Wait for a R1 release of the Idiot...?
 

Should I wait for a region1 release of the Idiot or pick this up from Poker Industries...

http://www.pokerindustries.com/poker...D&pquery=idiot

This might belong in the international forum, but because Criterion is rumored to have more Kurosawa coming, I figured it could also fit in here.

My understanding is that the U.S. rights to this one (and Scandal) are owned by New Yorker. They seem to take *forever* to release their titles on DVD, so I wouldn't bother waiting.

I have that DVD, by the way... the quality is not bad. Certainly not a major remastering, but it's very watchable and the English subtitles are not laughable (like the Mei Ah discs).



Slightly off-topic -- does anyone know of a release of Those Who Make Tomorrow? I'd take it in any region (or any format, actually -- VHS, VCD, etc.) It's the only Kurosawa film I haven't seen and I can't seem to find anyone who even has it...


EDITED to add the word "not" to "are... laughable". Big difference. ;) I was trying to say that the subtitles are actually pretty decent, but my fingers were typing too quickly.

So this wasn't one of the supposed Criterion releases? I'm just getting Kurosawa, like I splurged and ordered all of his available R1 DVDs except...oh the title escapes me..the one thats like $30 everywhere and its NOT criterion...and have read that The Idiot is a really good film.

Maybe i'll take the plunge and order this in that case.

This is the second time you've mentioned this and I don't know what the heck you're talking about. Are you talking about Madadayo?

Don't - the HK version of the Idiots is completely censored. HEAVILY.

I think xxjobseyes is talking about Dersu Uzala; great film, but overpriced DVD.

Can you give some examples of this heavy editing? Compared to, for example, the New Yorker VHS edition?

Yes, Dersu Uzala, sorry about that :)

He's thinking of the von Trier film.

ALL versions of The Idiot (the Kurosawa film) are heavily edited, by the way -- it was originally a two-part film running 265 minutes total, but was cut down to 180 minutes for the premiere, then edited down even further to 166 minutes. AFAIK neither the 180- nor the 265-minute version exists anymore.

Hehehehe... I forgot how CONTROVERSIAL Kurosawa was, you know with the full penetration in his films and all...

:)

So its safe to say that a better release of this wont be out for some time and it's ok to pick this up? :)

Oh, THAT Idiot. Actually, the quality of the DVd is OK. PAssable, as are all the Series done by Panorama.