Seven Samurai 4K UHD (1954)

[McCrutchy]

The BFI will release Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (七人の侍) (1954) on 21 October 2024:



Seven Samurai 4K Blu-ray

Full specifications are now available:

SEVEN SAMURAI
A film by Akira Kurosawa

Released on Limited Edition UHD and Blu-ray on 18 November 2024 (2-disc sets) (previously listed as 21 October)

See the new trailer here

Their village raided every year by vicious bandits, a group of peasants hire seven masterless samurai to protect them. Initially met with suspicion, the warriors resolve to gain the trust of the villagers and prepare them to face their enemy. Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is one of the greatest films of all time, and has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg while spawning remakes such as John Sturges’ acclaimed The Magnificent Seven. Endlessly copied but never surpassed, Seven Samurai is a truly timeless classic.

Released by the BFI on 18 November in Limited Edition UHD and Blu-ray presentations, each release contains identical special features including an audio commentary by Adrian Martin, Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Seven Samurai – from the Toho Masterworks series, My Life in Cinema (1993), a set of four postcards, an 80-page book and more.

NB. The special features in the UHD set are presented on a Blu-ray disc. The Blu-ray discs are region B.

Special features

• UHD: Restored 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Blu-ray: Restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
• Audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Seven Samurai (2002, 49 mins): part of the Toho Masterworks series featuring interviews with Kurosawa, script supervisor Teruyo Nogami, writer Shinobu Hashimoto, actors Seiji Miyaguchi and Yoshio Tsuchiya, and others
• Philip Kemp’s selected scenes commentary (1999, 20 mins): the film critic and writer analyses key scenes, recorded for the BFI’s 1999 DVD release
• The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns on Kurosawa’s career and influence
• My Life in Cinema (1993, 116 mins): Akira Kurosawa and Nagisa Oshima discuss Kurosawa’s life, career and legacy, filmed for the Directors Guild of Japan
• Original theatrical trailer
• Restoration trailer (2024)
• Image gallery
• Set of four postcards depicting iconic images from the film
• 80-page book with new essays by Tony Rayns, Cristina Álvarez López, Charlie Brigden and James-Masaki Ryan, plus writing by Philip Kemp and Jasper Sharp, and contemporary reviews by Gavin Lambert and director Tony Richardson

Product details – UHD
RRP: £34.99 / Cat. no. BFIB00010 / PG
Japan / 1954 / black and white / 207 mins / Japanese language with English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.37:1 // Disc 1: UHD100: 2160p, 23.98fps, DTS-HD MA 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit) // Disc 2: BD50: 1080i, 29.97fps, LPCM 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/16-bit)

Product details – Blu-ray
RRP: £29.99 / Cat. no. BFIB1526 / PG
Japan / 1954 / black and white / 207 mins / Japanese language with English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.37:1 // Disc 1: BD50: 1080p, 23.98fps, DTS-HD MA 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit) // Disc 2: BD50: 1080i, 29.97fps, LPCM 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/16-bit)

[Show spoiler]

One of the greatest films of all time, Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg, and spawned remakes, most notably John Sturges’ acclaimed The Magnificent Seven.

When 16th-century farmers whose village is repeatedly attacked by merciless bandits ask an elderly, masterless samurai (Takashi Shimura) for help, offering nothing but food in return, he hesitantly agrees and assembles a band of warriors to defend and train the villagers. Boasting terrific performances (with Shimura and Toshiro Mifune – as a peasant masquerading as a samurai – particularly memorable), superb camerawork, and expertly mounted battle sequences, Seven Samurai is undoubtedly one of the greatest action movies ever made.

Newly restored by Toho in 4K, the BFI is delighted to release this all-time classic on UHD for the first time. Available as a limited edition 2-disc set with a book, a set of four postcards and a double-sided poster.

Extras

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Newly recorded audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Seven Samurai (2002, 50 mins)
• The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa's career and influence
• Original trailer
• BFI rerelease trailer
• Double-sided poster featuring artwork by Matt Needle and the BFI’s poster designed for the film’s rerelease
• A set of four postcards featuring iconic scenes from the film
• Perfect-bound book featuring new and archival writing on the film
• Updated and improved English subtitles
• Other extras TBC

Original post:

[Show spoiler]

The [BFI IMAX] cinema will host a number of events during the season, including...the premiere of a new 4K restoration of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954) on 26 September. Seven Samurai will also be released by the BFI on 4K UHD on 21 October, with the new restoration playing in further selected cinemas as part of the season. More information about the 4K UHD release will be revealed soon.

https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/bfi-unve...son-art-action

[Kyle15]

In for this one, provided it does turn out international boutiques were provided the master sans wax-o-vision. That + FiM is a dream come true!!

[UHDLoverForever]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

In for this one, provided it does turn out international boutiques were provided the master sans wax-o-vision. That + FiM is a dream come true!!

The screenshots by Janus Films seem to indicate the answer is yes. Credit to user "M A" for the comparison below between Toho's UHD and the exact same shot in Janus Films' cap. Toho should be ashamed of the extra DNR.

https://slow.pics/c/DTqvHmhI

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by UHDLoverForever

The screenshots by Janus Films seem to indicate the answer is yes. Credit to user "M A" for the comparison below between Toho's UHD and the exact same shot in Janus Films' cap. Toho should be ashamed of the extra DNR.

https://slow.pics/c/DTqvHmhI

This is what I'm referring to, yes.

[Spartan21]

I heard from the "In Search of Physical Media" Youtuber that Seven Samurai will also be coming to Criterion on 4K UHD.

[UHDLoverForever]

Originally Posted by Spartan21

I heard from the "In Search of Physical Media" Youtuber that Seven Samurai will also be coming to Criterion on 4K UHD.

That's been speculated to happen in November. But that YouTuber is a hack, he's been debunked, his reviews are totally unreliable.

[Owsler]

Hope they make it available for pre-order soon. I want to pick this up with The Watership Down release.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Owsler

Hope they make it available for pre-order soon. I want to pick this up with The Watership Down release.

Is there a benefit to ordering both together, rather than separate orders?

[shy86]

Listing up:

Release date: 21st October

Amazon

HMV (£23.99 with the discount code.)

BFI Shop

Rarewaves

Zavvi



Credit to Hanz0

[NoFro]

Perfect.

[ZombAid]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Is there a benefit to ordering both together, rather than separate orders?

Shipping cost, I would imagine.

[Mosin-Nagant]

Originally Posted by ZombAid

Shipping cost, I would imagine.

Absolutely goddamn right.

[RevolverOcelScott]

How is BFI vs Criterion in most cases?

[asacmurr]

Originally Posted by RevolverOcelScott

How is BFI vs Criterion in most cases?

Way better encode, usually different extras. This might be SDR in a DV container as well.

[PhotonsBits]

Just received an e-mail from BFI indicating pre-orders are live. Nearly $80 CAD by the time I'm done by it is Kurosawa and so far I've been happy with BFI releases, thus I'm willing to pay it.

Details from their page:

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Newly recorded audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Seven Samurai (2002, 50 mins)
• The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa's career and influence
• Original trailer
• BFI rerelease trailer
• Double-sided poster featuring artwork by Matt Needle and the BFI’s poster designed for the film’s rerelease
• A set of four postcards featuring iconic scenes from the film
• Perfect-bound book featuring new and archival writing on the film
• Updated and improved English subtitles
• Other extras TBC

[RevolverOcelScott]

35 on OrbitDVD. Not bad, ordered!

Unless the Criterion somehow blows it away, I'll stick with this one.

[andreasy969]

rarewaves: https://www.rarewaves.com/products/5...en-samurai-uhd

I was actually eyeing rarewaves earlier today, to maybe be able to still use the July coupon with this one, but they listed it only when the coupon expired. Hunf. But with the free August EU shipping, I ordered it right away anway.

[PissedOffPeoN]

Does not mention a new cleaned up mono track? is it just the same as the Japanese one? Criterion did a new transer to it looking at there caps.. would it be worth waiting for? But i wub this film sooo much.. need more kurosawa in 4k.

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by andreasy969

rarewaves: https://www.rarewaves.com/products/5...en-samurai-uhd

I was actually eyeing rarewaves earlier today, to maybe be able to still use the July coupon with this one, but they listed it only when the coupon expired. Hunf. But with the free August EU shipping, I ordered it right away anway.

How did you get the free shipping to work? I’m being charged 4,95€ as always.

[andreasy969]

Originally Posted by nicwood

How did you get the free shipping to work? I’m being charged 4,95€ as always.

Use code FREESHIP

I received an according email the other day and it's valid until the end of August for all EU orders. They are doing this to make up for the IOSS issues.