7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 4.2 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
Three distinct tales unfold in the bustling city of Tokyo. Merde, a bizarre sewer-dweller, emerges from a manhole and begins terrorizing pedestrians. After his arrest, he stands trial and lashes out at a hostile courtroom. A man who has resigned himself to a life of solitude reconsiders after meeting a charming pizza delivery woman. And finally, a happy young couple find themselves undergoing a series of frightening metamorphoses.
Starring: Ayako Fujitani, Ryô Kase, Ayumi Ito, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Julie DreyfusForeign | 100% |
Surreal | 22% |
Short | 11% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-2
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1, 2.21:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1, 1.85:1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Bizarre, thought-provoking and beautifully lensed, "Tokyo!" (2008) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of newcomers Liberation Entertainment. The film is comprised of three shorts directed by Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Joon-ho Bong. Region-Free.
Denis Lavant
Presented in its original aspect ratios of 1.85:1 (Michel Gondry's Interior Design and Leos Carax's Merde) and 2.35:1 (Bong Joon-Ho's Shaking Tokyo), encoded with MPEG-2 and granted a 1080p transfer, Tokyo! arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Liberation Entertainment.
The three shorts in Tokyo! have a unique look of their own that enhances the stories they tell. Interior Design is a dark but notably crisp looking film with strong clarity and plausible detail. Shot on video, Merde is also dark but soft looking film with an organic color-scheme. Contrast is good while clarity and detail vary, depending on the locations and the erratic camera moves. Interior Design is an impressively lensed film with terrific panoramic vistas from downtown Tokyo. Contrast, clarity and detail are very good. The color-scheme looks natural, though there are a few notable manipulations (the whites are intentionally boosted when the main protagonist leaves his home to look for the delivery girl). This being said, there is plenty of natural film grain. Occasionally, however, the grain is mixed with a small dose of digital noise. Still, the video quality is very strong. In fact, as far as I am concerned, the Blu-ray transfer replicates perfectly the theatrical presentation of Tokyo! I attended at my local cinema. For the record, the print does not reveal any disturbing debris, scratches, dirt, or specks. (Note: First, this is a Region-Free disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. Second, the Blu-ray disc does not have a pop-up menu).
There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. I opted for the Japanese DTS-HD Master 7.1 track and later on did a few random comparisons with the Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track for the purpose of this review.
The Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track is not overly active. In fact, there are only a couple of scenes where you would notice strong activity in your rear channels. On the other hand, the dialog in all three of the shorts is crisp, clear and very easy to follow. Furthermore, there are only a few scenes where the bass is prominent (the exploding grenades in Merde and the earthquake in Shaking Tokyo being the prime examples). The high frequencies are not overdone. There are no serious audio distortions that I detected either. Pops, cracks, clicks, or hissings do not plague the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track.
The Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is solid. Obviously, it does not match the dynamic intensity of the Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. Balance, however, is improved. On the other hand, the dialog is just as crisp and clear as it is on the Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track. For the record, Liberation Entertainment have provided optional English and French subtitles for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame for Interior Design and Merde and between the image frame and the black bars for Shaking Tokyo.
(Note: For some very strange reason, all of the supplemental features are incorrectly flagged. As a result, the image appears awkwardly stretched. You have to select "normal mode" on your TV so you could have them supplemental features properly displayed.).
Making of Shaking Tokyo – a rather long piece offering plenty of raw footage from Bong's short. There are no interesting comments by the cast and crew. (34 min, 1080p).
Making of Merde – again, a rather long piece with plenty of raw footage from Carax's short. The focus of attention here are the underground scenes. With optional English subtitles. (30min, 1080p).
Making of Interior Design – unlike the other two pieces mentioned above, here director Gondry discusses his short and explains how it was adapted from Gabriell Bell's graphic novel "Cecil and Jordan in New York". With optional English subtitles. (30 min, 1080p).
Director Interviews – a rather long and very informative featurette where the three directors discuss their films in detail. Director Carax's comments in particular are very interesting. With optional English subtitles. (24 min, 1080p).
Original theatrical trailer - in 1080p.
Photo Gallery –
I am very excited to see Tokyo! released in the United States. I saw it twice in my local cinema and thought that it was easily the most audacious film to be made during the last five years. It is such a shame that we don't see Leos Carax directing more often. I am delighted to have Tokyo! in my collection. Very Highly Recommended.
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