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Japan

151 films on Best Blurays

Also known as: JP

Type: Region

Page 4 of 8

Films where Japan is in a pick or an upcoming release.

Director: Mike Jittlov

Best Video & Audio:

Japan LaserDisc

Upcoming Release:

4K restoration planned by director Mike Jittlov

Audio Notes:

Japan LaserDisc is in Dolby Stereo

Additional Info:

Japan LaserDisc is an extended cut approximately 7 minutes longer than the theatrical cut on the US LaserDisc

Director: Gus Van Sant

Best Video:

UK/Germany/Spain/Japan WB Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

UK/Germany/Spain/Japan WB Blu-ray > Criterion on encoding

Director: James Cameron

4K · Worse Than BD
Best Video:

2015 Lionsgate Blu-ray 

Sources: fanrestore.com (opens in a new tab) · originaltrilogy.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:
  • 2015 Lionsgate Blu-ray (but it's missing the extra scenes in the Ultimate Edition)

  • 2017 StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray and subsequent 4K Blu-rays are notorius for being heavily denoised and smoothened. Alternatively, 35mm scans for the theatrical cut is also available.

  • For the Ultimate Edition with the T-1000 searching John's room and the happy future ending, the 2009 Skynet Blu-ray, which is the older pre-2017 transfer, but has DNR.

Best Audio:
  • Original Kodak/ORC CDS mix:  Japan Pioneer DVD in DTS/ac3 5.1

  • Original Dolby Stereo SR: USA Widescreen LaserDisc and others.

Audio Notes:

Differences of mixes on various releases: see thread and more info here.

Additional Info:

2017 Blu-ray (which has the DNRed transfer), the 2009 Skynet Edition Blu-ray, and the 2000 Ultimate Edition DVD have exclusive extras. The 2003 Extreme Edition DVD has some exclusive easter eggs.

Director: Isao Takahata

Best English-Friendly:

2022 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Best Video:

2015 Japan "Isao Takahata Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japanese audio: 2015 Japan "Isao Takahata Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

English audio: 2022 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Best English-Friendly:

2018 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Best Video:

2013 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2013 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

JAL dub: 1996 Japan LaserDisc Box Set

Director: Quentin Tarantino

4K · Excellent

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Best English-Friendly:

Imprint AU Blu-ray

Best Video:

Japan Kadokawa Blu-ray

Director: Sydney Pollack

4K · Excellent
Video Notes:

Paramount/Plaion Italy 4K Blu-ray > Paramount US. Overall good, superior compression to the US disc

Best Audio:

1994 Japan LaserDisc [PILF-1836]

Director: Tomomi Mochizuki

Best English-Friendly:

2022 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Best Video & Audio:

2015 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Director: Wong Kar-Wai

4K · Solid

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray has original SDR master while Plaion Germany and France has a subtle additional HDR-regrade. Either one is good depending on user preference.
Important to note, Criterion 4K Blu-ray still has different color timing from 2008 Criterion Blu-ray see https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&a=0&d1=15680&d2=15679&s1=165346&s2=165329&i=10&l=0

Best Audio:

Original mono is on the 1996 Japan DVD and 2005 Spain Boxset DVD. But 2008 Criterion Blu-ray’s 5.1 remix at least is in the correct pitch. All 5.1 tracks on later 4K-resto BDs have a raised pitch. Furthermore, the 2008 5.1 and 4K-resto 5.1 differ in content in the scene where Tony Leung drinks coffee in slow-mo, with the 2008 version having only background / ambient sound, while the 4K-resto version plays Faye Wong’s song. Note that it's quite easy to pitch correct the 4K-resto 5.1 to match the original pitch and only a delay adjustment is needed to sync.

Director: Isao Takahata

Best English-Friendly:

2018 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Best Video & Audio:

2013 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Director: Quentin Tarantino

4K · Excellent
Best Video:

2025 Taiwan Deltamac 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

2025 Taiwan Deltamac 4K Blu-ray > US Paramount 4K Blu-ray (Taiwan 4K Blu-ray is not low passed as the US 4K Blu-ray and has better grain and fine detail retention)

Best Audio:

Matrixed Dolby Stereo: 1995 Miramax LaserDisc 2.0

Original 5.1 Discrete Mix: 2012 Japan Warner Bros Blu-ray, 1996 Criterion LaserDisc, 2002 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD

5.1 DTS Mix: 1997 Miramax LaserDisc, 2002 2-Disc Collector’s Edition DVD

Director: Yoshifumi Kondo

Best English-Friendly:

2018 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

4K restoration shown in cinemas in 2026, no home release yet

Best Video:

2011 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japanese audio: 2011 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

English audio: 2018 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Director: Wong Kar-Wai

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

4K · Disappointing
Best English-Friendly:

2010 US Kino Lorber or 2012 UK Artificial Eye

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

Best Video:

2017 JP Kadokawa Blu-ray

Video Notes:

2017 JP Kadokawa Blu-ray has the best encoding out of all the older discs.


Kino Lorber and Artificial Eye Blu-ray use the same master, between the two the PQ on Kino's release is slightly better, but the difference is negligible. However, Artificial Eye also includes the 2.0 stereo mix in addition to the 5.1 mix, while Kino only includes 5.1 mix.

The 4K restoration (Criterion, 4K etc) are cropped to 2.35:1, have revisionistic colour grading and other changes.

Caps: old master, old master vs 4K restoration

Wong Kar-Wai on the framing:

With Fallen Angels, I have changed the format to cinemascope, because it was originally what I had intended to release the film in. When we were cutting the film, we accidentally turned the Steenbeck on anamorphic instead of standard. I felt that the film looked much more interesting because it enhanced the distance of the characters on top of the extreme wide angle that we shot on. Back then, it was impossible to shoot a film in standard and release it in anamorphic. With this restoration, we have successfully fulfilled this wish.

Best English-Friendly:

Majority of the episodes: US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. Blu-ray

Episode 16: US ADV Perfect Collection DVD Box Set

Original broadcast versions of E21-24: US ADV Platinum Edition DVD Box Set

Sources: x.com (opens in a new tab) · movie-censorship.com (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

Majority of the episodes: US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. Blu-ray

Episode 16: Japan 1999 DVD for the original LaserDisc/VHS master (all "remastered" releases including the Blu-rays use a low quality 35mm internegative as it's main source after the original 16mm negatives became lost. Comparison)
Original broadcast versions of E21-24: Japan King Records Blu-ray Comparison of both cuts for each episode

US ADV Perfect Collection DVD Box Set uses the same master as the Japan 1999 DVD, but it's at a lower bitrate and slightly altered colour grading

Best Audio:

Japan King Records Blu-ray has "Fly Me to the Moon" song intact

The Collector's Edition US GKIDS/UK Anime, Ltd. Blu-ray has both Netflix and ADV English dubs

US OOP ADV DVD/VHS releases have "Fly Me to the Moon" song intact

Director: Mamoru Oshii

4K · Solid
Best Video & Audio:

Bandai JP 4K Blu-ray

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

Video Notes:

All 4K releases are sourced from the same mediocre transfer provided by Bandai, with various amounts of tweaks. Japanese disc presents it with the least tinkering.

The best attempt at improving it comes from the German/French releases from KSM/All the Anime, both of which use the same master with HDR regrading (original grade is SDR in HDR container), tasteful regraining and sharpening, in an attempt to breathe some life into the middling transfer, making for an arguably more pleasing viewing experience.

All earlier releases are from an even worse transfer, with significant black crush, with the exception of a Japanese TV airing, which doesn't suffer from that issue, but instead is heavily sharpened and suffers from poor encoding.

Comparisons: JPN UHD, USA UHD, FRA/GER UHD, ITA UHD (tonemapped), JPN UHD, USA UHD, FRA/GER UHD, ITA UHD, ESP UHD (PQ), All 1080p BDs, HDTV, HDTV filtered

Audio Notes:

Original matrixed stereo mix: Bandai JP 4K Blu-ray
Most discs include this track with comparable fidelity (which is excellent).

Dolby Atmos remix: Lionsgate US 4K / All the Anime FR 4K
6.1 remix (from Ghost in the Shell 2.0): KSM DE 4K / All the Anime FR 4K

All tracks on the Lionsgate US 4K replace the original ending song with the one heard on the English dub. As the Atmos track on the FR 4K is just a port, it also has this song replaced.

Additional Info:

Japanese 4K includes English dub and subtitles.
French/German 4Ks are not English friendly, with no dub or subtitles.
French disc includes the Atmos track, but the German disc does not.

Director: Michael Mann

4K · Disappointing
Best Video:

Theatrical Cut: Old Warner Bros DVD or fan restoration

Revised Cut: 2012 Japan Blu-ray

Sources: fanrestore.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Theatrical Cut: Old Warner Bros DVD or fan restoration

Revised Cut: 2012 Japan Blu-ray for less revisionist colors, 2022 Disney 4K Blu-ray is controversially regraded and too dark overall.

Best Audio:

LaserDisc 2.0 (restores censored dialog). Comparison of 5.1 mixes
For the 5.1: LaserDisc AC3 vs US DVD AC3 vs Japan DVD DTS

Director: Lars von Trier

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly:

4K Restoration: Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Theatrical Presentation: 2013 Japan King Records Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

Criterion  Blu-ray contains exclusive interviews.

The 2013 King Records Blu-ray is the only Blu-Ray release with the video processed look that appeared theatrically, all following Blu-Ray releases use an restoration straight from the original camera negative.

Director: Wes Craven

4K · Excellent
Best Video:

Theatrical: Paramount 4K Blu-ray
Uncut Director's Cut: Either the Germany Kinowelt DVD, the Japan DVD, the Scandinavian DVD, or the US LaserDisc.

Sources: movie-censorship.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Fan preservation is likely better quality.

Best Audio:

2011 Blu-ray/2021 4K Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The 2011 Lionsgate Blu-ray is incredibly poor for every Original Trilogy film; older processed older DVD-era masters with heavy use of DNR, sharpening and edge enhancement with a really dull color grade. The 4K Blu-ray is miles better. The DTS-HD 5.1 across all three films appears to be the same on both the Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, and they appear to be the untouched theatrical 5.1 mixes. 

The Uncut version has more violence: https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=256325

Director: Aleksandr Sokurov

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

DVD

Best Video:

Japan IVC Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Japan IVC Blu-ray but no English subtitle, otherwise only DVD

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