6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Jiro, an ex-convict, comes back to the street after eight years. The gang to which he belonged is nearly disbanded; only the aging boss in his sick bed remains. Still loyal to the ex-boss, Jiro approaches the powerful Hasama family to ask for assistance. Hasama kindly offers him a job: to settle the dispute in the rising manufacturing city where two opposing gangs battle over the land. Hasama promises Jiro that he will be given control over the land if he completes the task. Jiro heads first to the city with six other outlaws summoned by Hasama. However, Hasama suddenly breaks the promise and Jiro is driven to desperate measures.
Starring: Jô Shishido, Hideaki Nitani, Meiko Kaji, Akira Kobayashi, Tatsuya FujiForeign | 100% |
Drama | 31% |
Crime | 16% |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Japanese: LPCM Mono
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Yasuharu Hasebe's "Retaliation" (1968) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; collection of black-and-white stills from the film; new video interview with actor Jo Shishido; and new video interview with writer and film historian Tony Rayns. The release also arrives with a booklet featuring new writing on the film by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp, newly illustrated by Ian MacEwan and featuring original archive stills. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.
Gangsters
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Yasuharu Hasebe's Retaliation arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group.
The film looks rather soft, with much of the indoor footage in particular also appearing quite flat (see screencapture #1). Detail and clarity vary, but there are no traces of recent digital manipulations. This leads me to believe that the master that was accessed was prepared some time ago, quite possibly from an interpositive. Light grain is visible throughout the entire film, but it is not evenly distributed and certainly not as well resolved as it should be. Depth isn't consistently pleasing. In fact, during the darker footage where shadow definition suffers, depth is unconvincing (see screencaptures #13, 14 and 15). There are traces of some light fading and as a result there are some obvious color fluctuations (see screencapture #16), but they can be traced back to the current master. There are no problematic sharpening adjustments. Also, there are no serious stability issues to report in this review. All in all, this is a serviceable presentation of Retaliation, but it is clear that the film can look better in high-definition. My score is 3.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your Blu-ray player regardless of your geographical location).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Japanese LPCM 1.0. Optional English subtitles have been provided for the main feature.
Clarity is good. Depth is also pleasing, but there are some sporadic fluctuations (light thinning is also noticeable in the high frequencies). During the action sequences and in areas of the film where the music becomes prominent, some very light buzz occasionally makes its presence felt. Nevertheless, these are minor issues that never become distracting. The dialog is stable and easy to follow. There are no audio dropouts.
Yasuharu Hasebe's Retaliation is an odd Japanese gangster film with a soft side, but it is certainly a good companion piece to the more straightforward Massacre Gun. Arrow Video/MVD Entertainment Group's Blu-ray has another very informative new piece with writer and film historian Tony Rayns that should delight fans of Japanese cinema. RECOMMENDED.
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1967
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影なき声; / Kage naki koe
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