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Region 4 Winners and Losers

Region 4 Winners and Losers

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Explanatory Notes
Additions or corrections (Please refer to the Explanatory Notes before emailing an addition or correction to this listing)
Title Best
Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai)R4

    This movie has only been released by the Criterion Collection in Region 1. They have released it twice, because there was a problem with an extra that showed an example of the restoration work (that extra was deleted, and the version containing it cannot be purchased new — I have the second version).

    This is an interesting comparison. The Criterion disc has a commentary (five points to the R1), but it is not by the director (take off two points) — it's by a film historian and specialist in Japanese cinema, Michael Jeck. It's a good commentary, and he is filled with enthusiasm. He doesn't talk in dry film historian terms — he is an accomplished speaker, and makes his imparting of information both lively and interesting (OK, he can have the two points back again). Unfortunately, this commentary was recorded exclusively for Criterion, so it isn't too surprising that it is not included on the Region 4 disc.

    The Criterion disc also has a "booklet" (same size, different content, roughly equivalent).

    The Region 4 disc has both a 5.1 and a 2.0 soundtrack, while both the soundtrack and the commentary on the Criterion disc are Dolby Digital 1.0. However, the Region 4 soundtracks both contain mono sound. (no points awarded).

    The real crunch comes when comparing the video. The Criterion disc, surprisingly, is harsh and contrasty, in places over-bright, and generally harder on the eyes than the Region 4 (take off twenty points!). I strongly prefer the slightly softer, but clearer, Region 4 transfer, with its more natural contrast and brightness.

    This is tough. If all you want is the movie (and a great movie it is), then definitely get the Region 4 disc. If you want to know more about the movie, then get the Criterion disc, but get it in addition to the Region 4.