WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Sanjuro
Genre:Action Adventure

Reviewed In Issue 14 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiju Kobayashi, Yuzo Kayama, Reiko Dan, Takashi Shimura & Kamatari Fujiwara

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 3
Sound Rating: 2
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
(Catalog Number): 1370L-218
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $$49.99
(Running Time In Minutes): 94
(Color Type): Black & White
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1962
(LD Release Date): 3/1/95
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Akira Kurosawa
(Screenplay/Written By): Ryuzo Kikushima, Hideo Ogumi & Akira Kurosawa
(Story): NA
(Music): Masaru Sato
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Yoshiro Muraki
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor): Akira Kurosawa
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Tomoyuki Tanaka & Ryuzo Kikushima

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.11:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Akira Kurosawa’s Sanjuro is the 1962 successor to his 1961 blockbuster Yohimbo. Toshiro Mifune returns as the swaggering samurai who is ready to use his sword to carve up anybody, anytime whether they really need it or not. This was obviously the prototype for John Belushi’s samurai character on Saturday Night Live and the character in the film is not far removed from the parody. This picture is strictly for fans Kurosawa and the samurai genre.

LaserDisc Picture:
The Tohoscope framing has been recomposed at 2.11:1 although the transfer credits proclaim “its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1.” Collectors who own widescreen monitors will be pleased that the subtitles are framed within the picture rather than below. The element is credited as a new 35mm black and white print. The picture lacks detail and sharpness, shadow detail is poor, and generally negative dirt artifacts are prevalent throughout.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The original soundtrack theatrically was Perspecta Stereophonic Sound (optical), but this edition has been dubbed from a mono optical track which is undistinguished and characteristically noisy.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: