A Century Of Japanese Cinema - Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3

Atsumi Kiyoshi | Baisho Chieko | Mitsumoto Sachiko

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A Century Of Japanese Cinema Series

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Customer Review of "A Century Of Japanese Cinema - Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp (Hong Kong Version)"

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Average Customer Rating for this Edition: Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10 (1)
Average Customer Rating for All Editions of this Product: Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10 (2)

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Kevin Kennedy
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April 20, 2009

This customer review refers to Otoko wa Tsurai yo (Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp) (1st Story) (DVD) (HD Remastered) (English Subtitled) (Japan Version)

Glorious remastered version Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10

My review posted below pertains to the inexpensive Panorama release of this fine feature film. I now have viewed this remastered Shochiku version and have the following comments:

1. The English subtitles in the two versions are very similar. My sense is that the Shochiku version provides a slightly more literal translation, which provides greater clarity at times, but occasionally can make the film's colloquialisms seem strange.

2. While the image quality of the Panorama release isn't bad, the image quality of this newly remastered Shochiku version is spectacular, a real revelation. There are two very brief instances in the Shochiku release in which the image jumps forward; it is nothing more than a momentary distraction and should not deter you from purchasing this beautiful release.

3. The DVD includes a bonus feature that shows a nice series of production stills from this film, then strings together a hilarious series of scenes (no subtitles) from various Tora-San films in which Tora gives an assortment of young men advice on the fine art of wooing women.

This is a wonderful, heart-warming film and I recommend it highly.

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Kevin Kennedy
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August 14, 2007

Great start to a great series Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10

Now that I have seen over three dozen of Yamada Yoji's wonderful Tora-San films, it is great fun to revisit "Tora-San, Our Lovable Tramp", the first in the series. It is remarkable to see how complete was Yamada's vision of the Tora-San character and of the dynamics of these films right from the beginning.

The opening scene provides a shock to those familiar with the series. We see Kurumi Torajiro wearing a white dress shirt, a tie, and shoes (not sandals) as he makes his way back to his old neighborhood for the first time since he fled it twenty years earlier. (Those accoutrements are quickly shed and we subsequently see Tora in his familiar garb.) The second shock was to learn that Tora had an elder brother who had passed away. The third shock is to see how young and beautiful Baisho Chieko appears in this film. Yes, she always has been and remains a lovely woman, but here -- wow!

By the way, YesAsia's description of the film contains a couple errors. First, Sakura is not working in the uncle and aunt's sweet shop in this movie; she is working as a key punch operator for a big company. Second, her planned marriage is not to be with a painter, but with the son of one of her employer's contractors.

Anyway, in this film, we see Tora (a) screw up the planned marriage by his boorish behavior at a "get acquainted" dinner, (b) fall in love with the first in a long line of women with whom he doesn't have a chance, (c) battle with his aunt and uncle and with the "octopus" next door, (d) offend Hiroshi in Hiroshi's efforts to win the heart of Sakura, etc., etc. In other words, right from the outset of the series, it is business as usual for Tora-San.

The film contains many laugh-out-loud moments, many get-out-your-handkerchief moments, and lots of rollicking good times in between. Particularly poignant is the scene in which Hiroshi's proud father publicly confesses his failings as a parent.

If you haven't yet encountered the Tora-San series, then I strongly suggest you climb aboard with this first film. Trust me, once you watch this film, you will want to immerse yourself in more of them. This is compulsively watchable and richly rewarding viewing. Very, very highly recommended.

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