8.5 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.6 |
An aging couple journey to visit their grown children in bustling postwar Tokyo.
Starring: Chishû Ryû, Chieko Higashiyama, Setsuko Hara, Haruko Sugimura, Sô YamamuraForeign | 100% |
Drama | 96% |
Melodrama | 3% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Japanese: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (1 BD, 2 DVDs)
DVD copy
Region A (locked)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu's "Tôkyô monogatari" a.k.a. "Tokyo Story" (1953) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer; documentary film produced by Shochiku; documentary film directed by Kazuo Inoue; audio commentary with David Desser, editor of Ozu's "Tokyo Story"; and more. The release also arrives with an illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic David Bordwell. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Shukishi and Tomi
Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story arrives on
Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.
The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:
"This new digital transfer was created in 4K resolution on an IMAGER XE scanner from a new 35mm interpositive. The original negative no
longer exists, so the new interpositive created for scanning was made from the internegative, the most original film element available. The
restoration project was undertaken by Shochiku Co., Ltd., and performed by Imagica Corp. and Imagica West Corp. in Japan, which received
additional support in the restoration process from Reliance MediaWorks in India.
Transfer supervisors: Masashi Chikamori, Takashi Kawamata.
Colorists: Osamu Iseki, Seiji Saito."
The areas that have benefited the most from the new 4K digital restoration of Tokyo Story are image and contrast stability. For
example, the various frame transition issues that are present on BFI's release are now either partially or fully addressed. Some of the extremely light edge shimmer is also
eliminated. Though contrast stability was not a serious issue on the BFI release, it is now also clearly better. Sharpness levels have also been
rebalanced. Blacks and whites have been toned down and rebalanced as well, while the grays appear better exposed. Surface noise has been
carefully removed, but grain has been retained as best as possible. There are areas where the grain is somewhat uneven, causing some
scenes to appear slightly softer, but image depth and stability remain pleasing. Problematic sharpening adjustments have not been performed.
Finally, the film now looks notably healthier. Indeed, virtually all of the flecks and small scratches that appear on the BFI release have been
removed. To sum it all up, I think that three years after the BFI release, the new digital restoration of Tokyo Story offers some
important improvements in image quality that clearly make Criterion's release the better option for collectors and casual fans of the film.
(Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to
access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Japanese LPCM 1.0. For the record, Criterion have provided optional English
subtitles for the main feature.
Clarity and depth are pleasing. Some additional stabilizations appear to have been performed and the background hiss present on the BFI
release toned down. As a result, the audio is now better rounded and overall better balanced. For the record, there are no serious distortions or
audio dropouts to report in this review. The English translation is very good.
Folks who have been patiently waiting for Criterion to upgrade their DVD release of Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story after the BFI released it in the United Kingdom will be pleased with the studio's upcoming Blu-ray release. The new 4K digital restoration provides some important improvements in quality that clearly make Criterion's release the better option. As expected, all of the supplemental features from the DVD release have also been transferred to the Blu-ray release. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
一人息子
1936
晩春
1949
麥秋
1951
彼岸花
1958
秋刀魚の味
1962
秋日和
1960
お早よう / Includes: I Was Born, But... and A Straightforward Boy
1959
一一
2000
父ありき
1942
早春
1956
歩いても 歩いても / Aruitemo aruitemo
2008
長屋紳士録
1947
生きる
1952
東京暮色
1957
山椒大夫 / Sanshô dayû
1954
1966
浮草
1959
切腹 / Seppuku
1962
Ladri di biciclette
1948
西鶴一代女 / Saikaku ichidai onna
1952