Columbo - Japanese BD Boxset

Columbo Complete Blu-ray Box



Publisher: Geneon Universal
Release date: Dec. 2, 2011
Cat# GNXF-1245
Region code: ALL
35 discs (dual-layer & single-layer mixed)
Total running time: 5984 mins
AR: 4:3 / partially 16:9 (more on this later)

Audio:

• English Mono (partially 2.0)
• Japanese Mono (partially 2.0)

Subtitles:

• Japanese
• English
• Japanese for dubbs

All 69 episodes of Columbo in one "cigar case" packaging (like 2009 UK DVD boxset)
The world's first BD release of Columbo.
New HD master.

Extras:        

• The NBC Mystery Movie opening (In Japan, the title music is known as Theme of Columbo because it's not used in other series)
• Shorter 75 mins version of Etude in Black (reportedly the screenwriters' preferred version)
• Music-and-effects only track on selected episodes
• 44-page booklet (mainly episode guide).
• For initial press only: Reproduction of Japanese dubb script of  Prescription: Murder (124 pages)

For Japanese fans, this may be the definitive Columbo set,
as it contains all episodes (including the ones after 1989 which were not even released on DVD in Japan),
and multiple Japanese dub tracks featuring different voice cast (very important for Japanese fans).

However, it seems there is a controversy among fans about AR of later episodes which is 16:9, not 4:3.
I thought all episodes were shot and aired in 4:3. If they cropped the picture it's very disappointing.

I haven't purchased it myself, though.



UK DVD sets: