There's a whole thread devoted to cinemascope / B&W glory somewhere around, with lots of Japanese examples celebrated.

Reviews for:
Pigs and Battleships
The Insect Woman
Intentions of Murder
Box set in general

DVD Times has individual reviews of Pigs and Battleships, The Insect Woman and Intentions of Murder.

Do those familiar with Imamura here have a favorite one of his films? There seems to be no real consensus (which isn't a bad thing really).

I'm not exactly a fan, but well before this release was on the horizon, Insect Woman was the one I kept getting told to see by people who knew.

HTF review.

Surprisingly enough, Insect Woman was the one I liked the least of the 60s films despite similar word-of-mouth. A lot less energetic and darkly humorous than the other two (as well as the already released The Pornographers, which shouldn't be ignored).

Of course, my two favorites - Profound Desires of the Gods and A Man Vanishes - aren't part of the Collection.

The Eel is probably my favorite Imamura.

I find Insect Woman at least as darkly humorous as its two companions -- and about as energetic as Intentions of Murder (albeit less so than Pigs and Battleships).

I would say that a restored version of Eejanaika is also highly necessary.

I may have said in this thread before, but generally speaking, Imamura has a much more refined sense of humor than his New Wave compatriots. The Insect Woman is definitely the best example (that I've seen) of his comedic styling. Highly recommended. From what I've heard about The Pornographers, it's a lot more "flashy" than The Insect Woman, which is a bit more restrained albeit still one of most visually impressive films of the decade.

Arrived today in the mail here in Japan. The inside of the box is that same hot pink used on the upcoming Eclipse Nikkatsu Noir set. So, did Criterion get a special deal from its printer for using that pink? Or is this some theme for use on all films from Nikkatsu? p:-k

I will be watching Pigs and Battleships tonight. It just happens that I will be in Yokosuka tomorrow on work.

First of all, having seen the first two films I can safely say this is my favorite Criterion release in a long while. There's a humor in them that, even when showing us the blackest, dirtiest, most detestable sides of human nature, becomes a sort of humanism, albeit one almost totally unhampered by sentimentality. Imamura may be an anthropologist, but he's one absolutely fascinated by his subject, ultimately (and fortunately) unable to hide his enthusiasm and affection. These are revealing, chilling, and scathing films, but they also embrace life in all its myriad and twisted forms, and this is what gives them their real energy and passion.
But I had a quibble about the presentation that I'd be interested in hearing what other people thought about. Tony Rayns mentions in one of his interviews that the literal translation of The Insect Woman's title would in fact be something along the lines of Japanese Entymology. Not only do I think this is a far better, more interesting name, I question Criterion's practice of releasing the film under the Western moniker. A title can play such a crucial role in one's reading of a film that it seems wrong, in this more enlightened day and age of film distribution, to release an artwork under a name other than the one its creator gave it. I realize that marketing is probably behind this decision, but these are fairly obscure films we're talking about here, and surely the words "Shohei Imamura" on the cover are pushing this particular boxset, not the individual titles inside. Maybe at least if the transliteral title of a film was found somewhere on the packaging, in the description maybe, not hidden away in a supplement. Just a thought.

I've just received a notification from Customs of their arrival and I'll be pushing this set at or near the top of my queue.
I've loved everything I've seen by Imamura, and I've heightened expectations for this set.

You should check out 'The Pornographers': I think some people might be put off by the title, or worried that its appeal may be down to soft-porn, but its a very funny, often blackly so, film, part surreal,part character study, part social commentary, but not in a dry way, and technically excellent.
And with a great ending.
All told, a beautifully judged work

Does anyone know why the mutterings of the old women in Intentions of Murder weren't subbed? They were certainly intelligible, especially near the end of the film.

Just watched 'Pigs and Battleships': another winner from Imamura, as were the other four of his I've seen.
Leaving aside the black comedy, the snipes at American and Americans, the homage to the Western, - or is that a continuation of the sniping?, - this is essentially a classic 'woman's picture', - of the superior kind.
(and I'm thinking it might be the right opportunity for me to check out another of the films from the MoC Naruse box-set)

Does anyone else wonder whether the magnificent opening sequence of Pigs and Battleships was inspired, at least in part, by that of Touch of Evil?

it wouldn't surprise me.
Has Imamura any 'previous' with regards to Welles?
That pigs 'stampede' reminded me of 'Red River'

I finally got to watch the nice new Criterion DVD of Pigs. It was nice to finally get to see this subbed. I was surpised to discover that the opening (which I still consider stunning) doesn't consist only of long takes (the way I remembered it). Now, more than ever -- my favorite Imamura film (albeit closely followed by Eejanaika).

I finished the set and I think The Insect Woman is by far the best of the bunch, Imamura moves through Japanese pre- and post-WWII history so fluidly, while providing a central character who you see progress to adulthood in a very organic way, although Imamura's pseudo-incest drew me out a little. It had its share of little details that I loved - the little girl turning her head each time she answered Tome's questions, the still images during the fight between Tome and one of her prostitutes at the police station - and overall it was a great example of style and substance working greatly together, but I haven't had any other good reactions to Imamura's other work and I may be done going through his oeuvre.

Intentions of Murder I found rather tedious, I just couldn't for the life of me get into the story and didn't care at all about any of the characters, except the little boy who I had sympathy for above anything else. Pigs and Battleships had its share of great moments - like the opening - but I've never been a fan of movies depicting a down-and-out kid turning to organized crime with dreams of the Big-time, blame it on my days of youth being subjected to A Bronx Tale over and over.

It reminds me of my reaction to the Teshigahara set, where one film stood out above the others. But if I can find just one film in a boxset that I truly loved then I consider it a worthwhile purchase.

While Pigs and Battleships may spend slightly more time on Kinta than on Haruko, I see her as the central figure in the film. The film is not just another film about a male loser, it is about a determined woman who has both a sense of what she wants and who she wants. Haruko clearly sees how deluded Kinta's anmbitions are, and does her best to get him to re-focus.

I think the central character of the film is up for interpretation since the climax of the film occurs with Kinta However I think you're right in that Haruko is given a more pointed focus, despite having less screen-time, but the film shifting between the two characters seems to suggest that it is about both of them more than it is one or the other since it doesn't simply show Haruko dealing with her reltionship with Kinta and Kinta's ambitions and the pressures of her family to meet an American, but also with Kinta struggling to obtain fortune and power and then realizing how fruitless such pursuits are.

I liked how the film balanced the characters of Haruko and Kinta, and as it progressed I became more invested in the plight of both characters. The dark comedic touches - especially the pig being carried away on the stretcher along with the gangsters, the life insurance billboard - added a lot and showed Imamura's unique eye for comedy. I think it's a film that will grow on me, reflecting back on it there is a lot to like in both the characters and how the film progresses - although at times Nagato's dopey stumbling around was over-the-top and irksome.

I'm certain I could find things to grouse about in Pigs and Battleships -- the thing is -- I simply enjoy it too much to want to do so.

I agree the film has a dual focus (which is why I think it is different from the typical film of low-life criminal sad-sacks). ;~}

I really wanna get this. Do you folks think the extras combined with the features make it worth the $70?

You came to the wrong forum to ask if a DVD is worth spending money on

That's a good point. I'll ask the question differently: How do you folks like the special features?

James, I got this at the B&N 50% off sale w/coupon going to this set. Getting it for a painless $30. The films are well worth your time. So, you could wait for the next sale.