6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
A crazy old and bored scientist invents a system which allows him to reach through the airwaves and transform live TV cameras into weapons to kill whoever is being filmed.
Starring: Richard Bohringer, Michel Galabru, Dominique Lavanant, Romane Bohringer, Harry ClevenForeign | 100% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Didier Grousset's "Kamikaze" (1986) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include recent program with the director; archival documentary about the production of the film; new audio commentary by critic Eddy Von Muller; and remastered trailer. In French, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
Not ready for seppukku
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Kamikaze arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The film has been fully restored on behalf of Gaumont. Sadly, I have to report that it looks horrendous now. I have previous experience with this film and can confirm that it has never had the light cyan/green cast that you see on our screencaptures. The native color scheme of this film is quite diverse and boasts plenty of natural primaries and supporting nuances. The new cast also introduces several obvious anomalies. For example, in a lot of darker areas, shadow nuances are either flattened or lost, which means that native details are missing. Predictably, depth is affected as well. You can see examples in screencaptures #2, 5, 9, 12, and 13. As a result, there are quite a few areas where select shots have a digital appearance, not an organic film appearance. Image stability is excellent. The surface of the visuals is very healthy, too. All in all, given some of the anomalies that emerge in darker areas, I think that Kamikaze looks even worse than A Pain in the Ass, which boasts an equally problematic color scheme after it was restored in France. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
THere are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
I viewed the entire film with the DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track and only quickly tested a couple of areas with the 5.1 track. I think that the former is excellent. All exchanges sound very clear and sharp, plus the balance is great. Eric Serra's soundtrack sounds great and creates some very interesting dynamic contrasts, too. The English translation is very good.
Kamikaze is a prophetic cult film that deserves to be grouped with the likes of The Last Battle, Subway, Moon in the Gutter, and Betty Blue, all of which legitimized the new French New Wave. Didier Grousset made his directorial debut with Kamikaze but plenty in it comes from Luc Besson. This release introduces a recent restoration of Kamikaze that was completed on behalf of Gaumont in France. Unfortunately, the restoration is very disappointing.
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