7.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A lonely gangster tries recruiting men to plunder a respected and powerful gang.
Starring: Ken Takakura, Rentarô Mikuni, Kin'ya Kitaôji, Shinjirô Ebara, Sanae NakaharaForeign | 100% |
Drama | 43% |
Crime | 15% |
Action | Insignificant |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Japanese: LPCM 2.0 Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of the Ferocious Fukasaku: Two Films by Kinji Fukasaku set from Film Movement.
Jasper Sharp contributes a couple of his informative commentaries on this new "double feature" of Kinji Fukasaku films, and Sharp perhaps expresses
just a bit of surprise that Fukasaku's filmography has been so well represented in the Blu-ray era, though to my knowledge, this is the first Film
Movement release of any of Fukasaku's oeuvre. Rather interestingly in that regard, as can be seen in screenshots of the menus of the two
films in the individual reviews for each title in this set, the menu for Wolves, Pigs and Men actually resembles Eureka! Entertainment outings
in terms of design, and it may therefore not be surprising that
Wolves, Pigs and Men has indeed had a prior release by Eureka! for its UK market. As of the writing of this review, it doesn't appear that Eureka! has released Violent
Panic: The Big
Crash for the UK market, though there evidently is a French Blu-ray release from a label I'm frankly unfamiliar with, Roboto Films. The menu for that particular film in this set is in
keeping with many other Film Movement releases, including the standard "About Film Movement" pop up informational text.
Wolves, Pigs and Men is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Film Movement's Film Movement Classics imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. As usual, Film Movement doesn't provide any meaningful technical information with this release, and in this case, not even their standard "digitally restored" generic blurb that often adorns their packaging. That said, this is a solid looking transfer that preserves the really interesting and at times intentionally chaotic feel of the cinematography, with generally nice looking detail levels throughout, despite a number of odd, askew framing choices, highly variant lighting and other bells and whistles like quasi-montages or quick cut editing. Contrast is generally excellent, and grain resolves naturally. A few minor signs of age related wear and tear may be spotted by eagle eyed viewers.
Wolves, Pigs and Men features a bombastic LPCM 2.0 Mono track in the original Japanese. There's a perhaps surprisingly full bodied midrange in this track, and while the overall sound here may be just slightly boxy, there are few if any of the "usual suspects" in terms of some of these vintage Japanese tracks in terms of a thin high end, sibilance, or any distortion or drop outs. Dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Svet provides some more information on these supplements in his review, linked to above. Of no major consequence, but kind of interesting for those
who like me pay attention to licensing deals and supplements darting "hither and yon" between labels, the interviews here all have an introductory text
card announcing they're from both Eureka and Film Movement.
This "lesser known" Fukasaku film has many, maybe even most, of the visceral elements that made some of his better remembered efforts so celebrated. This Film Movement release basically duplicates Eureka! Entertainment's Region B release, down to an including the menu design, with solid technical merits and some engaging supplements. Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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