6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.2 |
The adventurous story of a fugitive ninja.
Starring: Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Koyuki, Kaoru Kobayashi, Kôichi Satô (I), Hideaki ItôForeign | 100% |
Action | 71% |
Martial arts | 49% |
Comic book | 16% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Japanese: Dolby TrueHD 6.1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English, English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Loosely based on Sanpei Shirato’s manga “The Legend of Kamui”, Kamui: Gaiden is a 2009 film directed by Yoichi Sai (Blood & Bones), and starring Japanese heartthrob Ken’ichi Matsuyama (Detroit Metal City). For those with little exposure to period productions originating in Japan, I should make it clear that we’re still witnessing a gradual emergence of artistic filmmaking, often trumped by the stylistic grace of Chinese directors. I’ve yet to see the Japanese equivalent of Hero, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, or Curse of the Golden Flower, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in due time. All it really means is there’s a wide gap between artistic vision and studio financing on such films as Shinobi, Ichi, and now Kamui Gaiden, which leaves much to be desired. I’ll touch on this topic in greater detail throughout this review (further clarifying the basis of my opinion), but in the interest of presenting a balanced opinion on the film at hand, I can honestly say there’s a lot to like in the storyline, acting and overall emotional impact of the film. It’s just too bad we’re missing that elusive “wow” factor to elevate this above passable entertainment.
Kamui in the midst of a killing spree.
Presented in 1080p utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 35Mbps), Kamui: Gaiden is a bit inconsistent on Blu-ray. I'm confident this has little to do with the actual encoding of the transfer and more to do with the cinematic choices of those behind the camera lens, but when a visual presentation fails to impress its audience (no matter the reason), there little room for sympathetic praise. Beginning with fine object detail, viewers will notice a sharp contrast between the unspoiled beauty of segments that don't incorporate CGI and those that unsuccessfully do. This softening of the image is entirely a byproduct of the blending which must occur as the filmmaker attempts to mask the appearance of fake effects. Unfortunately, high definition is not nearly as forgiving of such attributes, which likely appeared less flawed on the DVD release. Equally concerning, I found the use of color filtering a touch on the heavy side during several of the seaside scenes. Drenched in yellow tones that lend skin tones a sickly/dark appearance, these moments stand out like a sore thumb after the naturalistic palette of the opening forest sequence, leaving us wondering why the same gorgeous spectrum couldn't remain in place throughout the duration of the film.
Though the colors and detail are a bit underwhelming from time to time, the real strength in the visuals comes in the form of contrast differentiation, black level depth, and the lack of digital artifacts. Those with an aversion to film grain may be put off by its appearance during a number of daytime and nighttime sequences but I'd rather the video engineers leave such nuances intact rather than face the tampering effects of digital noise reduction. In the end, we can take the transfer for what it is - a faithful reproduction of average source material, which neither delights nor disappoints.
Unlike FUNimation's recent release of RoboGeisha, Kamui: Gaiden delivers a one-two punch in both language formats, offering a 6.1 presentation on the Japanese side of the coin, and a lossless 5.1 option on the English dubbed side. Neither option is a slouch when it comes to volume balance and crystal-clear clarity, but I can't report the same glowing praise for the overall level of immersion in the track. Many elements in the mix are centered heavily in the front sound stage, and aside from some of the more creative fight sequences, the rear speakers tend to get lost in the shuffle. This is a shame when you consider the opportunities present in such a film (projectile weapons, gravity-defying stunts, and mystical maneuvers should deliver the "cool factor" we look for in an audio presentation), but as with the below average CGI, one can assume there were budgetary forces at work here. Regardless of the understated surround use, most fans will find either track a passable experience as a whole, but shouldn't expect anything in the vein of the Blu-ray perfection we long for in the format.
Kamui: Gaiden isn't an awful film by any stretch of the imagination, but as the sweeping epic it attempts to emulate, it simply can't stack up. I know there may be some among you that feel I'm being unfair by comparing the quality of Japanese cinema to Hollywood or Chinese standards, but I feel such comparisons are warranted when the same tricks are used filmmakers working within the same general genre (CGI, wire-fu, etc.), yet one fails to achieve the same level of quality as another. Just because films such as 300 or Watchmen broke the boundaries of CG rendering doesn't mean others need to follow suit, especially when they can't possibly gain access to the same resources Zach Snyder found at his disposal. If we remove comparisons to such films from our equation and limit the resulting field only to action-heavy Japanese films, Kamui: Gaiden falls within the average to good category. If you enjoyed Ichi (not to be mistaken with Ichi the Killer) or Shinobi, then by all means place this on your list of films to watch. For all others, this should be considered rental material at best, with a firm understanding that you keep your expectations at an attainable level.
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