The Complete Lady Snowblood (1973-1974)

[Akijama]

The Complete Lady Snowblood Blu-ray

New 2K digital restorations of both films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks on the Blu-rays
New interviews with Kazuo Koike, the writer of the manga on which the films are based, and screenwriter Norio Osada
Trailers
New English subtitle translations
PLUS: An essay by critic Howard Hampton

A young woman (Meiko Kaji), trained from childhood as an assassin and hell-bent on revenge for her father’s murder and her mother’s rape, hacks and slashes her way to gory satisfaction. Rampant with inventive violence and spectacularly choreographed swordplay, Toshiya Fujita’s pair of influential cult classics Lady Snowblood and Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance, set in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Japan, respectively, are bloody, beautiful extravaganzas composed of one elegant widescreen composition after another. The first Lady Snowblood was a major inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill saga, and both of Fujita’s films remain cornerstones of Asian action cinema.

Source

[Moj]

Never thought I'd see this get released on a prestige label. The Tarantino effect is strong. Hopefully if this sells well, they'll do the Hanzo Trilogy.

[tama]

Fixing the contrast issue found on the Arrow release alone will get me to double dip. Also wondering what master Arrow used as the Criterion release is advertised as a 2K digital restoration. Wonder if they're the same?

[FiendCameron]

Ugh. Don't think I'll make it to the June B&N sale for this one.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Originally Posted by tama

Fixing the contrast issue found on the Arrow release alone will get me to double dip. Also wondering what master Arrow used as the Criterion release is advertised as a 2K digital restoration. Wonder if they're the same?

I'd like to think Criterion would use a new master because the Arrow one looks very poor when it comes to detail as well and the milky blacks may be a source-related issue which can't be fixed without compromising the whole picture.

[Skorpius]

Holy crap!

[MifuneFan]

Love the artwork.

[EddieLarkin]

The milky blacks are not a source issue on the Arrow disc, they are an authoring issue. Regardless, I'd be shocked if these weren't completely new scans from Criterion (you know, since they use the word "new" in the description).

[darkness2918]

Can't wait for this. Good thing I always waited & never bought the Arrow release.

[dubious]

Oh a reason to finally add a Criterion release to my collection. Ive been tempted by Brazil and Eraserhead, but never pulled the trigger.

[Martin_31]

I've been hearing great things about these movies. Will be buying this set! Can't wait to see them.

[javi92]

Day 1 pickup for me. Plus, it will be nice to see people no longer guessing this title each month.

[JustinB]

These have been available on iTunes from Criterion for a couple of months now. I own the Arrow release and, if the iTunes trailers are any indication, it looks like the Criterion versions have better black levels.

[spanky87]

Is Lady Snowblood II any good?

[Cinematt]

Didn't expect this at all! Which is why I finally got around to buying the Arrow release in their last sale!

[davidson]

Never thought this would get the Criterion treatment. Can't wait for this, never liked Arrow's PQ, so this is a sure buy for me.

[Akijama]

Amazon pre-order http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Lady-...n%3A2650305011

[Monterey Jack]

Lovely cover art, but I already have the Arrow disc, and that looks good enough for me.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by spanky87

Is Lady Snowblood II any good?

Hell yeah!
I think I might even like it more than the first one.

[GasmaskAvenger]

Originally Posted by FiendCameron

Ugh. Don't think I'll make it to the June B&N sale for this one.

I personally think i'll be able to wait long enough.