Mad
Tiger
(2015/Film Movement 2-Disc DVD Set)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B Film: B
Jonathan
Yi and Michael Haertlein's Mad
Tiger
is an interesting 2015 Rockumentary that chronicles some of the
insane escapades of a New York based Japanese Cult Club Act called
Peelander-Z, whose alter egos stem from a planet known as Peelander -
which was led by the wild and yellow haired Asian musician/performer
known as Kengo Hioki. The film also features Kotaro Tsukada, Yumiko
Hioki, Akiteru Ito, and Akihiko Naruse.
Sporting
over the top and colorful costumes, insane interactions with the
crowd, and stunts that endlessly entertained, Peelander-Z was a truly
unique force to behold. Starting out bright and cheery, the doc
takes a darker turn when a member of the band, Peelander Red, steps
down after fifteen years when he decides to open his own bar, leaving
brain child Kengo in a state of disarray and darkness as he
contemplates his musical career going forward.
Mad
Tiger
is expertly shot and edited, with a cinematic feel throughout and
smart storytelling tropes that make the viewing experience an
enjoyable one. This DVD set is definitely the way to get the full
experience of the piece as it has an excellent second disc with the
complete concert of Red's last show that lets you experience what the
band was like live.
There
are a few things that seem a little out of place, however, including
a few scenes where Kengo and others express that they won't want
certain bits left in and to cut around them but they were obviously
left in anyway. Was this added dialogue to make the drama seem more
real or were the filmmakers using things the performers honestly
didn't want left in? At any rate, the film has a cohesive storyline
and is pretty easy to follow even if at times things seem obviously
staged for the film's benefit.
Presented
in standard definition with an anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of
1.78:1 and a Dolby Digital 5.1 lossy mix, the film looks and sounds
fine for the DVD format but could benefit from a high definition
upgrade.
Extras
include...
Commentary
from the filmmakers
Several
Music Videos including So Many Mike directed by Jonathan Yi and Ninja
High Schooool directed by Rand Borden.
Red's
Last Show (Complete episode)
Deleted
Scenes
A
wildly entertaining tale, I would suggest Mad
Tiger
to anyone who ever played in a band or to those who love
Rockumentaries and musical oddities.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
