Tokyo Drifter Blu-ray Tetsuya Watari

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Tôkyô nagaremono" or "The Man from Tokyo" or "Tokyo Drifter")

Japan 1966

In this free-jazz gangster film, reformed killer “Phoenix” Tetsu drifts around Japan, awaiting his own execution until he’s called back to Tokyo to help battle a rival gang. Seijun Suzuki's “barrage of aestheticised violence, visual gags, [and] mind-warping color effects” got him in more trouble with Nikkatsu studio heads, who had ordered him to “play it straight this time.” Instead he gave them equal parts Russ Meyer, Samuel Fuller, and Nagisa Oshima.

Posters

Theatrical Release: 1966 - Tokyo

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Comparison:

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Cover		Also coming to Blu-ray, by Criterion, in the UK on February 18th, 2019
Distribution	Criterion Collection - Spine # 39 - Region 0 - NTSC	Criterion Collection Spine # 39 Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:22:33	1:22:52.550
Video	2.06:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.81 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 34,158,032,586 bytes Feature: 24,284,663,808 bytes Video Bitrate: 39.07 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	Japanese (Dolby Digital 1.0 mono)	LPCM Audio Japanese 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 2.06:1 Edition Details: • Seijun Suzuki interview (20:08) • 2 page liner notes by Manhola Dargis DVD Release Date: February 23rd, 1999 Keep Case Chapters: 29	Release Information: Studio: Criterion 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 34,158,032,586 bytes Feature: 24,284,663,808 bytes Video Bitrate: 39.07 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Video piece featuring new interviews with director Seijun Suzuki and assistant director Masami Kuzuu (12:12 in 1080i) • Interview with Suzuki from 1997 (20:12 in 1080i) • Trailer (2:48 in 1080i) • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Howard Hampton Blu-ray Release Date: December 13th, 2011 Transparent Blu-ray Case Chapters: 17

Comments:

NOTE: These Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (November 11'): The opening black-and-white sequences still has issues and I suspect that the source's density is compromised to the extent that not a lot could even be done digitally to improve the contrast. For all I know though this is a style issue.

NOTE: Peter from our ListServ tells us: "What you see is what was intended. The 35mm prints _deliberately_ have this opening section completely blown out and dupey looking, full of weird grain and hot spots."

Flaws of the 1999 SD transfer have been 'corrected' including the ratio distortion, extensively more vibrant colors (notable reds and blues), chroma is now non-existent etc. The Blu-ray may be a little cropped in comparison to the DVD but the aspect ratio clocks in at 2.35:1 (as opposed to the DVD at about 2:1). Like Branded to Kill - this is such a wide deviation from the original Criterion SD rendering that it probably seems better than it is. But while imperfect - still looks impressive.

Audio gets the linear PCM, lossless, treatment - remaining faithfully mono and there are optional English subtitles (new translation) on the region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc. Hajime Kaburagi's funky music has some depth but and is also reproduced far better via the uncompressed track.

Supplements are a bit slim with a HD video piece featuring new (July 2011) interviews with director Seijun Suzuki and assistant director Masami Kuzuu who discuss the production of Tokyo Drifter for about a dozen minutes. There is also a 1997 interview with Suzuki running 30-minutes - recorded during a retrospective of his work by the Japanese Foundation and Los Angeles FilmForum at the Nuart Theater in L.A. Lastly we get a theatrical trailer (2:48 in 1080i) and a liner notes booklet featuring an essay by film critic Howard Hampton included in the package.

Tokyo Drifter is a perfect double-feature companion film to Branded to Kill with more heavy style, crime-drama and kitsch appeal. Suzuki fans are obsessive about these works and most will be thrilled to see it looking and sounding so improved. Absolutely recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: This early non-anamorphic Criterion offering has some substantial flaws. The black and white sequences in the very beginning are atrocious. Even if the out-of-whack contrast were meant as a style offering, I am sure the chroma was never intentional by Seijun Suzuki. I also noticed some significant weaknesses - totally uncharacteristic of Criterion. The image also seems vertically stretched. Regardless of painful image quality, this is still a fun ride. I suggest that Criterion re-issue this and Branded to Kill at some point in the future, because when it is done properly it will look fantastic. Although, I'll wager Criterion would like to forget this particular release.

Gary W. Tooze

Menus

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT

2) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT