8.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A hard-boiled ex-cop, haunted by a troubled past and pushed to the edge by the shooting of his partner, confronts his demons in a ruthless quest for justice and redemption.
Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Kayoko Kishimoto, Ren Ôsugi, Susumu Terajima, Tetsu WatanabeForeign | 100% |
Drama | 55% |
Crime | 11% |
Romance | 3% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Takeshi Kitano's "Hana-bi" a.k.a. "Fireworks" (1997) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Third Window Films. The supplemental features on the disc an original trailer for the film; archival video interview with Takeshi Kitano; audio commentary by Mark Shilling; and more. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
Nishi
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Takeshi Kitano's Hana-bi arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Third Window Films.
Depth and clarity are good. The daylight footage, in particular, boasts lovely depth and fluidity, but even some of the nighttime footage looks impressive. Colors are stable throughout the entire film and there is a good range of healthy nuances. Contrast levels remain stable as well. There are no traces of recent compromising digital corrections. Overall image stability is excellent. During the daylight footage some light compression artifacts try to sneak in and my guess is that viewers with large screens will likely spot a few of them, but they do not become distracting. There are no large damage marks, dirt spots, or stains. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.
The upgrade in quality is substantial. Joe Hisaishi's melancholic score is essential for the desired atmosphere and the improved depth and clarity are easily noticeable. The dialog is clean and stable. Dynamic intensity isn't impressive, but separation and balance are excellent. There are no audio dropouts or digital distortions to report in our review.
It should have happened earlier, but it was Hana-bi that legitimized Takeshi Kitano as a director in his home country. It is a very unusual film which at times feels like an exotic project Wim Wenders secretly shot in Japan years ago and then forgot about. I consider it one of Kitano's most moving films. Hana-Bi is now available on Blu-ray via British distributors Third Window Films. It looks good in high-definition, but it could have been encoded better. Nevertheless, consider adding Hana-bi to your collections. RECOMMENDED.
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