Dreams (1990)

[Akijama]

New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by cinematographer Shoji Ueda, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
New audio commentary featuring film scholar Stephen Prince
Making of “Dreams” (1990), a 150-minute documentary shot on set and directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi
New interview with production manager Teruyo Nogami
New interview with assistant director Takashi Koizumi
Kurosawa’s Way (2011), a fifty-minute documentary by Kurosawa’s longtime translator Catherine Cadou, featuring interviews with filmmakers Bernardo Bertolucci, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Martin Scorsese, Hayao Miyazaki, and others
Trailer
New English subtitle translation
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri and Kurosawa’s script for a never-filmed ninth dream, introduced by Nogami

Cover painting by Akira Kurosawa

Our technical director, Lee Kline, is currently in Tokyo beginning work on Akira Kurosawa’s 1990 film Dreams, and today he sent us a couple of photos, along with this dispatch from the field, which we found too delightful not to share.

This is a photo of Shoji Ueda, who shot Dreams, Kagemusha, and Ran, among many others. He’s seventy-eight years old but seems like he’s fifty. Ueda had a folder of hundreds of Kurosawa’s original drawings from Dreams that he used to shoot the film. These drawings/storyboards were used as references for the colors of the costumes, sets, and photography. It was like a gift to us, because we could basically refer to the drawings to see exactly what Kurosawa intended for a specific blue or red. This was the first time we’ve had someone from a Kurosawa film supervise the color correction of one of his movies, and it was almost like having Kurosawa there with us.

https://www.criterion.com/current/po...olor-of-dreams

Dreams (1990) Official Trailer - Akira Kurosawa, Martin Scorsese Movie HD - YouTube

[wonkavision]

Great film and great news.

[MifuneFan]

Amazing news

[Bandit Tajomaru]

Great news but would've preferred Dersu Uzala.

[sahoward]

I think Warner released the DVD, so I guess Criterion finally worked out a partnership with them between this and McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Wonder what other titles they're working on; would love Magnificent Ambersons.

[Akijama]

Originally Posted by sahoward

I think Warner released the DVD, so I guess Criterion finally worked out a partnership with them between this and McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Wonder what other titles they're working on; would love Magnificent Ambersons.

The Emmigrants/The New Land, Day For Night are also licensed from Warner. Before Sunset/Before Sunrise are also supposedly coming. I'm hoping for Klute, Straight Time and Blow-Up among others. The Magnificent Ambersons seems very likely too.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Akijama

The Emmigrants/The New Land, Day For Night are also licensed from Warner. Before Sunset/Before Sunrise are also supposedely coming. I'm hoping for Klute, Straight Time and Blow-Up among others. The Magnificent Ambersons seems very likely too.

Magnificent Ambersons would be huge. They got The New World from Warner too.

[javi92]

So when can we expect revisionist color timing complaints and people claiming they remember what theatrical prints looked like in 1990? Can't wait for those.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by javi92

So when can we expect revisionist color timing complaints and people claiming they remember what theatrical prints looked like in 1990? Can't wait for those.

Cute snark, but doesn't have to be theatrical prints from 1990. In fact, Dreams was shown in the last year or two in LA from an original print. So some people's claims of how it looked theatrically are (like a few of mine) valid.

[jrsl76]

Amazing news!

[Buscemi]

I wonder if Madadayo is coming too. Criterion previously only released it in the AK 100 box set.

[Catastrophe]

OH MY GOD.

FINALLY.

[cakefactory]

Well, that was a surprise. I wasn't expecting it to ever reach blu-ray cause Warner, so I bought the MOD DVD!

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Well, that was a surprise. I wasn't expecting it to ever reach blu-ray cause Warner, so I bought the MOD DVD!

I got the UV copy about 2 years ago for the same reason. It looks very nice in HD.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Cute snark, but doesn't have to be theatrical prints from 1990. In fact, Dreams was shown in the last year or two in LA from an original print. So some people's claims of how it looked theatrically are (like a few of mine) valid.

Haha.

'Other people's recollections may be wrong, but definitly not mine.'

Everyone is an expert.

[happydood]

this is really good news. as I mentioned elsewhere I think Thing From Another World would be a great candidate. if they can release Island Of Lost Souls with lesser elements, then...

[ScottDS]

Originally Posted by Akijama

The Emmigrants/The New Land, Day For Night are also licensed from Warner. Before Sunset/Before Sunrise are also supposedly coming. I'm hoping for Klute, Straight Time and Blow-Up among others. The Magnificent Ambersons seems very likely too.

If they have a deal with WB, I'd love to see Crash and Dead Ringers return to the collection, plus Whit Stillman's Barcelona to complete the "Doomed-Bourgeois-in-Love series" alongside Metropolitan and The Last Days of Disco.

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

Still have the laserdisc of this but haven't watched it in years. Will be nice to revisit this in HD.

[MTRodaba2468]

Ever since Criterion stated that they had made a deal with Warner Bros. for a few titles, this was one I was fully expecting to come (afterall, with how many Kurosawa films Criterion has put out, this one was a no brainer)...

[Greymattersplat]

Originally Posted by javi92

So when can we expect revisionist color timing complaints and people claiming they remember what theatrical prints looked like in 1990? Can't wait for those.

Can we just...you know...be HAPPY for a minute? This is great news. I'm excited for it. I swear, for people who love movies this place bogs itself down in the most ridiculous of quibbling minutiae.

(sorry, this is not actually directed at you personally, it's just that the negativity around here really makes me want to go elsewhere sometimes, and that bugs me. It's like people can't just enjoy a movie anymore, and if anybody deserves to have their movies enjoyed, it's Kurosawa.)