8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
At the end of Japan's feudal era, a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a war-torn future.
Starring: Koji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yûsuke Iseya, Sôsuke Takaoka, Hiroki MatsukataForeign | 100% |
Martial arts | 46% |
Drama | 28% |
History | 27% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy (as download)
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The only thing you can expect when going into a Takashi Miike film is the unexpected. The über-prolific Japanese auteur has helmed over 70 theatrical features, TV shows, and straight-to-video offerings since 1991—that’s 3.5 outings a year, including the span between 2001 and 2002, during which he made a baker’s dozen worth of films—and he’s dabbled in just about every genre, from westerns (Sukiyaki Western Django) and kid movies (The Great Yokai War) to yakuza epics (Dead or Alive) and my personal favorite, the nutso zombie-musical-claymation-family drama/comedy Happiness of the Katakuris. Of course, he’s best known for pushing the boundaries of extreme cinema in the ultraviolent Ichi the Killer, the sadistic Audition, and, most explicitly, in the taboo-busting Visitor Q, which voyeuristically revels in incest, necrophilia, and “lactation sex.” Miike frequently courts controversy, and this makes it doubly unexpected that his latest film is so comparatively traditional. A remake of a 1963 film of the same name, 13 Assassins fits neatly into the classic samurai movie mold. Instead of overturning the genre—as his reputation would suggest—Miike has simply reinvigorated it, to great effect. If films like Seven Samurai, Sword of Doom, and The 47 Ronin are your particular cup of green tea, 13 Assassins will go down just as easy.
8 of 13 Assassins
Magnolia brings 13 Assassins to Blu-ray with a more-than-satisfying 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer. Shot on Super35mm, the movie retains its natural filmic look here, with a veneer of slightly gritty grain that's untouched by DNR. Basically, everything looks exactly how it ought to look, and there's no evidence of any boosting or tweaking on Magnolia's part. The film features a very muted, drab palette dominated by muddy browns and faded greens, with the only vividness coming from the occasional fire and the red gleam of blood on well-used swords. 13 Assassins won't win any award for most colorful Blu-ray presentation, but the hues are rich and dense. Black levels get a bit hazy during certain darker indoor scenes, but I get the feeling that is unavoidable if shadow detail is to be preserved. Besides, blacks are tight and contrast strong during the daylight scenes, which typically have lots of depth and presence. Clarity is generally excellent, with defined facial textures in close-ups and lots of visible detail in the costuming and set design. Noise rarely spikes, and I didn't notice any real compression issues. The film looks great.
Turn this one up loud. Just do it. You'll be glad you did. 13 Assassins comes with a Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that's appropriately intense. The 50-minute battle sequence that closes the film is sonically brutal; crank up the volume and you'll feel like you're right in the middle of the action. In an interview included on the disc, Miike talks about how important sound design was in the making of the film—he specifically stresses how he didn't want to repeat any sounds—and this comes through in the mix's almost non-stop sense of immersion. The surround channels are active in just about every scene. Arrows whiz between speakers, swords clang and scrape, dismembered soldiers moan from all side, and horse hooves pound thunderously against the dirt. In several instances, the soundfield is rocked by massive explosions that activate the subwoofer and send debris flying through the rear channels. Even the less involving scenes come alive with ambience, from swells of rain and wind in the trees to delicate sounds like the crackle of a candle. Music is only used selectively in the film—there's no score for almost all of the big battle scene—but when it is present it sounds wonderful, with rich strings and an expansive presentation. Dialogue occasionally sounds a bit murky and low, but never to the point of distraction or unintelligibility. The disc also includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English track, but like most dubs it simply doesn't capture the spirit of the original performances. Stick with the stellar Japanese mix.
Miike has a reputation as a totally gonzo filmmaker, but he's proved quite a few times that he's capable of creating mature, even moving stories. Add 13 Assassins to the list; it stays firmly within the conventions of the traditional samurai genre, but it does so extremely well, reminding us of why there are certain conventions in the first place. Put another way, this movie kicks all kinds of ass. Magolia's Blu-ray release looks and sounds great as well, so there's no reason not to pick this one up if you're interested in sword-swinging action. Highly recommended!
Jing mo fung wan: Chen Zhen
2010
刺客聂隐娘 / Ci Ke Nie yin niang
2015
2002
赤壁 / 赤壁:决战天下 | Chi Bi | Original International Version
2008
江山·美人
2008
Huo Yuanjia | 霍元甲 | Theatrical, Unrated, & Director's Cuts
2006
Xue Di Zi
2012
龍門客棧 / Long men kezhan
1967
るろうに剣心
2012
Su Qi-Er
2010
天地英雄
2003
無限の住人 / Mugen no jûnin
2017
座頭市血笑旅 / Zatôichi kesshô-tabi
1964
座頭市物語 / Zatôichi monogatari
1962
座頭市喧嘩旅 / Zatôichi kenka-tabi
1963
座頭市あばれ火祭り / Zatôichi abare-himatsuri
1970
座頭市御用旅 / Zatôichi goyô-tabi
1972
新座頭市・破れ!唐人剣 / Shin Zatôichi: Yabure! Tôjin-ken
1971
座頭市血煙り街道 / Zatôichi chikemuri kaidô
1967
新座頭市物語・折れた杖 / Shin Zatôichi monogatari: Oreta tsue
1972