After years of owning and watching the Mei Ah edition - I had always concluded that the source must have been in poor shape but Criterion release looks quite strong. The comparison is interesting in that it shows us how far digital SD transfers have come. This is a great film and I'm appreciative of Criterion's vastly improved package.

The Criterion is once again pictureboxed (see our full description of 'pictureboxing' in our Kind Hearts and Coronets review).

The dual-layered, progressive Criterion excels in every area beyond the lackluster, interlaced and overly dark Hong Kong disc - possibly ported from LaserDisc - with the film divided over two sides/single layers (a DVD10).  While detail and colors are far more realistic on the Criterion the Mei Ah, curiously, shows - on occasion -  a tad more information of the left edge. I'll take this minor cropping over the radically boosted HK DVD any day of the week though. The Criterion looked very good on my system giving the film an entirely new and refreshing perspective from the older, blown-out, Mei Ah DVD.  

Audio - comparable to the images - the Mei Ah has hiss and other weaknesses where the Criterion is much improved. Probably more importantly are the subtitles translations - an area where Mei Ah had some notable weaknesses. The Criterion expands the dialogue conversations far beyond the précised, and often inaccurate, Mei Ah.

Aside from the 3-minute theatrical trailer and impressive liner notes booklet - there is only one extra - a 36-minute documentary created as part of the Toho Masterworks series entitled Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create - part of the Toho Masterworks series that we've seen segmented on many Criterion Kurosawa releases. This is worth watching as it includes interviews with director Kurosawa, script supervisor Teruyo Nogami, actor Yoshitaka Zushi (who played Rokkuchan), and other members of the cast and crew. No commentary but kept at the lower price tier and certainly one of the better films I've watched (actually re-watched) this year.

If, like I, you own the Mei Ah - just to have the opportunity to see the film - you may observe for yourself the value of the Criterion image superiority below. It really is another film and a far better way to watch in the comfort of your home theater. The Criterion package represents another 'must-own' in my opinion. As for the Mei Ah - I needed something to put my cup of tea on.  

Gary W. Tooze