The Greatest Japanese Filmmaker of All Time Returns to Theaters in 4K

by

As a cinema enthusiast, when I ponder over Japanese filmmakers, names like Takeshi Miike, Hayao Miyazaki, Kenji Mizoguchi, and Hirokazu Koreeda instantly pop into my mind. Yet, there’s one director who stands head and shoulders above the rest; a visionary whose impact on cinema transcends borders. That legendary figure is none other than Akira Kurosawa. It’s challenging to refute his status as a Japanese cinematic icon, given his creation of groundbreaking films such as Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Ran, Ikiru, and High and Low, among numerous others. Now, both new and seasoned fans can savor Kurosawa’s masterpieces once more on the big screen, but this time in breathtaking 4K clarity.

Akira Kurosawa, born in 1910, began directing with the film “Sanshiro Sugata” in 1943. Throughout a remarkable career spanning over half a century, Kurosawa produced masterpiece after masterpiece, many of which influenced filmmakers such as George Lucas and Spike Lee. In 1993, he released his last directorial work, “Madadayo.” Last year, the restored 4K version of his most celebrated piece, “Seven Samurai,” returned to theaters. Now, it’s high time for more of his highly regarded works to undergo similar restoration.

Akira Kurosawa: A Retrospective Reimagines the Director’s Greatest Films in 4K

The trailer for “Akira Kurosawa: A Retrospective,” a special re-release of the master filmmaker’s top films, has just been unveiled by Film Forum. These classic movies have undergone remastering in 4K by Toho Co., Ltd. Several of these films will be making their US premiere during this event, which is taking place at the Film Forum in New York City from July 18th to July 31st.

This event showcases some of Kurosawa’s most acclaimed and impactful films, including “Throne of Blood,” “Stray Dog,” “High and Low,” “The Hidden Fortress,” “Ikiru,” “Yojimbo,” and its follow-up, “Sanjuro.” As previously stated, the restored version of “Seven Samurai” in 4K has already been released and won’t be part of this event. However, you can now purchase the 4K restoration physically.

One of Akira Kurosawa’s Greatest Films Is Being Remade

I’m absolutely thrilled to share that my latest venture, “Highest 2 Lowest,” lines up perfectly with the highly anticipated release of Spike Lee’s remake of “High and Low.” You might remember that Lee previously took on another iconic Asian movie, “Oldboy,” back in 2013, starring Josh Brolin. Now, he’s reimagining the gripping thriller tale from “High and Low” on American soil, with none other than Denzel Washington steering the ship. The film had its grand premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May and will grace our cinemas on August 22nd. After a brief run in theaters, it’ll be available for streaming on Apple TV+ from September onwards!

A music industry titan (portrayed by Denzel Washington), renowned for his exceptional ability to identify talent, finds himself in a perilous moral predicament when he becomes the target of a kidnapping plot.

Read More

2025-07-05 06:09