Home :: DVD :: Science Fiction & Fantasy  

Alien Invasion
Aliens
Animation
Classic Sci-Fi
Comedy
Cult Classics
Fantasy
Futuristic
General
Kids & Family
Monsters & Mutants
Robots & Androids
Sci-Fi Action
Series & Sequels
Space Adventure
Star Trek
Television
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams

Akira Kurosawa's Dreams

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $14.99
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 11 >>

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Disappointing Transfer
Review: Being a great fan of the old 1991 Laserdisc version of this movie, I was excited to finally hear that a DVD copy was available. I purchashed it right away in hopes of showing off my progessive scan DVD player (with component hookups) and my snazzy new 16:9 widescreen 46" Sony HDTV. Sadly, this DVD version's quality wasn't anything like I remembered.

10 years ago, I owned this movie on the old Laserdisc format, and the quality was unbelievable. The colors in every segment seemed so perfect, so sharp - that the movie was almost surreal in it's presentation. It just jumped out at you with impossibly perfect reds and stunning blues. I remember loading this Laserdisc when friends came to visit and I really wanted to WOW them with the "new digital laserdisc" technology.

Sadly, it appears this DVD version is a transfer from an inferior, analog source. The widescreen complaints from other reviewers confirm this suspicion. Sure, the DVD looks good, and sounds good, but just doesn't have the impact - color/picture/etc - that the original did. Film grain and dust specks are clearly visible throughout the movie and most edges are fuzzy. My 4 year old DVD of West Side Story is sharper and more vivid than Dreams. I can't stress enough that this DVD seems to be more of a transfer than an actual remastered version of the original.

This DVD reminds me of the Goodfellas DVD transfer, which was also released years ago without any significant DVD bonus features or, more importantly, an enchanced digital transfer from an original copy.

Perhaps I'm being picky, but I remember Dreams as being both a wonderful movie *and* a fabulous technological showpiece for my home theater system. Now it's just another DVD in my collection, looking as technically "good" as Animal House or Heat. Hopefully Criterion will release an enhanced, completely remastered version of this fantastic film in the near future.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Why this hasn't been released at original aspect ratio?
Review: Ok, the box reports "Anamorphic Widescreen"... But the screen aspect - which hadn't been respected already on LaserDisc edition - has been even more trimmed down in the DVD edition. The DVD aspect ratio is only 1.8:1, while when released on screen the aspect ratio was 2.35:1!

I already checked out if they used the entire frame of the Super 35mm original and it was not the case, as the DVD has fewer image details and lateral image compared to the LaserDisc edition. Alas!

The sound is very good but comparable to the LaserDisc edition.

Finally, the DVD has no extras at all - something disappointing, as Kurosawa declared at the time of theatrical release that the special effects available at the time were used to their maximum extent. And that he wouldn't commit other three of his dreams to the screen because there were no sufficient SFX at the time to allow this.

A rather disappointing release. At least, the movie is beautiful, but I'll stick with the LaserDisc edition.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Feast for the Eyes
Review: This is, quite simply, the most visually stunning film I have seen since "Days of Heaven." It surpasses even that earlier film in its intensity of visual content and technical mastery. Criticisms aimed at its literary content may be valid to a certain degree, but this is a film to buy just to LOOK at. Turn off the sound and the subtitles if you don't like them. This film doesn't need them. It is a complete joy to watch.

I'm adding this caveat post-posting because I read a new customer review that criticizes the apparent fact that the DVD does not respect the original screen aspect of the film. This will be a terrible blow to fans of this beautiful film. I haven't received my copy of the DVD yet, but I'm considering returning it if this is the case. You just don't do that to fine works of art.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's about time
Review: I saw this movie in a theater when it came out years ago. I've since then longed to own a VHS copy, but it never was available for under $... Glad it's coming to DVD...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It is About Time!!!
Review: This is a long overdue DVD, one I have been waiting for, for a very long time. This was the first foreign film I ever watched and every felt a true passion for. I watched this for the first time when I was 18, and it helped open me to a world beyond brain-dead action and mindless horror films. It is very stylistic and visually stunning, especially 'The Peach Orchard'. Kurosawa is a true genius, and without a doubt, the greatest film director of all time, and I can not wait to watch this film in fine DVD style!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: So Glad to See "Dreams" Finally Available!
Review: I saw this film several years ago and even today I recount it's imagery as perhaps among the most beautiful I've even seen. It's certainly not for everyone, but if you are a person who's mind is more sighted toward symbolism rather then realism at times, then this film is unforgettable. The aesthetics are lush and poetic, and the vignette's are touching if you allow yourself to be receptive to what Kurasawa's putting before you. The Van Gogh vignette is particularly beautiful. I've seen several Kurasawa films, enjoyed them all, but "Dreams" really captured my imagination in a very endearing way.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dreams
Review: This is Kurosawa's best Color Movie. The photography is incredible. Eight tremendous shorts that seam to roll into one another, the concept of the crows where they walk into the Van Gogh paintings is stunning! My favorite is the last story the waterfall, the wisdom the old Man is inspirational.
Red Beard and Dreams, favorite two movies ever made.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: akira k's dreams
Review: i love this movie this movie it's really good i'm going to gett all of akira's movie on dvd if u like a really like forein moive's you'll like all of them by"akira k." you'll like this movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hope it's worth the wait
Review: I've been waiting for Dreams to come out on DVD ever since I got my DVD player. It's movies like this (grand and visually stunning, like 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY) that are real must-haves for a DVD collection. I have seen Dreams several times on video tape (unfortunately, I've never seen it in the theater) and hope that the DVD doesn't disappoint.

Let the beautiful and poetic stories wash over you. Don't look too hard for literal meaning, rather enjoy the vignettes as sort of visual poems or music. This is one of my all time favorite movies and I can't wait to see it on DVD!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Let's get in DVD!
Review: This can be easily THE most beautiful movie I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot), and it's just driving me crazy not having it on DVD, it's insane. Few movies get to touch me so deeply, particularly after all the s**t that comes out of hollywood... thanfully, this is really different. This is the most poetic movie I've ever seen and I can't help to recommend it to everyone, I know not all will like it (because it is unlike anything you've seen) but for those who do, they'll be marked. It is so beautiful, so touching, so deep, so poetic. Unbelievable. Kurosawa is THE genius. Never had I fallen in such deep a trance as in this movie. It absorbs you into a floating state of thought, it embraces you into becoming part of it. I felt the happiness, I felt the cold, I felt the silence. I felt it all. And never had I felt in such a delicate way with a movie. If you can't buy it, rent it, if you can't do that, get it ANYway you can. Believe me, it won't be an opportunity lost.


<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 .. 11 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates