Hikaru Hayashi and Onibaba

[Jun-Dai Bates-Kobashigawa]

Unfortunately for you, Criterion's main market is not Europe.  In fact,
Criterion tends to release Japanese films R1-only anyways, due to
licensing agreements.

As for their decision to work on the film, it's probably due to the
availability of the rights, availability of the source materials,
availability of additional materials, relationship with the distributor,
etc.

For the US, the benefit is tremendous.  Only people who like the film are
going to consider buying a Japanese edition of the dvd.  On the other
hand, when Criterion releases it, a few thousand people who haven't seen
the film will get to, including some that had never even heard of it.

If the film is as great as it is reputed to be (I have not seen it), then
there is no reason for Criterion to jump at the chance to release it when
the timing is right.  Given the quality of their last 100 releases, I'm
sure they will do the film as much justice as dvd can offer (which isn't
much, sadly).  I wonder if they will consider adding some special feature
regarding the composer.  If he's alive, it is an invaluable opportunity
for them to get a documentary or interview put together.

yours,
Jun-Dai


On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, Nuzumaki wrote:

> well i just think that there are several other movies which should be
> released with
> subs ... the guys who really want this movie will pay 43.- for the japanese
> dvd.
> anyway criterion isnt that cheap and criterion isnt that good ...
>
> for me living in europe it doesnt matter if i order a criterion (have to pay
> shipping and custom)
> or if i order the R2 release ... no shipping costs and no custom
>
> best reg.
>
> nuzi
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Larson" <pete at bulbrecords.com>
> To: <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 10:55 PM
> Subject: RE: Hikaru Hayashi and Onibaba
>
>
> > Not to beat a dead horse but it looks to me like they average about
> $29.00.
> > And I bought my Kurosawa Criterion disks at the mall here in Adrian, MI
> (pop
> > 20,000) plus the video stores here seem to stock many of them. Maybe I
> live
> > in a Criterion paradise....
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > [mailto:owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu]On Behalf Of Boum
> > Productions
> > Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 4:48 PM
> > To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > Subject: Re: Hikaru Hayashi and Onibaba
> >
> >
> > I doubt that Criterion stuff gets in many local video stores - let alone
> the
> > average mall...
> >
> > They are EXTREMELY expensive releases
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Peter Larson" <pete at bulbrecords.com>
> > To: <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
> > Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 9:01 PM
> > Subject: RE: Hikaru Hayashi and Onibaba
> >
> >
> > > So you're implying that it's pointless to release DVD's in the US of
> > > Japanese movies that have already been released in Japan? I think that's
> > > alienating a very large audience. Most folks in the US won't order from
> > > YesAsia, they'll either rent it from the local video store or buy it in
> > the
> > > mall.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > > [mailto:owner-KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu]On Behalf Of David
> > > Lewis
> > > Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 3:55 PM
> > > To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
> > > Subject: Re: Hikaru Hayashi and Onibaba
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Peter Larson" <pete at bulbrecords.com>
> > > To: <KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>
> > > Sent: 2003$BG/(B11$B7n(B2$BF|(B 15:26
> > > Subject: RE: Hikaru Hayashi
> > >
> > >
> > > > Because we here in the US can't afford to buy it from Japan.
> > >
> > > It can be ordered, among others, from yesasia:
> > >
> >
> http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002456002/did-0/code-j/section-vi
> > > deos/
> > >
> > >
> > > As for the price, well, the criterion might be a bit cheaper, but not by
> > > much.
> > >
> > > David Lewis
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>