Linda Linda Linda (Nobuhiro Yamashita, 2005)

[crickinmyneck]

Playing in the US now in a 4k "restoration" (I don't know what was wrong with it to begin with, though the subs are now marked to show when Korean is spoken), with apparent intent for Blu-ray to follow.

[Michael Kerpan]

Well, the very beginning was really grainy with terrible color.....

I never have seen this screened -- only on DVD (starting with the unsubbed Japanese one). Looking forward to seeing it on screen and on bluray....

[Peacock]

Blu-ray by whom? Big news!

[Finch]

GKIDS, I think.

[crickinmyneck]

Apart from the DVD I've had a rip for years from Japanese television that looked really nice, and seemingly exactly the same as the 4k apart from the fact that it was 720p. It also had subs that accounted for the Korean aspect, or I found them somewhere.

Being able to replace this and Taste of Tea--which I spent years and much effort finding, eventually, an HD rip for--with proper Blu-ray copies is a huge win for me, especially since Taste has become my favorite film. That DVD was truly bad (though I was lucky enough to see in the theater), even in an otherwise incredible Japanese box set that included full replicas of the flip books the grandfather paints for his family. I'm not sure this adds much to the discussion except to say that this is a truly most welcome event.

[therewillbeblus]

I really enjoyed this. It's not nearly as good as Du côté d'Orouët (what is?) but it has a similar vibe of honing in on minute details of youthful expression without introducing conflicts that dominate the narrative and detract from these moments. The music the band plays is fun, but the score is fantastic - filling the interluding space with whimsical melodies, and setting a mood that is at once tranquil and yet brings an immediacy to the strong and real emotions these young women are experiencing. Its encompassing range very impressive, especially for rarely straying into diverse territory

[Michael Kerpan]

Background music was by Jamesd Iha (former Smashing Pumpkin).

Did Criterion ever release a BluRay of Cote d'Orouet?

[therewillbeblus]

Interesting! And nope

[Michael Kerpan]

Went to see LLL screened for the first time (probably have seen it on DVD at least once a year since it first came out -- starting out with the unsubbed Japanese DVD). This restored version looked and sounded pretty good. But, in one respect, it looked TOO good. The cheesy low-quality videocam documentary bits (at the very start and scattered throughout) originally looked as grotty as one would expect -- and it worked especially at the start. I remember being almost horrified at low-fi opening scene -- and then relieved when we got to see through the REAL movie camera lens. Now one can detect the difference in film/equipment -- but the impact is muted -- these shots now look too "normal". but otherwise, I was quite pleased. Hoping this will finally be the year of LLL and Moving (if the promised BluRay ever does actually get released).

[Jake Gittes]

I remember enjoying it when I watched it over a decade ago and wish I could have seen it on the big screen, if only for their song at the end (just love that moment - drench by rain, a bit of silence, a shy introduction and then, they tear into it. Such exuberance in that performance). Buuut, it never made it here - I guess that's what happens when you live in a crappy mid-sized town.

At least I was able to catch the other GKIDS theatrical remasters this season, and I'll be shooting for Angel's Egg in November.