NOTE: We will discuss the transfers based on the three 'parts' on three DVDs rather than '6-parts' as it is sometimes referred.

ON THE IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT DVDS: The dual-layered, region FREE, Image Entertainment discs are fraught with undesirable qualities. The original 2.35:1 aspect ratios are compromised on all three. They also have a tendency to appear vertically stretched. The English subtitles, which have some infrequent typos, are burned-in. Compared to the Criterion translations the 1999 DVD subtitles contain some paraphrasing. The film information exists in a letterboxed-widescreen transfer and is positioned much higher in the 1.33 DVD frame with the subs shown on the lower matte. None of the three are anamorphic nor are any progressively transferred. All three display combing artifacts but the last 2 DVDs exhibit this interlacing weakness quite heavily. The third segment, often referred to as A Soldier's Prayer, on the Image Entertainment DVD is either missing 4.5 minutes or partially taken from a PAL source. The transfers don't appear to have any restoration and have frequent speckles, dirt, and damage marks. The Image discs have been offered for ridiculous prices in online auctions and even 3rd party sellers at Amazon going for a high as $100 per disc.

The Criterion DVDs: The Criterion package consists of 4 discs - 3 dual-layered DVDs containing the films and a single-layered 4th disc housing some supplements. There is also a 12-page liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Philip Kemp. The high-definition digital transfers were created from new 35mm prints struck from the original negatives. Each are presented in the original 2.35 aspect ratio, anamorphically enhanced and progressively transferred. It's apparent that some digital restoration has occurred as contrast levels swing more prominently than usual for a Criterion release. The new issue is often brighter, as well as more detailed. Many sections make the Image Entertainment transfers appear cropped usually on top and side edges. In short - the Criterion DVDs look great. These are still SD-DVDs and noise invariably exists. There is some contrast flickering (usually more in the beginning of the film sections) and repaired damage leaves the previous imperfections barely evident.  A Soldier's Prayer seems to have been the most problematic running marginally less smoothly than the other 2. Truly, I envy people who get to see The Human Condition for the first time, with this Criterion set, looking remarkably better than I did with the Image discs. It's quite a huge difference - almost a whole new viewing experience. Telecine supervisors Lee Kline and Russell Smith appear to have overcome a lot in creating these transfers that are probably less recognizable from sources used from decade old DVDs. This is a remarkable, and at times draining, achievement in film and we should be thankful for their Criterion package. The new transfers are imperfect but are still a cinephile dream come true.    

AUDIO: Sound quality goes the way of Criterion. The Image discs were, expectantly filled with weak 2.0 channel audio rife with pops, hiss and inconsistencies. For the first 2 DVDs - the Criterion have monaural audio which is fiat but clear and consistent being remastered at 24-bits from the 35mm optical soundtrack print. Part 5-6 on the third DVD have original an 4.0 channel audio track which explains its more buoyant sound. The Criterion obviously have optional English subtitles.

There are some liner notes by Bruce Eder on the back cover of the snapper case on the Image Entertainment DVDs. There are no digital supplements whatsoever on the three 1999 discs.

Supplements on the Criterion: The film is far too long (9.5 hours in total) for a full-length commentary to be viable. The 6 parts of The Human Condition - on the three dual-layered DVDs don't share the feature's disc space with any supplemental information. The 4th disc of the package though has three sections all in Japanese with optional English subtitles. Under 'Masaki Kobayashi' there is a 14-minute excerpt from a rare 1993 Directors Guild of Japan video interview with the director conducted by longtime Kobayashi admirer filmmaker Masahiro Shinoda (Double Suicide). It was conducted at Tokyo's Haiyuza Theater. Following the menu item for 'Tatsuya Nakadai' - we get an 18-minute, 2009, video interview with actor Tatsuya Nakadai who discusses his landmark role as Kaji in The Human Condition. Under the 'Masahiro Shinoda' tab we get a 25-minute 'video appreciation', from 2009, of Kobayashi and The Human Condition by filmmaker Shinoda who shares his observations on The Human Condition and director Masaki Kobayashi. Also included digitally are 3 Japanese theatrical trailers. Finally there is a 12-page liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Philip Kemp.

My words are wholly inefficient to express the enormous value of this film. This Criterion package should receive extensive votes for best DVD release at our year end poll. It remains one of the most impressive films I've ever seen and, if I said it before, then I must have been mistaken - this is the easiest recommendation of the year.