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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Blade of the Immortal" or "Mugen no jûnin")
Directed by Takashi Miike
Japan 2017
Based on the Manga series of the same
name by Hiroaki Samura, Blade stars Takuya Kimura (Love
and Honour) as Manji, a highly skilled samurai, who
becomes cursed with immortality after a legendary
battle. Haunted by the brutal murder of his sister,
Manji knows that only fighting evil will regain him his
soul. He promises to help a young girl named Rin (Hana
Sugisaki) avenge her parents, who were killed by a group
of master swordsmen led by ruthless warrior Anotsu (Sôta
Fukushi). The mission will change Manji in ways he could
never imagine... This blistering samurai film matches impressive performances with an impossibly high body-count and expertly-filmed scenes of combat. Blade is set to become one of its directors most revered films, and is presented here by Arrow Video with a wealth of special features. *** Based on the popular
animated TV series from 2008, Blade Of The Immortal
also owes a lot to
True Grit. Even before her family was attacked,
Rin was training hard to become a fighter, but she's too
small to pack the necessary force into her blows.
Nevertheless, she refuses to give up, or to look the
other way in the face of injustice, even when it's
happening to an enemy. Should she wait until she's grown
and able to fight better by herself? Anotsu (Sôta
Fukushi), leader of the fanatics, declares early on that
to rape someone as young as her would be vulgar. The
message is clear: she must fulfil her quest quickly
before the passing of time lowers her social status
still further and puts new barriers in her way. |
Posters etc.
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Theatrical Release: May 18th, 2017 (Cannes Film Festival)
Shaw Brothers-Martial Arts-Wushu or related films on Blu-ray reviewed (click review buttons to also see comparisons where applicable): |
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review:
Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-rayBox Cover |
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Also available on Blu-ray from Magnolia in Region 'A': |
Limited Edition Blu-ray Steelbook (4000 copies)
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Distribution |
Arrow |
Runtime |
2:21:32.275 |
Video |
Disc Size: 49,221,393,773 bytes Feature Size: 31,582,408,704 bytes Average Bitrate: 21.81 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video |
Bitrate:
Arrow Blu-ray
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Audio |
DTS-HD Master Audio Japanese 3540 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz /
3540 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary: |
Subtitles | English, English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release
Information: Studio: Arrow
Disc Size: 49,221,393,773 bytes Feature Size: 31,582,408,704 bytes Average Bitrate: 21.81 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Manji
vs. 100, behind the scenes featurette documenting the
shooting of the film's opening fight scene (6:25) Chapters: 13 |
Arrow's Limited Edition Blu-ray Steelbook package (4000 copies)
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Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. This is available from Arrow in a standard Blu-ray and a LE Blu-ray Steelbook - with the same 1080P transfer with similar contents (see Steelbook image above.). Arrow's transfer is in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio and looks stunning - especially the black and white sequence in the beginning. While on dual-layered disc the bitrate is supportive but at the lower end for the almost 2.5 hour film. It's a bountiful production and kudos to the cinematography (Nobuyasu Kita) and stylistic look of the film that is translated very well to BD. The black and white opening is intentionally saturated and colors rich and deep - the entire looked very impressive on my system.
The audio transfer is in a robust DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround - 24-bit - in the original Japanese language. The film has a plethora of intense aggressive effects with the lengthy fighting sequences. They have a piercing high-end and power-packed depth also in the score Kôji Endô (Rainy Dog, and Ley Lines of Miike's Black Society Trilogy, Audition, 13 Assassins, Gozu, The Bird People in China, The Happiness of the Katakuris, Three... Extremes, Sukiyaki Western Django, The City of Lost Souls ) that sounds beautifully tight in the lossless. The dialogue is clean and audible and there is the option of a descriptive track (in English). Arrow add optional English or English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray disc.
Arrow add an audio commentary by Tom Mes (author of
Re-Agitator: A Decade
of Writing on Takashi Miike) and he spends much of the beginning
of the film focusing on the misrepresentation of it being Miike's 100th
film. His voice is hushed but he is frank and has plenty of interesting
details about the director, this production, it's reception and much
more. He is very informative and I found it rewarding to listen to.
There is a new 25-minute interview with Takashi Miike discussing
Blade of the Immortal filmed exclusively for Arrow Video at the 2017
London Film Festival. Manji vs. 100, is a 6-minute behind the
scenes featurette documenting the shooting of the film's opening
monochromatic fight scene and Manji vs. 300, is a 12-minute
featurette documenting the shooting of the film's thrilling climax.
There are nine extensive cast interviews filmed on the set during
production with occasional input from Miike. It runs just shy of 1 1/2
hours/ There is also a stills gallery and an original trailer. Both
standard
Blu-ray and Steelbook
Blu-ray packages have an illustrated collector's
booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anton Bitel, theatrical
poster art and original artwork. Exhausting, elaborate, fight sequences and Wushu mythology encourage massive appeal for Blade of the immortal. It can really be over-the-top with detailed production and an immense amount of savagery and blood. It has a nostalgic-homage quality to it as well. The film is hard not to appreciate for fans of the genre with a style, filled with close-ups, not dissimilar to pasta-westerns. Arrow's Blu-ray offers a dynamic presentation of a pristinely shot, and visually impressive, film. No reason not to use for demo purposes with the right crowd - especially the first 1/4 hour! I can see many wanting the steelbook for collectability of this extravaganza of a fantasy samurai epic. Wow. Certainly recommended!- Gary Tooze |
Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |