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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Akira Kurosawa's Dreams" or "Yume")
Japan 1990
Unfolding in a series of eight mythic vignettes, this late work by Akira Kurosawa was inspired by the beloved director’s own nighttime visions, along with stories from Japanese folklore. In a visually sumptuous journey through the master’s imagination, tales of childlike wonder give way to apocalyptic apparitions: a young boy stumbles on a fox wedding in a forest; a soldier confronts the ghosts of the war dead; a power plant meltdown smothers a seaside landscape in radioactive fumes. Interspersed with reflections on the redemptive power of creation, including a richly textured tribute to Vincent van Gogh (who is played by Martin Scorsese), Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams is both a showcase for its maker’s artistry at its most unbridled and a deeply personal lament for a world at the mercy of human ignorance. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: May 10th 1990 (Cannes Film Festival)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review: Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Criterion Spine # 842 - Region FREE - 4K UHD | |
Runtime | 1:59:44.218 | |
Video |
1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 89,880,644,031 bytesFeature: 88,083,793,920 bytes Video Bitrate: 91.46 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate 4K Ultra HD: |
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Audio |
DTS-HD Master
Audio Japanese 1988 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1988 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 /
48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
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Subtitles | English, None | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion
1.85:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 89,880,644,031 bytesFeature: 88,083,793,920 bytes Video Bitrate: 91.46 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video
Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD disc • Audio commentary featuring film scholar Stephen Prince • Trailer (1:48)
Criterion - Region FREE - Blu-ray Edition Details: • Audio commentary featuring film scholar Stephen Prince• Making of “Dreams” (1990), a 150-minute documentary shot on set and directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi (2:30:40) • Iinterview with production manager Teruyo Nogami (17:23) • Interview with assistant director Takashi Koizumi (16:03) • Kurosawa’s Way (2011), a fifty-minute documentary by Kurosawa’s longtime translator Catherine Cadou, featuring interviews with filmmakers Bernardo Bertolucci, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Martin Scorsese, Hayao Miyazaki, and others (52;10) • Trailer (1:47) • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri and Kurosawa’s script for a never-filmed ninth dream, introduced by Nogami
Transparent 4K Ultra HD Case Chapters 15 |
Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
and
4K UHD
captures were taken directly from the respective
discs.
We compared that
Blu-ray to the 2003 Warner
DVD
HERE. The 2160P is, typically, a semi-tone different - darker with
richer reds, Van Gough blues and yellows, skies etc. The teal-leaning, as
with all colors and black levels, are more pronounced with the higher
resolution - over triple the bitrate and one of the most appealing HD
presentations that I've seen this year.
Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams remains gorgeous and a
leg up on the previous digital editions.
It is likely that the monitor
you are seeing this review is not an
HDR-compatible
display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider
and notably granular range of color and light. Our
capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard
monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more
4K UHD titles in the
future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our
captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of
skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the
4K system at your home. But the
framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by
this simulation representation.
NOTE:
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." |
Menus / Extras
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY and 4K UHD CAPTURE TO SEE IN FULL RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample - Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD
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1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Warner - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Criterion - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Criterion - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Criterion - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Criterion - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Criterion - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Criterion - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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1) Criterion - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Criterion - Region FREE - 4K UHD BOTTOM
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More full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K Ultra HD Captures for Patreon Supporters HERE
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Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Criterion Spine # 842 - Region FREE - 4K UHD |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |