Lady Snowblood: AnimEigo VS Toho

Jompis · Post by **Jompis** » 10 Sep 2006, 19:12

Top: R1 AnimEigo
Bottom: R2J Toho

Keung · Post by **Keung** » 10 Sep 2006, 19:14

Wow, the fifth cap is uber blurry. Well, the film is 33 years old...

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 10 Sep 2006, 20:45

This should be perfect for displaying the difference in framing

EDIT: the additional caps
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/S ... Toho11.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/S ... Toho10.jpg

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 10 Sep 2006, 21:45

Thanks. Sorry for making you take so many additional caps.

Anyone got any other editions?

As far as I know:
Eastern Eye uses the Animeigo transfer (NTSC to PAL conversion ???)
R.E.M looks more or less identical to Toho (NTSC to PAL conversion ???)
AWE appers similar to Toho and R.E.M, but not windowboxing (NTSC to PAL conversion ???)
Artsmagic looks like crap (SHIT to PAL conversion ???)

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Sep 2006, 14:35

I prefer the Toho image to the Animeigo.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 11 Sep 2006, 14:49

I always considered R1 Lady Snowblood a prime example of incomprehensible reviews:

”Lady Snowblood is presented in 2:35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The detail is amazing and the blood which there is a lot of once again runs the deepest of reds. The flesh tones are normal throughout and the darker scene exhibit little of no grain at all. AnimEigo has restored this classic tale of revenge and they have done an amazing job.
- 10kbullets (Michael Den Boer) (May 4th, 2004)”

”The first thing that you notice about the transfer are the bright and vivid colors. The green grass, the white kimonos, and the deep blue ocean all are brilliantly colored. The skin tones are accurate, and there is very good definition. Digital artifacts are practically nonexistent. This is a gorgeous looking transfer. 4,5/5”
- dvdtalk (John Sinnott) (May 11, 2004)

”Animeigo's 2.35.1 widescreen transfers are simply gorgeous... The images here are razor sharp and Animeigo sets things right with these disc, both of which are presented it their original aspect ratios with wonderfully bright and vivid colors. There's a very high level of detail in both the foreground and the background of the image, and nary a hint of compression artifacts or edge enhancement. The bloods are bright red, the water is deep blue, and the snow is crisp and pristine looking. Print damage is pretty much non-existent save for the odd dust speck here and there. The movies both look fantastic. 4/5”
- dvdtalk (LS double pack review) (Ian Jane) (November 8, 2005 )

”AnimEigo was one of the first publishers to put out really definitive editions of anime and samurai movies on LaserDisc, and they've now carried the same level of care into their productions for DVD as well. The whole movie has been remastered from a newly-struck 35mm print and looks terrific...”
- thegline (5/14/2004)

”Lady Snowblood is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The print looks pristine in most scenes, with no grain and minimal debris to be seen. This allows for such a clean, sharp visual presence, you won't be able to believe your eyes in some instances. I found the colors to be bright and bold, but within a natural scope, while flesh tones are normal throughout. The black levels are superb here also, as even the darkest of scenes looks smooth and refined. This is simply a top notch visual treatment in all respects, so kudos to AnimEigo.”
- dvdauthority

And my favourite:

”I wish I were a holy man. If I were, I’d bless the fine people at AnimEigo who bring us such wonderful presentations such as this.”
- Kfccinema (Brandon Fincher) (05/26/2004)

And I thought Toho was average...

EDIT: above average, actually

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 11 Sep 2006, 15:16

The Toho is more natural looking IMO. Animego colors are stronger, but why is the white color pink?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Sep 2006, 17:20

The Animeigo is soft, pink, blurry and dark.

What the hell were these reviewers watching??

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 11 Sep 2006, 17:36

Maybe they ajusted there TV's, like I do

But this has no subs anyway doesnt it? then its very worthless

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 11 Sep 2006, 17:50

romerojpg wrote: But this has no subs anyway doesnt it?

No

romerojpg wrote: then its very worthless

Maybe to you

(yes, I'm laughing at you, sorry)

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 11 Sep 2006, 18:00

yup, still the best english subbed version is the only version I am ever interested in

no subs, no way I will ever buy a dvd (unless its in english).

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 04 Jan 2007, 00:03

Guess I'll have to post caps of the German version from Rapid Eye Movies.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 04 Jan 2007, 00:08

How odd, I was looking at this topic just a moment ago after realising Tom kept an index.

Saw it again the other day, not my thing. The only chambras I like are the ones with more killing because they make for great drinking games.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2007, 01:23

Two things please guys:

1. Which is the best English subtitled DVD and why? If the Japanese has English subs except for that.
2. For someone who hated the Drunken Master style and pretty much hated Prodigal Son is it likely I'd like this? Hard I know.

It looks decent and I have been lots of good things about it over the years.

p.s - Is there UK R2? How does the R4 fare?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 04 Jan 2007, 01:32

bradavon wrote:2. For someone who hated the Drunken Master style and pretty much hated Prodigal Son is it likely I'd like this? Hard I know.

It has nothing in common with old school martial arts films at all. It is rather a chanbara film.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2007, 01:36

Chanbara?

p.s - I meant more the style than obviously actual martial arts.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 04 Jan 2007, 01:42

bradavon wrote:Chanbara?

p.s - I meant more the style than obviously actual martial arts.

Chanbara, aka. Jidaigeki.

They are serious films (like "Sword of Doom" or the "Lone Wolf & Cub" series) that take place in Japan and at the times when the sword was the most powerful weapon, or during the crossover to a modernised Japan.

http://www.kungfucinema.com/categories/jidaigeki.htm

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 04 Jan 2007, 01:42

Chambara is quite similar to old school martial arts films IMO. The action is different of course, it's so terribly fake lookings and there aren't real physical talents on display. But the basic plots and characters aren't too far off. The protagnists are different but overall they're similar. If you like MA films for more than martial arts you'd like this and others.
Snowblood is a must-see in itself though. It's the major inspiration for Kill Bill and is such a pure revenge flick.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 04 Jan 2007, 01:46

Lourdes wrote:If you like MA films for more than martial arts you'd like this and others.

Hmmm... vague comment. Because I have also encountered people who do not like martial arts films at all, but really do enjoy chanbara films.

Personally, I love the quite mood you usually have in these films. They are very narrative in my opinion, some of them with only a few words, especially the silent ones of course.

Lourdes · Post by **Lourdes** » 04 Jan 2007, 02:00

I was about to go back and edit that exact bit because it sounded too definite.
They're in a similar vein IMO. I mean I'm not that fond of either for all the same reasons.

I try to seperate the more serious films from the general term of chambara/chanbara/jidaigeki so I forget it basically refers to all period stuff. I'm talking here about Snowblood, Kozure Okami etc. Still different from MA films in that they're more serious and bloody. Instead of someone urinating on your martial arts master the shogun raped and killed your family. But the same sort of 'cheap' thrills.

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 04 Jan 2007, 02:07

Lourdes wrote:Instead of someone urinating on your martial arts master the shogun raped and killed your family.

Depending on which Shôgun is being portrayed, he he he! There were also the good ones (well, kind of).

But the same sort of 'cheap' thrills.

This also depends on the type of film if you ask me. Sure, if you look at all these Tokugawa female prison films, they are probably all cheaply written etc.

But I can't find such cheap thrills in a film like "The Twilight Samurai" or the Kurosawa epics.

If I had to compare "Lady Snowblood" with a film that is more widely known, it would be Kitano's "Zatôichi" minus the humour and plus the drama of "Kozure Okami".

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Jan 2007, 02:41

Thanks guys. I quite liked Zatoichi.

Okay I should give this ago (for the Kill Bill connections if nothing else), so on two part two of my question:

bradavon wrote:1. Which is the best English subtitled DVD and why? If the Japanese has English subs except for that.

p.s - Is there UK R2? How does the R4 fare?

Checking here:

http://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=5965
http://www.madman.com.au/actions/catalo ... ethod=view

The R1 looks to be the best of a bad English friendly bunch:

R1 - Uncut, anamorphic and Uncropped but lousy PQ
UK R1 - Non-anamorphic
R4 - Anamorphic but cropped to 1.77:1.

Or should I get the box set? What's Lady Snowblood 2 like?

thelostdragon · Post by **thelostdragon** » 04 Jan 2007, 08:30

I am not quite sure, but when I bought the R1 Animeigo, it used to be the best version around. But then again, that was probably a few weeks after its release date.

I have never watched the second part.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 04 Jan 2007, 10:01

R4 Lady Snowblood 1&2 are NTSC-PAL.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 04 Jan 2007, 15:02

Brad, I'm not so sure you'd enjoy Lady Snowblood. But it indeed was a major influence to Kill Bill. Among others:

Story: a young woman goes after 5 villains who killed her family
Structure: divined into chapters
Music: Meiko Kaji's Flower of Carnage
Training: old priest gives her martial arts training
Other: death list, some of the dialogue, identical shots

etc.

Some of the screencaps I took a million years ago.

Slight Spoilers for both films (Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Lady Snowblood 1