Benefit All Mankind The Films of Akira Kurosawa A website celebrating the work of Japanese film-maker Akira Kurosawa. About Akira Kurosawa Kurosawa's Actors Film Reviews Disc Comparisons Further Reading Image Gallery Kurosawa Merchandise About this website Thanks to Index Website by Paul Mallinson. © 2007-2019 Registered trade marks and trade names are copyright of their respective owners. kurosawamovies.com Filmography Sanshiro Sugata (1943) The Most Beautiful (1944) Sanshiro Sugata – Part Two (1945) They Who Step On The Tiger’s Tail (1945) Those Who Make Tomorrow (1946) No Regrets For Our Youth (1946) One Wonderful Sunday (1947) Drunken Angel (1948) The Quiet Duel (1949) Stray Dog (1949) Scandal (1950) Rashomon (1950) The Idiot (1951) Ikiru (1952) Seven Samurai (1954) I Live In Fear (1955) Throne Of Blood (1957) The Lower Depths (1957) The Hidden Fortress (1958) The Bad Sleep Well (1960) Yojimbo (1961) Sanjuro (1962) High And Low (1963) Red Beard (1965) Dodes'kaden (1970) Dersu Uzala (1975) Kagemusha (1980) Ran (1985) Dreams (1990) Rhapsody In August (1991) Madadayo (1993)

Disc Comparisons

Kurosawa's films are mostly well-represented on DVD these days. Many countries and regions have discs available to buy, but because of the age of many of these movies their print and sound quality can vary. Some releases have better extras than others - documentaries, commentaries, essays, galleries and features. Also important: some releases have better English subtitle translations than others. Out intention is to highlight the pluses and minuses of the various releases available and to recommend which versions to buy over others. English subtitles, please This website, since it is written from a UK perspective (we are British here, after all), will concentrate on English subtitled versions where possible. If a particular title is not available in English: we will not include it here. At least: unless there is a good reason for it's inclusion. Buying from abroad Most modern DVD players will play discs from different regions, with some simple modifications. The US NTSC system is often well-supported in Europe (which relies on the PAL TV system), though the reverse is not always true for the US. American systems don't always support PAL. If you're US-based, and want to import PAL DVDs: check your player will play them first. UK buyers can legally import DVDs from abroad, but please note that it is illegal to supply uncertificated films within the UK.

Yojimbo comparisons

Criterion Collection Special Edition This, the second Yojimbo release from US distributor Criterion, is arguably the best version on the market. Not only does this have the best picture and sound quality (thanks to some hard work in Criterion's restoration department), but it also has more extras than any other version thus far seen. Picture quality is superb, with deep, dark blacks and a superb range of contrast through the greys. Scratches and fogging are minimal - almost non-existant outside the first reel (unheard of in a film of this age) - and details are sharp and clear as can be. Discs: 1 Region: 1 (USA) System: NTSC Catalogue number: 52 Features: 24-page booket; new, restored, high-definition digital transfer; optional Dolby Digital 3.0 soundtrack; audio commentary by Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince; 45 min documentary on the making of Yojimbo - part of the "It is wonderful to create" series; theatrical trailer and teaser; stills gallery & behind-the-scenes photos; new English subtitle translation Sound too is great in this release with Sato's rousing music coming across more clearly than ever heard before, and Stephen Prince's audio commentary is excellent - Prince once again demonstrating why he's Criterion's first choice audio commentator by providing real insight into everything from Japanese ettiqette to technical details of camerwork and acting. The 45 minute making-of documentary is excellent and contains some rare (though brief) behind-the-scenes footage shot using the film's main cameras. Like all the Toho Masterworks documentaries: it's well worth owning. The supplied 24-page booklet is also top quality and contains some interesting comments on the making of Yojimbo from actor Tatsuya Nakadai, director of photography Kazuo Mayagawa and script supervisor Teruyo Nogami. If there is a (slight) downside to this release it's the subtitle translation, which - in our humble opinion - is maybe a little too literal for our tastes. In places humour is diminished by the translation - compared to the UK BFI releases (see below) - though it doesn't diminish too much from what is essentially the best Yojimbo out there and an essential purchase for any self-respecting Kurosawa fan. Unretouched screenshots

British Film Institute BFI are as well-known for their Kurosawa releases in the UK as Criterion are in the US. BFI's Yojimbo measures up fairly well against the competition though it simply can't compete with Criterion's stunning picture/sound quality and restoration. There are definitely more visible scratches on this print, and picture definition is softer and less defined than Criterion's special edition. There are also a couple of instances where the print seems fogged on one side of the frame - possibly due to poor preservation. However, these Discs: 1 Region: 2 (Europe) System: PAL Catalogue number: BFIVD505 Features: remastered widescreen version from a new print; full-length commentary by film historian Philip Kemp; Kurosawa and Mifune biographies (text only); option to position subtitles inside or outside picture (not available in Criterion release) flaws are fairly minor and would not be noticed by the average film-viewer. BFI's efforts by remastering from a new print are to be commended, and despite our criticisms the overall quality of the picture is extremely good throughout. Sadly BFI's disc is quite light on extras, when compared next to Criterion's. Philip Kemp's full-length commentary is fascinating and informative, delving more into cultural and historical facts, than into the film-making technicalities much loved by Stephen Prince, though Kemp's voice is not quite as engaging as Prince's, and from time to time there seem to be quite large gaps in the narration. And other than a few textual biographies (Kurosawa and Mifune), that seems to be about it on the extras front. Where BFI do excel, though, is in the subtitle translation. Unlike Criterion's translators, BFI understand how simplifying what is being said can sometimes enhance what is being said. The ability to choose subtitle position (inside or outside the frame) is also a feature unique to the BFI disc. Unretouched screenshots

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Yojimbo subtitle translation comparison - BFI versus Criterion

There's no doubting that - in most cases - Criterion beat BFI in terms of transfer quality (The Bad Sleep Well and High and Low are the only two exceptions), but in our opinion BFI often shade Criterion on subtitles - another vitally important part of the experience - and as a result the BFI versions are the ones we'd choose to show an English-speaking friend wanting to be introduced to Kurosawa. Here are a few examples to help explain our opinion on this...

The opening scene in Yojimbo is slightly simplified in the BFI version, though the information given is the same as in the Criterion version. The Criterion version may be a more perfect match to the spoken dialogue (we can't speak Japanese so can't verify ourselves), but the BFI version is better because it is more efficient and natural. The man's comment about the "hungry dogs" is less clumsy in the BFI version too. Beginning of the film - BFI version Man: Wait, son. Youngster: Let me go, father, it's my chance. Man: You'll be killed. Who wants to be a gambler? Stay at home and farm. Youngster: Who wants a long life eating mush? A short, exciting life for me. Sanjuro: Water, please. [Man nods in approval then shouts at his wife] Man: Why didn't you stop him? Wife: He wouldn't listen. The young ones have all gone mad. Man: Not only the young ones; everyone's after easy money. Gambling, throwing dice. You can't tell whose money is whose. The brewer's become a silk broker, too. He says he'll pay more than the silk merchant. Wife: What does it matter, with the town as it is? Who knows when the silk fair will be held? Man: The smell of blood attracts the hungry dogs. Any more fights and the silk will be bloodstained. What price a fair then? Beginning of the film - Criterion version Man: Stop, you brat! Youngster: Let me go, Father! This battle is the chance of a lifetime! Man: Crazy fool! The chance to get killed! Why do you want to be a gambler? A farmer's place is in the fields. Youngster: A long life eating gruel - to hell with that! I want good food and nice clothes. I'm gonna live it up and die young! Sanjuro: Old man. I'd like some water. [Man nods in approval then shouts at his wife] Man: Why the hell didn't you stop him? Wife: How could I? Kids these days are all mad. Man: It's not just the kids. Everyone wants easy money. It's all thanks to gambling. A roll of the dice and you're rich. Can't tell whose money is whose anymore. Have you heard the sake brewer's trading silk now? Says he'll pay more than the silk merchant. Wife: Yes, but... what difference does it make... with the town the way it is? We don't even know when the next silk fair will open. Man: Hungry dogs come running when they smell blood. Let 'em rip each other apart and dye the silk in their blood. Then they can have their stinkin' fair!

Again the BFI version edges it with a cooler and more natural delivery. "Nearer forty, though" is a better way of pushing the joke, rather than the "I'm almost forty" alternative. During the famous 'name' scene - BFI version Seibei: Tell us, what is your name? Sanjuro: Kuwabatake (Mulberry field) Sanjuro (thirty). Nearer forty, though. Seibei: You're joking. Sanjuro: Sanjuro Kuwabatake's good enough... A nobody. During the famous 'name' scene - Criterion version Seibei: By the way, may I ask your name? Sanjuro: Me? Sanjuro Kuwabatake... (30-year-old Mulberry Field), but I'm almost 40. Seibei: You must be joking! Sanjuro: As names go, it's good enough. I'm a complete stranger, anyway.

In the Criterion version Gonji asks Sanjuro "Did you write this new little drama?" which we thought was a tad "Bo Ying" compared to BFI's "is this a play you wrote?" The latter translation, we think, is far more 'poetic' than the "new little drama" interpretation. It makes the subtitles more fun to read, and thus the film becomes more fun. Criterion seem to be tripping over their own intellect by adding more detail than is maybe necessary, and by sometimes missing the joke and forgetting to translate the irony. After Seibei's son is captured - BFI version Sanjuro: Something to eat. Gonji: Eat everything; no one will eat such things for a time. Sanjuro: The town's beginning to boil, like this pot. Gonji: Why did you come? Is this a play you wrote? Sanjuro: Half of it. Unosuke changed the second half. After Seibei's son is captured - Criterion version Sanjuro: Old man, give me something to eat. Gonji: Take what you want from the pot. I won't get any business with all this trouble brewing. Sanjuro: You know, old man, this town is starting to boil again, just like this pot. Gonji: What have you done? Did you write this new little drama? Sanjuro: Half of it. Unosuke just rewrote the other half.

This scene near the end of Yojimbo shows the differences between the two translations. At the beginning of the scene Criterion's subtitles seem better and the dialogue benefits from the extra detail. When Gonji jokes with Inokichi, though, the Criterion version falls down by not using the most appropriate and humourous phrase for the scene. In the BFI version Inokichi says: "Ghosts? I love them!" which is funnier than "I see ghosts and a I feel relieved!" Inokichi's character is a bit like that of a child with learning difficulties, which makes it hard to accept he'd use a word like "relieved" as part of his joke. As Sanjuro is escaping in a coffin - BFI version Sanjuro: Old man, let's get going. Gonji: The cooper's run away! Sanjuro: What a fix. Is anybody around? Gonji: It's an even worse fix: Inokichi's coming this way. Sanjuro: Humour him. Try to make him help. Gonji [giving Sanjuro a knife]: In case you need it. Inokichi [to Gonji]: What's up? Gonji: The cooper was afraid to help me, so he ran away. You help me. Inokichi: Don't be funny. Gonji: Scared of corpses? Your face gives you away. Inokichi: I'm afraid of nothing. Gonji: Help me then. Inokichi: I'm not afraid. Gonji: To the cemetery. You're not afraid of ghosts? Inokichi: Ghosts? I love them! Gonji: Let's go, then. As Sanjuro is escaping in a coffin - Criterion version Sanjuro: Old man, let's get going. Gonji: Son of a bitch! The casket maker ran away! Sanjuro: That's not good. Anyone else around? Gonji: It gets worse. Inokichi's coming this way! Sanjuro: We have no choice. Talk him into helping you. Gonji: But - Sanjuro: Just try it! Gonji [giving Sanjuro a knife]: Just in case. Sanjuro: Thanks. Inokichi [to Gonji]: Hey, whaddaya doin'? Gonji: The casket maker and I were gonna bury this body, but the bastard got scared and ran off. Would you give me a hand? Inokichi: Are you kidding? Hell, no! Gonji: Afraid of a dead man? Inokichi: What did you say? Gonji: You talk big, but fear's written all over your face. Inokichi: What? I'm not afraid of nothin'! Gonji: Then hurry up and help. Inokichi: Couldn't be easier. Gonji: You sure? We're going to the cemetery. I saw ghosts there a while back. Inokichi: Ghosts? Hell, I see ghosts and I feel relieved! Gonji: Good. Let's go then.

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The Infamous Bo Ying Box Set

Question: is the Bo Ying Kurosawa box set any good or not? Answer...

Chinese box sets. Your aunt always warned you about them: "they've got terrible subtitles and the picture always looks like it was fed through a mangler. Don't buy them!" she used to say. So we went ahead and ignored her advice and bought the 20 disc box set... It cost a week's wages (in Kazakhstan) and weighs just under 20 pounds. Actually those last bits were exaggerations, but you get the point. We tossed away our own good money to experience Kurosawa the Bo Ying way. The intention being: to show our visitors exactly what you get when you piss your money away on tat. There are a number of different Bo Ying Box Sets - some bigger than others. The largest is the 20 disc deluxe set, costing around £15 plus p&p on eBay. Now that might sound like a tempting proposition - seventeen films; roughly 75 pence per disc - but wait a minute. These are Chinese. And Chinese discs have a habit of being, well - how can we put it: a bit 'shonky'. So can the Bo Ying Box Set prove us wrong by actually being worth that measly fifteen pounds? Can it? Short Answer The short answer to that is: no, it's not really worth buying - if only because you'll end up re-buying individual films later. The overall quality is shoddy, though there are some interesting discs on offer and a few surprises along the way. Here's what we found picking through the bones of it...

Alarm bells started ringing when we read the back sleeve notes. They are truly the work of angels. Cheeky angels at that - they're so laughably bad. As can be seen to the right: the writer misses no opportunity to make a mistake and the discription of Kurosawa's career is both mystifying and hilarious at the same time. Needless to say this level of quality control extends into most of Bo Ying's DVDs. Let's just say that getting the English right is not high on Bo Ying's list of priorities.

<<< Bo Ying DVD menus

All the rumours you read about the bad subtitles are true. That is - if you discount the four films that have decent subs. It is a fact that Bo Ying's translators are the subtitling equivalent of a disinterested hooker - they're there, but the experience is a sullen one. It is rumoured that Bo Ying translate the English subs from Chinese, once they've been translated from the original Japanese (presenting a very wide margin of error for the average Chinese translator), though we are not concerned with rumour, we are interested in facts. And the simple fact is: as bad subtitles go - these are as bad as they get. Hilarious highlights Worst of the bunch, subtitle- wise, are Throne of Blood and The Hidden Fortress. They were so bad in fact that we gave them awards. In Throne of Blood the translator mistakes "forest" for "bush" and opens up a whole new world of meaning. In The Hidden Fortress Mifune is called Ching and another character is called Poon... It's all too much to bear! Take the positives Not all the films have poor subtitles however. Bizarrely, two of the films (Seven Samurai and Rashomon) claim to be Criterion editions and have good subtitles with all the correct character names. The Idiot and Scandal also have good subtitles and correct names. So it's not a complete disaster as a box set.

Detailed summary: if it's green it's good; if it's red it's poor...

Our table below summarises the contents of the Bo Ying Kurosawa box set. Each row represents one film in the set. If a row is red - the film got a thumbs down. If a row is green - the film got a thumbs up. Note the ratio of green to red...

Name Transfer quality Sound quality Subs Subtitle quality Pluses Minuses

Sugata Sanshiro Not bad. Very dark. On a par with the Eastern Eye release Not bad either Ridiculous Decent transfer Rubbish subs

Sanshiro Sugata - Part Two Decent enough for it's age. Atmospherically scratchy (actually very scratchy) A bit dulled and scratchy but okay Pathetic One of the few versions of this rare film Subtitles written by someone who couldn't care less

They Who Step On The Tiger's Tail Half decent, considering the age of the source materials. Some ghosting Muffled but not hissy Ridiculous, unfortunately. All the character names have been changed One of the few versions of this rare film; quite nice DVD menu Terrible subtitles

No Regrets For Our Youth Fairly high contrast but not bad. Some ghosting and the picture is quite soft Acceptable Unfortunately they're rubbish One of the few versions of this rare film Poor subtitles

One Wonderful Sunday Fairly poor; some ghosting; some interlacing Acceptable Inane and ridiculous One of the few versions of this rare film Poor subtitles and transfer

Drunken Angel Not bad - no interlacing. As good as any outside of Criterion Pretty good Unfortunately they're poor. Silly Chinese names and nonsensical English Decent transfer Ruined by terrible subtitles

The Quiet Duel Scratchy but not too bad Aged, but not terrible Not applicable One of the few versions of this rare film No English subtitles

Stray Dog Quite decent. As good as most Pretty good Sigh. When you think it might be improving it then goes daft again. Overall: stupid. Decent transfer Ruined by terrible subtitles

Scandal Not bad. Pretty scratchy but no interlacing Acceptable - better than most Surprisingly good. Some mistakes but overall: they work. The names are right Good subs; decent transfer None

Rashomon Excellent Criterion/ Janus print As good as it gets Excellent For some reason this is a Criterion version of the film. The subs and print quality are excellent None

The Idiot Very good. No interlacing; pretty scratchy. On par with the Masters of Cinema version Not bad. Quite hissy and clicky in places Suprisingly, very, very good. They even get names right. Not sure where they come from but they are better than most in this set Excellent subtitles. Picture and sound quality very good None

Ikiru Above average Lacks some clarity, but otherwise not too bad Strange: it's good in places but terrible in others Good picture; alright sound Patchy subtitles

Seven Samurai Janus Films/Criterion print, so generally excellent. Less restoration and more scratches, but no horrible interlacing Excellent Generally excellent though some subtitles seem to be missing in certain places Looks like an early Criterion version of the film so good all round; it's also the full uncut version with intermission Gaps in subtitles; it's split over two discs

Throne of Blood Pretty good. Not perfect but the source materials seem okay Not bad at all A pity to say: awful. One of the very worst Decent picture & sound Dire subtitles

The Hidden Fortress Pretty awful. Looks like it was downloaded off the Internet and burnt to disc - Interlacing problems; really blown-out in places A bit muffled The pits. Incomprehensible and just plain wrong It's a great film to own; The menu is okay Dire subtitles, poor quality picture and sound

The Bad Sleep Well Mixed. Ratio is correct and the transfer is not horrible, but there are some interlacing issues Acceptable, but not great Less inane than some here, though overall poor. All the names are wrong Few. The picture quality is okay in places Poor subtitles; below average transfer; it's spread over two discs

Red Beard Fairly good. Slightly blown-out, but correct aspect ratio and decent source materials Relatively good Awful. Wrong names used. Inane dialogue Print quality is alright. Sound quality is good Rubbish English subs. It's spread over two discs

Name Transfer quality Sound quality Subs Subtitle quality Pluses Minuses

That's four good films out of seventeen...

So think about this: if you're English-speaking and are looking to get into Kurosawa for the first time - think careully before you buy these DVDs. You will not like the subtitles unless you enjoy the bitter-sweet comedy of badly-subtitled movies. Only four of the seventeen films in this box set have good subtitles.

Our advice...

Unless you want to buy this out of curiosity (like we did), or are Japanese (or can speak Japanese) then you'd be well advised to steer well clear of any of the Bo Ying titles. Go for BFI or Criterion instead. Or regional releases, depending on where you're reading from in the world. Kurosawa's films need good subtitles - especially if they're being viewed for the first time - so it is a false economy buying into Bo Ying because the subs are just ridiculous. It's true that Scandal, The Idiot, Rashomon and Seven Samurai are decent enough versions, but in reality these discs are a pale shadow of a Criterion or BFI release. You don't get the detail; the love and the care of those releases - in a Bo Ying title.

Just how bad are the subtitles?

The subtitles swing from either nonsensical and boring to hilariously bad and chucklesome. All of the badly subtitled sets have name- replacement, so instead of "Rokurota Makabe" you get a man called "Ching" and instead of "General Washizu" you get a man called "Chow". That would be livable-with - if the subtitles actually made sense at any point, but they rarely do. Some simply meander into a surreal alternate dimension that has little in common with what you're watching on-screen.

Throne of Blood subtitle comparison - BFI versus Bo Ying

And the award to the worst subtitling on the planet goes to... Bo Ying's Throne of Blood. Being a Shakespeare play it's probably not the easiest movie to translate for a bored Chinese subtitler, but - by crikey - whoever did this was off their head... From the offset the film delivers pure comedy with it's choice of English subtitles, and continues all the way through. Which - let's face it - you're unlikely to sit through. Washizu and Miki in the forest - BFI version [Two horses gallop to a stop in the rain] Washizu: What an extraordinary storm. All elements combined. Miki: Hurry, His Lordship is waiting for us. [More galloping, then they stop] Washizu: We passed this way before. Miki: There are our hoofprints. Washizu: This is Cobweb Forest, isn't it? The Castle cannot be far away. But we've been riding for nearly two hours. Miki: This is Cobweb Forest alright. Where the enemy gets lost and cannot find our Castle. Washizu: But we know every trail through the forest. [Washizu fires an arrow into the forest, lightning flashes and an eerie laugh is heard] Washizu: An evil spirit must be blocking our way. Miki: I will break through with my spear. Washizu: And I with my arrows! [They gallop off again] Washizu and Miki in the forest - Bo Ying version [Two horses gallop to a stop in the rain] Washizu: What a weather! I have never seen such a weather. Miki: Hurry, master is waiting for us. [More galloping, then they stop] Washizu: Did we come here before? Miki: Look, there are horse prints. Washizu: Strange, is this a spider's bush? Won't be wrong. So it's getting close to the city. But we have been walking in the bush for a long time. We can't get out of here. Miki: It's a great spider's bush. Like a spider's web. To make the enemies drop into a web. Washizu: But we know the place quite well, how come we are lost. [Washizu fires an arrow into the forest, lightning flashes and an eerie laugh is heard] Washizu: Hear that? It's a monster, a monster is coming. Miki: Good, let me shoot it. Washizu: I use the bow and arrows! [They gallop off again]

This famous scene in Throne of Blood, where Washizu addresses his army and tells them of his encounter with the forest spirit, is rendered as hilarious with Bo Ying subtitles. The Bo Ying translators prefer the word "monster" instead of "spirit" or "old woman" and also the word "bush" instead of "forest". As you can imagine, the resulting subtitles have a high comedy value. If only for a single viewing... Washizu addresses his army - BFI version Washizu: Listen, men! Victory belongs to those who win the last battle. Courage, men! Trust me! I will not lose a single battle. I will tell you why I say that. When I was the commander of Fort One... ...on my way to the Castle after Fujimaki's defeat. ...I saw an old woman in the Forest. She told me I would be the master of North Mansion... And then lord of the Castle. And here I am. Her prediction has become true. Today... I saw her again and she told me more. Whatever happens, I shall not lose a single battle... Unless Cobweb Forest begins to move... and comes to Cobweb Castle. Well, do you think that Cobweb Forest will begin to move? [laughs] Washizu: Men, do you trust me? [Men cheer] Washizu addresses his army - Bo Ying version Washizu: Everybody listens. To win is the final result. Other things are not worthy. No worries. Trust me. I won't lose. If you don't believe, just listen. When I was the guard in the no. 1. On the way I was returning to the city. I met a monster in the spider bush. That monster predicted. I'd be the guard in North House, then became the master of the city. You look. The prediction is all correct. Today... I come to the spider hand again. To find the monster for the result. Listen. I won't lose anyway. That monster said. Unless the hand of the spider bush moves closer. Otherwise I won't lose. Do you think that bush would move? [laughs] Washizu: Show the weapons if you believe me. [Men cheer]

The Hidden Fortress subtitle comparison - BFI versus Bo Ying

Bo Ying's Hidden Fortress has got subtitles written by the most incompetant film translator that ever walked the planet. They are incomprehensibly bad. Beyond funny. And in a league of their own. Here's a small sample of what you can expect. The text is reprinted here as it appears on screen - mistakes 'n' all. Actually the mistakes make this all the more fun... Beginning of The Hidden Fortress - BFI version Tahei: Keep away from me, you stink Matakishi: We both smell of death. It's your fault. The smell of you makes me sick. No wonder, you stinker of stink. I mean you, you're foul You said we'd make our fortune from the war Tahei: [laughs] Matakishi: What's funny, idiot? Tahei: Everything's funny. First, the war ended. Then as we were the losers we were forced to bury the dead. Then we escaped with nothing but water in our bellies. Your snivelling face is the funniest thing of all, though. Beginning of The Hidden Fortress - Bo Ying version Tahei: Get away, you are of cropse smell Matakishi: Why are you so angry, we are the same. It's your fault. You are smelly, I wan to vomit. How can a worm know. What do you say? You are a worm, shit. Said wars could boom the business. Tahei: [laughs] Matakishi: What's funny, crazy. Tahei: All is funny. Not in time for wars. Slaves are forced to collect cropses. Escaped, but being hungry.

The scene where the two peasants meet Mifune's General character takes the story to another level of confusion. The subtitler displays a complete lack of regard for clarity and loses us in a web of crazy Chinese names. "Chow? Joe? Shan? Where are we we going? Who's who again? Where did King come from?" is what we were thinking when viewing Bo Ying's debacle of a release. When they first meet the General - BFI version [Rokurota sits at the fire - an uninvited guest] Tahei [to Rokurota]: Hey! Rokurota: [nods] Matakishi: Cold, isn't it? Rokurota: [nods] [Tahei and Matakishi look at each other and sit down] Tahei [to Rokurota]: What are you doing up here? Rokurota: What are you doing here? Tahei: We're going to cross the frontier Matakishi: We're going to Hayakawa Country Rokurota [points]: But yonder it's Yamana Country Tahei: Yes, but to get to Hayakawa Country... [Sits down and draws in sand] Tahei: Here's Hayakawa Country... Here's Akizuki Country, where we are now. This is Yamana Country. We want to get from Akizuki Country to Hayakawa Country. So we'll go around through Yamana. Then we'll slip into Hayakawa Matakishi: I'll explain it for you. There's no reason for defeated Akizuki men... to head for Yamana Country. Tahei: So it will be easier to get to Hayakawa through Yamana. And as we're only farmers, we reckon we'll manage it somehow. Rokurota: [laughs] When they first meet the General - Bo Ying version [Rokurota sits at the fire - an uninvited guest] Tahei [to Rokurota]: How are you? Rokurota: [nods] Matakishi: It's cold in the mountain. Rokurota: [nods] [Tahei and Matakishi look at each other and sit down] Tahei [to Rokurota]: What do you do in the mountain? Rokurota: How about you? Tahei: We... want to smuggle. Rokurota: Smuggle? Matakishi: To the country Joe. Rokurota [points]: Joe? But there is Country Shan. Tahei: No... yes, it's not easy to go to Country Joe. [Sits down and draws in sand] Tahei: This is Country Joe. Here is our Country Joe. This is Country Shan, understand? It's convenient to go to Country Joe through Country Chow. But there is a block at the border, we can't get through. So... must pass the Country Shan. And then go to Country Joe. Since Chow's workers won't go to Country Shan. Thus the defense is loose. Yes, so we pass King to Joe. Easier then passing Chow to Joe. We are farmers who don't worry accident. Rokurota: [laughs]

One last comparison from the abominable Bo Ying Hidden Fortress release: the scene where the peasants find out the general's name. Never has a classic film ever been rendered so lame...We can hear you shouting: "His name is Rokurota Makabe! You can hear the bugger say it on the soundtrack! So why oh why did you decide to change his name to Ching in this version? And then not even have the decency to use a capital 'c' on his name in the subtitles?!" Is there no limit to Bo Ying's audacity? Where they find out the general's name - BFI version Rokurota: How did you get here? What are your names? Matakishi: I'm Matakishi Tahei: I'm Tahei Rokurota: Put down the rice. Place some in the pot. Hurry. Tahei: What about water? I want a drink first. Matakishi: Me, too. I'm parched. Tahei: What's your name? Rokurota: Me? I'm Rokurota Makabe. Tahei: I've heard that name before. [Sudden realization] Matakishi: Don't be funny, Rokurota Makabe is the famous Akizuki general Rokutora: [laughs] Matakishi: You can't fool us, you idiot. Where they find out the general's name - Bo Ying ver Rokurota: How can you come here? What's your name? Matakishi: I am Yau. Tahei: I am Ping. Rokurota: Yau put down the rice. Ping pour the rice to the pot. Hurry. Tahei: Where is the water? I need to have some water first. Matakishi: Yes, I am so thirsty. Tahei: What's your name? Rokurota: Me? I am ching. Tahei: Ching, this name is familiar. Ching... Ching... [Sudden realization] Matakishi: Don't bull shit, Ching is the great general of Country Chow. Rokutora: [laughs] Matakishi: Joking us, bastard.

A few last-ditch facts about the Bo Ying Box Set, before we lose interest...

The on-disc artwork for Ikiru is spelt incorrectly - it's printed as "Lkiru" The disc sleeves inside the box are cheap plastic holders - the kind you get in budget wallets. The Quiet Duel disc is labelled as "The films of Akira Kurosawa" and the words "Quiet" and "Duel" are noticable by their absence.

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Benefit All Mankind The Films of Akira Kurosawa A website celebrating the work of Japanese film-maker Akira Kurosawa. About Akira Kurosawa Kurosawa's Actors Film Reviews Disc Comparisons Further Reading Image Gallery Kurosawa Merchandise About this website Thanks to Index Website by Paul Mallinson. © 2007-2019 Registered trade marks and trade names are copyright of their respective owners. kurosawamovies.com Filmography Sanshiro Sugata (1943) The Most Beautiful (1944) Sanshiro Sugata – Part Two (1945) They Who Step On The Tiger’s Tail (1945) Those Who Make Tomorrow (1946) No Regrets For Our Youth (1946) One Wonderful Sunday (1947) Drunken Angel (1948) The Quiet Duel (1949) Stray Dog (1949) Scandal (1950) Rashomon (1950) The Idiot (1951) Ikiru (1952) Seven Samurai (1954) I Live In Fear (1955) Throne Of Blood (1957) The Lower Depths (1957) The Hidden Fortress (1958) The Bad Sleep Well (1960) Yojimbo (1961) Sanjuro (1962) High And Low (1963) Red Beard (1965) Dodes'kaden (1970) Dersu Uzala (1975) Kagemusha (1980) Ran (1985) Dreams (1990) Rhapsody In August (1991) Madadayo (1993)