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so, the release delay wasn't to incorporate the newly discovered stereo tracks of the first two films?

nor obviously to announce these as blu. ](*,)

I thought the delay was because they had discovered the tracks for the last film. I don't remember a mention of the first parts.

Stop the presses! Human Condition parts 5 & 6 stereo tracks discovered! Street date moves to 9/8/09

From Criterion Twitter. Nothing about the previous parts.

My complete mistake. Sorry about that.

HTF - the reviewer didn't seem that impressed with the soundtracks.

htdm wrote:HTF - the reviewer didn't seem that impressed with the soundtracks.

But he says it's 'imminently watchable'. So I shall be watching. Imminently.

The soundtracks were quite tinny when I saw the films at SIFF cinema last year, which I assumed was the theater's fault, but it didn't take away too much from the show. I found it a profoundly moving experience. I can't wait for the box to arrive so I can revisit!

htdm wrote:HTF - the reviewer didn't seem that impressed with the soundtracks.

They're not that bad. The mono tracks are average, a little flat, but the surround track for the last film is a little sharper and the stereo effects are quite good (the surrounds only have some subtle effects.) He's right about the voices, though. When I was watching it it did sound a little odd at first and it took me a second to realize what the track was doing, which was spreading the voices between all three front speakers. It's a little odd at first but it becomes unnoticeable after a bit.

I had only seen the first film before and now after seeing just about the whole thing (I still have an hour to go) I must say that the film would make for a great drinking game, where one would take a shot every time someone gets slapped. Even if you make it through the first film you'll be toast 10-15 minutes into the second film.

I must say that the film would make for a great drinking game, where one would take a shot every time someone gets slapped. Even if you make it through the first film you'll be toast 10-15 minutes into the second film.

That doesn't make the film sound too promising. I already feel like I'm making an exception for this film (since I don't like Kobayashi too much to begin with) so reading that it's apparently bleakly melodramatic, which is what I gathered from the slapping, is a bit disheartening. I guess I'm still looking forward to this, but I am a bit apprehensive.

Question for Europeans: What internet shop is the best one to buy The Human Condition (or other Criterion boxsets)? I want to avoid customs taxes, so the shop had to be in a EU country.

T99 wrote:Question for Europeans: What internet shop is the best one to buy The Human Condition (or other Criterion boxsets)? I want to avoid customs taxes, so the shop had to be in a EU country.

axelmusic

As a serious admirer of Japanese cinema, owning more than 200 Japanese DVDs and with more than a dozen Japanese stamps in my passport (I mention this just for context to illustrate my interest in the country and its culture), I really must say, having spent the weekend with the new CC package, that The Human Condition is the most overrated Japanese film that I have ever seen. What was said in ten hours could have been said in two. Tiresome, tedious, melodramatic and poorly acted.

LairdWilcox wrote:I think The Human Condition should have at least one commentary tract and I'm disappointed that it doesn't. Had I realized this I probably wouldn't have ordered it. My mistake for not reading more carefully. Seven Samurai's two tracks are excellent and it adds emmensely to the movie, along with the other extras. Mainly, I buy Criterion for the extras which are usually well worth it. I sometimes wish they'd listen to their customers more.

Do you realize how extraordinarily difficult it would be for a person to talk continuously for that many hours about a single work of art... a single work of many parts notwithstanding. Seven Samurai isn't an apt comparison as it's quite a bit shorter, and the influence, legend, and set-pieces of that film all make it quite do-able in the commentary dept.

LairdWilcox wrote:I think The Human Condition should have at least one commentary tract and I'm disappointed that it doesn't. Had I realized this I probably wouldn't have ordered it.

Why are a handful of people always screaming murder when a DVD doesn't come with an audio commentary? Fair enough if you prefer this over a documentary or a video essay like Tag Gallagher's on Second Sight's Max Ophuls' releases, but to regret ordering The Human Condition because Criterion decided not to record a commentary? Doesn't it matter that the film is finally released in the currently best possible condition (barring a 1080p Blu-Ray upgrade?), considering also how long Criterion have planned to release this, and that it's been one of the most anticipated releases not just of this year but in Criterion's history? If you can find a critic/scholars who has got enough interesting things to say for up to 10 hours straight, let us know. Even if Criterion had approached three of them to cover a part each, it is rather unlikely that there would not have been some overlap.

"at least one commentary track". So that implies more than one commentary track. On HUMAN CONDITION?

The commentator could have filled the hours by spacing out the words to a rate of about one word every four seconds, just like John Cage did with the shortest written pieces used in Indeterminacy.

Matango wrote:The Human Condition is the most overrated Japanese film that I have ever seen. What was said in ten hours could have been said in two. Tiresome, tedious, melodramatic and poorly acted.

=D>

Matango wrote:The Human Condition is the most overrated Japanese film

It is clear that you dislike "The Human Condition" but how can it be overrated ? How can a film be over or under rated?

Uh, a film can be highly rated by many without justification, and conversely, a film can also be poorly rated by many without justification. Thus, a film can be overrated or underrated based on how an individual perceives its success or failure. You can roll your eyes all you want, but unless this is your second day on this planet we call Earth, there's no excuse for acting like these are new concepts

Nothing wrote:

Matango wrote:The Human Condition is the most overrated Japanese film that I have ever seen. What was said in ten hours could have been said in two. Tiresome, tedious, melodramatic and poorly acted.

I used to think this was one of the best films I've ever seen, but these two reasoned and well thought-out critiques have convinced me otherwise.

I love how the people who get mad over glib negative statements never complain about the glib positive ones

Speak for yourself.