The Noriko Trilogy - "Late Spring", "Early Summer" and "Tokyo Story"	Record of a Tenement Gentleman and Flavor of Green Tea over Rice	Equinox Flower, Tokyo Twilight and Good Morning

Due to the great interest of this release we have placed it under the microscope to expand upon our three comparisons -  "Late Spring", "Early Summer" and "Tokyo Story". Initial thoughts were not too damning, although we were disappointed by the improper conversion to DVD.  We would like to expand upon our judgment that it is a flawed product. As Tartan were given the NTSC transfers from Shochiku they, perhaps through laziness, but more likely through economic viability, did not convert to PAL for their own DVDs. We have seen it many times before - and we don't like the results - 'ghosting' in motion sequences, prevalent artifacts and most damning - lack of detail in the image quality. It is most troubling.

Like the Criterion release of "Tokyo Story" - the Tartan DVDs all suffer from fluctuating contrast levels. It is quite noticeable and disturbing. Another point is the damage that is consistent through "Late Spring" and "Tokyo Story" and shows , if even to a lesser degree, in "Early Summer".

Another huge faux-pas in these discs are the statement on the packaging box that there are "commentaries from some of UK's leading film critics". Well there are none and I am quite surprised that they did not correct the box, or delay the release and get some commentaries - the films certainly warrant them.

So everything that could have gone wrong with these releases appears to have transpired - weak transfers - no worthy extra features and misleading statements on the packaging.

The one ray of decency, aside from the handsome physical packaging, are the the 6 page liner notes by Nick Wrigley of OzuYasujiro.com. In a recent poll on the DVDBeaver ListServ , I rated this as the most disappointing release of the year which I bought almost solely for the "Late Spring" DVD. I realize my expectations were too high - although I honestly didn't see them having the potential to be superior to their Criterion counterparts - I did expect some valued extras.  My assumption was that it would be superior to the Panorama Region 3 DVD, which it is - but only barely so. So what do I suggest? Buy the Criterion editions of both "Tokyo Story" and "Early Summer" and then either wait for the Criterion "Late Spring" (a year?) or buy the Panorama as a temporary fix. DVDBeaver does not endorse this Tartan Box. out of    

Gary W. Tooze