Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[dwk]

I'd love a UHD set of the OOP Teshigahara set, but all 3 of the films are Toho and I'm not sure when/if they'd get around to doing 4K masters of them. He has a small enough filmography (something like 10 features, a tv movie, 2 episodes of the Zatoichi tv show, and 10 or 11 shorts) that I'd love a complete set of work.

Sounds like a perfect candidate for a Radiance “Radical Japan” set, though I doubt we’ll get the Zatoichi TV episodes. (Have all of the Zatoichi TV episodes been released in the US — or anywhere English-friendly? I have a couple of the early sets on DVD. I think there were about 100 episodes overall.)

Media Blasters only released the first season of the Zatoichi TV series on DVD. I think the series is (or was) streaming on Tubi.

As for Radiance, I'm not sure who owns the 6 unreleased titles, but, as I said, the 4 that Criterion has are Toho. I remember Ronin (a sublabel of BCI) had announced a couple of Teshigahara titles for DVD, but BCI killed the label before they were released.

[Blutarsky]

Just saw that Altitude in the UK is releasing a 4K of 24 Hour Party People.

Seeing that the MVD release is no longer in print, and that this has been featured on the channel multiple times, I am curious if Criterion will pick it up for a release? The MVD was flawed (probably due to the limitations of the source material) and I could go for a Factory Records supplement.