Twilight
Samurai (2002/Twilight Time Limited Edition Blu-ray)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C- Film: B+
PLEASE
NOTE: This
Blu-ray is now only available from our friends at Twilight Time, is
limited to only 3,000 copies and can be ordered while supplies last
from the link below.
Twilight
Samurai (2002) is a critically acclaimed film and a must for fans
of Japanese cinema. Capturing beautiful cinematography and
filmmaking, the daring film has a skeleton of romantic drama and a
strong reflection upon the importance of family, daring not to dream,
and putting it all versus a system where personal freedom doesn't
exist. This gives Twilight Samurai a compelling and virtually
timeless quality that you don't mind is many other such films. It
may be a little slow in pace but definitely makes up for it in
content.
Set
in mid-19th Century Japan, a few years before the Meiji Restoration,
it follows the life of Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai employed
as a bureaucrat. Poor, but not destitute, he still manages to lead a
content and happy life with his daughters and senile mother. Through
an unfortunate turn of events, the turbulent times conspire against
him.
Seibei
is a petty Samurai in the time just prior to the Meiji restoration.
Working as an accountant, he is without any ambition. The only thing
he cares for is his two young daughters and his sick mother. In
fact, he cares so little for anything else, that his clothes are torn
and he rarely takes a bath. His colleagues laugh about him behind
his back and give him the nickname Twilight Seibei.
When
his childhood friend, and first love is divorced because her husband,
a wealthy Samurai, beats her up, she visits Seibei and the entire
house lights up. Later, her brother, Seibei's best friend, suggests
that he marries her, but Seibei won't marry because of his poverty,
even though both are in love with each other.
The
film was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Academy Award and winner
of Twelve Japanese Academy Awards and is the 67th film by
Director Yoji Yamada. Nice to see it finally arrive on Blu-ray in
the U.S. market.
The
sound and picture on the disc are crisp and clean with a 1080p high
definition transfer and a 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio that has had
some controversy for maybe being a bit pale versus other versions
released on home video, but that did not seem so when viewing it.
The audio has never sounded better with a powerful DTS-HD MA (Master
Audio) 5.1 mix that impresses and subtitles in English.
Extras
are a little bare on the disc with a Isolated Score Track and
a Theatrical Trailer.
To
order this Twilight
Samurai
limited edition Blu-ray, buy it while supplies last (along with other
great exclusives) at this link:
www.screenarchives.com
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
