7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Angelino is just one of thousands of deadbeats living in Dark Meat City. But an otherwise unremarkable scooter accident caused by a beautiful, mysterious stranger is about to transform his life... into a waking nightmare! He starts seeing monstrous forms prowling around all over the city... Is Angelino losing his mind, or could an alien invasion really be happening this quietly...?
Director: Shoujirou Nishimi, Guillaume Renard, Michael Sinterniklaas, Stephanie ShehForeign | 100% |
Animation | 38% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.38:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
MFKZ is an abbreviated alphabet soup alternate title for Mutafukaz (how subtle), as the film is known in other regions. The film is a Japanese-French anime directed by Shōjirō Nishimi and Guillaume Renard. MFKZ doesn't bat an eyelash at blood, guts, mayhem, oddball characters, references galore, Sci-Fi overtones, and a quasi-dystopian setting, the latter of which nevertheless feels all to familiar. The narrative rarely gels and the plot points almost work better in isolation. It's unique if it's anything, uniquely weird to be sure and uniquely aimed at an audience with tastes for the macabre, for excess, and for exploitation in animated form.
Just your everyday DMCers.
MFKZ's 1080p Blu-ray transfer is proficient, delivering a quality viewing experience that reproduces the film's world with healthy detail and color. Dark Meat City is alive with textural abundance, particularly as the film focuses on less than pristine environments where run-down structures and poorly cared for natural details reveal the city's state of disrepair that is both a proverbial character in the film and a rewarding viewing experience in seeing and sorting out all of the little urban touches and the multitude of references both to this film's plot and the larger entertainment landscape. Blu-ray's clarity and image stability allow this world's grungy, inhospitable look and feel to shine on any size screen, more than proficient in conveying the film's essential and subtle stylings with textural adeptness. Character models are nicely defined, too, though there are some examples of macroblocking and banding getting in the way. Take a look at one of the "men in black" at the 17:30 mark for one of the most obvious and sustained examples (the image also suffers from the occasional jagged line; a horizontal car windshield seen at the 36:40 mark is a good example). Colors are plentiful, and there's no bleeding through the multitude of shades that define the various urban locales and items, such as storefronts, billboards, alleyways, and apartment interiors. Saturation is good, contrast is even amidst the movie's grungy, quasi-dystopian vision, and character models reveal various color elements (Angelino's black skin, Vinz's ever-present flame) with commendable accuracy.
MFKZ's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack handles prescribed duties admirably, but not excellently. Probably the most disappointing audio characteristic is that distinct lack of oomph to gunfire. Whether blasting machine guns, large caliber sniper rifles, or magnum revolvers, gunfire plays with more of a subdued whimper than a grand, blasting sonic signature. Action in general is a little timid, not wanting for increased spacial engagement but certainly wanting for greater low end engagement for that fuller, more immersive sense of place. That's disappointing since the film is so visually chaotic, and would-be aurally chaotic, but the track mostly settles for replicating sound rather than becoming actively engaged with it. Musical spread and clarity are good, however, and various examples of discrete environmental details and more broadly immersive location din are handled well. Dialogue is delivered with good foundational clarity and front-center placement. Prioritization is fine.
MFKZ contains a substantial making-of and a few trailers. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with
purchase. This release ships with a non-embossed slipcover.
MFKZ obviously favors its sometimes trashy excess over any existential philosophy or sense of direction and purpose, even if those things seem to be in here somewhere, well buried under the superficialities that overwhelm the movie. It's a movie that demands its audience have a taste for its visual and aural crudities and style. No doubt it will go down as a classic in some circles and be rejected outright in others. One thing is for sure: this isn't a movie for kids, despite the "GKIDS" label. Universal's Blu-ray delivers good, not great, video and audio presentations. Supplements include a lengthy making-of and a few trailers. Fans can buy with a measure of confidence. Newcomers should proceed with caution.
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