6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
When a demon is resurrected, he assembles a team of undead samurai warriors to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate. There is only one person to call to defeat the undead: Jubei Yagu.
Starring: Shin'ichi Chiba, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tetsurô Tanba, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Hideo MurotaForeign | 100% |
Horror | 27% |
Martial arts | 24% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Japanese: LPCM 2.0
English: LPCM 2.0
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region B (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Kenji Fukasaku's "Samurai Reincarnation" (1981) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include new program with Kenta Fukasaku; new audio commentary by critic Tom Mes; and newly remastered trailer. In Japanese or English, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
After the revolt
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Samurai Reincarnation arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
The press materials I received state that the release is sourced from a new 2K master that was struck from original film elements. The master is good. However, it has some quite obvious limitations of the kind that you would expect to see when restorers work with an interpositive that is not in perfect condition. For example, there are several areas where noticeable density fluctuations, which are exacerbated by uneven gamma levels. These areas can produce flatter visuals that do not look as convincing as they should. You can see examples in screencaptures #13, 14, and 18. Delineation and depth are still pleasing but the dynamic range of the visuals should be superior. The same can be said about the color balance. It is stable and the primaries and supporting nuances are fine. However, it is not at all difficult to conclude that saturation levels should be much better. I think that some of the inconsistencies in the gamma levels affect color balance but ideally the entire film should look lusher. There are no traces of problematic degraining corrections, though grain is not as nicely exposed as it could be. Image stability is good. There are no distracting large cuts, debris, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report. My score is 3.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Japanese LPCM 2.0 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the former.
I viewed the entire film with the Japanese track and did not test the English track. I thought that the former was excellent. All exchanges were very clear, sharp, and easy to follow. There is a lot of action footage throughout the film that sounds terrific, too. The upper register is very healthy and I did not detect even minor age-related anomalies to report in our review. The English translation is great.
A lot of the raw energy that permeates Kinji Fukasaku's classic gangster films and gives them their identity is retained in Samurai Reincarnation. In a way, this makes Samurai Reincarnation a predictable period piece. However, this is not a bad thing. It is a good thing because in it Fukasaku does what he did best -- great action with memorable characters. Despite some minor flaws affecting the quality of the character arcs, I think that Samurai Reincarnation is a very solid and tremendously entertaining film that easily could have been an hour or so longer. (In its current form, it is over two hours long). Eureka Entertainment's release is sourced from a slightly uneven but good new 2K master and features a very interesting new program with Kenta Fukasaku. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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