Third Window Films Discussion Thread

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Dougling

It'd be nice to see Glory to the Filmmaker and Achilles and the Tortoise, as I don't know of any Western releases, but I've no idea of the rights situations with those. More than anything, though, I'm just happy to see more of his stuff getting a release over here.

Well on Facebook they did just post this:

Third Window Films next release in our continuing Takeshi Kitano bluray series will be his sex-comedy 'GETTING ANY?' out in the summer.

While it hasn't been possible to license Sonatine or his other violent titles for the time being, we hope that the WORLD'S FIRST bluray release of this bonkers film will be enjoyed by you!

So that does imply they'd like to release Violent Cop, Boiling Point and Sonatine, but the rights aren't yet available to them (or maybe they cannot access the masters for a restoration). I guess things could change though, especially since they've already successfully released five of his films with a sixth on the way!

Like the last few Kitano titles they've released, I'd be happy to blind-buy this one at full price, if only to support the cause but also because Kitano is one of my favourite filmmakers.

[jonboy24]

Originally Posted by rapta

Well on Facebook they did just post this:



So that does imply they'd like to release Violent Cop, Boiling Point and Sonatine, but the rights aren't yet available to them (or maybe they cannot access the masters for a restoration). I guess things could change though, especially since they've already successfully released five of his films with a sixth on the way!

Like the last few Kitano titles they've released, I'd be happy to blind-buy this one at full price, if only to support the cause but also because Kitano is one of my favourite filmmakers.

I remember Third Window Films saying Violent Cop, Boiling Point and Sonatine are titles that Second Sight have priority as they had the rights previously.

I guess it means Second Sight either pass the films over for Third Window to release or renew the rights and release the films themselves.

[Dougling]

Originally Posted by jonboy24

I remember Third Window Films saying Violent Cop, Boiling Point and Sonatine are titles that Second Sight have priority as they had the rights previously.

I guess it means Second Sight either pass the films over for Third Window to release or renew the rights and release the films themselves.

Getting Any? was also with Second Sight, as they previously released it on DVD, but I guess it's one of his films that might not have sold so well for them and they may have let it go.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by jonboy24

I remember Third Window Films saying Violent Cop, Boiling Point and Sonatine are titles that Second Sight have priority as they had the rights previously.

I guess it means Second Sight either pass the films over for Third Window to release or renew the rights and release the films themselves.

Yeah, they will only have priority if they still have the rights. I just find it a bit strange that they released those six Kitano titles at the same time but might still have the rights to half of them. Perhaps they had longer licenses for those three, but why those specific ones? Sonatine is definitely OOP by the looks of things, and the others look like they're going the same way.

I suppose Second Sight aren't really bothered about them anymore if Third Window have now released half the films they originally had the rights to. With the third of those on its way, perhaps we won't have to wait too long to get the remainder. Question is, will we more likely see Sonatine first, or Violent Cop/Boiling Point? The former got a German release last year, and the other two got US releases, so admittedly none would be world firsts for the format, but a UK release of each would still be hugely welcome - and no doubt better artwork, subtitles and extras.

[Justin101]

Originally Posted by Dougling

Getting Any? was also with Second Sight, as they previously released it on DVD, but I guess it's one of his films that might not have sold so well for them and they may have let it go.

A Scene At The Sea was as well, I have the DVD of it at home. They're probably more likely to stick with the other three though as they are 3 of the more well known Kitano films. It'd be a shame not to have a uniform collection, but let's face it, loads of director's have their work spread between labels.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Justin101

A Scene At The Sea was as well, I have the DVD of it at home. They're probably more likely to stick with the other three though as they are 3 of the more well known Kitano films. It'd be a shame not to have a uniform collection, but let's face it, loads of director's have their work spread between labels.

Yes, as was Kids Return.

Second Sight wouldn't renew their license for the remaining films unless they intended to release them on Blu-ray themselves, so either way I'm sure they'll each eventually get a UK Blu-ray - I don't see why we wouldn't seeing as other labels in the US and Germany have done just that.

Second Sight are another great UK label, but don't handle foreign-language titles on Blu-ray very much anymore - in other words, Third Window are more confident in that regard, and Second Sight may 'let' them have these three by letting their license expire. We'll just have to wait and see.

[Cinematt]

I'm not sure if the dares were mentioned previously, but the newsletter confirmed:

Destruction Babies - April 10th

Fires on the Plain - June 12th

[tenia]

To be honest, I'll be happy even with these later Kitanos.
And I'm quite curious about his latest Ryuzo 7 movie. I wasn't aware at all about it.

[Ben_C]

Getting Any? Is probably my least favourite of his films, and definitely the one I'd have had at the bottom of a wish list of remaining Kitano titles i'd want to see coming out on blu.
I'll still buy it to support the label, and it's Kitano, plus it was a while ago I saw it, and I have only seen it the one time, so it might be that I watch it again and the humour all clicks with me this time.

[thenexus6]

Getting Any? is a great comedy. So whacky and random. Will be getting that day one like the others.

Shame its in the summer though, I got Hana-Bi this time last year, then Dolls and Kikujiro were out before the summer too.

[Kauno]

Originally Posted by Cinematt

Fires on the Plain - June 12th

Fires on the Plain by Kon Ichikawa?

[Yami]

Originally Posted by Kauno

Fires on the Plain by Kon Ichikawa?

By Shinya Tsukamoto

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

By Shinya Tsukamoto

Who was acting in Scorsese's Silence, which I watched last night!

[Tom09]

I watched Himizu yesterday. It's a great movie. I bought the German release because I wanted to support the local companies and the release seemed to be the same as the UK.
Though, the picture quality totally sucks. Especially the dark spots and areas are totally "instable". As soon as a persons face moves, all the parts get totally cloudy and you can't recognise anything anymore. It looks like someone wiped his hand over a freshly painted picture.
Is this the same with the UK release? I figured out that it has something to the with the colour space. Is this a problem of present Japanese releases, too or have they figured out that they need to correct this for European releases?

[Last Lizard]

Does anyone know if Dolls and Kid's Return still come with slipcovers? More concerned about Dolls of course because its been out much longer.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by Last Lizard

Does anyone know if Dolls and Kid's Return still come with slipcovers? More concerned about Dolls of course because its been out much longer.

I've seen both with slips in HMV, but I don't know if I'd be confident about getting one from amazon. Look in store if you can.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Are any of these Third Window Films releases limited? Anything out of print or about to go soon? Their catalogue looks interesting, never seen any of these films.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

Are any of these Third Window Films releases limited? Anything out of print or about to go soon? Their catalogue looks interesting, never seen any of these films.

I think the only properly limited releases are the New Dorector's From Japan set and the Ruined Heart set because of the inclusion of its soundtrack cd.
There are about a dozen releases with slipcovers that are either expressly linited - the Kitano films - or just won't get one whenever their next pressing comes around.
I believe there are some DVD releases that were mentioned as possibly going out of print somewhere back in this thread.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by Cinematt

I think the only properly limited releases are the New Dorector's From Japan set and the Ruined Heart set because of the inclusion of its soundtrack cd.
There are about a dozen releases with slipcovers that are either expressly linited - the Kitano films - or just won't get one whenever their next pressing comes around.
I believe there are some DVD releases that were mentioned as possibly going out of print somewhere back in this thread.

These 2 (top pic is BD & bottom pic [I think for same reason as you said about Ruined Heart] is DVD) are also

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by Last Lizard

Does anyone know if Dolls and Kid's Return still come with slipcovers? More concerned about Dolls of course because its been out much longer.

Kids return still ok on amazon. Not sure about Dolls though so better try in store for that