Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Versus Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 20, 2020

In case any of you have been struggling to pass this seemingly interminable "Covid time" with some form of activity, you might consider engaging in debate in our Forums about various films and their Blu-ray releases. A whole bunch of folks evidently didn't need my (obviously joking) advice about posting their reactions with regard to this new Arrow release of Versus, since Arrow's version is causing considerable controversy for its omission of filters that gave the original theatrical and home video releases a somewhat otherworldly appearance. It should be stated that Arrow made this decision in conjunction with co-writer and director Ryuhei Kitamura (see the video section, below, for more information in this regard), but that hasn't helped to quell some of the blowback. This is another case where some are going to feel the response amounts to a tempest in a teapot, while others will no doubt go to the opposite extreme and insist this decision has spoiled an otherwise much anticipated release. One way or the other, Arrow has once again assembled a release with a really impressive array of supplements, some of which at least may help to take the "sting" out of the unfiltered video presentation for those who feel it was an unforced error.

Versus received a Blu-ray release many years ago from Tokyo Shock, one which was derided at the time of its release, but which has now attained a new (filtered?) luster since it preserves the original hues of the theatrical presentation. Those interested in a plot recap are encouraged to read Dustin Somner's Versus Blu-ray review of that version. Dustin's review is also a good resource for screenshot comparisons as well as lining up the supplements accompanying each release.

Versus Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Versus is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

Versus was restored by Arrow Films and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, with 2.0 stereo, 5.1 and 6.1 sound.

Versus was produced on a very low budget and shot on 16mm, entirely on location. The footage was transferred to files, from which all editing, colour correction, and other post production was completed. From this data, 35mm intermediate elements were created, which were the source for theatrical prints. The film was shot without sound, so the soundtrack was created completely in post. Because of this specific workflow, the film has always exhibited an occasionally soft appearance and loose synch, both traits in keeping with how the film was produced.

For this restoration, this original 35mm intermediate element was scanned in 4K resolution at Imagica, Japan. The film was graded and restored at Dragon DI, Wales. Picture grading was supervised and approved by director Ryuhei Kitamura.

The single biggest response to this new release has been the color timing, especially the absence of sometimes extreme filters that were employed for both the theatrical exhibition and the now long ago Blu-ray release. This is one of the few times in my personal experience that I can recall a studio and/or label responding to fans' reactions to this situation, but Arrow has gone on the record as follows:

In response to some forum comments we have seen online, we would like to issue a statement on why our recent Blu-ray release of Versus looks the way it does.

Previous releases of this film employed a set of strong colour filters, but working under instruction of Director Ryuhei Kitamura, who oversaw and approved our grade, we have treated these scenes more realistically with a broader overall colour scheme. He confirmed that the use of filters had been a rushed decision on his part at the time of release and was always something he had wanted to change.

Equally, as explained in the Blu-ray booklet, Versus was originally shot on 16mm on a very low budget in natural light. We sourced the best elements available - blow-up 35mm intermediates - for our remaster rather than the original 16mm negative. As a result and due to the nature of the original production and subsequent post-production, the film will always look a little rough, as it should.

We hope that this explains that the new colour grade was at the specific instruction of the director and that the quality of the presentation remains true to the independent nature of how the film was shot and produced.

While this is just one of those "it is what it is" situations, the fact that Kitamura was involved in this may lend credence to the fact that this is the way he wanted it to look, something that is prehaps supported by the fact that the "original" theatrical version (i.e., with the original grading/timing choices) is not included, something that it seems could have been accomplished and ameliorated fans' negative responses to this decision. I have to assume Kitamura himself did not want the original version included, as angry and/or disappointed as that may make some people.

Putting aside that obviously contentious issue, this presentation offers a somewhat brighter look than the Tokyo Shock, at least at times (compare the background foliage in screenshot 8 of this review with screenshot 10 of the Tokyo Shock release review), but there are times when this presentation has more noticeable crush than the Tokyo Shock version, especially in some of the more highly stylized shots (compare screenshot 6 of this review with screenshot 8 of the Tokyo Shock version, especially toward the middle bottom of the frame). This release looks noticeably grittier at times, with a much more textured grain field, which, when combined with the increased brightness, can give a slightly crosshatched or even pixellated appearance (compare screenshot 5 of this review with screenshot 17 of the Tokyo Shock version). My personal opinion is that the palette looks generally better saturated in this version (aside and apart from any grading/timing choices), and detail levels tend to be better, at least when more stationary and less "arty" framings allow. Ultimate Versus has an unavoidably heterogeneous look, with the SD interstitials appearing fairly ragged at times. There are also some curious motion inconsistencies that almost reminded me of PAL to NTSC conversions, though I'm not quite sure what might have caused them in this particular instance.

Versus Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As mentioned in the technical data reprinted from the insert booklet, above, this post looped film has the same kind of almost surreal aspect that many Italian films do, since the audio never quite seems to match the imagery at times. As detailed in the Special Features and Extras section immediately below this section, the theatrical version on Disc One features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 mixes in Japanese, with an English dub also in LPCM 2.0. Ultimate Versus ups the ante slightly by offering DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 mixes in Japanese and English, with concurrent LPCM 2.0 mixes in both languages. The surround tracks do offer some significant immersion in the many action scenes, as well as at least occasional ambient environmental sounds, and the 6.1 track occasionally provides a bit more surround activity in the showdown scenes in particular. That said, this is not a "whiz bang" sound design, probably due at least in part to the paltry budget of the film, and so expectations about nonstop effects and/or overpowering LFE may need to be tempered somewhat. I noticed no issues whatsoever in terms of damage, distortion or dropouts. I spent most of my time on the Japanese surround tracks, toggling to the other available tracks. Optional English subtitles are available.

Versus Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One

• Versus (1080p; 2:00:07) features Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Japanese LPCM 2.0 or English LPCM 2.0 audio.


• Audio Commentary by Ryuhei Kitamura and Keishiro Shin is in (sometimes pretty heavily accented) English.


• Audio Commentary by Ryuhei Kitamura, Cast and Crew is in Japanese with optional English subtitles.


• Body Slamming Body Horror <1080p; 16:04) is an interesting career overview of Ryuhei Kitamura by the always informative Jasper Sharp.


• First Contact: Versus Evolution (1080i; 9:39) is an archival piece looking at the genesis of the project. In Japanese with English subtitles.


• Tak Sakaguchi's One Man Journey (1080i; 14:25) is another archival piece, this one documenting the actor's 2001 visit to the Japan Film Festival in Hamburg. In Japanese with English subtitles.


• Team Versus (1080i; 1:05) is a brief tour of the Napalm Films' office. In Japanese with English subtitles.


• Deep in the Woods (1080i; 24:43 ) is an archival French featurette with interviews with the cast and crew, including Kitamura. Perhaps surprisingly considering this is listed as being French, this is mostly in English.


• The Encounter (1080i; 12:33) is another archival French featurette, this one an interview with editor Shuichi Kakesu. In English.


• Deleted Scenes (1080p; 21:30) feature commentary by Kitamura, cast and crew, in Japanese with English subtitles. The (windowboxed) scenes also have English subtitles.


• FF Version (1080p; 19:52) is a very heavily redacted version of the film.


• Behind Versus offers two archival making of featurettes:

  Part 1: Birth of a Dark Hero (1080i; 26:40)

  
  

  Part 2: Versus the Legend (1080i; 46:06)

  Both of the above are (mostly) in Japanese with English subtitles.


• Festival Screenings offers footage from various festivals:

  Clip A (1080i; 2:06)

  
  

  Clip B (1080i; 3:07)

  Both of the above play to music, though occasional "spoken" moments do have subtitles, weirdly enough.


• Versus Side Stories feature two tie in mini movies and one making of featurette:

  Nervous (1080i; 6:31 )

  
  

  Nervous 2 (1080i; 15:58 )

  
  

  The Making of Nervous 2 (1080i; 1:17)

  The above are in Japanese with English subtitles.


• Trailers

  The Return: Down 2 Hell Trailer (1080i; 1:43)

  
  

  English Language Trailer (1080i; 1:41)

  
  

  Making Of Trailer (1080i; 4:30)

  
  

  Theatrical Trailer (1080i; 2:02) touts a pull quote from one "B.P., Major Hollywood Actor!"

  
  

  Promo Trailer (1080i; 00:19)

• Image Galleries

  Promotional Stills (1080p; 5:00)

  
  

  Posters (1080p; 3:10)

  
  

  Japanese Press Book (1080p; 4:00)

  
  

  Japanese Press Kit (1080p; 00:50)

Disc Two

• Ultimate Versus (1080p; 2:10:13) features Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1, Japanese LPCM 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1, or English LPCM 2.0 audio.


• Audio Commentary by Ryuhei Kitamura, Cast and Crew is in Japanese with optional English subtitles.


• Sakigake! Otoko versus Juku (1080i; 18:22) is an archival featurette focusing on the footage that was newly shot for this version. In Japanese with English subtitles.

Additionally, Arrow provides its typically nicely appointed insert booklet, this one including two essays by Tom Mes and one by Ryuhei Kitamura, along with the typical cast and crew information and technical data.

Versus Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It seems to me that Arrow could have pretty easily sidestepped the filter controversy by simply including the original version with the others here, and the fact that they didn't strikes me as probably indicating that Kitamura didn't want it included. With that in mind, fans of the film will need to decide individually how they feel about the changes here, but what is here sports generally solid technical merits and Arrow's typical glut of impressive supplementary material. With caveats duly noted, Recommended.