| What a sad experience! This is one of the Kurosawa films I had never been able to see, and perhaps I approached its viewing with far too high expectations. Mei Ah's DVD version is truly a crime! I'm not sure how the transfer (apparently from badly done videotape) could have been worse. Bill Johnson's note for "No Regrets For Our Youth" describes the "motion blurring" exactly, and it is even more irritating than he infers. Also, Mei Ah subtitling always borders on the illiterate, but this one plumbs new depths. Fortunately, I think the acting is broad enough to enable one to follow the story even without any knowledge of Japanese. I wish I had read Mr. Johnson's note prior to buying this film (as well as "No Regrets For Our Youth") This is only worth buying if you MUST see the film and have no other way to get a copy.
This is an important early film by Akira Kurosawa, and it would be wonderful to see a good print. I really would feel guilty selling this DVD. Isn't there anything else available? |
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