NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: BFI Dual-format package - July 2010: This may look the best of the four Ozu Blu-ray transfers from BFI (Late Spring + The Only Son, Tokyo Story and, this, Early Summer). More than the infrequent scratches - the source, graded master materials again supplied by the Criterion Collection, has good range and density supporting improved contrast in the higher resolution. The image is very clear with nice grain and even some depth. Shadow detail is much stronger than the DVDs. I am very impressed with how Early Summer looks on this BFI Blu-ray. It gave me a fabulous presentation.

Versus the poor “Tokyo Story”, this is Criterion as we know them. Stunning image, great contrast and sharpness in details. While it has minor scratches, it is really a print making it hard to put the finger on anything. Simply beautiful. Comparing it with Tartan, it is noticeable that Tartan is, again, completely spotless, but significantly darker and softer, causing details to be less sharp, especially in long shots. As such, based on these images alone, its two great images, both looking amazing, with one being superior in details, and the other in condition of source, and comparing them and taking the best from each, really makes one hope for the next edition.

But while “Early Summer” is the best of the three Tartan presentations, and looks great, which also is evident from the comparison, it suffers, although minimal, from ghosting, as it is a NTSC to PAL transfer.

As note in the Tokyo Story comment, the final product notes on too many excuses. When one releases something as central in film history as the “Noriko Trilogy”, everyone eyes targets it, and people will be more critical than usual, because of the legacy of the films. As such, the production simply has too many excuses to be acceptable. Granted, we critics often take a production for granted, never realizing the problems involved, and they probably had a deadline for Christmas sales and some boss said no to postponing it, but there are too many hiccups production wise here, too many excuses, and regardless of a, what I personally think is, beautiful image and presentation, this is too flawed a product.