The Last Emperor (ラストエンペラー コレクターズ・エディション) 2012/11/2 Pre-order

[Deciazulado]

The Last Emperor Blu-ray

My Japanese is non existent, so using 2 googleboolean extractions it may be saying this has both theatrical and extended and in nearly full Scope ratio?

Would a kind Japanese soul confirm?

■甘粕正彦役兼音楽プロデューサーとして参加した坂本龍一が、日本人として初めてアカデミー賞作曲賞を受賞 したことも有名
■撮影監督であるヴィットリオ・ストラーロが監修し、レストアしたオリジナル劇場公開版(163分)を本邦 初収録! 更に、レストアされたノーカット全長版(218分)も別ディスクにて収録! 両バージョンをブルーレイ2枚組で収録するのは世界初!
■画郭が劇場公開時のオリジナルである「2.35:1」でブルーレイ化されるのはこれが両バージョンともに 世界初!

[blimey]

Yes. That's what it said. 2.35:1 for both versions. New transfer maybe?

[Deciazulado]

Thanks

[filmmusic]

But unfortunately only Japanese subtitles?

[ly000001]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

But unfortunately only Japanese subtitles?

The audio is in English, so unless there were scenes I forgot about where Chinese was spoken, the lack of English subtitles should only be a problem if you're hearing impaired, you have trouble understanding Chinese accents, or you watch movies with the sound turned down to avoid disturbing others.

[filmmusic]

well, I don't have English as my native language, so having English subtitles always is very helpful for me..
it's better to read subtitles than trying to understand only by the spoken words..

[ly000001]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

well, I don't have English as my native language, so having English subtitles always is very helpful for me..
it's better to read subtitles than trying to understand only by the spoken words..

Ah, I see. I knew that when I posted that message that I probably missed another reason why someone would want English subtitles

[Novecento]

Originally Posted by blimey

Yes. That's what it said. 2.35:1 for both versions. New transfer maybe?

This sounds promising indeed

Maybe I should have held off on the Criterion release

[filmmusic]

Has anyone got it?
Any reviews about the picture/audio quality?

[Asiania]

Originally Posted by ly000001

The audio is in English, so unless there were scenes I forgot about where Chinese was spoken, the lack of English subtitles should only be a problem if you're hearing impaired, you have trouble understanding Chinese accents, or you watch movies with the sound turned down to avoid disturbing others.

Then there's me. I feel rather insulted watching movies where people talk the wrong language. (I suppose text floating in midair isn't natural either though.)

Fortunately, gzbeauty put out a dubbed Mandarin version as part of their "Follow Me" series. Not sure what Qing royals actually spoke, but it's good enough.

The gzbeauty release has English and Chinese subtitles and a 2.35 aspect ratio.

Some genius should try taking the Chinese audio and putting it with the Blu-ray video....

[thebard]

My copy just arrived today, and I haven't viewed the whole thing yet, but I thought I would snap a few quick pics.

Keep in mind these shots were taken off my small monitor with my phone, just to compare the aspect ratio; they are not frame accurate, they are not full resolution, and they are not intended as a representation of pictire quality, although the Geneon Universal transfer does seem less saturated than the Criterion at first glance:

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

You can see the Geneon definitely shows more information on the edges (look at the bucket on the left).

This is a three-disc release, with the theatrical edition listed at 163 min and the extended edition at 219 min on separate discs (the Criterion one-disc includes the shorter version), as well as a third disc of extras which I have not dipped into yet, so I can't speak to quality or language.

Subtitles for the main feature (seen in the second pic, above) can be turned on or off via the pop-up menu or the remote. I haven't verified, but it doesn't look like there are many language options, just on/off.

The Geneon is nicely packaged, with a thick snap case & hinged disc holder for the three discs, which slips into a somewhat heavy-duty cardboard sleeve. The removable j-card has the Asian labeling, with just English-language on the sleeve itself.

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Hope that helps. Again, I can't speak to the pq at this time, but this looks like a good alternative for those who want the wider aspect ratio.

[Arkadin]

This is incredible news!!!!
FINALLY the TRUE Last Emperor has been released on blu-ray in the original OAR of 2:35:1.
as we all know the lunatic Storrario ruined the film by imposing his Universum 2:1 OAR bullsh%$t on all the various distributors including tragically Criterion, which sadly bent to his will when releasing both their dvd and bd release.
I cannot order this fast enough.
anyone know an English etailer where I can place an order?
yesasia doesn't seem to have it yet.

[thebard]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

This is incredible news!!!!
FINALLY the TRUE Last Emperor has been released on blu-ray in the original OAR of 2:35:1.
as we all know the lunatic Storrario ruined the film by imposing his Universum 2:1 OAR bullsh%$t on all the various distributors including tragically Criterion, which sadly bent to his will when releasing both their dvd and bd release.
I cannot order this fast enough.
anyone know an English etailer where I can place an order?
yesasia doesn't seem to have it yet.

YesAsia usually doesn't have a whole lot of Japanese releases (relatively speaking; they have some, but more of a focus on China/Hong Kong/Taiwan).

I ordered from amazon.co.jp. You'll take a hit on the shipping, but worth it IMO.

[Arkadin]

thanks for the info.
I'm still a little confused about the registration on amazon.jp
it says "your name"-- and then "your pronunciation"
I mean wtf does that mean?

[thebard]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

thanks for the info.
I'm still a little confused about the registration on amazon.jp
it says "your name"-- and then "your pronunciation"
I mean wtf does that mean?

I just typed my name again. The rest is just like amazon.com or .uk.

The Last Emperor Blu-ray

[Arkadin]

ok cool.
I'll give it a try.
thanks.

[illini2000]

it's a fantastic set. It got to me within 2 days to LA. Unreal. Very exciting to see the original 2.35 aspect ratio.

[James Luckard]

SO EXCITED AT THIS NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was heartbroken to see the butchered version prepared by Storaro, in which people are cropped half off the frame and the gorgeous compositions are distorted and ruined.

Cannot WAIT to receive this, already ordered.

This is the film that inspired me to love cinema when I saw it at the age of 10.

This is undoubtedly the BD OF THE YEAR for me.

I have now bought this film so many times it's hysterical:

- VHS
- original American extended version DVD (atrocious video)
- Korean DVD with both cuts (decent video, but one chapter of theatrical cut incorrectly encoded)
- UK DVD with commentary and documentaries (irritating PAL speed-up)
- Criterion 4 disc DVD (cropped)
- Criterion BD (cropped)
- Japanese OAR BD

This will be the FIRST TIME the theatrical cut has been available at the correct speed, in the correct aspect ration, without video errors.

So glad I logged on here today as I ate dinner

[James Luckard]

Oh, and just so everyone knows, I just popped in my DVD to confirm.

EVERY WORD of the film is in English. there is no need to worry about scenes that will be missing subtitles for foreign languages. Everyone, British, American, Chinese and Japanese in the film speaks English in every single scene.

The only "subtitles" in the film are the burned in titles for locations, like "PEKING 1908", and they are clearly still there, as shown by the photo above.

[tsetse27]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

SO EXCITED AT THIS NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was heartbroken to see the butchered version prepared by Storaro, in which people are cropped half off the frame and the gorgeous compositions are distorted and ruined.

Cannot WAIT to receive this, already ordered.

This is the film that inspired me to love cinema when I saw it at the age of 10.

This is undoubtedly the BD OF THE YEAR for me.

I have now bought this film so many times it's hysterical:

- VHS
- original American extended version DVD (atrocious video)
- Korean DVD with both cuts (decent video, but one chapter of theatrical cut incorrectly encoded)
- UK DVD with commentary and documentaries (irritating PAL speed-up)
- Criterion 4 disc DVD (cropped)
- Criterion BD (cropped)
- Japanese OAR BD

This will be the FIRST TIME the theatrical cut has been available at the correct speed, in the correct aspect ration, without video errors.

So glad I logged on here today as I ate dinner

I ordered this as well (from Amazon-Japan); can't wait to received it.

I also have the old USA DVD (Artist?) and I sold it because it was horrible. I bought the UK one later. Have been temped many times during B&N sales but never buy the Criterion released because of the cropped AR.

I also wonder how is the 5.1 soundtrack on this release compare to the 2.0 on Criterion?