NOTE: 32 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: The Man From Hong Kong (software uniformly simulated HDR), One False Move, The Tall T (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cold Eyes of Fear (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rules of the Game (no HDR), The Manchurian Candidate (software uniformly simulated HDR), After Hours, Rain Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Changeling (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Night of the Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR), 12 Angry Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Branded to Kill (no HDR), Picnic at Hanging Rock (software uniformly simulated HDR), Two Orphan Vampires, The Shiver of the Vampires, Drowning By Number (software uniformly simulated HDR), Serpico (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cool Hand Luke (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Seventh Seal (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Maltese Falcon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mildred Pierce (software uniformly simulated HDR), Tár (software uniformly simulated HDR), Marathon Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dazed and Confused (software uniformly simulated HDR), Three Colors: Blue (software uniformly simulated HDR), Invaders From Mars (software uniformly simulated HDR), Death Wish (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (no HDR), High Plains Drifter (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mystery Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), Silent Running (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dressed to Kill (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Power of the Dog  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Escape From Alcatraz (software uniformly simulated HDR), I, the Jury (no HDR), Casablanca (software uniformly simulated HDR), In the Mood For Love (NO HDR applied to disc), The Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blow Out (software uniformly simulated HDR), Night of the Living Dead (NO HDR applied to disc), Lost Highway (software uniformly simulated HDR), Videodrome (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR), It Happened One Night (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Mummy (1932)(software uniformly simulated HDR), Creature From the Black Lagoon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Bride of Frankenstein (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Amityville Horror  (software uniformly simulated HDR), The War of the Worlds (1953) (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Incredible Melting Man  (software uniformly simulated HDR), Event Horizon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Branded to Kill (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Killing (software uniformly simulated HDR), Killer's Kiss (software uniformly simulated HDR.)

Criterion use the same DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel at 2033 kbps (24-bit) in the original Japanese - as was on their older Blu-ray. There are effects - the winter-storm wind etc. plus the score is by revered Shinichirô Ikebe (Shôhei Imamura's The Eel, Vengeance is Mine and his The Ballad of Narayama, as well as Kurosaw's Rhapsody in August, Maadadayo and Kagemusha to name a few of his credits.) and, it too, carries depth matching the succulent video in every sequence. Augmenting the score is In the Village (from "Caucasian Sketches, Suite for Orchestra Op. 10, No. 2") by Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov performed by Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prelude Op. 28, No. 15 by Chopin (in"Crows") and Etenraku in "The Peach Orchard" performed by "Hidamaro Konoe". It sounds exceptional in the lossless. The disc offers optional English subtitles - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide. The included Blu-ray with the feature and extras, is Region 'A' + 'B'-locked (I've yet to see a region 'C'-locked BD.)

The 4K UHD disc - has the Prince commentary and a trailer. As discussed, the second disc Blu-ray is from 2016 and we can repeat comments from our review from 7-years ago: "Wonderful audio commentary featuring film scholar Stephen Prince - he's as professional, and a shade 'dry', as always and delves into many aspect of the production as well as Kurosawa. I found it rewarding. The Making of “Dreams” (1990), is a 150-minute documentary shot on set and directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi (House). It's a very complete documentary with plenty of input from Akira Kurosawa and so much behind-the-scenes footage - shot over 2-years - and, for that alone, is highly interesting. It is in Japanese with English subtitles and the quality varies. Criterion produce a new interview with production manager Teruyo Nogami - for over 17-minutes - she worked closely with Kurosawa as his script supervisor for more than 40 years. In this interview she recalls her relationship with the great director and the difficult process of bringing Dreams to fruition. We also get a new, 16-minute, interview with assistant director Takashi Koizumi who worked alongside Kurosawa on the filmmakers last 5 films. Kurosawa’s Way (2011), is a fifty-minute documentary by Kurosawa’s longtime translator Catherine Cadou, who interviews 11 major film directors on how Kurosawa films have influenced their own work including Bernardo Bertolucci, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Martin Scorsese, Hayao Miyazaki, Scorsese (who also discusses playing the role of Vincent van Gough in Dreams) and others. There is also a trailer and the package contains a liner notes booklet featuring an essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri and Kurosawa’s script for a never-filmed ninth dream, introduced by Nogami."

Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams is described as a 'magical realist anthology film'. Indeed. Dreams, in its eight mythic vignettes - "Sunshine Through the Rain" (Kurosawa built an replica of his childhood home), "The Peach Orchard", "The Blizzard", "The Tunnel", "Crows", "Mount Fuji in Red", "The Weeping Demon" and "Village of the Watermills" - addresses themes such as (Wikipedia) 'childhood, spirituality, art, death, and mistakes and transgressions made by humans against nature'. There is not much to state, I mean Vincent van Gogh is portrayed by Martin Scorsese. I love "Crows" and "The Tunnel". Criterion's 4K UHD release is, easily, the best Home Theatre presentation of the one of the more visual arresting films in international cinema. Despite the lack of new extras - this is absolutely a must-own , imo.  

Gary Tooze