Warner

Region 1 - NTSC

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.10 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 8.39 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Warner

Criterion

Criterion Blu-ray

English; Japanese (2.0 Dolby Digital)

DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 2111 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2111
kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Narrations:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2045 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2045 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
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Paul Schrader
• Inside Mishima (10.31)
• Delated scene (1:11)
• Trailer (4:3 / 1:27)
• Cast & Crew
• Production notes
• DVD-9

DVD Release Date: August 7th, 2001
Snap Case

Chapters 34
 

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Optional English and Japanese voice-over narrations, the former by Roy Scheider, the latter by Ken Ogata
• New audio commentary featuring Schrader and producer Alan Poul
• New video interviews with Bailey, producers Tom Luddy and Mata Yamamoto (21:57), composer Philip Glass, and production designer Eiko Ishioka (43:50)
• New video interviews with Mishima biographer John Nathan and friend Donald Richie (26:43)
• New audio interview with coscreenwriter Chieko Schrader (25:51)
• Video interview excerpt featuring Mishima talking about writing (6:14)
• The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima, a 55-minute BBC documentary about the author
• Theatrical trailer
• Liner notes booklet featuring a new essay by critic Kevin Jackson, a piece on the film’s censorship
 

Chapters 28

Chapters 27

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

The Criterion Blu-ray is described as a "New, restored 4K digital transfer of the director’s cut, supervised and approved by director Paul Schrader and cinematographer John Bailey". The Criterion 'director's cut' Blu-ray is brighter, with superior contrast and is a dynamic bump ahead of the SDs. Colors do take a shift and are generally more vibrant and rich in the higher resolution.  Certain scenes have a yellow bias which seems natural. It looks strong in-motion and the distinction of the colors, and higher level of detail may be the biggest attributes as compared to the duller SD visuals.

Audio has DTS-HD Master 2.0 in Japanese and, as advertised "Two alternate English narrations, including one by actor Roy Scheider". It has the impressive score by Philip Glass (Leviathan, Koyaanisqatsi, A Brief History of Time, Kundun, Home, The Illusionist) whihc certainly benefits from the lossless transfer. There are optional English subtitles (see sample) offered on Criterion's Region 'A' Blu-ray disc.

Criterion include the same supplements as on their own 2008 DVD with the audio commentary from 2006 featuring Schrader and producer Alan Poul plus the 2007 and 2008 interviews with Bailey, producers Tom Luddy and Mata Yamamoto, composer Philip Glass, and production designer Eiko Ishioka and with Yukio Mishima biographer John Nathan and friend Donald Richie as well as with coscreenwriter Chieko Schrader, plus the excerpt from 1966 featuring Mishima talking about writing. Also included is the 55-minute The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima documentary from 1985 about the author, a theatrical trailer and the package also has the booklet featuring an essay by critic Kevin Jackson, a piece on the film’s censorship in Japan, and photographs of Ishioka’s sets.

A strong, impacting film. One of the most interesting fictionalized biographies - 'a masterpiece'. I envy thise who can see it for the first time and the new Blu-ray is the optimum way in your home theater. Strongly recommended!   

Gary Tooze

***

The Criterion is being advertised as 'New, restored high-definition digital transfer of the director's cut, supervised and approved by director Paul Schrader and cinematographer John Bailey'. I don't know the nature of their involvement with the transfer but I can quickly tell from looking at the Warner captures (from their August 7, 2001 disc) that the latter has had some boosting with minor edge-enhancement showing - but the most prominent difference may be the artifacts existing in the older DVD edition. Neither seem particularly consistent and this may be due to the existing source print (commentary mentions some digital changes to the Criterion). There are sequences that the old Warner seems to look superior and many others where the Criterion is on top. Personally, I prefer the smoother, somewhat muted Criterion look. Others may differ. The Criterion shows more information in the frame - mostly on the edges and bottom of the screen.

On the audio front Criterion offer optional English and Japanese voice-over narrations, the former by Roy Scheider, the latter by Ken Ogata. Subtitles are optional for the Japanese voice-over narration (and on the English although the translation appears the exact same) and I can't rightly figure how I got the subtitles to show on the top and bottom of the screen (see sample below - presently looking into it). So you can have subtitles when Scheider narrates and they are the same as when Ogata does. Subtitles appear fully removable throughout the film (all dialogue) and, without the messing around that I did, always display on the bottom.

NOTE: the Warner disc claims this

But it is not his voice.

The 2001 Warner disc had a Paul Schrader commentary but this new Criterion edition has a more recently recorded (2006) audio commentary featuring the director and producer Alan Poul. They touch on many subjects and it is very informative. Disc two (dual-layered) has some 2008 video interviews with cinematographer John Bailey, producers Tom Luddy and Mata Yamamoto, composer Philip Glass, and production designer Eiko Ishioka. They are divided under the headings 'Making Mishima' and 'Producing Mishima' and run 45 minutes and 21 minutes respectively. I was very keen on the 26 minute interviews with Mishima biographer John Nathan and friend Donald Richie as they explored the more personal issue of the man. Those interested enough might indulge in the 25 minutes worth of audio (only) interviews with co-screenwriter Chieko Schrader also recorded in 2008. She was a vital cog in the production and has some valuable information to impart. There is a short video interview excerpt featuring Mishima talking about writing (6:14) with Jean Prasteau from a 1966 French television program (MORE from this series can be found on Criterion's Patriotism DVD). Most rewarding is a 55-minute BBC documentary about the author entitled The Strange Case of Yukio Mishima. It features extensive archival footage of Yukio Mishima as well as having interviews with those who knew him. There is a theatrical trailer and beautiful 58-page liner notes booklet with many color photos and featuring a new essay by critic Kevin Jackson, a piece on the film’s censorship.

Both the film and this Criterion DVD releases are a full education. It's a grand and complete DVD package loaded with information. Frankly, I'm not 100% comfortable with this 2-disc set yet and think I need to revisit the narrative and extras in a few weeks - my head is find of swimming with all the information. It's quite a daunting package but one we surely recommend - a true keepsake of a unique and memorable film.   

 -Gary Tooze