Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Video: Eureka

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• Trailer (1:08)

DVD

Bitrate:

 

 

 

The Film:

Nothing seems off-limits, and the over-the-top absurdity initially seems to have no pattern other than the complete lack of men on-screen, and just as soon as that seems firmly established for the audience to start to wonder if there's something to it, it's time to change things up again. Though Sono sets the bar for creative mayhem high with that opening sequence (the festival gave it a special award), he's far from done, as all three actresses are going to spend a good chunk of their time on screen running. The stuff they're running from changes up even more often than they do, from a completely disembodied hypothetical threat a demon groom to... Well, there are certain things a horror-ish movie can't lead out. These scenes seem impossible to link up even though Sono has them run right into each other; it's a contradiction that says amazing things about what a filmmaker of Sono's innovation and energy can do.

If intended as satire, Tag is hamstrung by Sono's own well developed tendencies towards fetishizing women. This feels more along the lines of an apologetic than a criticism, with everything leading up to the revelation at the end of Tag aimed at the pleasure centers of creepy dudes. It has loads of stylish violence, all of it against women. There are a ludicrous number of up-skirt shots in the first act and a church full of underwear laden beauties in the second, all of it culminating in references to gaming in the third act, which, in the past year and a half alone, is an industry that has had its image tarnished by a few meatheads, or, has been exposed for its overall poor attitude towards women.

Excerpt from ScreenAnarchy located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Tag seems a bit muted on Blu-ray from Eureka. Colors are more dull than I would have thought for such a modern-made film. Sono's films frequently use a handheld camera and that appears to be the case here. This is single-layered but has a max'ed out bitrate. It is neither glossy nor pristinely sharp but come to think of it both Tokyo Tribe and Guilty of Romance looked similarly soft and heavy. I would guess the 1.85:1 aspect ratio Blu-ray visuals are an accurate representation of the production.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The audio is transferred via a linear PCM 2.0 channel track at 1536 kbps (16-bit) in the original Japanese language. My software detected a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track but I could not access it nor was it listed in the menu. Strange to have a modern film like this, NOT have a surround track or at least option. There is a score credited to Susumu Akizuki and Hiroaki Kanai but there is also music like GLIM SPANKY's Real Onigokko, MONO performing The Last Dawn, Pure As Snow and The Land Between Tides. It can be as disoriented as its intent and sounds wild and unabandoned or passive with the ability to explode - in the uncompressed. The director is known to enjoy Mahler, Beethoven and Mozart. There are optional English subtitles and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'B'-locked.

Extras :

Only a trailer. I would like a commentary one day analyzing the film's themes (perhaps by someone like Jasper Sharp) or a director interview. There is a second disc DVD of the feature.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
I started to reflect on the other Sion Sono films I had seen; Love Exposure, Tokyo Tribe and Guilty of Romance. Misogyny? Hmmm... I don't think so - it looks like he just doesn't discriminate when it comes to violence - and who it is perpetrated by or against. It, again, has teenage girls venturing to the dark side. His cinema may remind some of Seijun Suzuki - it doesn't have his 60's style but is visually hypnotic and disjointed - perhaps leaning more to the tradition of Japanese anime. I still feel there is something to this guy's work and look forward to re-watching and deciphering more. Eureka's bare-bones Blu-ray let's you see the film in 1080P, which you may feel is more than enough with the ride Tag takes you on. Fans of Sono and the curious are encouraged to indulge. 

Gary Tooze

September 23rd, 2017