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Kyū Sazanka

Kyū Sazanka

8 films on Best Blurays4 in 4K4 in HD

Kyū Sazanka photo

Kyū Sazanka (山茶花 究 Sazanka Kyū, born April 1, 1914 – March 4, 1971) was a Japanese actor.

Biography from TMDB

Supporting role · Director: Yasuzō Masumura

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Arrow Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Supporting role · Director: Kon Ichikawa

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Small role · Director: Masahiro Shinoda

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

2024 France Carlotta Blu-ray

Video Notes:

2024 France Carlotta Blu-ray is newer restoration than Criterion. Germany Rapid Eye Movies Blu-ray probably the same.

Small role · Director: Yasujirō Ozu

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion DVD

Best Video:

Carlotta Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2013 Criterion Hulu+ Streaming

Small role · Director: Masaki Kobayashi

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Criterion Blu-ray > Arrow Blu-ray > Japan Blu-ray

Both Arrow and Japan Blu-ray seem to suffer from the Quicktime Gamma Bug

Small role · Director: Akira Kurosawa

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Best Audio:

2015 Star Media Blu-ray/2019 BFI Player WEB-DL

Small role · Director: Nagisa Ōshima

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab) · diffchecker.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray (caps)

Criterion is a very nice uptick in detail and resolution. The color grade is very similar, but leans more neutral, reducing the greenish/blueish hues seen on the MoC disc.

Best Audio:

Unrestored: Shochiku JP NTSC DVD
Restored: Masters of Cinema UK Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

The JP DVD track is unfiltered and sounds much more natural and detailed, but suffers from a strong CRT whine and an intermittent low-end hum. The track used on all later restorations is a bit muffled and has overemphasized bass.

Criterion applied additional EQ and roll-off to the restored track, but the audible difference is minimal.

Additional Info:

Criterion has a different translation to MoC, but both are solid and trade blows, see comparison.

Small role · Director: Akira Kurosawa

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · slow.pics (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

France Carlotta

Video Notes:

France Carlotta > Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps: https://slow.pics/c/s7AfL3XW

Grain is sharper/clearer on the new Carlotta/Criterion 4K; BFI's grain resolves slightly worse and more so in motion, being a standard Blu-ray; The Toho 4K's grain is softer, probably DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Toho 1993 LaserDisc

Audio Notes:

BFI Player used to have the same mastering available to stream in 2019.

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