The Hidden Fortress (#116) (Criterion Collection)[USA]

[Horhay]

Release Date: March 18, 2014
Purchase: Amazon

Japan
1958
139 minutes
Black and White
2.35:1
Japanese

A grand-scale adventure as only Akira Kurosawa could make one, The Hidden Fortress stars the inimitable Toshiro Mifune as a general charged with guarding his defeated clan’s princess (a fierce Misa Uehara) as the two smuggle royal treasure across hostile territory. Accompanying them are a pair of bumbling, conniving peasants who may or may not be their friends. This rip-roaring ride is among the director’s most beloved films and was a primary influence on George Lucas’s Star Wars. The Hidden Fortress delivers Kurosawa’s trademark deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action, and compassionate humanity.

Disc Features:

1. New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
2. Alternate 5.1 surround soundtrack preserving the original Perspecta simulated stereo effects, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio on the Blu-ray
3. New audio commentary by film historian Stephen Prince, author of The Warrior’s Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa
4. Documentary from 2003 on the making of the film, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
5. Interview from 2001 with filmmaker George Lucas about Kurosawa
6. Trailer
7. New English subtitle translation
8. One Blu-ray and one DVD, with all content available in both formats
9. PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film scholar Catherine Russell

 

[Horhay]

Purchase link added.

 

[PunkNinja]

Star Wars fans should purchase this Kurosawa masterpiece.

 

[Horhay]

only thing holding me back from buying Kurosawa's films is the hope that Criterion releases a set someday with all BDs

 

[PunkNinja]

only thing holding me back from buying Kurosawa's films is the hope that Criterion releases a set someday with all BDs

That would be awesome, BD version of AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa

 

[Horhay]

Yup, I've seen that in person and it's a fantastic set. So I am just going to sit back and be patient, if it was done for Zatoichi, I don't see why it can't be done for Akira Kurosawa's movies. So I am going to play the waiting game.

 

[skylog]

Yup, I've seen that in person and it's a fantastic set. So I am just going to sit back and be patient, if it was done for Zatoichi, I don't see why it can't be done for Akira Kurosawa's movies. So I am going to play the waiting game.

i am envious of your patience. i can only imagine how truly amazing that set would be, but i simply can not wait that long (especially if it never comes to be). that said, i had little exposure to kurosawa before blu's several were available, so perhaps that is where my impatience comes from.