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ADDITION: PALM PICTURE - MAY 2010: Although the Palm Pictures edition runs 18 minutes shorter than the Japanese single and double disc editions, the 92 minute cut of BRIGHT FUTURE is the director's preferred version (he was encouraged to shorten it for international release and decided he liked the shorter version). Shot on both Sony HD and DV 24p cameras (screened digitally and as a 35mm film scan), the transfer here is unfortunately interlaced and has dropped the import's 5.1 mix in favor of a 2.0 surround track. On the other hand, Palm Pictures has seen fit to include the 74 minute documentary AMBIVALENT FUTURE on the same disc (it was previously offered only on the Japanese 2 disc edition with English subtitles). While some picture bitrate for the feature was sacrificed for its inclusion, the documentary is worthwhile and informative.

From Mr.Noise: "The versions are actually different. I do not know if the difference is regional or not, but the recut was rather skillfully done. Not only was 22 minutes cut out, but scenes and sequences were rearranged and parts of the soundtrack were remixed, music and effects added and removed. Which means that whoever prepared the 93 minute version had access to the mixing elements.

I suspect that the shorter version is an "authorized" one (perhaps reluctantly). The 115 minute version is richer and more interesting, and we get to know the characters much better, but I have to admit that when I looked at the long version for the first time, there were only 2 sequences that I could point to as not being in the shortened version. It was not until I made a side-by-side comparison that the extent of the revisions became obvious.

More distressing (on the DVD) is the poor visual quality of the US version. Probably transferred from a film print made from the digital original, it suffers greatly compared to the Korean Region 3 version which may have used the original DV master as its source.

At best, the 93 minute version could be considered an alternate version. At worst --- just a commercial compromise."

Kurosawa on the two version HERE.

ON THE KLOCK WORX: This is a pretty crisp DVD - trace amounts of edge enhancement but overall very good contrast - good sound - and some Extras. I only wish the menus were in English just like the clean white optional subtitles on the Feature (no subs on the Extras). The anamorphic image is bright and compliments the outstanding cinematography. Yes, I recommend this DVD.  out of  

NOTE: there is a two disc version with more special features including 1) Ambivalent Future: a making of featurette that runs for 74 minutes (English subtitles included!) -and a Behind-the-Scenes featurette which runs 25 minutes (no English Subtitles).

Gary W. Tooze