| Picture: All films in this collection are in their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. They all also suffer from scratching and film grain issues, but nothing that reduces the overall enjoyment of the movies. The subtitles are burned-in to the picture and cannot be removed. A lot of people will want to know how they stand-up when compared to the Criterion versions of this Trilogy. Having only Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto to compare with, I can say that The First Samurai: Book of Five Rings Collection stands up well. The films colors often seem brighter on the Crash Cinema version, but the nighttime scenes also appear darker than normal. Both versions have a fair amount of wear and tear on them, so the bottom line really is that you get what you pay for.
Sound: All films in this collection are in Dolby Digital Mono 2.0. These films are in Japanese, but the dialogue sounds very clear. The music score did suffer a little but that is due to the general upkeep of the films themselves.
Extras: The only extra included in this three-disc set is a short B&W documentary on how a Samurai sword (Katana) is made.
Conclusion: Wow, it's not often that a bargain priced title can match up with a Criterion release and win, but I feel that The First Samurai: Book of Five Rings Collection is definitely one to get. Many Criterion cultists will probably disagree with my recommendation, but they will have the Samurai Trilogy in their collections already. For those that have been on the fence about these titles, this is the perfect opportunity to pick them up in a cost effective manner. The movies could have benefited from some minor restoration like the Criterion Collection has done, but at least they're in their original aspect ratios and provide a lot of entertainment value for the money. |
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