Also available in the UK, on Blu-ray from Arrow, a week later:

Arrow

Region FREE - Blu-ray

Average Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4- AVC

Arrow

Region FREE - Blu-ray

Edition Details:

• Trailer (1:29).

Keep Case

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by director Takashi Miike (Japanese with Eng subs or translated)

• Audio commentary by Tom Mes
* The Making of the Katakuris - An original documentary from the film's production featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage with the cast and crew (30:42)
* Interviews with the Katakuris cast members Kenji Sawada (5:00), Keiko Matsuzaka (2:48), Kiyoshiro Imawano + Shinji Takeda (4:28), Naomi Nishida (2:19), Tetsuro Tanba (4:04) and Miike (38:59) (Archive - 5:03)
* Animating the Katakuris - A look at the creation of the film's stop motion effects with animation director Hideki Kimura and Miike (5:03)

* Dogs, Pimps and Agitators - a visual essay by Tom Mes on Miike (23:51)
* Trailer and TV Spots (1:45 + :20)
* Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil
* 40-page Booklet with new writing on the film by author Johnny Mains; Stuart Galbraith IV on Katakuris' star musicians Kenji Sawada and Kiyoshiro Imawano; Grady Hendrix on Katakuris and The Quiet Family, the film it remade; and a re-printed interview with Miike conducted by Sean Axmaker, illustrated with original stills.
 

ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray (June 2015):  The Arrow is really Region 'A + B' but I've yet to see a region 'C'-locked Blu-ray so let's just consider this region FREE. In the static captures the Arrow doesn't dominate over the best SD (the Chimera/Ventura) but the 1080P resolution looks better in-motion and has no compression artifacts - for such a visual film the HD is the way to watch it. It's a little flat but colors are tight (grass looks vibrant!). It's dual-layered with a very high bitrate and I believe it is the best it will look on digital.

Regarding differences in the US and UK Blu's -I suspect it as Michael Brooke informed us on Facebook about Day of Anger: 'As the producer of Arrow's release, I can confirm first hand that the UK and US discs are absolutely identical: we only paid for one master, so there's no doubt about this at all! Which means that no matter which package you buy, the discs will play in any Region A or B setup (or Region 1 or 2 for DVD - and in the latter case the video standard is NTSC, to maximise compatibility). The booklets are also identical, but there are minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos.'

Audio is lossless (linear PCM 2.0 channel) and the score by Kôji Endô and Kôji Makaino (Audition) benefits from the transfer and all sounds and effects are pretty crisp. There are optional English subtitles.

Arrow load the extras with the previously heard audio commentary by director Takashi Miike and offer it is original Japanese language with optional English subs or a translated dialogue version that loses nothing in translation. What is a big bonues is a new commentary by Tom Mes (author of The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film) who delves very deeply in The Happiness of the Katakuris and its independent-minded director. There is also a 1/2 hour Making of the Katakuris - an original documentary from the film's production featuring interviews and behind-the-scenes footage with the cast and crew plus over an hour's worth of interviews with the Katakuris cast members Kenji Sawada, Keiko Matsuzaka, Kiyoshiro Imawano + Shinji Takeda together, Naomi Nishida, Tetsuro Tanba and two with Miike (2015 and archive). We also get Animating the Katakuris - a look at the creation of the film's stop motion effects with animation director Hideki Kimura and Miike and a wonderful visual essay by Tom Mes, entitled Dogs, Pimps and Agitators - basically about Miike and running shy of 25-minutes. There is a trailer and TV Spots plus the package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil containing a 40 page bboklet with new writing on the film by author Johnny Mains; Stuart Galbraith IV on Katakuris' star musicians Kenji Sawada and Kiyoshiro Imawano; Grady Hendrix on Katakuris and The Quiet Family, the film it remade; and a re-printed interview with Miike conducted by Sean Axmaker, illustrated with original stills. Plus the Dual Format set has a DVD of the Feature (NTSC in the US and in the UK!).

Another impressive release from Arrow who keep rising to the occasion with their complete packages of enjoyable and non-mainstream cinema. Bravo!... and this is Blu-ray strongly recommended!

***

ON THE DVDs (2003): Easy one - The Chimera/Ventura release has better sound, picture and extras. The Fortex version is also cropped on all 4 sides. There is also an overabundance of red in the Fortex image and it is no where near s sharp as the The Chimera/Ventura release.