Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (Takashi Miike)

[pro-bassoonist]

NEWS/TRAILER
https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=7661

Independent British distributors Revolver Entertainment have revealed a preliminary release date for Japanese director Takashi Miike's highly-anticipated Ichimei a.k.a Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai (2011), a remake of Masaki Kobayashi's classic Seppuku a.k.a Harakiri (1962). Earlier this year, director Miike's film was nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Exact technical specs and region coding status for this release are unknown at the moment, but the preliminary release date set by the distributors is March 26th.

Pro-B

[adamhopelies]

I hope it gets a theatrical release, as I've heard the 3D is fantastic.

[Adrock]

I was very excited to see this getting a UK release. I'll definitely have to import this in March.

[nitin]

How is this? Having recently seen 13 Assassins and being very very disappointed, I wouldnt mind hearing from some that have seen this one.

[monkeywonder]

It probably depends on what you disliked about 13 Assassins. I saw this at the London Film Festival and while it's nowhere near as good as Kobayashi's it's really not as bad as some of the Cannes reviews made out. Like the original it's a very sedate affair, there is one action sequence at the end but that's really it in terms of fighting. The early example of suicide which kicks everything off is quite graphic and difficult to watch, but again that's really the only violent moment of the sort Miike is associated with over here in the film. If what you like about Miike is the extremity you might well end up disappointed but overall I enjoyed the film very much, even if it's more of a straight up melodrama where Kobayashi's was a blistering indictment of hypocrisy and the society of post-war Japan.

[nitin]

What disappointed me most about 13 Assassins was a complete lack of any real characetrisation before the 45 min action scene kicked in, during which I generally did not care less what happened.

[totentanz]

No 3D on this release? No sale!

[manicsounds]

To tell the truth, I saw this theatrically in 3D and it was one of the worst examples of 3D, so I would think it's a very minor loss.

The 3D was so subtle, barely used during the movie, and another problem was because of the 3D, the projected film was incredibly dark in most scenes. But when it cut to a shot to the sky or the snow, it just blinded you! Like suddenly opening a door...

Obviously it doesn't surpass or come equal to the 1964 version, but there is a small difference (and possibly an improvement) in the end.

[Mavrick]

This is actually being shown in Cineworld in Cardiff as part of the Soundtrack Festival.

' Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai' is screening at Cineworld Cardiff on Friday 18 November at 7pm.

[Mavrick]

[Show spoiler]

[Tdonnelly3]

That artwork looks familiar, where do i know that from?

[manicsounds]

Holy Photoshop!

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by nitin

What disappointed me most about 13 Assassins was a complete lack of any real characetrisation before the 45 min action scene kicked in, during which I generally did not care less what happened.

Hmm, that was what I loathed about Transformers 3. I kept falling asleep in that epic 1 hour fight at the end... I was just getting bored. LOL

[manicsounds]

The release date is now changed to April 30th. Also good news is the ugly coverart seems to be changing, according to Amazon.

The release delay may be because the Japanese release date is April 13th.

[zombivish]

Amazon UK is listing this as region free. can anyone confirm this?

[Sky_Captain]

A bit hard, since nobody has a copy.

[whedon]

Anyone know what the store is with the Play.com Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai (Play.com Exclusive Blu-ray Edition) edition? Wondering if the Blu-Ray has been canceleed and now play have it as an exclusive alongside Grave, Encounters, Nazis At The Centre Of The Earth and The 25th Recich

[logboy]

amazon pre-order cancelled by them as they're apparently unable to source it.

guessing the BD may be play.com only now - anyone know if there's been a press release to this effect?

[whedon]

Originally Posted by logboy

amazon pre-order cancelled by them as they're apparently unable to source it.

guessing the BD may be play.com only now - anyone know if there's been a press release to this effect?

listed on play as Hara-Kiri: Death Of A Samurai (Play.com Exclusive Blu-ray Edition) so it seems all our orders from other sites will be canceled.

[manicsounds]

although it's supposedly a Play exclusive, Zavvi lists it and it's currently £4.95.

(Availability: Usually despatched within 2 weeks) Hmm, skeptical.