Throne of Blood 4K UHD (1957) (BFI)

[MifuneFan]

BFI have just announced Kurosawa's Throne of Blood is coming to 4K May 19th!

Amazon UK - BFI Shop - HMV - Rarewaves

Diabolik DVD - Orbit DVD

Extras

• 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• Introduction by Sir Ian McKellen (2016, 2 mins)
• Introduction to Throne of Blood by Mamoun Hassan (2012, 7 mins): the late writer, director and producer introduces a screening of Akira Kurosawa's film at BFI Southbank
• Audio commentary by Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Throne of Blood (2002, 23 mins): this documentary about the making of Throne of Blood features interviews with Akira Kurosawa, production designer Yoshiro Muraki, Noh performer Mitsuhiro Honda (from the Konparu School) and actor Isuzu Yamada
• Macbeth (1945, 16 mins): two scenes from Shakespeare's famous Scottish tragedy, with Wilfrid Lawson and Cathleen Nesbitt as a fine murderous duo
• Original trailer

A new 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s astonishing film that’s considered to be one of the great adaptations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

A truly remarkable film, Throne of Blood manages to combine beauty and terror to produce a mood of truly haunting power. Starring the irrepressible Toshiro Mifune as the doomed warlord Washizu and a wonderfully creepy turn by Isuzu Yamada as the Lady Macbeth-inspired Asaji, the film shows Kurosawa's familiar mastery of atmosphere and action combined with the savagery of war.

[MifuneFan]

Amazing this is being released on 4K by BFI before Toho themselves have released it in Japan.

[PowellPressburger]

Okay, getting more miffed there was no 4K for High and Low
(which is my fav of his films)

[SpookyDollhouse]

Probably my most anticipated Kurosawa UHD can't wait!

[drush9999]

Great news, Rashomon & Hidden Fortress next please

[shy86]

HMV link

[Cremildo]

I've never upgraded my old Criterion DVD. It's finally time.

[Deadend45]

I gotta laugh about all the posts months ago that wrote there would be no more Kurosawa releases by BFI on UHD.

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Okay, getting more miffed there was no 4K for High and Low
(which is my fav of his films)

I'm all for ToB, but yeah H&L is top 3 Kurosawa for me.

[Rayjaymay]

Does this bode well for a Criterion 4K release?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Rayjaymay

Does this bode well for a Criterion 4K release?

Criterion runs on their own timetable, but I think it's inevitable that they'll release this (and likely High & Low) on 4K eventually too. It won't have HDR/DV though like the BFI 4K's do since the restorations are all in SDR. I didn't expect this one until after Toho released it in Japan, so I wonder if Criterion are similarly allowed to release it before Toho does. Toho may look at Criterion as a bigger threat in the whole reverse importing thing.

[Rayjaymay]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Criterion runs on their own timetable, but I think it's inevitable that they'll release this (and likely High & Low) on 4K eventually too. It won't have HDR/DV though like the BFI 4K's do since the restorations are all in SDR. I didn't expect this one until after Toho released it in Japan, so I wonder if Criterion are similarly allowed to release it before Toho does. Toho may look at Criterion as a bigger threat in the whole reverse importing thing.

This is a bit of a tangent, but can I ask you about the Studio Canal 4K of Ran? I don’t have any version of Ran and I’m considering buying it. Is it worth it?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Rayjaymay

This is a bit of a tangent, but can I ask you about the Studio Canal 4K of Ran? I don’t have any version of Ran and I’m considering buying it. Is it worth it?

Yeah, it's a very nice release. There was some controversy when the new restoration was released on Blu-ray in 2016 as it was a lot greener than past presentations. Many of the issues with that transfer were better resolved, and balanced on the 4K disc though, and closer to the two screenings I saw at the theater of the restoration.

It's a great, late masterpiece by Kurosawa that I love, and appreciate a little more with each viewing.

[Rayjaymay]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yeah, it's a very nice release. There was some controversy when the new restoration was released on Blu-ray in 2016 as it was a lot greener than past presentations. Many of the issues with that transfer were better resolved, and balanced on the 4K disc though, and closer to the two screenings I saw at the theater of the restoration.

It's a great, late masterpiece by Kurosawa that love, and appreciate a little more with each viewing.

Thanks. But the only the 4K disc is region free, correct? The Blu-Ray supplements are not?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Rayjaymay

Thanks. But the only the 4K disc is region free, correct? The Blu-Ray supplements are not?

Yeah, that's correct.

Many of the most notable extras are available on this older (but still in print) Lionsgate/SC US release if you really need them:

[Rayjaymay]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yeah, that's correct. Lionsgate released it on 4K as a BB exclusive Steelbook years ago, but that's now OOP. I've been hoping they could re-release the film in a standard case, or even reissue the Steelbook at Walmart like they've done with some other former BB exclusives.

I think I’m going to pull the trigger. It’s currently on Amazon as an import for just under $30. And that will guarantee another US release, lol!

Thanks again.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Rayjaymay

I think I’m going to pull the trigger. It’s currently on Amazon as an import for just under $30. And that will guarantee another US release, lol!

Thanks again.

You're welcome. I added a small update to my post to say the older Lionsgate release had many of the most notable extras that are included with the 4K BD extras disc.

[Rayjaymay]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

You're welcome. I added a small update to my post to say the older Lionsgate release had many of the most notable extras that were included with the 4K disc.

I saw it. It’s not like this is my favorite film or even my favorite Kurosawa, but I’ve been trying to build up more Kurosawa in my collection and I figured I’d go for the 4Ks when I could.

[MifuneFan]

This is now up at Diabolik DVD:

https://diabolikdvd.com/product/bfi-...-uhd-preorder/

Will add to the first post along with any other US shops that will sell it.

[kristoffer]

Must buy for me especially since the old BFI BD looked rough...