"Record of a Living Being" Hong Kong DVD

[Gojira-Fan]

Okay, so I picked up a copy of "I Live in Fear" (called "Record of a Living Being on the DVD) at my local record store. It's Region Free, and is quite obviously a Hong Kong DVD. I immediately bought this movie at the record store because I am aware there is not a Region 1 release of it.
I was just wondering how the subtitles were, if anyone happens to have this DVD. It's put out by a company called "MEI AH LASER DISC CO., LTD.". It's in a blue DVD case.

This is the image used for the DVD cover (on the DVD's Amazon page):
http://www.amazon.com/Record-Living-Bei ... B0002JC60G

[kkawachi]

a bare bones but excellent R1 release is available from Criterion in their "Postwar Kurosawa" Eclipse set. Highly recommended, but then again so is nearly every Criterion and Kurosawa!

I had an Ah Mei R0 "No Regrets For Our Youth" that I upgraded this way with zero regrets. THe subs on that were horrific (from japanese to chinese to english translations = very confusing.)

Id return and get the set if I were you.

[Gojira-Fan]

a bare bones but excellent R1 release is available from Criterion in their "Postwar Kurosawa" Eclipse set. Highly recommended, but then again so is nearly every Criterion and Kurosawa!

I had an Ah Mei R0 "No Regrets For Our Youth" that I upgraded this way with zero regrets. THe subs on that were horrific (from japanese to chinese to english translations = very confusing.)

Id return and get the set if I were you.

Damn, and I payed 10 bucks for it too.
I honestly did not know it was on R1 DVD...oh well, I could get a good laugh out of the subtitles

The only problem with the Criterion set is how expensive it is (and with no special features? disappointing)

[kkawachi]

Criterion is generally always worth the price IMO. Wish there were features too, like the excellent "It Is Wonderful To Create" series that is on 75% of their Kurosawa's, but I'm just glad to have a respectful and quality R1 transfer at a reasonable price.

[Gojira-Fan]

It also looks like Criterion has released a $300 set with 25 Kurosawa movies that looks interesting...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NO ... r_asin_lnk

[kkawachi]

I would not recommend this set for beginners!

The perks are the great packaging, a slightly boosted bitrate for picture, and the inclusion of Madadayo (not available separately as a Criterion).

The cons are the loss of all bonus features! I would get this as a completist when/if I had the money, but would start with all the other releases separately first; its what I did.

Anything double disc is recommended for starters: High & Low, Ikiru, Kagemusha, Ran, and Seven Samurai.

Personal favs are Throne of Blood and The Lower Depths. Great Criterions. What a 1957 Kurosawa had.