Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
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- htdm
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:46 am
New announcements for vols. 8, 9, 10:
To be released at the end of November 2008
•Talking Silents 8 Directed by Torajiro Saito 斎藤寅次郎
子宝騒動 Kodakara Sodo (1935)
明け行く空 Akeyuku Sora (1929)
To be released at the end of January 2009
•Talking Silents 9 Directed by Masahiro Makino マキノ正博
浪人街第一話 Roningai Daiichiwa (1928)
浪人街第二話 Roningai Dainiwa (1928)
崇禅寺馬場 Sozenjibaba (1928)
To be released at the end of March 2009
•Talking Silents 10 Directed by Shozo Makino 牧野省三
実録忠臣蔵 Jitsuroku Chushingura (1928)
雷電 Raiden (1928)
- foggy eyes
- Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:58 am
- Location: UK
Here.gopeki77 wrote:Do you know the internet shops where I can tu buy the Digital meme DVDs?.
- htdm
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:46 am
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
Talking Silents 8 is up for preorder at Amazon.co.jp.
Preorder price has risen to 3974.
Preorder price has risen to 3974.
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Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
Talking Silents 9 has been announced; it features director Masahiro Makino.
- Tutut
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:05 am
- htdm
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:46 am
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
Vol. 10 is up for preorder at Amazon.co.jp.
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Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
I'd come across this thread when researching the series, but there's not much said about the films themselves here. Since I luckily got Talking Silents 4 by more or less controlled accident:
Migratory Snowbird, the benshi narration's hard to take, though I guess it'd work perfectly at a public showing of the time, think of it as a peasant play, it wasn't aimed at movie buffs. Storyline meandering between there and noplace special, some of the night fights are great, even if shots of individual fighters tend to be of clueless actors standing in front of an animated screen, the mass scenes do give a rush. But in all, rather pedestrian.
Kosuzume Pass is more interesting, but maybe that's just because the copy doesn't seem quite complete, and so a surrealist shadow hangs over the film. Everybody seems to act at a remove, much talk about honesty from a guy named Santa, then someone becomes a good man because being alone shook him deeply.
Still underwhelmed really. I know Tokyo March in the Cinemateque version; it's got nice shots of contemporary cityscape, but the struggle between contemporary society and traditional morals plays out so heavily that Broken Blossoms seems an unflinching study in contemporary mores by comparison.
So please, folks having seen all of these films, what's the most "sophisticated" effort in the series, it needn't be something to ponder at length, maybe just a period piece following strict aesthetics. You know, something I can watch today without having to pretend I wasn't there ...
Migratory Snowbird, the benshi narration's hard to take, though I guess it'd work perfectly at a public showing of the time, think of it as a peasant play, it wasn't aimed at movie buffs. Storyline meandering between there and noplace special, some of the night fights are great, even if shots of individual fighters tend to be of clueless actors standing in front of an animated screen, the mass scenes do give a rush. But in all, rather pedestrian.
Kosuzume Pass is more interesting, but maybe that's just because the copy doesn't seem quite complete, and so a surrealist shadow hangs over the film. Everybody seems to act at a remove, much talk about honesty from a guy named Santa, then someone becomes a good man because being alone shook him deeply.
Still underwhelmed really. I know Tokyo March in the Cinemateque version; it's got nice shots of contemporary cityscape, but the struggle between contemporary society and traditional morals plays out so heavily that Broken Blossoms seems an unflinching study in contemporary mores by comparison.
So please, folks having seen all of these films, what's the most "sophisticated" effort in the series, it needn't be something to ponder at length, maybe just a period piece following strict aesthetics. You know, something I can watch today without having to pretend I wasn't there ...
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- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:12 pm
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
The Mizoguchis, the Downfall of Osen and especially The Water Magician (Taki no Shiraito), are really tremendous and several aesthetic orders above the films you're talking about. The transfers on those are about as good as they're going to get, so I would say those are the top priority releases among the ones put out so far.
- Michael Kerpan
- Spelling Bee Champeen
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Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
In addition to Mizuguchi's Water Magician (my favorite early Mizo film), Osen and Oyuki the Virgin...
I find the Torajiro Saito films fascinating -- and would rate them as must-haves (if you are interested in non-chambara fare).
I thought Sentaro Sentai's Dokuro was absolutely stunning visually (a rather odd but interesting tale of a Christian warlord and the woman he leaves behind). The companion film in this set (also starring Utaemon Ichikawa) was entertaining -- but not of the same artistic weight.
The recent Makino disc is interesting so far -- one sees some of the foundation for Yamanaka's work here (though Yamanaka would be far more sophisticated). The upcoming Makino version of Chushingura is supposed to be quite good -- by reputation).
I've not run across the Ito set yet -- and haven't worked my way through all the other chambara stuff on the other early discs.
I find the Torajiro Saito films fascinating -- and would rate them as must-haves (if you are interested in non-chambara fare).
I thought Sentaro Sentai's Dokuro was absolutely stunning visually (a rather odd but interesting tale of a Christian warlord and the woman he leaves behind). The companion film in this set (also starring Utaemon Ichikawa) was entertaining -- but not of the same artistic weight.
The recent Makino disc is interesting so far -- one sees some of the foundation for Yamanaka's work here (though Yamanaka would be far more sophisticated). The upcoming Makino version of Chushingura is supposed to be quite good -- by reputation).
I've not run across the Ito set yet -- and haven't worked my way through all the other chambara stuff on the other early discs.
- htdm
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:46 am
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
After the Mizoguchi's you might try Orochi which I find to be fascinating.
The characterizations may strike you as broad at first but don't let that put you off - the pay off comes at the end.
If you can find it, you might also watch What Made Her Do It? (Nani ga kanojo wo so saseta ka) distributed by Kinokuniya which has a similarly socially conscious theme.
The characterizations may strike you as broad at first but don't let that put you off - the pay off comes at the end.
If you can find it, you might also watch What Made Her Do It? (Nani ga kanojo wo so saseta ka) distributed by Kinokuniya which has a similarly socially conscious theme.
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Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
Thank you kindly! Hey, this reads very clear-cut, so if noone else chimes in to confuse me (which I nevertheless hope they'll do) my next spending spree looks definite. Unfortunately not before July
- Tutut
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:05 am
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
I was interested in Talking Silents 2, but noticed there's a french release of The Downfall of Osen from Carlotta in a boxset with Oyuki, the Virgin and Poppies,
do you know which one has the best picture quality ?
Review in french at Filmsactu with screencaps.
do you know which one has the best picture quality ?
Review in french at Filmsactu with screencaps.
- lubitsch
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 4:20 pm
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
The following statement on their homepage doesn't bode well for more releases ...
With the release of Talking Silents 10, which features the work of director Shozo Makino, the complete Talking Silents DVD series is now available.
- Michael Kerpan
- Spelling Bee Champeen
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Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
How sad. I was looking forward to more great old Japanese non-silent "silents".lubitsch wrote:The following statement on their homepage doesn't bode well for more releases ...With the release of Talking Silents 10, which features the work of director Shozo Makino, the complete Talking Silents DVD series is now available.
- htdm
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:46 am
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
I wouldn't write them off just yet.
Their opening page states that this only completes their "first series" (第一弾).
Their opening page states that this only completes their "first series" (第一弾).
- Sanjuro
- Joined: Fri Nov 03, 2006 1:37 am
- Location: Yokohama, Japan
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
Ah, but that might be it for the silents. The text seems to indicate that "Talking Silents 1-10" completes part 1 of their "Classic Films Series". Ah, well, talkie classic Japanese cinema with English subs is just as welcome, I suppose!
- Matango
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 1:19 am
- Location: Hong Kong
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
I just found all the DM Talking Silents for sale here in Hong Kong at a reputable retailer for about US$10 each. They seem to be licensed by a Taiwan company but the content and coevrs are exactly the same as the original Japanese discs. There's a label on the front that says http://www.imagic.com.tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but that address seems to be down.
- manicsounds
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:58 pm
- Location: Tokyo, Japan
Re: Digital Meme (Japanese Classics on DVD)
With no new releases and no updates to their website, I was afraid that Digital Meme went silently bankrupt or something. Sent an email over and they answered that there will be no new releases for 2015 but there are plans for new releases in 2016, whether theatrical or DVD or Blu-ray or streaming, they haven't said but they are looking into expanding their social media presence, which at this stage is none.