British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[kristoffer]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

High & Low Blu-ray

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/high-and-low-blu-ray.html

https://www.amazon.co.uk/High-and-Lo.../dp/B0DM6H2SP4

Really tempted to order these, but maybe I should wait for the eventual Critierion UHD instead....

[ReSe2k]

Pretty dissapointed that High & Low is not in 4K. I sold my criterion bd after reading the high praise for the japanese uhd. I guess i have to wait till criterion releases their disc and see which one will be better.

Yojimbo/Sanjuro UHD and Stray Dog i'll buy right away though.

[mande2013]

I’m interested in High & Low regardless of the 4K issue. I’m giving BFI the benefit of the doubt here and presuming with FiM on board it’s not much of a downgrade from Toho’s 4K disc.

I’m not sure about the Akerman set. I already have the individual Criterion edition of Jeanne Dielman, and I wouldn’t say no to a standalone of Les Rendez-Vous d’Anna.

[SilverBlueSnow]

That is a sensational line up ! I am trying to scale back on purchases as I have so many unwatched films but these boutique labels are giving us great release after great release!

4 Kurosawa films! - And there will be more Kurosawa coming!

I am surprised that 1 week out from release there are no Seven Samurai reviews - the release probably doesn’t need promotion anyway �� So looking forward to seeing the 4K!

BFI - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[CrockettandTubbs]

Originally Posted by Dogwood

Jesus. I was tapping submission even before Yojimbo/Sanjuro got thrown into the mix. Please, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is spongy and bruised...

Futurama, Amazon Women in the Mood. Funny episode

Said by Zapp Brannigan

[javy]

Straw Dog is an easy purchase.

[PhatsoCallum]

Some information from BFI regarding kurosawa releases (sorry if this has already been talked about)

High and Low and Stray Dog were restored in 4K by Toho Studios in Japan. All masters we are able to access are carefully assessed and a decision is made as to whether to release them on Blu-ray or UHD.



There is no plan to slipcase either of these titles (I suspect that we might do an O-card on the Yojimbo/Sanjuro release in March, but that decision hasn’t been made yet).



Both titles will be packaged in Scanavo cases and there’s no plan to re-release them in different cases once the first pressings have sold out. The booklet will only be included in the first pressing.

[tomblu]

Amazing that we are getting those Kurosawa films. Essential purchases in my opinion. If BFI have decided to not do a 4K then I will trust their judgement, after all I'm not really in a position to question them plus they will be using FiM in all likelihood as well so sure it will look great. If BFI have done 4K for Seven Samurai, and Yojimbo/Sanjuro, then they would do it for High and Low also if it was worthwhile, no?

Superb news in my opinion.

Has there been any indication about other Kurosawa releases that might be coming down the line?

[PhatsoCallum]

Just asked about encoding and responded with.

The Yojimbo/Sanjuro double-pack will be encoded by Fidelity in Motion. High and Low and Stray Dog are with other companies, both of whom are extremely good and what they do and encode many titles for the BFI and countless other well respected labels.

[IntheMoodforTark]

Originally Posted by tomblu

If BFI have done 4K for Seven Samurai, and Yojimbo/Sanjuro, then they would do it for High and Low also if it was worthwhile, no?

Not necessarily. We know for a fact that Toho's 4K restoration of High and Low is beautiful and (as confirmed by nicwood) shines even on their own filtered disc.

Michael Brooke has explained the actual reason on another forum:

It absolutely is 100% a commercial consideration. I know the BFI team very well indeed - in fact, pretty much everyone even on the current team is a former colleague, and some of them go back a full two decades - and therefore know that they'd gladly put everything out on UHD if only it was financially and logistically feasible, just as they'd gladly have released everything on Blu-ray from the moment they adopted the format in 2008.

If you're in UK and can't import or simply just not 4K capable yet, this is the perfect release for you but otherwise I'm sure potential 4K releases by Criterion and Carlotta will be quite the upgrades.

[mande2013]

Shit. I preordered High and Low before seeing the last couple posts. And you can’t cancel preorders with Rarewaves.

That said, if BFI aren’t releasing it on UHD then I doubt Carlotta will. A UHD from Criterion is still a possibility though.

[PhatsoCallum]

Originally Posted by mande2013

Shit. I preordered High and Low before seeing the last couple posts. And you can’t cancel preorders with Rarewaves.

That said, if BFI aren’t releasing it on UHD then I doubt Carlotta will. A UHD from Criterion is still a possibility though.

If you email them they will cancel it

[tomblu]

Originally Posted by IntheMoodforTark

Not necessarily. We know for a fact that Toho's 4K restoration of High and Low is beautiful and (as confirmed by nicwood) shines even on their own filtered disc.

Michael Brooke has explained the actual reason on another forum:


If you're in UK and can't import or simply just not 4K capable yet, this is the perfect release for you but otherwise I'm sure potential 4K releases by Criterion and Carlotta will be quite the upgrades.

Fair enough, I might just get the blu-ray and upgrade down the line. It is a film that would be worth while doing that and shouldn't be too expensive. I think £16.99 (going by Stray Dog) and with another 20% off via hmv, may well be worth it of the supplements/booklet are good.

Plus I can't remember criterion policy but the 4k might not come with a blu ray even if they released one, so nice to have different formats.

Thanks for the info.

[Stanshall]

Will keep hold of the sensational Toho 4K of High and Low to compare but I trust Michael Brooke and the rationale here. As fantastic as it is, it doesn't have the same commercial cache as the samurai films. That said, I would pick up a Criterion 4K if that were to arrive down the line.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by tomblu

Plus I can't remember criterion policy but the 4k might not come with a blu ray even if they released one, so nice to have different formats.

Criterion have yet to not package a blu-ray with their 4Ks. If they already released a blu-ray before (not the case with High and Low), odds are likely they would just provide that along with the 4K (though not always the case).

[IntheMoodforTark]

Originally Posted by fdm

If they already released a blu-ray before (not the case with High and Low)

Uh...
?

[fdm]

Getting lazy in my old age…

[justwannaboogie]

Originally Posted by IntheMoodforTark

Uh...
?

Now have the dilemma of whether to keep my Criterion for the Stephen Prince commentary and booklet.

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by PhatsoCallum

Just asked about encoding and responded with.

The Yojimbo/Sanjuro double-pack will be encoded by Fidelity in Motion. High and Low and Stray Dog are with other companies, both of whom are extremely good and what they do and encode many titles for the BFI and countless other well respected labels.

Is Chantal Akerman Vol. 1 (and 2) FiM too?

[ko8ebryant24]

Originally Posted by MovieBuff647

Is Chantal Akerman Vol. 1 (and 2) FiM too?

Originally Posted by ethyl

BFI replied back that the upcoming Chantal Akerman set is being encoded by FiM

they said that they will probably be working on Yojimbo/Sanjuro as well

[Show spoiler]