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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    Kwaidan


    Genre: Horror

    Reviewed In Issue 45 (Jan/Feb 2001) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Michiyo Aratama, Misako Watanabe, Rentaro Mikuni, Tatsuya Nakadai, Keiko Kishi, Katsuo Nakamura, Tetsuro Tanba, Kanemon Nakamura, Osamu Takizawa & Haruko Sugimura

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 2.5
    DD Sound Rating: 1.5
    DTS Sound Rating: NA
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: NA
    Internet Links
    http://www.criterionco.com
    Special Features
    Includes the theatrical trailer and a production notes booklet.


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): The Criterion Collection
    (Catalog Number): KWA020
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Rating Reason):

    		 NA
    (Retail Price): $29.95
    (DVD Type): Single Side, Dual Layer (DVD9)
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): No
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 161
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 1965
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 10/10/00
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Masaki Kobayashi
    (Screenplay/Written By): Subscribe Now!
    (Story): Subscribe Now!
    (Music): Subscribe Now!
    (Director Of Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Production Designer): Subscribe Now!
    (Visual Effects): Subscribe Now!
    (Costume Designer): Subscribe Now!
    (Editor): Subscribe Now!
    (Supervising Sound Editors): Subscribe Now!
    (Re-Recording Mixers): Subscribe Now!
    (Executive Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Co-Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Producers): Subscribe Now!
    (Academy Awards): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Picture Information

    (Principal Photography): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
    (Measured DVD Anamorphic Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!
    (Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Sound Information

    (DVD Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Sound): Subscribe Now!
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack): Subscribe Now!
    (DTS Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
    (Dolby Digital Bit Rate): Subscribe Now!
    (Additional Languages): Subscribe Now!
    (Subtitles): Subscribe Now!
    (WSR Superb Sound Qualities): Subscribe Now!

      WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Kwaidan is an intriguing film consisting of four parables focused on the supernatural and based on the writings of Lafcadio Hearn, a Greek-Irish folklorist. The Black Hair is a tale of a samurai who discovers what true love means through his thoughtlessness. The Woman Of The Snow is an icy tale of betrayal. Hoichi, The Earless is the most grisly chapter in which a blind balladeer angers the spirits of an ancient sea battle. The final tale, In A Cup Of Tea tells of a warrior who battles the likeness of a reflection in his cup of tea. Kwaidan was released in the United States with the second episode deleted, but this colorful widescreen edition brings the film to you in its entirety. (Suzanne Hodges)

    DVD Picture:
    When compared to the LaserDisc reviewed in Issue 23, the anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 DVD picture exhibits greater depth and definition, as well as sharper images. Viewed alone, images can be generally wanting in sharpness and fine detail. Like the LaserDisc, colors on the DVD can be very vibrant, but with generally weak blacks. Visual information tends to get lost in the darker scenes. Edge enhancement and source element artifacts are apparent throughout. Pixelization is occasional. While the DVD is undoubtedly preferred to the LaserDisc, viewed alone, it is generally mediocre. (Suzanne Hodges)

    Soundtrack:
    The Dolby

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