British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[shimmy]

Originally Posted by Stanshall

Is there another Region B release of The Hidden Fortress? I might flog my set and get the Region A Criterion B but probably end up costing more than I'd make.

There isnt, yet. Im sure BFI will release one next year.

[Nicsopana]

Originally Posted by shimmy

There isnt, yet. Im sure BFI will release one next year.

Without a new restoration from Toho? I guess they rather wait until a new restoration is available. Does anyone know if Toho is actively working on more Kurosawa films?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Nicsopana

Without a new restoration from Toho? I guess they rather wait until they a new restoration is available. Does anyone know if Toho is actively working on more Kurosawa films?

There is some kind of 4K restoration/remaster that exists. It appears to be screening in Australia/NZ right now. I haven't seen any sort of news/buzz about tihs prior to finding these pages, so I I don't know how accurate they are.

https://www.rialto.co.nz/Movie/The-H...4K-Restoration

https://govettbrewster.com/cinema/fi...ss-4k-remaster

https://www.orpheum.com.au/movie/aki...---4k-remaster

https://canberra.dendy.com.au/movie/...s-4k-remaster/

[M A]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

There is some kind of 4K restoration/remaster that exists. It appears to be screening in Australia/NZ right now. I haven't seen any sort of news/buzz about tihs prior to finding these pages, so I I don't know how accurate they are.

[Show spoiler]https://www.rialto.co.nz/Movie/The-H...4K-Restoration

https://govettbrewster.com/cinema/fi...ss-4k-remaster

https://www.orpheum.com.au/movie/aki...---4k-remaster

https://canberra.dendy.com.au/movie/...s-4k-remaster/

It's legit - it screened first at the 2022 Tokyo Film Festival:
https://2022.tiff-jp.net/ja/lineup/film/3510KRO04

Not sure why Toho didn't release it (and Throne of Blood, which also has a 4K restoration) last year with the others.

[rapta]

Aren’t Toho resistant to licensing out 4K masters before they’ve released them on Blu-ray/UHD themselves? Might not see The Hidden Fortress 4K from BFI or Criterion til the next batch of Kurosawa films (I imagine they will be restoring Drunken Angel, Throne of Blood, The Bad Sleep Well and Red Beard next; and hopefully I Live in Fear, The Lower Depths and Dodes’ka-den as well).

[shimmy]

The point is a new release is inevitable at this point, both in region A and B.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by shimmy

The point is a new release is inevitable at this point, both in region A and B.

Inevitable might be a stretch, given how many years the UK went without BD releases of things the US had from Kurosawa, and how long both went without things Japan had.
Kurosawa is such a money maker for Criterion I've no doubt they'll upgrade Hidden Fortress as soon as they are able, but the BFI are clearly going case by case and the value might be less clear cut in a smaller market where a BD has been out for a long time already.

What I'd actually prefer to see is Dersu Uzala finally getting a proper release. Apparently the print the BFI showed during their Kurosawa season was phenomenal compared with any disc release it has had, but I guess there might be Mosfilm problems still.

I am wondering what will happen when either the BFI or Criterion get to Kagemusha, as the colours on the Japanese 4K were the subject of much debate. (I realise Criterion have it on both sides of the pond currently so the BFI might never get a look in on that licence)

[jheez]

Kagemusha is with Disney, so there’s a distinct possibility that one may never be released outside of Japan

[Nitroes]

All We Imagine as Light | UK Trailer | In cinemas now - YouTube

Looks very interesting which is incredibly rare for something new coming out of India.

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/all-we-imagi...t-edition.html
https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/blu-ra...agine-as-light
https://www.rarewaves.com/products/5...ht-dual-format
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DM6K7LN2/


Also France https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0DJRNS88K/

[MovieBuff647]

Much like HIGH AND LOW, looks like STRAY DOG is in fact sourced from the 4K restoration unlike original reports.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35683

ICYMI for HIGH AND LOW: https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35677

[fatboyslim142]

[MifuneFan]

Seven Samurai 4K Standard Edittion coming January 27th

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/seven-samura...-ultra-hd.html

[CouncilSpectre]

Standard edition is more expensive than the LE I got on day one.....

[CrockettandTubbs]

New feature on Stray Dog:

A Japanese Tale (2024, 31 mins): Kurosawa scholar Jasper Sharp discusses Stray Dog and its position within the director's cinematic oeuvre.

[wabrit]

Originally Posted by Nitroes

All We Imagine as Light | UK Trailer | In cinemas now - YouTube

Looks very interesting which is incredibly rare for something new coming out of India.

This is a wonderful film; saw it at the LFF this year, can't wait to rewatch.

[Cinematt]

Had emails from HMV to say the release dates of High and Low and Stray Dog are now 20th Jan again, after previously saying they were slipping to the 27th.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Seven Samurai 4K Standard Edittion coming January 27th

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/seven-samura...-ultra-hd.html

That's such a fast sell out of the LE and reissue of the 4K, surely there's enough demand for these to take a punt on releasing a 4K of High and Low?

Also seems like pre-ordering the Yojimbo/Sanjuro set is going to be pretty much mandatory to avoid disappointment.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

New feature on Stray Dog:

A Japanese Tale (2024, 31 mins): Kurosawa scholar Jasper Sharp discusses Stray Dog and its position within the director's cinematic oeuvre.

I'm unsure why BFI doesn't add this info to their own site ..I also don't get why they just list it as "Presented in High Definition" rather than being from a 4K source (same for High & Low). They're clearly sending this info out in press releases to various news outlets, so it just seems silly to not have it on their site at the same time.

[MifuneFan]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-Stori...LGW0dvmQjRwexA

The Tractate Middoth
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The Dead Room
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Martin's Close
1684. John Martin is on trial for his life. Facing him, the infamous 'hanging judge' George Jeffreys. However, this is not a cut-and-dried murder case. For the hapless victim has been seen walking after her death….

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[jackranderson]

Is there a reason Ikiru is £20?