Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video | | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall |  | 3.5 |
Kaili Blues Blu-ray Movie Review
A compelling journey for fans of world cinema to explore
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard December 22, 2019
A visual odyssey, Kaili Blues focuses on the journey taken by a doctor Chen Shen (Yongzhong Chen) as he searches for both his long-lost nephew and an old flame of another doctor located in the same clinic. The film has been executive produced by Jianguo Ding (Long Day's Journey Into Night) and Yang Shen (Black Coal, Thin Ice). Creative, visually hypnotic, and experimental, Kaili Blues is worth exploration.
Kaili Blues is not a typical narrative experience. While there is a storyline that is explored over the course of the filmmaking, the best way to describe the film is to examine it as a visual journey in the language of cinema. The film has a number of extended sequences which are entirely wordless and the film even has a 40 minute long shot in the film which is an entirely visual experience which showcases the beautiful cinematography as the forefront attraction for this unique cinematic experience.
"Am I still ahead of Mario?!"
This is a perfect example of cinema that acts and moves as if it is poetry in motion. The experience is about the aesthetic and the emotions created by the spectacular imagery. The effectiveness of the film would not be possible without the impressive cinematography by Tianxing Wang (From Where We've Fallen). The blistering colors and their vibrancy are part of the fabric of the film's DNA. Photographic images of a unique kind form the cinematography (and ultimately add to the story).
Gan Bi (Long Day's Journey Into Night) makes the experimental film worth the trip. The screenplay and direction of Bi are what makes the journey a unique one. There are filmmakers out there who manage to make the most of their simplistic, ordinary stories: Gan Bi is such a director. The film doesn't exude spectacle or traditional suspense but instead merely weaves its compelling fable by emphasizing both the visuals and tone.
Kaili Blues Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The release has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The film encode has a massive average bit-rate of 36.99 mbps for the encode quality. The film sometimes appears almost too surrealistic but with crisp imagery the visuals certainly make an impression. The colors are vibrant and even when some sequences are subdued the brightness of the cinematography gives it a digital sheen that is worthy of noting.
Kaili Blues Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The film is presented with a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 audio track. This is a rather simplistic sound design and one which is not as immersive as a surround sound track would be able to provide. The dialogue reproduction on the release is exceptional nonetheless and the music score comes through with a vibrancy which sings. The atmospheric soundstage also works wonders and leaves a strong impression. English subtitles are provided.
Kaili Blues Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Diamond Sutra (HD, 22:50) is a black-and-white short film (subtitled in English). It's a curiosity that fans might want to check out given the filmmakers involved.
Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:33)
The release includes trailers promoting other releases available from Grasshopper Film: Fireworks Wednesday (HD, 1:37), Right Now, Wrong Then (HD, 1:49), Don't Blink: Robert Frank (HD, 1:48), Kate Plays Christine (HD, 2:23), The Human Surge (HD, 1:33), and Mimosas (HD, 2:20).
Kaili Blues Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
Viewers will find that there is much to appreciate about the filmmaking and its unique approach. With an excellent music score composed by Giong Lim (Millennium Mambo, The Assassin) adding to Bi's directorial sensibilities, the filmmaking ultimately makes an impression that is unmissable. The film deserves to be seen by serious fans of world cinema who are seeking an experience that will stay with them.
