Kwaidan

[Psychocandy]

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004W3HF.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Anyone seen this? It's an anthology movie that brings together four traditional Japanese supernatural tales. I've heard nothing but praise for it and being a fan of Kurosawa whose movies this seems to bear a passing resemblance to visually i'm more than a little intrigued. Is it as creepy as has been suggested? If anyone has actually seen the Criterion edition could some light be shed on the quality of the transfer (I made the mistake of buying the UK releases of Seven Samurai and Yojimbo...the quality of the image is appalling at times during both movies). Any info appreciated.

[malaria]

Kwaiden is a very good film consisting of four ghost stories each set in a different season of the year.
The stories are very simplistic and predictable and some will seem familiar to you if you have seen the numerous remakes and ripoffs, eg. the oft screened Tales From the Darkside movie which has one short copied from Kwaiden (The story where the creature vows to spare the man's life as long as he promises never to tell anyone what he has seen). The stories really have a really authentic feel of old ancient mythical tales. Just because they are predictable doesn't make them bad. It's the knowing that makes them so creepy and more than once you will feel the hairs on the back of your neck prickle.
There is a shortened television version of Kwaiden which has one of the stories cut out. Make sure if you're buying it that all four stories are included. Also - and this cannot be stressed enough - make sure that you see this film in widescreen only!!!! More so than any other film this film is made for WIDESCREEN ONLY and must not be seen any other way. Each frame is a meticulously designed heart-melting work of art and many scenes are static and symmetrical.

My video copy was realeased on Tartan video and like all Tartan releases I've bought are perfect. I have no idea about the DVD tho but hope this helps anyway.