Zatoichi #14, Available on Amazon again - Page 2

shaolinkng7 · 05-16-2012, 12:42 AM

The Miramax story is urban legend. A couple of years ago someone from Miramax had to do some damage control, and contacted a lot of blogs and websites to say that the story was false.

The Katsu family owning the film? I think that story originated with Media Blasters who attempted to obtain the rights to the film and were rebuffed. That could have meant that the Katsu estate did not want the film released, the same way the John Wayne estate kept "Hondo" off of television and VHS for years. Or it could mean that someone representing Media Blasters pissed off the Katsu estate while negotiating with them. The Katsu estate has allowed this movie to be released in Japan. And they did sell the rights to Chambara Entertainment back in the 90s. The only reason why Chambara did not release it was that they simply never got around to releasing most of the Zatoichi films they had rights to.

Criterion owning the rights? Doubt it. HVE skipped right past #14 and #16 for a reason, they did not have the rights to neither. Criterion only released the movies Janus Films had the rights to. Janus only dealt with Daiei way back when they were still in business. They did not bother negotiating with Toho or Katsu Productions. These were being released to art-house theaters, and making very little profit. It did not matter to them if they missed a few movies in the series.

AnimEigo negotiated with Toho and got the rights to the Zatoichi's they owned.

Sambojits · 05-16-2012, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaolinkng7

Criterion owning the rights? Doubt it.

2 of us have already told you that Criterion own the rights. You can pay to watch Pilgrimage plus all the others HVE released. They have the rights for whatever reason.

shaolinkng7 · 05-16-2012, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sambojits

2 of us have already told you that Criterion own the rights. You can pay to watch Pilgrimage plus all the others HVE released. They have the rights for whatever reason.

That is streaming video, not DVD. The whole point of the writers strike a few years ago that shut down an entire television season was that writers were not compensated for online revenues. Legally online videos were not the same as DVDs, which were not legally the same as VHS, which were not legally the same as televised, which were not the same as theatrical releases. Each technology is different. Criterion may have obtained the rights to stream #14, but that does not mean they also have the right to release the same movie on home video. They would have to make separate deals for Blu-Ray and DVD. I told you why HVE never released #14 on DVD. They never had the rights to that film for home video release, and could not bother making separate deals with Toho and the Katsu estate. They already had a pre-existing distribution deal with Janus, and Janus obtained the home video rights to the films the distributed to theaters.

If HVE owns the home video distribution rights to Zatoichi #14, it makes no sense why HVE would put out a number series, release each film in numeric sequence, then skip #14 and release #15 and #17. Nor would it make sense that Criterion is refusing to release #14 when that would go against their companies ethics. Criterion is all about making sure obscure art house films get released, not shelved so no one sees them. If Criterion is holding the home video rights then I would like to see some evidence they are planning to release #14 on DVD.

Sambojits · 05-16-2012, 02:40 PM

Criterion owns tons of films that they have not released on any format. They only release a few titles each month and I doubt Zatoichi 14 is a big priority. They can not even be bothered to re-issue the now out of print HVE releases.

daisho2004 · 05-16-2012, 08:34 PM

@Sambojits:

This is an ongoing subject in regards to Merlin and a few other Fansubbers. But I will give you the real deal true version. Without Merlin many many classic Samurai/Ninja films we here in the USA would never get to see them. Merlin gets remastered prints and subtitles them for us, yes sometimes it can be a little expensive but if you want to see classic Japanese movies then that's the price you will pay. Merlin offers everyone a discount if your on his mailing list. And trust me if a movie gets a legit release, I'll buy directly from that company. But when you buy from these Taiwan companies half the times the subtitles aren't good. With Merlin there always 100 accurate. There are others who scam off Merlin's hard work and sell at half the price. And they know who they are! Listen the bottom line is you have a choice you can buy from Merlin knowing what Ur getting or not. And you can hope & pray that some of these great classics will eventually get a legit release but don't count on it.

masterofoneinchpunch · 05-16-2012, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sambojits

Criterion owns tons of films that they have not released on any format. They only release a few titles each month and I doubt Zatoichi 14 is a big priority. They can not even be bothered to re-issue the now out of print HVE releases.

You can see all the HVE/Janus Zatoichi films for free on Hulu

Of course as I try to load #14 it has problems coming up. Tested Zatoichi and the Doomed Man and that came up fine.

Hulu has a lot of free films. I hate watching films on the Internet, but some of you might be interested in this.

Vegeta84 · 05-17-2012, 03:50 AM

Criterion didn't own the rights to the 14 Zatoichi or HVE when they were released a few years ago. Criterion now owns the rights to the 14 film has for about two years. If you don't believe me, e-mail them and they will tell you.

tokenganjaclan · 05-17-2012, 05:58 AM

Subbing and doing a Transcribe is two different things. Just saying!!

You know I have SAT and my Japan Collection is nearly 3,000 films, and trust me about 80% are already subbed in some form. Plus anyone can grab a script off line. Even a monkey ( myself included) can drop subs over a film. You know my thought's on Merlin and Corey, They are no better then the ebay guys who are selling the films dirt cheap.
Anyone can take a Wildside Dvd and drop a script on it.
Don't get it twisted up, Those guys aren't paying sub houses to sub up a movie to get $20 off a Dvd-R.. I already proved this years ago, by taking one of Corey's screen caps of his " New and Approved" version he claimed to have subbed, but remember he had the old shot from the Tv copy next to it with the exact subs on the new print....Way to funny, He went back in time and subbed the Tv print as well...Anyway this is a dead horse...Pan Media, Corey, Merlin,ebay sellers...It's all the same..Everyone's stealing something for profit.

daisho2004 · 05-17-2012, 12:39 PM

@tokenganjaclan: As I have stated this is an old debate but here's the big picture, I don't see anybody putting out these classic movies! So if a monkey can do it then why aren't there a whole colony of Monkey's doing it then for us to enjoy?! Like I said nobody is forcing anybody on here to buy from Merlin or Corey. You can wait forever hoping to see some of these great classic movies get a legit release which for the most part isn't going to happen or support them its pro-choice!

Sambojits · 05-17-2012, 01:46 PM

Just like with Anime, another reason companies won't release them legitimately is BECAUSE of the bootlegs. They see no one re-buying them. We are all just beating a dead horse anyhow.

05-17-2012, 12:39 PM	#19
daisho2004 Master Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,777	@tokenganjaclan: As I have stated this is an old debate but here's the big picture, I don't see anybody putting out these classic movies! So if a monkey can do it then why aren't there a whole colony of Monkey's doing it then for us to enjoy?! Like I said nobody is forcing anybody on here to buy from Merlin or Corey. You can wait forever hoping to see some of these great classic movies get a legit release which for the most part isn't going to happen or support them its pro-choice! __________________ Ninja now you'll see, you Wish you'd had been Wiser.

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05-16-2012, 12:42 AM	#11
shaolinkng7 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 67	The Miramax story is urban legend. A couple of years ago someone from Miramax had to do some damage control, and contacted a lot of blogs and websites to say that the story was false. The Katsu family owning the film? I think that story originated with Media Blasters who attempted to obtain the rights to the film and were rebuffed. That could have meant that the Katsu estate did not want the film released, the same way the John Wayne estate kept "Hondo" off of television and VHS for years. Or it could mean that someone representing Media Blasters pissed off the Katsu estate while negotiating with them. The Katsu estate has allowed this movie to be released in Japan. And they did sell the rights to Chambara Entertainment back in the 90s. The only reason why Chambara did not release it was that they simply never got around to releasing most of the Zatoichi films they had rights to. Criterion owning the rights? Doubt it. HVE skipped right past #14 and #16 for a reason, they did not have the rights to neither. Criterion only released the movies Janus Films had the rights to. Janus only dealt with Daiei way back when they were still in business. They did not bother negotiating with Toho or Katsu Productions. These were being released to art-house theaters, and making very little profit. It did not matter to them if they missed a few movies in the series. AnimEigo negotiated with Toho and got the rights to the Zatoichi's they owned.

05-16-2012, 02:40 PM	#14
Sambojits Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 43	Criterion owns tons of films that they have not released on any format. They only release a few titles each month and I doubt Zatoichi 14 is a big priority. They can not even be bothered to re-issue the now out of print HVE releases.

05-16-2012, 08:34 PM	#15
daisho2004 Master Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,777	@Sambojits: This is an ongoing subject in regards to Merlin and a few other Fansubbers. But I will give you the real deal true version. Without Merlin many many classic Samurai/Ninja films we here in the USA would never get to see them. Merlin gets remastered prints and subtitles them for us, yes sometimes it can be a little expensive but if you want to see classic Japanese movies then that's the price you will pay. Merlin offers everyone a discount if your on his mailing list. And trust me if a movie gets a legit release, I'll buy directly from that company. But when you buy from these Taiwan companies half the times the subtitles aren't good. With Merlin there always 100 accurate. There are others who scam off Merlin's hard work and sell at half the price. And they know who they are! Listen the bottom line is you have a choice you can buy from Merlin knowing what Ur getting or not. And you can hope & pray that some of these great classics will eventually get a legit release but don't count on it. __________________ Ninja now you'll see, you Wish you'd had been Wiser.

05-17-2012, 03:50 AM	#17
Vegeta84 Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 129	Criterion didn't own the rights to the 14 Zatoichi or HVE when they were released a few years ago. Criterion now owns the rights to the 14 film has for about two years. If you don't believe me, e-mail them and they will tell you.

05-17-2012, 05:58 AM	#18
tokenganjaclan Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 54	Subbing and doing a Transcribe is two different things. Just saying!! You know I have SAT and my Japan Collection is nearly 3,000 films, and trust me about 80% are already subbed in some form. Plus anyone can grab a script off line. Even a monkey ( myself included) can drop subs over a film. You know my thought's on Merlin and Corey, They are no better then the ebay guys who are selling the films dirt cheap. Anyone can take a Wildside Dvd and drop a script on it. Don't get it twisted up, Those guys aren't paying sub houses to sub up a movie to get $20 off a Dvd-R.. I already proved this years ago, by taking one of Corey's screen caps of his " New and Approved" version he claimed to have subbed, but remember he had the old shot from the Tv copy next to it with the exact subs on the new print....Way to funny, He went back in time and subbed the Tv print as well...Anyway this is a dead horse...Pan Media, Corey, Merlin,ebay sellers...It's all the same..Everyone's stealing something for profit.

05-17-2012, 01:46 PM	#20
Sambojits Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 43	Just like with Anime, another reason companies won't release them legitimately is BECAUSE of the bootlegs. They see no one re-buying them. We are all just beating a dead horse anyhow.