Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Redline Blu-ray Movie Review

All the different racing movies rolled into one.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 7, 2012

We get to see a bunch of idiots get themselves killed!

Fast racing, several rainbows worth of colors, a catchy Techno refrain, intergalactic strife, big-chested competitors, the mafia, gambling, explosions, and a drooling press corps all together sum up the various bits and pieces of Redline, a 2009 Anime picture from Director Takeshi Koike. As the previous sentence might suggest, Redline isn't a simple racing movie; sure its plot and various elements are all wrapped tightly around the title race, but this feature ebbs and flows and meanders around everything from mafia hits to burgeoning love on the way to the checkered flag. It's certainly a movie with a lot on its plate, but it doesn't always work. The film is at its generic best during the opening "Yellowline" race and in its smorgasbord final "Redline" race act that's little more than a nonstop barrage of fast-moving action as all of the primary conflicts come to a head. But it's pretty, colorful, and loud, so will audiences care if it's not the most substantive movie ever made?

Now that's fast.

At the interplanetary Yellowline race, vehicles of various shapes, sizes, and capabilities are piloted by creatures of whom the same may be said. The race is a close one, and few make it to the end. Two of those fortunate enough to race to the finish are JP (Takuya Kimura) and Sonoshee (Yû Aoi). JP closes in on the lead and the checkered flag, but a bomb ruins his chances of winning, though it does literally propel him to a close second behind Sonoshee. Sonoshee's win lands her a trip to the coveted Redline race, while JP's second-place finish only lands him in the hospital. But as fortune would have it, two competitors drop out of the race, and JP is granted one of the two open spots in recognition of his courageous performance at Yellowline. The race is to be held on Roboworld, a militarized planet with a secret to keep that might very well be exposed with the overwhelming media coverage about to descend on that planet. While Roboworld's leaders scheme to stop the race by any means necessary, the racers prepare on the nearby planet Europass, where JP's car is returned to form, his relationship with Sonoshee blossoms, and tensions run high before the ultimate in intergalactic racing.

Redline is best described as the animated version of Cannonball Run meets Speed Racer meets Death Race (choose either version) meets any other over-exaggerated, ultra-flamboyant, testosterone-riddled racing movie that's more about flash rather than the real substance of racing. Indeed, Redline is defined by its pulse, which is its overlying Techno beat that plays incessantly over much of the racing action sequences. The music encompasses what the movie is all about, a one-trick pony that's fast and exhilarating but offers nothing of value under the surface. It's catchy and exciting, but at the expense of substance. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not exactly a good thing, either. Redline is content to cram odd characters, a linear plot, and fast visuals into its very essence, but the problem is that this isn't exactly anything new or groundbreaking; it's sort of like the Pod Racing scene from Episode I on steroids, and at least that stretch of movie substantively played into a larger whole. Redline simply shows off some nifty sights and sounds, and any semblance of character development or thematic relevance comes almost completely by happenstance, a welcome but not sought-after byproduct of the colors, movement, and sound.

Though Redline does fall into a sense of complacency and rather dull linearity that becomes obvious by the middle stretch, the movie is at least worthwhile as a sort of trippy experience in something of a Ralph Bakshi stylistic tradition. The picture can be visually and audibly arresting, but that high won't last long if audiences are munching on only popcorn and sipping only on a soft drink, particularly those waiting for the movie to go somewhere other than its obvious predetermined, generic outcome. The characters are disappointingly flat with transparent relationships and little-to-no substance, but the voice acting is rather effective and flows naturally in both Japanese and English. The action scenes are competently conceptualized and delivered, and the film does well to balance a semblance of realism with a hint of the fantastic in its racing and action scenes that nicely balance out the odd but interesting otherworldly elements. Redline is definitely a movie best enjoyed with the brain turned off and the eyes and ears on cruise control. It's a decent ride taken at face value, but worth little to audiences in search of anything more than flash.

Redline Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Redline's 1080p transfer nicely handles the colorful material presented to it. Anchor Bay's 1.85:1-framed image yields all of the film's uncountable shades with brilliant accuracy, from the brightest red hearts and flashiest green hairs, all the way down to the more bland earthen tones that contrast the veritable rainbow of colors seen on hair, clothes, and vehicles. The eye-popping array of colors are nicely offset by balanced black levels that nicely define the film's darker corners. Meanwhile, fine detail proves quite good. The 1080p imagery captures many of the more subtle nuances around the frame, like the texture of the walls in JP's hospital room as seen early in the movie. The transfer cleanly and crisply delivers the fast-moving action and the more static scenes with equal precision. Lines remain smooth and clean, but background banding -- both subtle and egregious -- does interfere with many shots. The banding notwithstanding, this is a quality, good-looking transfer that suits the material well.

Redline Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Redline's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack is intoxicating. The uptempo, rapid-fire Techno refrain is energetic and deep. This, and other musical cues, spread nicely around the entire soundstage -- the back section included -- and create a satisfying, enveloping musical environment. Clarity is quite good in both music and sound effects. The racing scenes are loud but don't usually come across as all that jumbled. On the contrary, the various action elements -- speeding vehicles, gunfire, explosions -- are nicely presented, clear, accurate, and wholly immersive. Ambience is quite effective, too. The film opens with a realistically-spaced and reverberating PA system announcements, intermixed with chatter and other pre-race elements. This scene does become somewhat jumbled and uneven, but thereafter ambient effects are crisp and distinct, placed all over the stage while naturally immersive, whether the subtle sound of running water at a classy restaurant or other natural ambience. Dialogue is smooth and, save for that opening segment, never lost under accompanying music or effects. This is a satisfying, exciting track that will please both fans of the movie and audiophiles alike.

Redline Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Redline contains only a trio of extras, but one of them is a comprehensive making-of.

• Redline "2006 Trailer" (1080p, 4:51).
• Perfect Guide to Redline (1080p, 1:07:29): A lengthy study of the making of the movie, including interviews, a look into vehicle design, a glimpse at storyboards, an examination of the raw animation process, the film's visual stylings, its soundtrack, the voice acting work, its premiere, and more.
• Quick Guide to Redline (1080p, 24:08): A shorter but still thorough look into the making of the movie.

Redline Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's definitely an appeal to Redline, a movie that's visually catchy and that attacks the senses like few other films, at least during its high octane action/racing sequences. Unfortunately, it's also devoid of substance, though certainly not for a lack of throwing as many ancillary elements at the audience as humanly (otherworldly?) possible. This is fun in a mindless sort of way, though audiences looking for something with a little more thematic oomph are encouraged to search elsewhere. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release of Redline features strong video, superb audio, and a a trio of extras. Fans can buy with confidence, though others are encouraged to rent.