Doubles (2000/Japan)
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: D
Doubles (2000, Japan) is a film full of
poorly executed good ideas. Two thieves
stuck on an elevator. Good idea. Nice titles for your opening titles
sequence. Good idea. Having both of these good things take an
excruciatingly long time? Bad
idea. The editing in this film is
absolutely horrible. A five-minute opening
title sequence (that’s no Bond title sequence let me tell ya) and plenty of
scenes that could’ve used the knife.
The soul of the film just isn’t there. Similar to the problems I faced with Manji
(reviewed elsewhere on this site), I just don’t care about these
characters. Both of the thieves are
supposed to be lighthearted and bumbling but are they good guys or are they bad
guys? Every time the guy has a heart
tremor am I supposed to blink and squirm waiting to see how this all turns
out? It just didn’t keep me too focused
or make me care enough to keep on watching.
The 2:35:1 aspect ratio anamorphically enhanced transfer
for this film is crisp and the video transfer is pretty good throughout the
film, but it just shows its age constantly and too often. The use of green for the interiors is
nicely handled and all of the colors look even throughout. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for this
film maintains a nice resonance as well, getting loud in the film only where it
needs to be, but is nothing sonically special.
The features on this disc are slim to none which isn’t surprising due to
the amount of effort it looks went into this film. These extras include cast/crew biographies, production text and
trailer. See it at your own risk.
- Jamie Lockhart
