Hopefully, when Criterion makes the Blu-ray version of SEVEN SAMURAI, they will correct the mistake they made on the 2-disc DVD version in regards to chopping-up up the audio commentaries between various persons and presenting only fragmented bits from each commentators. I found this very jarring and it was the only complaint I had with otherwise a superlative HD-transfer DVD set.
I find Stephen Prince’s audio commentaries on Kurosawa’s films as a rare treat. He is my favorite commentator on any film and I find his commentaries to be both entertaining and illuminating. How disappointed was I when I got my 2-disc DVD of Seven Samurai only to discover that I was getting bits and pieces of each commentators, especially Prince’s? It was like being invited to a grand 7-course meal at the finest restaurant in the world only to be served soggy burgers and fries… I don’t know what Criterion was thinking when they came to this decision, perhaps all these commentators wanted to do Seven Samurai (and who can blame them?) and Criterion couldn’t turn them down.
Hopefully, with the size capacity of Blu-ray, they can go back and re-do the audio commentaries and place full-length audio commentaries of everyone, especially Stephen Prince’s. If not, do a 2-disc Blu-ray of Seven Samurai and put all the extras, including the documentaries, on the second disc.
Jae
Hopefully, when Criterion makes the Blu-ray version of SEVEN SAMURAI, they will correct the mistake they made on the 2-disc DVD version in regards to chopping-up up the audio commentaries between various persons and presenting only fragmented bits from each commentators. I found this very jarring and it was the only complaint I had with otherwise a superlative HD-transfer DVD set.
I find Stephen Prince’s audio commentaries on Kurosawa’s films as a rare treat. He is my favorite commentator on any film and I find his commentaries to be both entertaining and illuminating. How disappointed was I when I got my 2-disc DVD of Seven Samurai only to discover that I was getting bits and pieces of each commentators, especially Prince’s? It was like being invited to a grand 7-course meal at the finest restaurant in the world only to be served soggy burgers and fries… I don’t know what Criterion was thinking when they came to this decision, perhaps all these commentators wanted to do Seven Samurai (and who can blame them?) and Criterion couldn’t turn them down.
Hopefully, with the size capacity of Blu-ray, they can go back and re-do the audio commentaries and place full-length audio commentaries of everyone, especially Stephen Prince’s. If not, do a 2-disc Blu-ray of Seven Samurai and put all the extras, including the documentaries, on the second disc.
I can only hope Criterion will listen.