Third Window Films Discussion Thread

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by Yami

I'm crazy excited for Crazy Thunder Road and the Obayashi Trilogy set. I won't repost my full thoughts on Hanagatami but I was really bowled over by it and it only grows in my estimations with time. I've read great things about the other two parts of the trilogy, so I'm very pleased that Third Window are releasing it.

I know the BBFC costs are already going to be hefty, so I won't expect too much in the way of extras but his Japanese Wikipedia page lists a few TV documentaries he was the subject of over that time period that would be interesting to see.

as the films themselves are so long, there's not a massive amount of room for extras, but just finished a 75 minute Making Of for Seven Weeks which is pretty good as it breaks down the making of many scenes

[xiiidan]

I think I'll have to put in a big order of titles soon to help you recoup the costs for all these great titles coming soon and show my appreciation.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by thirdwindowfilms

as the films themselves are so long, there's not a massive amount of room for extras, but just finished a 75 minute Making Of for Seven Weeks which is pretty good as it breaks down the making of many scenes

I assume a 4 disc set with an extras disc would be too costly to produce?

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

I assume a 4 disc set with an extras disc would be too costly to produce?

a 3 disc set is something that nowadays is almost impossible to recoup. Ever since Arrow were taken over by a conglomerate.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by thirdwindowfilms

as the films themselves are so long, there's not a massive amount of room for extras, but just finished a 75 minute Making Of for Seven Weeks which is pretty good as it breaks down the making of many scenes

That sounds terrific!

If you do find any room, his episode of 'The Last Lecture' sounds especially interesting

[thirdwindowfilms]

Originally Posted by Yami

That sounds terrific!

If you do find any room, his episode of 'The Last Lecture' sounds especially interesting

It seems a little complicated to license, though I do have another 45 minute interview with him which was made for Seven Weeks and discusses a lot of the 'war trilogy', so hope people enjoy that.

[EvilAsh77]

I'm so excited for Hiruko the Goblin! I can retire my old Japanese DVD...

[ravenus]

I saw Dangan Runner last night.

The film is essentially one big...hmm, I was about to say chase sequence, but it's not that really. Oh well, at least when it starts out, it's 3 guys chasing in sequence - a wannabe bank robber who is so incompetent he forgets to carry along a face-covering and then gets caught trying to steal a mask from a convenience store. He is running away from the store manager, a rock singer and heroin addict, who is in turn being pursued by a Yakuza enforcer of the gang he owes money to. I have not seen anything else by the director Sabu, but this one is like Takeshi Kitano in a light mood. There are gangsters, guns, stakeouts and Mexican standoffs, but there's a beautiful transcendent mood, especially in the middle of the film, where it takes joy just in following the main characters and letting us soak in their thoughts. The film expresses the joy of constant motion as it captures the characters running on busy highways and deserted alleys alike, and this is what defines its delicate spirit more than the other plot shenanigans. I quite liked it on the whole.

Given that the film was not shot on 35mm celluloid, it looks pretty alright on the whole, although night-time sequences are considerably more grainy/noisy. The stereo soundtrack is simple but effective with good bass presence when needed. Of the extras I saw the director interview 15min (pretty good) and the nearly half-hour piece on the video-cinema culture in Japan by critic Tom Mes (more rambling and less informative than I'd have liked). There's also a Jasper Sharp commentary, which I am sure will have interesting things to say.

[Shingster]

Shame we've not seen any more from Sabu since Runner, guess it either didn't sell well or I don't think there may be HD masters ready to go for his early work, or both! Postman Blues, Monday, and Blessing Bell are even better than Dangan.

[Yurakucho]

From TWF website: Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes coming 15th November, region-free, extras: ‘Howling’ Short film, Making Of, Interview with director Junta Yamaguchi. Nice to see the classic TWF zany/cheap cover art is back. I'm most looking forward to Funky Forest/Warped Forest - surely a set worthy of Arrow-style special box and book treatment.

[konoyaro]

If we are allowed to have a wish list for TWF, I'd like to request these Thai titles on blu-ray:

Last Life in the Universe
Invisible Waves
Citizen Dog
Tears of the Black Tiger

I really enjoyed them when they came out but they are hard to come by and could really do with a (IMHO) rescan / rerelease.

[Funktion]

Originally Posted by konoyaro

If we are allowed to have a wish list for TWF, I'd like to request these Thai titles on blu-ray:

Last Life in the Universe
Invisible Waves
Citizen Dog
Tears of the Black Tiger

I really enjoyed them when they came out but they are hard to come by and could really do with a (IMHO) rescan / rerelease.

I would love to have Last Life In The Universe, and Invisible Waves on Blu-Ray, especially the former.

Throughout the years, I kept "pestering" various labels about a possible BD release of Last Life In The Universe, but sadly, one is yet to materialize.

[Ste7en]

Shutter would be very welcome on BD.

[robthebobs]

Originally Posted by konoyaro

If we are allowed to have a wish list for TWF, I'd like to request these Thai titles on blu-ray:

Last Life in the Universe
Invisible Waves
Citizen Dog
Tears of the Black Tiger

I really enjoyed them when they came out but they are hard to come by and could really do with a (IMHO) rescan / rerelease.

I'd love to see a release of Symbol (Hitoshi Matsumoto, 2009) on blu ray outside of Japan.

[thuata]

Originally Posted by arrowvimeo

TOSHIAKI TOYODA: 2005-2021 BLU-RAY
Attachment 263832

One of my most anticipated releases of the year, finally seeing the details put a huge smile on my face, I'm glad TWF weren't discouraged by the first volume struggling a bit to find its audience.
I'm still unsure where I'll import it from (Arrow would usually be my first option followed by Terracotta however the first no longer seem to be truely independant and the latter isn't yet customs friently to my knowledge) but this is day one for me.

[Yurakucho]

New Toyoda set is £40 on Terracotta Shop (free UK shipping for orders over £25, plus they do reward points now (£5 for signing up, then £1 bought=1p). Given that it looks to be the same sort of digipak as the first Toyoda set, which Amazon summarily crushed and destroyed for quite a few people, I'm going with that.

If anyone wants it, there's a copy of Gemini with the slipcase in HMV Cardiff for £14.99 BUT the slipcase has a big horrible dent on the front.

[NormanicGrav]

Originally Posted by Yurakucho

New Toyoda set is £40 on Terracotta Shop (free UK shipping for orders over £25, plus they do reward points now (£5 for signing up, then £1 bought=1p). Given that it looks to be the same sort of digipak as the first Toyoda set, which Amazon summarily crushed and destroyed for quite a few people, I'm going with that..

Interesting. I had a quick look and it's actually cheaper to buy from Terracotta than Arrow (not only by the price, but Terracotta's site says free UK shipping for orders over £25 while Arrow charges shipping).

£40 for 6 Japanese films is a bargain.

[Ben_C]

Originally Posted by Yurakucho

New Toyoda set is £40 on Terracotta Shop (free UK shipping for orders over £25, plus they do reward points now (£5 for signing up, then £1 bought=1p). Given that it looks to be the same sort of digipak as the first Toyoda set, which Amazon summarily crushed and destroyed for quite a few people, I'm going with that.

I was trying to remember where I bought volume 1, turns out it was from Amazon almost exactly 5 years ago for £14.99! Plus it was mint

[hanz0]

First Toyoda set is on HMV it seems for £20 if anyone needs to pick it up, i'm not sure if it's oop yet, can't see it on amazon anymore and Arrow says oos.

https://store.hmv.com/store/film-tv/...he-early-years

i have ordered the upcoming set from Terracotta

[XGEEKEDGERX]

Looks fantastic. I blind bought the first set and came away loving it so getting this will be a no brainer. Now to figure out where best to pre-order...