The Criterion Collection announced they will be releasing Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Yojimbo’ and ‘Sanjuro’ on Blu-ray on March 23rd. These releases are to celebrate the centenary since the birth of this great Japanese Filmmaker. These films can be purchased separate or in a combo pack. This isn’t all the news, Criterion also mentioned that ‘The Seven Samurai’ will be released on Blu-ray late 2010. Check out the details for the first two films.
Disc Features
Yojimbo
- All-new, restored high-definition digital transfer
- Optional Dolby Digital 3.0 soundtrack, preserving the original Perspecta simulated-stereo effects
- Audio commentary by film historian and Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince
- A 45-minute documentary on the making of Yojimbo, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
- Theatrical trailer and teaser
- Stills gallery of behind-the-scenes photos
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Alexander Sesonske and notes from Kurosawa and his cast and crew
Sanjuro
- All-new, restored high-definition digital transfer
- Optional Dolby Digital 3.0 soundtrack, preserving the original Perspecta simulated-stereo effects
- Audio commentary by film historian and Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince
- A 35-minute documentary on the making of Sanjuro, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
- Theatrical trailer and teaser
- Stills gallery of behind-the-scenes photos
- New and improved English subtitle translation
- PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Sragow and notes and statements from Kurosawa and his cast and crew
