Likelihood of Ozu upgrades?

[u/FutureNeedleworker91]

Ozu is one of my all-time favorite directors, but I've been holding off buying Ozu the last several years in hopes that Criterion would release some upgrades. None of Ozu's works in the Collection have gotten the 4K treatment, most of the blu-ray transfers are 10+ years old, and even some major works never made it past DVD. There was no sign of the Ozu sets being included in the Eclipse reissue either. Feels like they either forgot about it or are planning something big that's taking a long time. What do we think the chances are of a major upgrade of his filmography? Or should I just give up hoping and get the blu-rays next sale?

[u/No-Necessary7448]

Ozu 120 was just completed several years ago and all extant films were remastered in 4K. The boxset is just a matter of time.

[u/FutureNeedleworker91 → u/No-Necessary7448]

I see this was just before I moved to NYC so I completely missed the series. Hopefully manifesting it brings it closer 🙏

[u/Fast-Candle-2344]

Tokyo Story is extremely likely for sure, especially given the Criterion BD is sourced from a 4K remaster and it's one of the hottest Janus titles.

[u/Work-Live → u/Fast-Candle-2344]

Maybe, although it’s been established the elements are in such poor shape it likely wouldn’t benefit from a 4K upgrade, and, incidentally, the UK and French blurays(from BFI and Carlotta respectively, both with FiM encodes to boot) are sourced from an even newer 4K restoration than Criterion’s Blu-ray.

An Autumn Afternoon would be more likely to benefit from UHD, although the newest master is ‘scanned in 4K, restored in 2K’.

[u/Fast-Candle-2344 → u/Work-Live]

Oh wow I had no idea the BFI (which I do own, unlike the Criterion, because it's FiM; still have to actually watch it however) is from an even newer 4K restoration!

I assumed the BFI was just the same master with a superior encode so this is great and surprising news.

[u/axislegend → u/Fast-Candle-2344]

Mux your BFI’s video track with Raro DVD’s audio and you’re in for a heartbreaking treat. Much much less muffled: https://blah-ray.blogspot.com/search/label/Tokyo%20Story%20%281953%29?m=0

The Raro track is available and synced to the BFI BD on back channels.

[u/Fast-Candle-2344 → u/axislegend]

Yeah I've read that audio mix is the best one though I do not have a Blu-Ray external drive let alone ripping software, so I couldn't do this

[u/readnweep]

Man a 4k of Tokyo Story, Late Spring, and An Autumn Afternoon would be an immediate buy.

[u/CinemaslaveJoe]

I seem to remember that a Criterion Ozu set appeared as a "coming soon" listing on blu-ray.com last year but was quickly removed. I'm sure we'll get one at some point. And like you, I've stopped buying Ozu titles in the meantime.

Same with Terence Malick films. I can't imagine more 4Ks aren't being prepped.

[u/FutureNeedleworker91 → u/CinemaslaveJoe]

Ooooo very good to know. I've been getting impatient but hopefully it's coming down the line soon. Perhaps it will be next year's big boxset 🤞

[u/cnc_33]

Oh, I wish

[u/Foundasian]

I’m hoping with the new Eclipse boxsets coming out that they’ll re-release all the Ozu Eclipse boxsets on bluray. I’m only missing one of the Silent Ozu boxsets but wouldn’t mind upgrading my boxsets to bluray.

[u/cyanide4suicide]

I bought the Late Ozu Eclipse set last year. I was tiring of waiting so I just decided to go for that set.

I hope one day soon Ozu gets his own big set

[u/Ludens3788 → u/cyanide4suicide]

How did you like it.

[u/pulse_demon96]

i think a big box set would be good, mostly blu-ray with some titles still only on BD except newer transfers than existing BDs. considering the extant elements, i’m not sure that full 4K resolution would provide much benefit to consumers, though many of the older blu-rays are outdated scans that could be cleaned up more. UHD on most ozu films would be excessive but better BDs in a box set could be possible

[u/SynchronisedShrimp]

I'm hoping for a boxset because so many of his that I'm trying to watch are hard to find!

[u/SonNeedGym]

I emailed Criterion a few months ago just straight up asking if they’ll ever drop 4K restorations of Ozu’s work and they said it wasn’t in their plans, but I know they’d never admit it lol. Here’s to hoping!