We have compared to existing editions (Masters of Cinema's Region 2 NTSC editions of Scandal and The Idiot and the single-layered PAL BFI in the case of I Live in Fear). Specific observations are as follows:

No Regrets for Our Youth has damage issues but presents itself much superior to any other DVD editions I have seen (Mei Ah have put out nearly all of Kurosawa's films on the most deplorable transfers I have seen with ineffectual subtitle translations fraught with grammar and spelling errors). The Eclipse version has plenty of visible scratches but if you look deep enough you can see some grain amongst the speckles. Setsuko Hara's eyes and visage still stir emotional response and her performance is mesmerizing. Overall it has moments of strong quality and some inherent visual weaknesses as well - Criterion have done very little in terms of restoration but their subtitle translation seems professional (as always) and this is the best English-language digital release of this film ever available to my knowledge.

One Wonderful Sunday - this too exhibits damage in many forms but contrast is a notch above No Regrets. It has some definite swings in quality but overall this another thoroughly watchable DVD and I am extremely happy to have seen this unique Kurosawa film and to have it as part of my DVD library. I had never seen it before.

Scandal - the Criterion vaults ahead of the interlaced MoC effort in terms of overall image quality and it also shows more information in all four sides of the frame. The Criterion displays a bit more damage and a more faded greyscale - the MoC has some decent supplements and rich, although possibly boosted, black levels. Criterion's trump card her is value as the price and inclusion of four other Kurosawa films in the boxset points purchasers strongly in their favor.

The Idiot - There seems to be very little difference in the two editions (Criterion and MoC) - and both are NTSC. The Criterion shows a few more speckles but overall I would say the image is a virtual tie but again Masters of Cinema have embellished their package with some good extra features. There are subtle differences in subtitle translation but nothing I could definitely give one an edge over the other - perhaps the Criterion is a bit more literal. For value via price - Criterion again seems to be the package to own.

I Live in Fear - the biggest differences between the older BFI and this new Criterion transfer is that the PAL edition is single-layered and shows more digital artifacts due to inferior compression. They both look fairly strong image-wise and I was impressed with how the Criterion presents the film. They essentially display the same damage marks so we can assume the transfer source is identical. The BFI, like the MoC's, is presently exorbitantly priced (approaching the entire Eclipse package!) and it make the Criterion effort a bona-fide no-brainer to own, and even upgrade if you are in that position.   

Bitrates are very strong ranging in the high 8's for all except The Idiot (languishing at 5.54 MBPS) for some reason.

Aside from one page liner notes for each film (visible on the inner case sleeve through the transparent case cover) there are no supplements. 

The sound is all original Japanese mono and dialogue is clear and quite audible - I noted a couple of instances of pops and drop-outs, but overall it is acceptable considering the age and condition of the films.

Gary W. Tooze