Seven Samurai 4K UHD (1954) (The Criterion Collection)

[MifuneFan]

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai coming to 4K from Criterion in November!

Seven Samurai 4K Blu-ray



https://www.criterion.com/films/165-seven-samurai

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration, with the original uncompressed monaural soundtrack and an optional 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the film (in the aspect ratio of 1.37:1) and two Blu-rays with the film (in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1) and special features
• Two audio commentaries, one featuring film scholars David Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Prince, Tony Rayns, and Donald Richie, and the other Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck
• Making-of documentary, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
• My Life in Cinema (1993), a two-hour conversation between director Akira Kurosawa and filmmaker Nagisa Oshima
• “Seven Samurai”: Origins and Influences, a documentary looking at the samurai traditions and films that helped shape Kurosawa’s masterpiece
• Trailers and teaser
• Gallery of rare posters, behind-the-scenes photos, and production stills
• PLUS: Essays by Kenneth Turan, Peter Cowie, Philip Kemp, Peggy Chiao, Alain Silver, Stuart Galbraith IV, Arthur Penn, and Sidney Lumet, and an interview with actor Toshiro Mifune from 1993

Cover by Neil Kellerhouse

[Adam_ME]

I was kicking myself for ordering the UK UHD from Orbit the other day, but then I saw that the Criterion doesn't appear to have Dolby Vision/HDR. I'll stick with the UK one.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

I was kicking myself for ordering the UK UHD from Orbit the other day, but then I saw that the Criterion doesn't appear to have Dolby Vision/HDR. I'll stick with the UK one.

Since it comes from Toho's SDR scan, does the HDR not blow up the contrast? Sounds not good.

[steel_breeze]

Yes please. I'm not collecting/upgrading much anymore, but this is a must-have. Simply one of the greatest motion pictures ever made.

[CelestialAgent]

Not even the theatrical rerelease art, the BFI seems more exciting than just the same title repackaged with a new format.

[dcx4610]

I think I'm going to wait on reviews/comparisons between the BFI version. It's the movie that matters but there's something very unsatisfying with upgrading Criterion UHDs when it's literally the same packaging and just a new disc inside.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Not even the theatrical rerelease art, the BFI seems more exciting than just the same title repackaged with a new format.

Find the Criterion covers of these Kurosawa movies pretentious. (Well, pretentious covers is a problem with Criterion largely.) Like, the minimalist Yojimbo cover means nothing to me. Two guns with a symbol foreigners (to Japan) won't understand? I know it's supposed to mean "Japanese western," but eh. The owners of these movies at the time sold them as adventure and action (showed off the stars), and that's how Criterion should draw/paint them.

[nicwood]

The Toho has SDR.BT2020 which Criterion could’ve protected in a HDR container if they wanted, just like they did for Sofia Coppola and The Virgin Suicides.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Find the Criterion covers of these Kurosawa movies pretentious. (Well, pretentious covers is a problem with Criterion largely.) Like, the minimalist Yojimbo cover means nothing to me. Two guns with a symbol foreigners (to Japan) won't understand? I know it's supposed to mean "Japanese western," but eh. The owners of these movies at the time sold them as adventure and action (showed off the stars), and that's how Criterion should draw/paint them.

Throne of Blood and Kagemusha aren’t my favourite covers

[SpookyDollhouse]

Interesting this is SDR but I trust Criterion with this one. Can't wait

[Nocheduro]

Originally Posted by nicwood

The Toho has SDR.BT2020 which Criterion could’ve protected in a HDR container if they wanted, just like they did for Sofia Coppola and The Virgin Suicides.

An increase from 8 bit to 10 bit allows for finer gradations on black and white films but that can be achieved in REC709. Is there anything gained with BT2020?

[jason00]

This is going to be the 5th time I buy this (VHS, the first Criterion DVD release, the updated Criterion DVD, and then Criterion blu-ray) but I am happy to do it every single time.

[u2popmofo]

Hooray for 4K!

[SamuelTurn]

Saw this at the Music Box a few weeks ago. STUNNING PQ and AQ. Totally gonna get this at B&N.

[ilenewoodsfan99]

Probably getting my hopes up, but I do wish that the set is smaller than the one we currently have.

[UncleBuckWild]

Seven Samurai is over three hours long. Proper encoding will be critical here.

For that reason, I'll go with the BFI release. Knowing Sensei Mackenzie is working on their disc is perhaps the best thing ever.

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by Nocheduro

An increase from 8 bit to 10 bit allows for finer gradations on black and white films but that can be achieved in REC709. Is there anything gained with BT2020?

BT.709 can display roughly 35% of the color spectrum whereas BT.2020 is capable of roughly 75% but whether this is really significant in the case of Seven Samurai is questionable. I’m looking forward to seeing what FiM and BFI can do with the master and whether the HDR/DV grade is significantly different to SDR, which I doubt but that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

[stvn1974]

No colorized version stretched/zoomed to fill my TV screen and no ATMOS is a no sale for me.

[Hedrox]

So another Seventh Seal situation, and the BFI release was superior in terms of presentation.

[Nocheduro]

Originally Posted by nicwood

BT.709 can display roughly 35% of the color spectrum whereas BT.2020 is capable of roughly 75% but whether this is really significant in the case of Seven Samurai is questionable.

Right, on a color film it would be significant but I’m not sure that it’s relevant for B&W.

Originally Posted by nicwood

I’m looking forward to seeing what FiM and BFI can do with the master and whether the HDR/DV grade is significantly different to SDR, which I doubt but that wouldn’t be a bad thing.

I’m thinking it might be similar to The Seventh Seal, where the Criterion was SDR/REC709 and BFI/FIM did give it a gentle HDR grade that wasn’t just SDR in a HDR container.