them more accurate). Anyone heard of any other differences? __________________ Born to be mild.

01-15-04, 07:36 AM	#3
RichDB10 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: North east England UK Posts: 1,689	You can also find a comparison here :- http://www.dvdbeaver.com under the DVD comparison section

01-15-04, 08:02 AM	#4
QuiGonJosh Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,220	I once saw a DTS edition of Seven Samurai: Criterion at the used section of FYE...wish I had bought it...but I cant seem to find any info about it...has anyone heard of such a thing?

01-15-04, 09:57 AM	#5
lcnickell Suspended Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 661	a dts criterion version is a bootleg

01-15-04, 01:19 PM	#8
QuiGonJosh Banned Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,220	I just found it really weird since I had never heard of a DTS Seven Samurai...

01-15-04, 04:31 PM	#11
Playitagainsam Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 922	yes... the DVD Beaver comparison (with screenshots) is what I was looking for. Thanks! __________________ Play it, Sam...

01-15-04, 07:04 PM	#12
brizz DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: kck Posts: 22,595	If Criterion is redoing this, will it come with a better transfer? __________________ Pavel Datsyuk on his coach saying he gives teammates extra room on the ice: "I think he meant that I am really small," Datsyuk explained. "So when I, a small slim person, am on the ice, there is more room for bigger guys. Maybe he said that to cheer me up that I look skinny!"

01-15-04, 10:58 PM	#14
jough Suspended Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: You have moved into a dark place. It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue. Posts: 4,533	Criterion is supposedly on the case, but they will take their time and put this out when they're done with it. I'll wait. I have the current version and my bootleg DTS version* to tide me over until then. * I had bought SS: CC on Ebay thinking it was the real deal (since the auction claimed it was the real item - no mention of a DTS track in the listing). After filing complaints with Ebay, Paypal, the FBI, and the AMPAA, no one seemed to care or be willing to help me get my money back. The FBI would have helped except the seller was in Canada. So, my only recourse was to provide negative feedback for the seller. Big whoop. But I opened it just to see if there really was a DTS track. I was actually kinda impressed - it was a real DVD-9 dual-layer factory made disc with the full Criterion menus, etc. The image quality is exactly the same as the real disc (since they probably just copied the VOBs) and the DTS track, while not sounding any better, was at least a true DTS track (albeit with no separation). In any case, I'd avoid the bootleg and pick up the current version if you're unwilling to wait for the eventual re-release.