BCI's collected box set of the complete MPD Psycho mini series is due for release next week and a copy arrived unbidden in my mailbox today. After giving it a quick perusal let me say that if you're a Miike fan who held off on the individual releases of this for some reason you made a very wise choice. Here's the skinny.
The DVDs themselves appear to be identical to the individual releases, picture quality is very good, each disc containing two episodes of the six episode series with the original Japanese audio and excellent English subtitles. A fourth disc includes a good assortment of bonus features: cast and crew interviews, five behind the scenes effects reels, the Lolita-c animations, TV promos and episode previews, a music video, shooting tests and an alternate opening. No, the uncensored footage is not here despite BCI's best attempts to get it: word is the source footage no longer exists. This edition packages the discs in three slimline cases - the bonus disc rides shotgun in the third case - with the trio then packaged in an attractive cardboard slipcase. While I've not seen the individually released third volume to confirm this myself, all the listings I've seen say that it is a single disc release which means the extra feature disc is exclusive to this set. But that's not why you've been wise to wait. That is because this set is priced just a few bucks more than any of the single volume releases, meaning buying this set gets you the entire miniseries for just slightly more than a third of what you'd spend buying the individual volumes. Nice. And yes, it's very much worth the price ...
Check my detailed review of volume one here.
MPD Psycho Complete Collection on Amazon
If "the source footage no longer exists" the production company could always just allow them to port the scenes directly from the Japanese R2 DVDs, which included them. I call bullshit on these lies.
I agree with Caterpillar, but I'll purchase this set anyway for two reasons:
First and foremost, the censored version is the original one. The censorship is there as an additional joke from Miike. It's not like they butchered an original by censoring it.
Second, this is very attractively priced. I would have liked the uncensored scenes as an extra (and as Caterpillar said the possibilities do exist, source material or not), but for this price I will not complain about missing them too much.
RANT:
I just cancelled the R2 UK "Paranoia Agent" boxset, which is excellent in both quality and price, because the British Government demanded that 1.5 minutes containing a comically depicted suicide attempt had to be cut out of one of the most acclaimed episodes(even though the set was already rated 18+).
Ordering that boxset elsewhere will cost me at least 20-30 USD more, but I will not spend money on such STUPIDLY and arbitrarily cut procuct. And I feel sorry for the distributor because they did the utmost to have the material included in the box, but the British Censorship Board refused to allow adults a chance to laugh at a stupid emo teenager botching his/her own hanging.
END OF RANT.
the usual saying is that miike doesn't want the uncensored scenes to be shown, spoils the illusion of the footage as presented in the films - either way, theyre on the japanese DVDs.
as for the 'paranoia agent' issue, the british government demanded nothing, and of so-called 'british censorship board' that doesnt exist (pedantic, i know) - youre thinking of the BBFC. still, i think such a thing is absurd, so i largely ignore R2 UKs for my own purchases, as do many in the UK, particularly when it comes to world cinema - its simply not worth the risk, extra cost, limitations.
I have the individually released third volume and it is a two disc set.
Just one word on the "censored" issue. As a great MPD fan I once ordered the original R2 DVDs of the series (sold them after hearing that there would be a translated version). It contained the mentioned material (if I remember correctly 6 scenes). To be frank the scenes were quite "interesting"... and disturbing... in the first place. But really not that memorable. After a second look... they were just cheap. I remember a brain with a plant... REALLY artificial. The censoring makes them more interesting and even more horrible. Your fantasy adds more than there really is. I think this "the scenes are lost" is just a way for the producers not to have commit suicide if anyone finds out about the quality.
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