6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In an era where aliens have invaded and taken over feudal Tokyo, a young samurai finds work however he can.
Starring: Shun Oguri, Masaki Suda, Kanna Hashimoto, Masami Nagasawa, Masaki OkadaForeign | 100% |
Comic book | 17% |
Action | 14% |
Sci-Fi | 12% |
Adventure | 4% |
Comedy | 2% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In terms of overall strangeness, nothing will probably ever be able to totally replace Hare and Guu, one of the first anime I reviewed outside of more mainstream fare like Akira, but if I were forced to offer a runner up, one of the finalists would most likely be Gintama. Perhaps because in the many years since Hare and Guu first traipsed across my television screen I’ve reviewed a lot of anime, I actually had kind of forgotten about Gin Tama: The Movie, thinking instead that I was having some kind of weird déjà vu as I watched this live action adaptation. Everything clicked into place memory wise once a giant white duck like creature named Elizabeth toddled into view, though, and indeed that very character is probably as totemic as any in providing an apt example for exactly how gonzo Gintama can be. (As I mentioned in the Gin Tama: The Movie Blu-ray review, this franchise’s title is variously transliterated as either Gintama, GinTama or Gin Tama. Since Well Go USA’s cover lists this as Gintama, that’s the version we’ll use here.)
Gintama is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Well Go USA with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The IMDb only lists a 2K DI under its technical specifications for the film, and I haven't been able to find authoritative data on what cameras were used to digitally capture the imagery. One way or the other, this is a kind of curiously flat looking film, one whose detail levels are repeatedly kept at bay courtesy of a hazy overlay of blue and purple grading and/or lighting techniques. Ubiquitous rather soft looking CGI and green screen elements, especially for backgrounds, don't help to elevate detail levels much, either. That said, there are numerous examples of excellent detail and fine detail levels in the more naturally lit moments, where everything from goofy costumes to brightly colored hair pop with precision and a nicely saturated palette.
At least arguably a bit more consistently satisfying is Gintama's boisterous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track (in the original Japanese, with optional English subtitles). As any fan of this franchise will know, Gintama tends to be on the raucous side, and that is certainly the case with this live action cartoon. Sound effects are virtually nonstop throughout the film, with regular engagement of the side and rear channels. There are appealingly bizarre effects applied to everything from the snake like tentacles that emerge from the magical katana (and Nizo himself) to the whisking of Elizabeth's "conversational signs". It's just flat out goofy almost all of the time, but extremely enjoyable for those willing to just go with the flow. Dialogue, effects and score are all rendered cleanly and clearly on this problem free and well prioritized track.
Anyone who has watched any version of Gintama is probably filled to the brim with various questions, but the big one that kept occurring to me during this live action adaptation was a simple, Why? The film is not stunning enough from a production design standpoint to really make the decision to go to live action seem like a good one, and the relentless "noisiness" of the film gets to be rather tiring after a while, especially considering that Gintama runs for well over two hours (things easily could have been trimmed by at least a half an hour without any major detriments accruing). Fans of the franchise may well want to check this out, since it admittedly does deliver a few scattered laughs, and for those folks, the good news is technical merits are generally strong.
2022
2010
Ritânâ
2002
30th Anniversary Edition
1991
宇宙海賊キャプテンハーロック / Kyaputen Hârokku | Limited Edition to 3500
2013
SD on Blu-ray / Hokuto no Ken
1984-1988
ゴジラ ファイナルウォーズ / Gojira: Fainaru uôzu
2004
Jade Crystal / Moh fei chui / Mó fěi cuì / 魔翡翠
1986
2011
1993
Skylin3s
2020
1994
ゴジラの逆襲 / Gojira no gyakushû
1955
キングコング対ゴジラ / Kingu Kongu tai Gojira
1962
Gamera tai Bairasu
1968
怪獣大戦争 / Kaijû daisensô / Godzilla vs. Monster Zero
1965
Uchu kaijû Gamera
1980
Uchū Daisensō
1959
大兵小將 / 大兵小将 / Dà Bīng Xiǎo Jiàng
2010
1966