Every version of the film released on home video sounds very rolled-off, both high and low frequencies. As with High and Low, the terrible-looking version on Amazon Prime (through the BFI Player channel) sounds very different.
The first 5 minutes have different takes of dialogue, oddly.
Won't this BFI Player version be the same as what is available on BD from the BFI? Because it too is quite terrible looking.
ReplyDeleteNo - the BFI blu-ray is very different, as indicated above.
DeleteIt's also worth saying that the BFI Player version looks like a bootleg of a bootleg and that next to it the BFI blu-ray looks pristine.
DeleteWhich home video release do you consider to have the best audio overall?
ReplyDeleteWhile all the retail discs are various shades of poor, the BFI DVD is probably the least worst of them.
DeleteThat's a pity. I have the BFI and Criterion BDs, and first Criterion DVD. I guess it then comes down to which has the best video, which is easily the Criterion BD, though it's cropped in relation to the BFI. Criterion's BD has their own 2006 2K restoration, whereas all others have Toho's older HD transfer. Fingers crossed Toho's 2016, 4K restoration eventually gets an English-friendly home video release.
ReplyDeleteI think it's time for an update for this entry, finally. :)
ReplyDelete