Wakamatsu Koji Symposium and DVDs

[M Arnold]

Sorry for the last minute post, but for those of you who haven't heard, 
Meiji Gakuin University's 11th Japanese Film Studies symposium is coming up 
this Sunday (June 25), and the topic this time is Wakamatsu Koji. There will 
be presentations by Yomota Inuhiko, Roland Domenig, Sharon Hayashi, Furuhata 
Yuriko, and Hirasawa Go on a variety of Wakamatsu-related topics. Director 
Okishima Isao and Wakamatsu himself will also be there to talk. It should be 
a lot of fun.

Again, it's this Sunday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in building 2 room 
2301, at the Meiji Gakuin campus in Shirokane (Tokyo). Details for the event 
are here:

http://www.meijigakuin.ac.jp/~art/news/event/index.html

By the way, I don't think anyone here has mentioned the new Wakamatsu Koji 
DVD boxed sets. Kinokuniya has released three sets with three DVDs each and 
is working on a fourth set now. The sets cover all of the 'classics' 
(Ecstasy of the Angels, Go Go Second Time Virgin, Secrets Behind the Wall, 
etc.) as well as some rarities (Shinjuku Mad, Naked Bullet, Violence Without 
a Cause). The DVDs also include video interviews with Wakamatsu and booklets 
packed with interesting essays, reviews, and interviews with staff and cast.

http://www.kinokuniya.co.jp/02f/d12/2_12000n_8.htm#wakamatu

I've taken a look at most of the discs and I think they're all new transfers 
from new prints. They do look good, but there are a few shortcomings--the 
DVDs are single layer and they're windowboxed (black bars on all sides of 
the picture). Also, the sets are the usual Kinokuniya price; about 5000 yen 
per disc. Still, considering the content they're definitely worthwhile.

I was talking to another list member a few months ago and he made an 
interesting observation about the old U.S. DVD of Ecstasy of the Angels. 
Apparently two of the reels are out of order on the American Cinematheque 
release. I did a quick comparison with the Kinokuniya disc, and he was 
right. Friday starts taking October's bandages off twelve minutes early in 
the American Cinematheque version. The U.S. DVD is also letterboxed (the top 
and bottom are cut a little) while the Kinokuniya one is standard full 
frame.

Michael Arnold