TBH i actually prefer the R2 Kwaidan cover to the Criterion version and coupled with the fact that Wild Side release VERY reputable quality releases i think this will surpass the current Criterion edition unless they choose to revisit the title as what appears to be Criterion's current trend etc.

Am looking forward to Le Samourai however!

Le Samouraļ for sure! Nice to see Criterion with the release.

when is "The Island" gonna be released by Criterion?

Hopefully by the end of the year.

Those covers do suck as far as Criterion covers go, but they still make me want to see the movies, so I guess they're effective anyway. They just seem really cheesy with not a whole lot of thought and care put into them.

I hope you're kidding...

I think Kurosawa is overrated, especially Ran, Kagemusha, and Hidden Fortress. I think he gets a lot of fanboy love because his movies are big and violent and spectacular, and it's cooler to say you're into Kurosawa instead of John Ford or Michael Bay.

That's quite a generalization. His body of work ranges grately in substance and scope.

Those, I believe, are the restored Fukasaku titles Wild Side did...Aventi are promoting/distributing them though.

Ciao,
Pro-B

Are they any good?

I agree, his film career was long and varied. I wasn't commenting on Kurosawa's films per se, but more on audience reaction to them. We're now venturing way off topic, so that's all I'll say.

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/browse.asp?sort=spine

Criterion's site currently lists France as the country for "Kill!".
That's a mistake right?

I think so, a double-check with IMDB shows Japan as the only country.

Perhaps Criterion got this titled confused with the French film Surrender!. (just kidding, the Other forum is rubbing off on me).

I'm guessing they just did a cut/paste job and forgot to change the country.

It worked!

Ok, I am excited about Le Samouraļ, but what really gets me fired up is the Sword of the Beast DVD. Not to mention the upcoming Naked. Anyway, if you guys did not check out the Story of a Prostitute that was released earlier this month, do your self a favor and watch it. Mesmerizing!

Cheers

DVD Smurf

Personally, I thought Kagemusha was brilliant, but not for its violent depiction. I thought it was much more interesting, as a perceptive view of his own struggles. Read my review... Kagemusha Review I think most of his films are brilliant in their own way, even if they also have a great appeal to the general audience. And on occasion, violent action can also be entertaining.

Cheers

DVD Smurf

I would tend to believe that people who consistently buy Criterion titles are perfectly capable of making the difference between classics and lesser films. I don't know anyone who was mislead or fooled when Criterion released Armageddon.

I agree. I like to think that people that are fans of Criterion are first and foremost fans of brilliant cinema and have a good knowledge beforehand of what the best of the best is. IMO, Kurosawa > Ozu.

davis dvd

Criterion's Kill!, Rebel Samurai: Sixties Swordplay Classics, Samurai Rebellion, Samurai Spy, Sword of the Beast, Le Samourai and The Wages of Fear have been moved from October 4th & 18th to October 25th

I am anything but a Criterion fan...I am a fan of some of the films they release. If there is anything that I admire about the company it is the care they put in their work. The name, spine numbers, and collector's mentality are not my forte.

Pro-B

But Red Beard, Throne of Blood and Ikiru are exceptional.

Agreed. And having just watched Kagemusha recently, I was just stunned at how brilliant it is.

Some people just have a chip on their shoulder.

i am an uncool john ford fan

reviews

Ian Jane Reviews Rebel Samurai - Sixties Swordplay Classics

Ian Jane Reviews Le Samourai - Criterion Collection

Nice review on Le Samourai. I'm excited over all the praise it gets around here, it will be my first time blind buying a criterion.