Hi-Def restoration of Kurosawa's Ran

Michael Wisniewski · May 23rd, 2004, 02:32 PM

What types of techniques do you think they used to restore Kurosawa's Ran?

Aside, from being completely blown away by the movie itself, I was amazed at the side by side clip they showed of the original film and the HD restored version. The original film looked like a bad VHS copy next to the HD restored version which had a sharpness and clarity similar to more modern movies like Crouching Tiger or The Matrix.

Jim Gauthier · May 23rd, 2004, 08:29 PM

I thought the DVD wasn't too bad. Mostly, I enjoyed the production commentary.

Alex Taylor · May 24th, 2004, 06:11 PM

Maybe they got to a point where they said, "this is going to be waaay too tedious" and just reshot it. ;)

Keith Loh · May 24th, 2004, 11:09 PM

I have both the crappy Fox Loeber DVD and the Masterworks. You are right, the restoration is amazing.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · May 25th, 2004, 06:08 AM

The digital restoration process usually consists of a chemical dirt removal on the original negative, a frame-by-frame scanning, a pass through a set of algorithms that deal with machine-correctable scratches, a laborious frame-by-frame removal of other flaws, like waterblotches, by humans using Photoshop-type tools, and a digital regrading ("the DP's second chance"). Probably Ran received more careful attention than many films, but almost all DVD releases of new studio films go through most of this process, including the frame-by-frame touch-up and regrading.

Marco Leavitt · May 25th, 2004, 10:41 AM

I'm amazed any restoration was needed. Ran isn't that old. It's absolutely criminal if they didn't have a pristine print.

Dean Sensui · May 27th, 2004, 02:41 AM

Wouldn't this be called "Kurosawa's Re-Ran"?

Sorry, couldn't resist!

:-)

Dean Sensui
Base Two Productions.

May 23rd, 2004, 02:32 PM	#1
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	Hi-Def restoration of Kurosawa's Ran - How'd they do that? What types of techniques do you think they used to restore Kurosawa's Ran? Aside, from being completely blown away by the movie itself, I was amazed at the side by side clip they showed of the original film and the HD restored version. The original film looked like a bad VHS copy next to the HD restored version which had a sharpness and clarity similar to more modern movies like Crouching Tiger or The Matrix.

May 24th, 2004, 06:11 PM	#3
Alex Taylor Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 390	Maybe they got to a point where they said, "this is going to be waaay too tedious" and just reshot it. ;) __________________ alextaylor.org

May 24th, 2004, 11:09 PM	#4
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	I have both the crappy Fox Loeber DVD and the Masterworks. You are right, the restoration is amazing. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

May 25th, 2004, 06:08 AM	#5
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	The digital restoration process usually consists of a chemical dirt removal on the original negative, a frame-by-frame scanning, a pass through a set of algorithms that deal with machine-correctable scratches, a laborious frame-by-frame removal of other flaws, like waterblotches, by humans using Photoshop-type tools, and a digital regrading ("the DP's second chance"). Probably Ran received more careful attention than many films, but almost all DVD releases of new studio films go through most of this process, including the frame-by-frame touch-up and regrading. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

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May 23rd, 2004, 08:29 PM	#2
Jim Gauthier Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 25	I thought the DVD wasn't too bad. Mostly, I enjoyed the production commentary.

May 25th, 2004, 10:41 AM	#6
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	I'm amazed any restoration was needed. Ran isn't that old. It's absolutely criminal if they didn't have a pristine print.

May 27th, 2004, 02:41 AM	#7
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	Wouldn't this be called "Kurosawa's Re-Ran"? Sorry, couldn't resist! :-) Dean Sensui Base Two Productions.