The Hidden Fortress (1958)

[Scottie]

The Hidden Fortress Blu-ray

A grand-scale adventure as only Akira Kurosawa could make one, The Hidden Fortress stars the inimitable Toshiro Mifune as a general charged with guarding his defeated clan’s princess (a fierce Misa Uehara) as the two smuggle royal treasure across hostile territory. Accompanying them are a pair of bumbling, conniving peasants who may or may not be their friends. This rip-roaring ride is among the director’s most beloved films and was a primary influence on George Lucas’s Star Wars. The Hidden Fortress delivers Kurosawa’s trademark deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action, and compassionate humanity.

Disc Features
New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
Alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack preserving the original Perspecta simulated stereo effects, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray
New audio commentary by film historian Stephen Prince, author of The Warrior’s Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa
Documentary from 2003 on the making of the film, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
Interview from 2001 with filmmaker George Lucas about Kurosawa
Trailer
New English subtitle translation
One Blu-ray and one DVD, with all content available in both formats
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Catherine Russell

[thebard]

Finally!

[Blu Titan]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!

My most anticipated relase!!!!

[the sordid sentinel]

Love this movie and that artwork is amazing. A must own.

[MifuneFan]

OMGOMGOMG

This made my year, and the next . I never imagined they'd announce another Kurosawa title so soon after Throne of Blood. This is my fav. Kurosawa movie, and one of my favorites ever, can't wait. It finally gets a commentary track too .

[movieben1138]

This is the one I've been waiting for!

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

Love this movie and that artwork is amazing. A must own.

+1

[BXR 1138]

YES! This shall be mine!

[MifuneFan]

The artwork looks pretty nice, but I'd definitely prefer it if they stuck to the original DVD cover instead:




The only thing I don't care for with the new artwork is the shading under her eyes. It just doesn't look right. Kind of makes her face look bruised. This doesn't matter at all though, I'm just happy to see it get released finally.

[UNCMT9]

I'm in!

[oscarmerkx]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Simply beautiful

[Cinemave]

Fantastic! Thank you Criterion!

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Wow!!!!!!!!!!

My most anticipated relase!!!!

Yeah, this is for me too. I've been waiting for this for ages. I never got it on DVD and was hoping for a blu

[jayxrico]

I'm glad to see Kurosawa's titles being released individually. I would wish they would convert his DVD box set transfers to blu ray, but I don't see them bothering upgrading his earlier work, thus why I dont see them coming out with a blu ray set of his like they did prior with his DVD collection. If they do release a set, I see it more being Kurosawas more popular titles and less movies in the collection.

[LegacyCosts]

Pre-ordered, love the cover art.

[MifuneFan]

I can't not see the shading under her eyes as bruises now. It just looks odd to me. I'd rather less shading, or none at all




Her eyes look kind of weird too if you look at them long enough. Probably because they changed the position she's looking while maintaining the pose



These are merely nitpicks mind you

[Majin Blu]

The review is up.

[andsoitgoes]

I am so damn excited to see this finally release. I just hate that I need to wait another 3 weeks.

Prince doing the commentary is a huge bonus for me. I'm hesitant on buying criterion films without them, or at least decent extras. This film, for me, ranks next to Yojimbo as Kurosawa's most enjoyable film to watch, Sanjuro coming in 3rd and Seven samurai as 4th.

What bothers me, though, is that while Lucas has given some credit to Kurosawa on this, he clearly doesn't give him remotely enough.

While it's not akin to A Fistful of Dollars in obvious theft, Hidden Fortress was clearly the basis for MANY characters in Star Wars. Vader, check. Jabba the Hut, check. Leia, check. C3P0 and R2, check.

Lucas, however, doesn't even give much credit to the r2 and c3p0 similarities, as evidenced in his interview (which is also on Hulu). To be honest, I have very little respect for the man now, although I do greatly appreciate his involvement with Kurosawa, although I still didn't care for Kagemusha (and listening between the lines, I almost wonder if they/he cared much for the finished project).

Anyway, this has been a long time coming. Now... Where's Ikiru??

[pro-bassoonist]

PACKAGING:

The Hidden Fortress Blu-ray







Have a great week everyone

Pro-B

[andsoitgoes]

Why can't it be march 18th already?!??

Thanks for the post, I'm really glad this has gone back to the clamshell case, I've missed those.

I still despise the mad world sleeve.