ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - May 17': There is quite a difference between the 2012 Masters of Cinema 1080P and the new Criterion 4K restoration transfer. The Criterion starts with a screen that says "Restored by The Film Foundation and KADOKAWA Corporation at Cineric, Inc. in New York. Special thanks to Masahiro Miyajima and Martin Scorsese for their consultation" and this Blu-ray is advertised as a "New 4K digital restoration". The Criterion has far less in the way of scratches as compared to the UK transfer, it is also darker and cropped on the left, top and bottom edges. Beside it, at times, the Masters of Cinema visuals looks waxy. The Criterion 4K restoration is significantly tighter with richer, deeper, black levels and impressively layered contrast. It is in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio. Despite the cropping - it is the winner in terms of video image looking brilliant in-motion as well as superior in the, expanded, static captures below.

Criterion also win in the audio with a linear PCM mono track in the original Japanese - but at 24-bit, as opposed to MoC's 16-bit. The music in the film is credited to Fumio Hayasaka (Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Ikiru), Tamekichi Mochizuki (Sansho the Bailiff, An Actor's Revenge) and Ichirô Saitô (The Life of Oharu, Floating Clouds) and sounds authentically flat and a bit tinny. There are optional English subtitles on Criterion's Region 'A'-locked disc.

Extras duplicate Criterion 2-disc DVD package from 2008 with the informative audio commentary by filmmaker, critic, and festival programmer Tony Rayns, a 1/4 hour appreciation of Ugetsu by director Masahiro Shinoda entitled Two Worlds Intertwined, plus 20-minutes of a video interview with Tokuzo Tanaka, first assistant director on Ugetsu, about the making of the film. It is entitled Process and Production. There is a separate 10-minute piece with cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa. There are trailers in both Japanese and Spanish but the big inclusion is the 2.5 hour, documentary by Kaneto Shindo, Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director from 1975. Criterion have it in 1080P with lossy Dolby audio. The package has a liner notes booklet featuring the original short stories on which the film is based—Akinari Ueda’s “The House in the Thicket” and “Lust of the Serpent” and Guy de Maupassant’s “How He Got the Legion of Honor”—and an essay by critic Phillip Lopate.

The Criterion is another step up in a/v with the cleaner 4K restoration and it has the appealing Mizoguchi documentary and other extras. This is highly important cinema and we give this Blu-ray package our highest recommendation! It should be on every cinephile's shelf... buy with extreme pleasure.

***

ADDITION Masters of Cinema Blu-ray - April 2012: Not  much to address - we get a Mizoguchi classic in hi-def courtesy of MoC! The improved resolution is a significant improvement in-motion - the image is brighter, more detailed via the layered contrast - it shows a shade more information in the frame. Audio gets the HD-bump and ratchets up a notch closer to purity. Optional subtitles are at MoC's usual high standard.

On the supplements they have included Mizoguchi’s Oyu-sama in 1080P plus the Rayns discussions on both films (see below). There is also the included booklet. The Dual-format package also contains a DVD of the feature.

This film always floors me - and it have it in such a wonderful Blu-ray package makes it a true keepsake for the digital library. We rate this 'Essential'.

***

ADDITION: Masters of Cinema (2-disc) - April 08': The Criterion was prior to their days of pictureboxing and shows marginal improvement, in the image, over the new Masters of Cinema Ugetsu Monogatari. This is mostly apparent in terms of the (boosted) black levels and lighter damage marks. Frankly, the differences are there but I don't consider them overt. Bottom line is the Criterion appears slightly cleaner and gives the appearance of being minutely sharper. The extras for Ugetsu obviously lean towards Criterion with the Rayns commentary and the 2.5 hour documentary Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director on their second disc.

Not unlike the respective Sansho the Bailiff releases, MoC have gone a different, but very appreciated, route. They have included another Mizoguchi film - the brilliant 1951 love-triangle melodrama Oyû-sama as part of their package. It looks very acceptable image-wise with minimal damage and excellent subtitles (see image captures at very bottom). Along with both films MoC have included video discussions from the reliable expert Tony Rayns (about 9 minutes and 13 minutes respectively). As per their custom - a scholarly book is included (64-pages) - this time featuring writing by Keiko I. McDonald (author of Mizoguchi and editor of Ugetsu) and award-winning translations of Ueda Akinari’s The Reed-Choked House and A Serpent’s Lust, tales adapted by Mizoguchi in Ugetsu Monogatari. My only complaint would be that the font is somewhat small (and my eyes are not what they used to be). It has photos and color posters as the cover. I have enjoyed what I have read so far.

Personally, I am content owning both - but if I was forced to choose one I would lean toward the MoC with the inclusion of Oyû-sama which I was quite struck with in my first viewing. For Mizoguchi fans I see no option but to own both. Ugetsu is too important and the Criterion package is definitive, but MoC are offering yet another Mizoguchi masterpiece. It seems only a short time ago my ListServ were lamenting the lack of Mizoguchi on DVD.  It is ecstasy indeed to be a Japanese cinema fan these past few years. We can see how far we have come from the analog, bare-bones Bo-Ying of 2004. I, for one, am immensely appreciative of MoC's fine work in presenting us with these immortal classics. I'll be buying a second copy (beyond my free screener) to continue to support their projects. I encourage fans, who can, to do so as well.

NOTE: The MoC Ugetsu appears to run longer via the bitrate info as immediately following the 'end' (no credits) is an interlaced trailer.      

****

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 1 - Oct 05':  The Criterion includes the 2.5 hour documentary Kenji Mizoguchi: The Life of a Film Director on the second disc. We have reviewed the Asmik Ace edition of the same documentary HERE. It is great addition to the Criterion package.

The Bo Ying image has been obviously boosted and it looks even more prominent next to the stellar Criterion. The more muted contrast of the Criterion does show its superior sharpness to a strong degree, but it also has a tendency to make scratches more visible. Actually I noticed them most at the beginning of the film (especially the title sequence and credits) and, although there is some minor flickering after, it settles to be an extremely consistent and beautiful image thereafter. In an unusual surprise it is the Bo Ying that suffers from some minor cropping - mostly on the top and left edge. One of the many big differences between these two presentations are the vast improvement of the Criterion subtitle translations.

Although I was prepared for a rather dry commentary - Tony Rayns' audio accompaniment is fabulous - one of the best I can recall from this year. He touches on the film and a lot about Mizoguchi - sometimes very intellectual and formal but a wealth of key information. Great preparation and great delivery.

Pricing - the Boy Ying is only $3.99 US now but, of course, we still recommend the Criterion which somehow has maintained a relatively reasonable price (Pre-order from Amazon at $27.97) with a second disc feature and stunning booklet plus better image, subtitles and extras. A fabulous and classy package from the great Criterion - an easy must-own purchase for any true cinema fan.

***

Bo Ying - Region 0 - PAL (2004): As far as DVDBeaver is aware this is presently the only English subtitled DVD of this masterpiece film available anywhere in world. Mizoguchi continues to be the least represented master film director in this digital medium. In this, regarded as his masterpiece film, he explores his major themes of oppression of women and the roles they play in society, the struggling under-class, and avarice.

The DVD appears to be of a decent source and I am not displeased. It has no ghosting or combing that I can see and the bitrate indicates it may very well be progressive. It will, most likely, be eclipsed one day by a Criterion release. Otherwise this is a ridiculously reasonably priced DVD from YesAsia at only $6 and a must-see film for all. Certainly at this point this is the deal of the year!

NOTE: Yes, there are some flaws in the subs ('owen' instead of 'oven' etc.) and the grammar is quite weak. Just be prepared to take a little bad with the good for your $3.99.

Gary W. Tooze