ADDITION: Criterion - REISSUE - (Aug -06) : Even though spine #2, Seven Samurai may very well have been Criterion's very first DVD release (spine #1, Renoirs La Grande Illusion, was delayed). It was way back in August 1998. It had the 3.5 hour film (including intermission) and Michael Jeck commentary crammed into one disc. It showed flickering contrast, deterioration marks and obvious edge enhancement from the crude digital manipulation attempts to visually rectify them. Over the years other editions have surfaced with improvements in removing some of the wear-and-tear shown on the original Criterion, but barring a restoration, the transfers always showed some weaknesses. The latest, CineKorea, appears to have been taken from a French or Toho edition with yellow English and Korean subtitles added. Frankly, it was still the best option for English-locked audiences.... up until now of course.

NOTE: A 'B' edition of the original Criterion came out with the restoration demonstration removed (for legal purposes I believe).

Rumored for a while, in 2006 Criterion officially announced that they would REISSUE one of their most popular digital versatile discs with improvements in the re-mastering process. Knowing Criterion's commitment and their diligent work ethic we expected a reparatory improvement, but what they produced has far outweighed any expectations fans could have hoped for. Criterion has spread the film over two discs with 2 optional commentaries. They have added a third disc containing further feature documentaries and included in the package a beautiful 56-page booklet with essays and related literature. It is yet another potential DVD of the Year candidate from Criterion who continue to soar heads and tails above any other DVD production house anywhere in the world. If behind them are MK2 or Warner - either would be a distant second.   

Image: Criterion's transfer is progressive in the 133:1 ratio and pictureboxed - with a black border circumventing the frame. For a detailed description of picture-boxing see our Kind Heart and Coronets review HERE. It appears the practice that many DVD-o-philes detest is continuing.

The Criterion website states:

'The original negative of the film is no longer available, so a new duplicate negative was created with wet gate processing from the original fine-grain master positive. This new high-definition digital transfer was created in 2k resolution on a Spirit Datacine from the new dupe negative. For the extensive restoration of Seven Samurai for this release, several different digital hardware and software solutions were utilized for flicker, instability, dirt, scratches and grain management including: daVinci’s Revival, Discreet’s Fire, Digital Vision’s ASCIII Advanced Scratch and Dirt Concealer, and MTI’s Digital Restoration System. To maintain optimal image quality through the compression process, the picture on this dual-layer DVD-9 was encoded at the highest-possible bit rate for the quantity of material included. '

You may be as ignorant as I am about many of those details listed above but the impressiveness of that litany of technological information is superseded by the very image itself (and the towering bitrate of the transfer), which has an appearance even beyond what many were anticipating. In viewing you may certainly notice at first how significantly cleaner it is with almost all of the large visible scratches, prevalent on other editions, irradiated (image # 2 - riding at dusk - below - is a good example as is the title image - # 1). Another are of extreme superiority is in the contrast - Criterion's REISSUE has more pure blacks and whites - it gives the impression of boosting on most of the other DVD releases. The Criterion is occasionally cropped - mostly along the right edge (sometimes left) - I have no explanation for this, but we have seen it before. There is still some very minor flickering in a couple of spots and light scratches infrequently visible. Both though are virtually non-existent. The cleanliness and improved black levels give the impression of advanced sharpness over the competition.

Frankly though, there really is no competition - this is so far ahead that visually (screen captures) comparing it seems to report it as an understatement. Criterion should be given a huge grant as what they are doing is helping pristinely archive some the greatest cinema the world has ever known. What they are achieving is really quite incredulous. The comparative improvement in this coveted films' digital rendering is one of the most flagrant I can recall. What adds to my amazement is that we are comparing it to 4 (no 5!) other editions - all of which drastically pale beside the REISSUE.   

Subtitles - another area where Criterion are tops - not only in translation but how appealing and unobtrusive they are to the eye. NOTE: they are using a slightly larger font size than we have seen in the past.

Audio - Criterion have the original Japanese mono track and have added a 4.0 upgrade option. In my first viewing I only listened to the mono track but sampled the 4.0 a few times. There is a drastic difference between the two with the 4.0 channel resonating far deeper and the mono sounding quite tinny at times. RE: the mono - although I have no hard evidence, to my ear it sounded like a slight improvement over the original Criterion release that I re-watched only a week earlier in preparation for this comparison. I could be wrong about that, but regardless I suspect many should listen to the 4.0 channel for the most dynamic sound. NOTE: It is often neglected how important the audio in Seven Samurai is - as it is often overshadowed by the striking visuals.

On the Criterion website it states:

'The new 4.0 mix was created from original optical track recordings, original stereo music masters, and original production sound effects masters. The original monaural soundtrack was mastered at 24-bit from on optical soundtrack print. Audio restoration tools were used to reduce clicks, pops, hiss, and crackle.'

Extras: The Criterion REISSUE has included the original adept Michael Jeck commentary plus a 2nd new one with film scholars David Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Prince, Tony Rayns, and Donald Richie passing off to each other through varying stages of the film. All are very good but I enjoyed Joan Mellen, Rayns (perfectly deft as always) and Richie's the most. Frankly, I think the multiple commentarians is a fantastic idea - you get different interpretations, fewer gaps and each seems an expert in one specific area without inducing the occasional boredom that sometimes comes from listening to one steady voice over an extended period. I hope we hear more of this DVD production attribute in the future. A great idea!

The Criterion duplicates the 50 minute Making of the Seven Samurai documentary shown on the CineKorea (originally part of the Toho Masterworks series). It features interviews with many Kurosawa collaborators. The REISSUE adds much more - the 2 hour 'My Life in Cinema' will be riveting for many Kurosawa fans, as will the new Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences documentary. There is a production gallery, 3 trailers and a teaser and the marvelous 56-page booklet, beautifully bound, filled with photographs as well as essays by Peter Cowie, Philip Kemp, Peggy Chiao, Alain Silver, Kenneth Turan, Stuart Galbraith, Arthur Penn, and Sidney Lumet and an interview with Toshiro Mifune.     

Conclusion - In my opinion the Criterion REISSUE package is essential for all fans of film. It is at once; educational, reaffirming, enlightening and painstakingly compiled. Unanimously hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of the motion picture the film has never looked better, excluding initial theatrical runs. Criterion's professionalism is an inspiration of achievement. No DVD collection is complete without it.

*****

ADDITION: CineKorea edition (Aug -05) - Frankly, I am a little tired of speculating whether some of these Korean DVDs are pirated transfers or not. We have asked the involved parties repeatedly yet are never given a conclusive answer.

I don't know where the CineKorea transfer came from but spread over two dual layered discs, it is the best - sharpest and least cropped - minimal damage - possibly progressive (find no evidence of 'combing') and from the correct standard (see times - no 'ghosting'). It has the same Michael Jeck commentary as the Criterion. It comes in a beautiful package with a booklet (albeit not in English but loaded with photos and images). Like the R4 release it offers both a mono and 5.1 audio option. The big plus for many will also be that it is Region 0 and NTSC meaning it can play in 'normal' DVD players in the US and Canada... and has optional English subtitles - that for the most part seem quite accurate.

I think this may have been taken from the Toho release and English and Korean subtitles added, but it doesn't really matter, I suppose. A negative would be the gaudy and large yellow subtitles and of, course that the 'Making of Seven Samurai' supplement does not have English subtitles. Other than that this appears to be the release to buy - tack onto that it is less than $30 and you have yourself a Kurosawa classic in its most appealing digital format.

*****

ADDITION: BFI edition (Dec -04) - The BFI release is similar to the Australian Region 4, but may be a shade sharper. The Criterion again shows to be the sharpest, if it does have some edge enhancement and some slight damage showing.

Worth noting again - "Aside from the opening Title, the Criterion (only their second release DVD) is sharper with a slight hint of brightness boosting and edge enhancement. The Criterion is very marginally cropped on all 4 sides. The AV Channel as the option of the original audio or boosted 5.1 soundtrack. Criterion wins the Extras with their Michael Jeck commentary. Criterion's hallmark contrast is superior, but the digital manipulations are evident."

Criterion announced a new release of Seven Samurai for 2005. I don't know the details, but that could be the definitive version and might be worth waiting for.

NOTE: The French edition shown (no English subs) is still no match for the Criterion.

*****

We are still doing some investigation as to the running times. The Criterion has an intermission (ex. not on the BFI disc), but I think the AV Channel also has this "intermission", but the running times are very close - meaning one is taken from an alternate type (PAL, NTSC) source. We will update this page as we come to a more definite conclusion.

It appears that the Toho Region 2 (Japan) release is still the sharpest although it does not have English subtitles . CLICK HERE to view.

We are still recommending the Criterion at this stage.

- Gary W. Tooze