milo bloom

not sure of the source but it looks like a nice steelbook.

rocket1312

The idea of Best Buy getting an exclusive steelbook for Ran, of all movies, in 2021 as physical media dies it's final death in the US, kind of hysterical.

rexinnih

My favorite Kurosawa in 4K, day 1 for me.

PhantomStranger

I'm guessing it's a timed exclusive like so many other Best Buy Steelbooks these days.

milo bloom

Yeah, I'm going to jump on this. I missed the original Criterion DVD and I kept hoping they'd get it back for a Blu, but for a steelbook that looks that good I'm ready to move on.

GoldenJCJ

I wasn’t as taken with Ran as I have been with Kurosawa’s B&W samurai films but that is a beautiful looking steelbook! One of the better ones I’ve seen.

I think I still have the original Criterion DVD around somewhere. Maybe I’ll revisit this one someday soon to see if my opinion has changed.

E Unit

I love this film. The 4K UHD is really good, but I’ll pick up the regular release since my steelbook days are over.

bluetoast

Pre-ordering this. I’ve got almost all of Kurosawa’s movies, still a couple left.

milo bloom

Listing here, not yet active, only $19.99

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/ran-ste...?skuId=6479725

I can't sign into the Best Buy website to save it to my cart or anything.

Decker

"Coming Soon" = Sold out.

Dan

shows as available for pre-order now

Decker

​​​​​​.... Usually.

Thanks Dan. Ordered.

Dan

I'm 100% expecting the encode to be identical to the Studio Canal release I imported... but I ordered this one too. And I'm not even a steelbook nerd.

milo bloom

Is that any good?

I'd held out so long to try to find a copy of the Criterion release, but a 4K steelbook at this price and I don't care about spine# anymore.

Finally got my pre-order to work using the app. Says it won't arrive until Nov 29th due to shipping. I guess I can wait a little longer.

Dan

^ it's absolutely fine. People elsewhere have complaints about it, and I'm not saying those are invalid, but to me... the film looks better than it ever has, and although it's not a 'perfect' transfer, it's absolutely acceptable. More Kurosawa in 4K please!

Adam Tyner

Was that on DVD? I imported Studiocanal's BD a long while back, but I didn't think there was a Criterion Blu-ray release.

clckworang

Criterion definitely didn't release a Blu-ray, but I think they had announced it.

Dan

Actually, I don't think they got to that point... as I recall (and I could be as wrong as ever), they were going to announce it, had an encode all ready to go, but then their license lapsed and another company (SC?) picked it up. They were stuck unable to release it or even mention it at that point.

rocket1312

It was definitely announced back in February 2009. Artwork, specs and everything. And Studio Canal didn't pick it up. They were the licensor and made an exclusive deal with Lionsgate who promptly released a garbage blu along with a handful of other titles like The Third Man and then proceeded to bury the rest of the catalog for a decade.

Dan

Yeah, looks like I was wrong. Using archive.org, I can see that it appears on the web page as early as March 5, 2009 (previous snapshot was Feb 2, 2009, and it wasn't there yet)
March 5, 2009 (shows both listings, though BD coverart link is dead, of course)
https://web.archive.org/web/20090305....com/films/754
But gone by April 5, 2009 (only showing the DVD now)
https://web.archive.org/web/20090405....com/films/754

milo bloom

Yeah, there was only a Criterion DVD, one of the 2 disc sets in the thick case. I got a chance to watch it several years ago at an AirBNB we stayed at, and I've been on the lookout for a used copy at a thrift store or such for years.

Dan

How much are you looking to spend, shipped? I'll double check the condition of my DVD...

milo bloom

Now that this 4K is coming out, I’ve kinda let that go. At this point i would only want it as a collectible if I found it under $10 somewhere.

I appreciate the offer, that’s very considerate of you.

Why So Blu?

I'll probably end up getting this on disc. I already have the digital 4K and that has DV. I think the disc only has HDR.

Dan

The UK disc has DV. I expect this one will too.