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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Kakushi toride no san akunin" or "The Hidden Fortress" or "The Three Villains of the Hidden Fortress" or "Three Bad Men in a Hidden Fortress" or "Three Rascals in the Hidden Fortress')

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/kurosawa.htm
Japan 1958

A general and a princess must dodge enemy clans while smuggling the royal treasure out of hostile territory with two bumbling, conniving peasants at their sides; it’s a spirited adventure that only Akira Kurosawa could create. Acknowledged as a primary influence on George Lucas’ Star Wars, The Hidden Fortress delivers Kurosawa’s inimitably deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action and humanist compassion on an epic scale.

 

 Posters

Theatrical Release: December 28th, 1958 - Japan

Reviews                                                              More Reviews                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

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

 

Box Covers

   

Distribution Criterion Collection - Spine # 116 - Region 1 - NTSC Criterion Collection, spine #116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:18:35 2:18:59.956
Video 2.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.25 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 47,440,901,329 bytes

Feature Size: 39,576,956,928 bytes

Average Bitrate: 31.17 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

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 3.0 Dolby), Japanese (Dolby Digital 1.0)  LPCM Audio Japanese 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 2294 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2294 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 2.30:1

Edition Details:

• Exclusive video interview with George Lucas about The Hidden Fortress (8:07)
• 6 page liner notes with essay by Armond Whtie
• Theatrical trailer (3:45) 

DVD Release Date: May 22nd, 2001

Keep Case
Chapters: 32

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 2.39:1

Disc Size: 47,440,901,329 bytes

Feature Size: 39,576,956,928 bytes

Average Bitrate: 31.17 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080P

Edition Details:

• Commentary by film historian Stephen Prince, author of The Warrior’s Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa

• Documentary from 2003 on the making of the film, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create (40:54 in 1080i)

• Interview from 2001 with filmmaker George Lucas about Kurosawa (8:09 in 1080i)

• Theatrical trailer (3:47)
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Catherine Russell

 

Blu-ray Release Date: March 18th, 2014
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 26

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - February 2014': Criterion's new 2K-sourced transfer is gorgeous. It dramatically advances upon the 2001 SD with more information in the frame and substantially layered contrast.

As they did with the SD, Criterion give the option of a linear PCM 1.0 channel mono track at 1152 kbps or a 3.0 Perspecta track although my software identifies it as a DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 2294 kbps. I certainly heard some separation - obviously more buoyant than the mono and this track exports some impressive depth notable in Masaru Satô (The Lower Depths, Hidden Fortress, I Live in Fear, Throne of Blood etc.) score. There are optional subtitles and the Criterion is, as usual, a Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

Criterion advance upon the extras from their DVD of more than a decade before. We get a brand new commentary by film historian Stephen Prince, author of The Warrior’s Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa. Prince talk a lot about how Kurosawa uses the entire frame in, this, his very first widescreen format film as well as his influence on Leone. It is as professional and informative as you might anticipate from listening to his previous discussions on Kurosawa's Criterion film-packages. Also new to this The Hidden Fortress release is the 40-minute 2003 documentary on the making of the film, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create in HD. We get the same 8-minute interview from 2001 with filmmaker George Lucas about Kurosawa and a trailer. There package has a liner notes booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Catherine Russell. This is dual-format with a DVD included.

This is, another, favorite Kurosawa film. I appreciated the lighter elements as well as Mifune and Misa Uehara's drama. It is also a gorgeous film to watch and with Criterion adding the Prince commentary - I think it makes it an easy purchase decision. Strongly recommended!

***

ON THE DVD (May, 2001): This is a fantastic image - one of Criterion's best I would say. Very sharp with excellent contrast and the overall image is bright. Criterion used a pristine interpositive for this new hi-def transfer and it shows. This whole DVD is a treat with the an optional Dolby Digital 3.0 soundtrack preserving the original Perspect-A-Sound with simulated-stereo effects, as well as inclusion of the original mono. No commentary, but an 8 minute interview with George Lucas talking about Kurosawa's influence. For Kurosawa fans this is a real lock-it-in-the-vault-at-night keeper.  out of   

Gary W. Tooze


Menus

 

1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

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


 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample

1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


1) Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray captures


Recommended Reading for Kurosawa Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

 

Check out more in "The Library"


 

Box Covers

   

Distribution Criterion Collection - Spine # 116 - Region 1 - NTSC Criterion Collection, spine #116 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray




 

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