Also doesn't volume 2 have the miramax filtering issue?

I don't know anything about this, could you please explain? (or maybe I don't wanna know )

Both movies have the Miramax horrendous-edge-enhancement issue. Is that what you were referring to?

I'd pick them up, and then just still buy the two-disc set when it arrives. $9 isn't that much.

OK, maybe that's what he was referring too. Can't argue with the edge enhancement. I'm hoping the future Blu-ray releases will look really good. Don't screw them up, Miramax/Disney, these films are important to me.

I've been meaning to pick up the Japanese version of Vol. 1 since I got a multi-region player in February, but I never got around to it because importers were either out of stock or they wanted an arm and a leg for it ($40 seemed to be the going price).

Thanks to this thread (and mrhan) I went ahead and ordered it from Amazon.co.jp. The shipping cost more than the disc (the disc was only $12), but it was still $15 cheaper than buying it from anywhere else.

It shipped Wednesday via DHL Express and should be here Monday.

Let us know what you think. I felt it was way better than the U.S version; especially the fight scene which looked more coherent than the B&W version.

DHL delivered "Kill Bill Vol. 1" from Amazon.co.jp this afternoon. I've only had a chance to go through a few scenes, but here are my initial impressions:

Very good picture and sound quality, as expected. Menus take some practice, because they are of course in Japanese. I liked how the menus emphasized the Asian stars of the film, which is to be expected.

I do like the Japanese version of the House of the Blue Leaves. Like mrhan said, it feels more coherent and not as rushed.

I look forward to watching both parts all the way through this weekend.

I also like it more although what's more important for me always is how a scene was intended to be by a director. As I know Tarantino haven't conceived it in b&w. Here's for example a quote from imdb's trivia:
"The black and white photography is ultimately an homage to '70s and '80s US television airings of kung fu movies. Black and white (as well as black and red), were used to conceal the shedding of blood from television censors. Originally, no black and white photographic effects were going to be used (and in the Japanese version none are), but the MPAA demanded measures be taken to tone the scene down. Tarantino merely used the old trick for its intended purpose, rather than merely as an homage."

It also made more sense on why she gave the boy a spanking instead of doing otherwise. However, I think they did screw up the editing when the bride threw Sofie off the embankment. You'll know what I mean after you watch the inserted bit they had in that scene which wasn't in the U.S. release.

LOL, yeah that was a pretty obvious gaffe in regards to the Jap. version. They probably could've worked some digital magic with that, or just figured no one would notice it in Japan.

I wonder if QT fixed it on "The Whole Bloody Affair" edit.