1-disc DVD, 2-disc DVD, 1-disc BD, and 2-disc BD+DVD set.
1-disc editions are basically movie-only (save for some trailers),
and 2-disc editions have the same supplemental DVD.
They were all released on May 11, 2011,
but I recently got BD+DVD edition, as I had waited for the price to be dropped.
And I'm going to write about the product
(I won't review the movie itself as I believe you don't need it.)
Package
Box
What appeared to be the box cover art was merely an advertisement slip.
The actual box looks like a blood-stained old wooden one.
It's actualy cardboard, of course, but it's sturdy and has good texture.
When you touch the surface, the "wood" feels somewhat gritty, while "blood spots" feels slippery, as if they are wet. A nice touch.
The actual box looks like a blood-stained old wooden one.
It's actualy cardboard, of course, but it's sturdy and has good texture.
When you touch the surface, the "wood" feels somewhat gritty, while "blood spots" feels slippery, as if they are wet. A nice touch.
The box houses a digipack, thick paperback book of complete storyboards (the red one, approx. 200 pages), and 16-page full color booklet (which is a miniature reproduction of the press kit).
Digipack
Storybaord
The publisher claims, after the initial pressings run out there will be a spacer included in the same package instead of the book.
But I got it so late and it still had the book. Perhaps they miscalculated the customers' demand.
Booklet
Disc 1 (BD): The Movie
Region code: Not stated (All?)
Running time: 141 mins
Video: CinemaScope
Audio: Japanese dts-HD MA 5.1
Subtitles: Japanese (SDH)
Extras:
- Teaser trailer
- Theatrical trailer
- TV spots
Disc 2 (DVD): Extras
Region code: 2
Video: VistaVision
Audio: Japanese DD Stereo
Subtitles: None
- Making-of (72 mins)
- Premiere screening (17 mins)
- The opening day (10:30)
- Interviews with cast and Miike (total: 51 mins)
- A report from Venice International Film Festival (22 mins)
- Deleted scene: The last fishing (2:10)
Personally, I'm disappointed with the extras of this package.
While it has approx. 190 mins of extras, they are very superficial, and repetitive.
I expected something like they did with Sukiyaki Western Django 3-disc DVD.
But unlike the SWD set this package doesn't offer much information about pre-production/production/post-production, crew, and the project itself.
I don't expect filmmakers and actors talk about the "meaning" or "intentions" of their work. The end result should speak everything.
(In that regard, I think Miike explained too much in the press conference in Venice.)
But I'm curious about the process of filmmaking.
Whose idea was it to do the remake?
Who picked Miike for director and why?
Why Toho? (The original was a Toei movie.)
Did Miike, crew and cast watched the original movie? If so what are their thoughts on the original?
What are the reactions of the surviving people involved in the original?
Unfortunately nothing of these aspects are addressed.
Making-of
The majority of the documentary focused on actors. But even as such, it's thin.
Other than the 13, they only cover Masachika Ichimura (Kitô Hanbei) and Gorô Inagaki (Lord Naritsugu).
No other actors/actresses are interviewed. Some are not even seen anywhere.
(Personally I hoped I could hear something from Kazue Fukiishi as she played two characters in this movie.)
Very few of them tell interesting story on acting or anything.
Almost everyone says "it's great to be in Miike's movie" and "this is going to be a great movie".
The narration keeps praising their dedication, but that's what I expect from any professional.
Premiere screening, the opening day, and interviews
What we hear from actors here are mostly repetitions of what we heard in the previous material.
Venice International Film Festival
Finally we have something worth listening to, thanks to the meaningful questions asked by foreign reporters.
But as I wrote above, I think Miike explained too much. And even misinterpreted.
BTW, one thing embarrassed me in this section was the audience's reaction at the screening.
When the end credits started to roll, they instantly begun applausing, gave standing ovation to Miike and actors sitting behind them. Even the lights were turned on.
Why not wait until the movie is completely over? Why didn't they watch the screen? Some movies have a brief scene after the credits. You may miss it.
It's good to praise filmmakers by clapping and yelling but the best way to respect them is seeing their work as they intended.
Deleted scene
Actually it's more an extended version of the fishing scene early in the movie.To my understanding this is also included in the foreign BD/DVD releases.
Note that US "international version" BD is 125 mins long.
[Jun. 13, 2015: Modified product links according to the changes made by Amazon.com]
