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

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (January 2021): Arrow Video have released a new 2-Blu-ray set of Ryûhei Kitamura's "Versus". This release comes from a brand new 2K restoration from original film elements, approved by the director. The first Blu-ray features the film in its original 2000 form, with the second disc featuring the 2004 "Ultimate Versus'' version (featuring over 10 minutes of new and revised footage [some with CGI] as well as different music and some different color filters) A good breakdown of the different cuts can be found HERE. Disc one has the film accompanied by a supportive bitrate averaging in the low 20's (kbps), while the 'Ultimate' cut (disc 2) gets a higher average bitrate near 30kbps. The image tends to look a little soft, lacking minute detail. Certain sequences are seemingly shot on 16mm with thicker grain, giving them an intentional look. The Ultimate Edition seems to benefit most from this new transfer, though the image quality seems to be a bit hampered by the source material, most likely due to budgetary constraints during filming. Contrast is quite poor, showing a very basic range of blacks, though the film relies on the over-the-top lenses/filters/etc. All of that being said, this is miles above any SD release of the film, and fans would be wise to pick up this edition.

Arrow Video's first Blu-ray disc of "Versus" features the options of listening to the film with the original Japanese 24-bit 5.1 DTS-HD Master audio, or linear PCM Japanese 2.0 stereo, or linear PCM English 2.0 stereo. The "Ultimate Versus" Blu-ray disc is interesting, giving us the options of 24-bit DTS-HD Master audio in 6.1 Japanese, 24-bit DTS-HD Master audio in 6.1 English, 24-bit linear PCM Japanese 2.0, or 24-bit linear PCM 2.0 English. Confused? Don't be. I would just recommend listening to the surround track that best fits your system. If you have a system capable of more than 5.1 channels, it is worth checking out the 6.1 track. The sound mixing and wild techno music from Nobuhiko Morino are all more than suitable for the linear 2.0 tracks as well. There are optional English subtitles on this Region FREE Blu-ray release from Arrow Video.

The first Blu-ray in this 2-disc set from Arrow Films includes 2 commentaries. The first is with Kitamura and producer Keishiro Shin. The second features Kitamura and the cast and crew. The second Blu-ray disc also features a commentary with Kitamura and the cast and crew for the longer cut. All three commentaries feature optional subtitles, and have quite a laid-back laugh-filled quality to them. It is my understanding that these commentaries were recorded years prior for DVD editions of the film. "Body Slamming Body Horror" is a newly constructed 16-minute long visual essay on the work of director Ryuhei Kitamura and the early 2000's rise of 'Asia Extreme Cinema'. This piece is narrated by Japanese cinema expert, Jasper Sharp. "First Contact: Versus Evolution'' is a 10-minute wordless archival featurette set to electronic music, this contains some behind-the-scenes footage, but is most-likely not worth your time. "Tak Sakaguchi's One-Man Journey'' is another archival featurette, this time spending 14-minutes with actor Sakaguchi on his visit to the 2001 Japan Film Festival in Hamburg. The self-filmed footage is on the light and humorous side of things, though also tedious (watch the star eat breakfast! watch the star do pushups in his hotel room!. Watch the star ride the subway!) There is a funny little pay-off at the end, but it's a chore getting there. "Team Versus" is a 1-minute piece showing the people at the Napalm Films office just goofing off with a punching bag. "Deep in the Woods" is a 25-minute archival featurette (apparently for French audiences (though it is in English) featuring interviews with Kitamura, cast and crew. This is less 'goofing off' than the last set of featurettes, featuring more of the dry, press junket fare, though the director shares some interesting tidbits, especially regarding the casting of Minoru Matsumoto. The director also admits that he believes "Commando" is Schwarzenegger's best work, while stating that it is probably the first non-stop action film (I find this hard to believe but who knows). "The Encounter" is an archival (2002) French featurette with editor Shûichi Kakesu, a real force in editing both anime ("Cowboy Bebop: The Movie", "Ghost in the Shell") and kinetic wild cartoonish action like "Electric Dragon 80.000 V". This interview also features producer Shin Keishiro. Next up is 12.5-minutes of deleted scenes with commentary from Kitamura, as well as the cast and crew. There are subtitles available for these scenes. The deleted scenes are still time-stamped with film info at the top and bottom of the frame, and looking to be rather poor video quality. That being said, they are worth looking at for fans of the film, and the commentary is a welcome addition, lending some context to what we are seeing and where it would have fit in the film, with the cast and crew seemingly having a good time reminiscing. "FF Version" is a condensed 20-minute recut of the film. "Behind Versus" is a two-part behind-the-scenes documentary exploring the film's production. Part 1 (26:40) is entitled "Birth of a Dark Hero" and Part 2 is "Versus the Legend" (46:06). Both feature talking-heads as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the film, scars and all. "Festival Screenings" are two clips featuring about 5-minutes of poor-quality handheld camcorder footage set to electronic music, why this was included is beyond me. "'Versus' Side Stories" features three playable options, "Nervous", "Nervous 2", as well as "The Making of Nervous 2" which is just one minute of a few stills with some text, neither a making-of nor a trailer. Just odd. "Nervous" and "Nervous 2" are two side story (tie-in) mini-movies featuring characters from the main feature. Next up are some trailers and image galleries rounding out Blu-ray disc one. Disc two features another archival featurette, "Sakigake! Otoko versus Juku" explores the newly shot material that was used for the "Ultimate Edition" which is also included on the second Blu-ray. The first pressing of this release also features a collectors booklet.

Arrow Video's release of "Versus" and "Ultimate Versus" features both films in new 2K restorations from original film elements, approved by director Ryûhei Kitamura. The sheer amount of bonus features looks like a lot to dive into, though only perhaps the commentaries are really worth anyone's time. Not my cup of tea, but fans might be pleased with these Blu-ray presentations.

Colin Zavitz