The story carries along in a somewhat illogical way, which helps to accentuate the need for these characters to escape their dismal realities.
The filmmaker doesn't really say anything new with the film. However, he does say it with a stylish flair. The film is put together with a series of incredibly well-composed shots. The movie opens with a sprawling aerial shot of the city as buildings disappear one by one. The prisoners are clad in white jumpsuits and there are many shots where we see one of them drenched in blood.
VIDEO:
The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A few specks pop up here and there, but overall the transfer looks great. The colors are sharp which helps to highlight the beautiful cinematography.
AUDIO:
The audio is presented in Japanese with a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. The movie mostly relies on dialogue and music, both come in crisp and clear.
EXTRAS:
The main extra is an audio commentary track by Japanese film expert, Tom Mes. He gives a lot of information about the film and the people who worked on it. There are a few moments of silence and he does fall into the trap of many other commentaries (describing what's happening on screen).
You also get two interviews with Toshiaki Toyoda. One runs 38 minutes and the other 6 and a half. You also get the theatrical trailer, filmographies, and promotional material.
FILM VALUE:
The idea of characters trying to escape their lives has been done many times and better than in "9 Souls" ("The 400 Blows" for example or Cassavetes' "Shadows"). Still, the movie has its own sensibilities through a combination of surrealism and lyrical composition.
VIDEO:
The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. A few specks pop up here and there, but overall the transfer looks great. The colors are sharp which helps to highlight the beautiful cinematography.
AUDIO:
The audio is presented in Japanese with a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix. The movie mostly relies on dialogue and music, both come in crisp and clear.
EXTRAS:
The main extra is an audio commentary track by Japanese film expert, Tom Mes. He gives a lot of information about the film and the people who worked on it. There are a few moments of silence and he does fall into the trap of many other commentaries (describing what's happening on screen).
You also get two interviews with Toshiaki Toyoda. One runs 38 minutes and the other 6 and a half. You also get the theatrical trailer, filmographies, and promotional material.
FILM VALUE:
The idea of characters trying to escape their lives has been done many times and better than in "9 Souls" ("The 400 Blows" for example or Cassavetes' "Shadows"). Still, the movie has its own sensibilities through a combination of surrealism and lyrical composition.
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[release]15149[/release]