Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Chris Malbon [2000 copies]
Presented in 1080p HD from a restoration of the original film elements by Toei
Uncompressed original Japanese Mono audio
Optional English subtitles
New audio commentary by critic Tom Mes
New interview with asian film expert Tony Rayns
New video essay by author and critic Jasper Sharp
Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
A collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Jonathan Clements
The blurb name drops Sonny Chiba and Toshiro Mifune but neither has a major part in the film (Mifune's part is a glorified cameo). The lead really is Kinnosuke Nakamura who's very good as Ako's Chief Councilor. The film reminds me a little of RAN: a lot of build up and intrigue and scheming and double crossing, a stacked ensemble cast, a climatic battle sequence (if on a smaller scale in Fall of Castle Ako) and perhaps a bit too long. The Seventies music that opens the film threw me a bit, feeling incongruous for this film, though after that it has a more period appropriate orchestral score. What I saw must have been an upload of the files from the Shout Factory disc: the English subs were good but occasionally too modern-sounding for the period, and the image was about comparable to the picture quality of Radiance's Yakuza films.