Perception: The Complete First Season (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

May 17, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

The strength of “Perception” is in the writing. From the way Dr. Pierce is able to solve various crimes and the complexity of how he approaches these situations but I also enjoy watching both Eric McCormack and Rachael Leigh Cook together, it makes up for a fascinating and enjoyable series that makes me interested in watching season two! For fans of television crime drama with a little twist, “Perception: The Complete Series” is recommended!

DVD TITLE: Perception: The Complete First Season

YEAR AIRED: 2012

DURATION: 11 Episodes (425 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French Subtitles,

COMPANY: abc studios

RATED: TV 14 DLV

RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2013

Directed by Greg Beeman, Kenneth Biller, Christopher Misiano, Deran Sarafian

Written by Kenneth Biller, Michael Sussman, Amanda Green, Jason Ning, Stephen Tolkin

Production by Eric McCormack, Mark H. Ovitz

Co-Executive Producer: Michael Sussman, Amanda Green, Stephen Tolkin

Co-Producer: Jason Ning

Associate Producer: Nicole Carrasco

Music by Tree Adams

Cinematography by Jeff Jur

Edited by Anthony Miller, Andi Armaganian, Gib Jaffe

Casting by Mary Jo Slater

Production Design by Stephen Storer

Art Direction by Dennis Davenport

Set Decoration by Wanda “Beau” Peterson

Costume Design by Julia Schklair

Starring:

Eric McCormack as Daniel Pierce

Rachael Leigh Cook as Kate Moretti

Arjay Smith as Max Lewicki

Kelly Rowan as Natalie Vincent

Jonathan Scarfe as Roger Probert

LeVar Burton as Paul Haley

Jamie Bamber as Michael Hathaway

Freddy Rodriguez as Wesley Sumter

Jayne Atkinson as Helen Paulson

Lisa banes as Irene Reardon

Jimmy Bennett as Alex Willingham

Bridget Regan as Victoria Ryland

Matthew Glave as Senator Scott Ryland

Enter the brilliant mind of Dr. Daniel Pierce and relive every thrilling case of Perception: The Complete First Season. Experience an original twist on the classic crime drama as Emmy Award® winner Eric McCormack (Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, 2001, Will & Grace), stars as an eccentric neuroscience professor whose revealing visions help him uncover what lies beneath conscious emotion.

Though recruited by the FBI for his masterful understanding of the human mind, Daniel’s odd and offbeat view makes it difficult for him to get close to anyone. His former student, Agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook), is one of the few people willing to accept Daniel’s peculiarities in exchange for his imaginative solutions. Two very different personalities join forces as they try to tackle the Bureau’s most complex cases.

Perception is “Crime Scene Differently.” Own every thrilling moment of Season One in this sensational DVD Collection!

From Kenneth Biller (“Smallville”, “Star Trek: Voyager”, “Legend of the Seeker”) and Mike Sussman (“Star Trek: Voyager”, “Star Trek: Enterprise”, “Threshold”) comes a new crime drama TV series titled “Perception”.

The series would star Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”, “The New Adventures of Old Christine”), Rachael Leigh Cook (“She’s All That”, “Josie and the Pussycats”, “Antitrust”, “Get Carter”), Arjay Smith (“Be Kind Rewind”, “The Day After Tomorrow”, “To Save a Life”), Kelly Rowan (“The O.C.”, “Assassns”, “One Eight Seven”), Jonathan Scarfe (“Above and Beyond”, “White Lies”) and LeVar Burton (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”, “Roots”, “Reading Rainbow”).

With the first season consisting of eleven episodes airing in July 2012 on TNT, a second season is set to premiere in June 2013. And what better than to release the complete first season on DVD in May 2013!

“Perception” revolves around a neuropsychiatrist named Dr. Daniel Pierce who teaches at Chicago Lake Michigan University. While a well-known professor who is lauded for his work on forensic psychology and neuroscience, he’s also a man who is dealing with increased hallucinations due to his schizophrenia.

While he has a live-in teaching assistant named Mex Lewicki who knows of his hallucinations and tries to help Dr. Pierce know what is real or not real, the fact is that he is losing grasp of telling the difference between factual people and hallucinations. Even his best friend, adviser Natalie Vincent, who he tells all his problems to, is actually an imaginary person that is derived from a person he used to like a long time ago.

But life changes for Dr. Daniel Pierce as his former student, Special Agent Kate Moretti from the FBI comes to him for help on a murder case. And for Dr. Pierce, assisting Kate may be what he needs to deal with hallucinations as they are also trying to help him solve the case.

Join Dr. Daniel Pierce and Special Agent Kate Moretti as the try to solve the most complex homicide cases in “Perception: The Complete First Season”!

“Perception: The Complete First Season” focuses on the following main characters:

Dr. Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack) - A neuropsychiatrist and professor at Chicago Lake Michigan University (CLMU). As a respected writer on forensic psychology and neuroscience, Dr. Pierce has a history of paranoid schizophrenia and often has hallucinations of people trying to help him solve crimes. He is enlisted by the FBI by an expert consultant to solve complex cases.

Special Agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook) - A former student of Dr. Pierce and an FBI agent, she recruits Dr. Pierce to help solve complex crimes. She was recently demoted for her tendency of going beyond the scope of the assignments.

Max Lewicki (Arjay Smith) – A live-in teaching assistant who helps Dr. Pierce differentiate between real people and hallucinations. Max was an orderly who helped Dr. Pierce when he was confined at a psychiatric hospital for his mental illness. Dr. Pierce is helping Max finish graduate school.

Natalie Vincent (Kelly Rowan) - An imaginary adviser and Dr. Pierce’s best friend. She helps him piece together his hallucinations.

Paul Haley (LeVar Burton) - A professor of philosophical theology and Dr. Pierce’s dean at CLMU. Both are good friends and were roommates back in college.

FBI Agent Robert Probert (Jonathan Scarfe) – Kate Moretti’s partner, but doesn’t believe in Dr. Pierce’s judgements.

Dr. Michael Hathaway (Jamie Bamber) – A professor recruited at a university that Dr. Pierce has little respect for. He likes Kate Moretti.

“Perception: The Complete First Season” features 11 episodes on three DVD discs. Here are spoilerless summaries for each episode:

DISC: 1

EPISODE 1 - FBI Agent Kate Moretti recruits Dr. Pierce to help her solve a case involving the death of a pharmaceutical executive.
EPISODE 2 - The FBI is investigating a case of a death of a mail order bride who has a medical condition. Meanwhile, the new professor, Dr. Michael Hathaway has eyes for Kte.
EPISODE 3 – Kate and Dr. Pierce try to help a woman named Lacey who escaped from a serial killer back in 1986. Max doesn’t like how Kate constantly goes to Dr. Pierce for help.
EPISODE 4 – Daniel comes across a cipher left in a letter to the editor which alludes to future crimes.
EPISODE 5 - Kate and Dr. Pierce investigate the death of a junkie.

DISC 2:

EPISODE 6 - Dr. Pierce helps Kate investigate the death of a therapist who tries to cure his patients of homosexuality.
EPISODE 7 – Kate and Dr. Pierce investigate the death of a judge who may have been murdered by a schizophrenic.
EPISODE 8 - Kate and Daniel investigate the death of a young girl who was killed in her dorm room.
EPISODE 9 - Daniel witnesses the murder of a young man, but was it real or a hallucination?
EPISODE 10 - Dr. Pierce commits himself to a psychiatric ward but what happens when he comes across a familiar face?

VIDEO:

“Perception: The Complete First Season” is presented in Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 televisions. A lot of the shots are shot indoor and thosescenes are well-lit and during the low-light scenes, you do see a bit of noise but compared to other drama series on television, the series is above average in terms of picture quality on DVD.

AUDIO:

As for audio, “Perception: The Complete First Season” is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Dialogue and music is crystal clear, while surround channels are not too active and is a dialogue/music driven soundtrack coming from the center and front channels. The show is presented with English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Perception: The Complete First Season” comes with no following special features.

EXTRAS:

“Perception: The Complete First Season” comes with a slip cover.

On television, there have been quite a few crime dramas in which police or federal organization teams up with a civilians.

You have “Castle” in which a police investigator teams up with a famous crime novelist, a young crime consultant and his reluctant police officer partner in “Psych” and in 2012, TBS introduced their series “Perception” pairing a schizophrenic neuropsychiatrist assisting an FBI agent.

So, the crime dramas of civilian and law enforcement is still popular on television but it all comes down to how these series separate itself from being banal but also coming up with some new and fresh for the audience.

With “Perception”, the show is entertaining, a good twist on the crime drama about individuals solving homicides but at the same time, reminiscent of shows such as “Castle” (civilian and officer) and even the law drama “Eli Stone” (how lawyer is able to represent his client but has hallucinations due to the protagonist with a brain aneurism.

In the case of lead protagonist Dr. Daniel Pierce, he is a man who has a brilliant mind but has been dealing with schizophrenia which has gotten so bad that he is not sure who is real or not real and with the help of his roommate and friend Max and an imaginary adviser, along with hallucinations that show up whenever there is a case that needs to be solved, it does make up for interesting drama.

Actor Eric McCormack has moved on since his “Will & Grace” days to play a more serious character with a lot of depth and paired with Rachael Leigh Cook, who has grown up a lot since her teen films of the ’90s such as “She’s all That” and “Josie and the Pussycats”. As Special Agent Kate Moretti, both she and Dr. Pierce are an interesting duo…teacher and former student (who tends to get into a bit of trouble, but maybe there is a little attraction from her towards her former teacher).

While both work together to solve problems, she’s not aware of how extent his schizophrenia is but she often goes to Dr. Pierce to help the FBI solve various murders.

So, while the series does make itself stand out compared to other series with a similar style, there are a few things that often drive me nuts and that is the interference of a civilian during a police interrogation or in this case, a federal interrogation. I just don’t see how Dr. Pierce can go inside and interrupt the special agent during her interrogation whenever he wants, but I would assume that Moretti is used to Dr. Pierce’s eccentric and complex personality.

But still, I enjoyed this crime drama as it does have potential to be something bigger and also tap into episodes with a more serious tone.

While the first season does a great job in establishing the primary characters and the main goal is for both Moretti and Dr. Pierece to solve the most complex cases, it will be interesting to see if both of these individuals fall for each other. But not sure if I would like that as it would be too banal for my taste!

But the strength of “Perception” is in the writing. From the way Dr. Pierce is able to solve various crimes and the complexity of how he approaches these situations but I also enjoy watching both Eric McCormack and Rachael Leigh Cook together, it makes up for a fascinating and enjoyable series that makes me interested in watching season two!

For fans of television crime drama with a little twist, “Perception: The Complete Series” is recommended!

Filed Under: DVD Reviews

If I Were You (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

May 11, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

Joan Carr-Wiggin’s “if i were you” is a comedy that rides on the shoulders of Marcia Gay Harden’s acting performance. It’s not a great film but it’s an enjoyable and charming film worth watching.

DVD TITLE: if i were you

DATE OF FILM RELEASE: 2013

DURATION: 115 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: 16:9, 5.1 Dolby and Stereo, Closed Caption

COMPANY: Kino Lorber Inc.

RATED: NOT RATED

RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2013

Written and Directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin

Executive Producer: Peter Bates, Kirsty Bell, Vito Bianchini, Savitri Gordian, Mark Paladini, Vince Woods

Produced by David Gordian, Alan Latham

Line Producer: Stephen Traynor

Music by Pauolo Buonvino, Guy Farley

Cinematography by Bruce Worrall

Production Design by Sean Breaugh

Set Decoration by Nigel Hutchins

Costume Design by Brenda Broer

Starring:

Marcia Gay Harden as Madelyn

Leonor Watling as Lucy

Joseph Kell as Paul

Aidan Quinn as Derek

Valerie Mahaffey as Lydia

Gary Piquer as Keith

Michael Therriault as Rainer

Leon Aureus as Tyler

Claire Brosseau as Regan

Patrick Garrow as Edmund

Bethany Jillard as Cordelia

Madelyn (Marcia Gay Harden) is a successful, self-possessed, middle-aged businesswoman – until she finds out that her husband’s late nights at work are actually intimate dinners with a sexy young aspiring actress, Lucy (Leonor Watling, Hable con Ella). When Madelyn starts stalking this new mistress, she witnesses what she thinks might be the beginnings of a suicide attempt and ends up talking her down.

While Lucy is ignorant of Madelyn’s true identity, the two form a bizarre pact with unforeseen consequences. Matters are complicated further by an amorous coworker and an encounter with a handsome stranger (the ever delectable Aidan Quinn).

Academy Award winning actress Marcia Gay Harden is known for her dramatic roles in films such as “Pollock”, “Mystic River”, “The Mist”, “Miller’s Crossing”, “Into the Wild” and occasionally on television as an FBI agent on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Damages”.

But a comedy role?

Harden goes to show that even she can do comedy with efficacy in Joan Carr-Wiggin’s “if i were you”.

Carr-Wiggin, a writer/director for films such as “A Previous Engagement”, “My First Wedding” and “Honeymoon” is known to explore romantic comedy in her films and her latest film stars Marcia Gay Harden, Spanish actress Leonor Watling (“Talk to Her”, “The Oxford Murders”, “Unconscious”), Joseph Charles (“MythQuest”, “Relativity”) and Aidan Quinn (“Legends of the Fall”, “Benny & Joon”, “Unknown”, “The Mission”).

The film won an “Audience Award” at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and now will be released on DVD in May 2013 courtesy of Kino Lorber.

“if i were you” is a film that revolves around Madelyn (portrayed by Marcia Gay Harden), a hardworking businesswoman with an equally busy-at-work husband named Paul (portrayed by Joseph Kell).

Unfortunately, Paul has been coming home very late far too often and for Madelyn, she realizes that her husband has been working on an audit and has a reason to be coming home late. That was until she makes a quick stop to a restaurant and catches her husband having a romantic dinner with a woman.

Distraught, Madelyn can’t believe what she is seeing. To make sure it is her husband, she makes a phone call to him and it is confirmed that the man is her husband. But the second call catches her husband off-guard and alerts him that maybe she knows that he is having an affair. He quickly ends his date with the woman and as they make their way out of the restaurant, Madelyn tries to quickly hide from them inside a liquor store. She sees the two having an argument and the woman is seen crying and going inside the liquor store.

The woman crying is seen asking for a rope and a bottle of liquor. Wondering why a woman would buy a rope, Madelyn who appears to be concerned but also wondering who the woman that her husband has been having an affair with, starts following her back to her apartment complex. And Madelyn becomes persistent, thinking the woman is trying to kill herself and she’s right.

Madelyn convinces the woman named Lucy (portrayed by Leonor Watling) that it is not worth killing herself over a man. And Lucy looks at Madelyn as a woman that saved her life. As the two discuss each other’s business, Lucy is unaware that the man she is having an affair with is Madelyn’s husband, while Madelyn talks about her husband having an affair with a woman.

Madelyn learns from Lucy that she is a struggling actress who has become obsessed with Paul and through their discussion, learning how bad her marriage was, when all this time, she thought things were going perfectly.

And somehow through their discussion, the two women bond and become friends. Lucy feels that she and her new friend should make a new pact, that temporarily, one would make major decisions for the other, so they don’t mess up their lives.

For Madelyn, she knows she can use the time to pull Lucy away from her husband, but also get to learn about her husband from Lucy and how he really felt about her and their marriage. As for Lucy, she feels that Madelyn can make her husband jealous by having an affair of her own to be even.

But the timing for Madelyn couldn’t be any worse. Her mother is dying of dementia and she is awaiting that call that she has passed away, her marriage appears to now be over and to get through her day, she starts drinking heavily that it begins affecting her job.

But when she tells her boss Keith (portrayed by Gary Piquer) that Paul has had an affair, instead of the usual apologetic comment, Keith confesses to Madelyn that he has always loved her and in a heartbeat, will leave his wife Lydia (portrayed by Valerie Mahaffey) if she tells him that they have a chance.

Meanwhile, Lucy keeps calling her of whether or not she should call Paul, but Madelyn tells her that she should wait for Paul’s call, making sure that their relationship grows distant. But when Madelyn begins receiving these calls often, even early in the morning and notices a change of her attitude towards him and her daily routine, he begins to suspect that she is having an affair and it starts to anger him.

One day, as Madelyn is hanging out with Lucy for a theatrical audition for King Lear, Madelyn and her husband get into a heated argument during their phone conversation and somehow Madelyn ends up getting hired for the lead role and becoming a female version of King Lear. Which in essence, keeps her out late and making her husband even more suspicious.

But as Madelyn tries to use this friendship with Lucy to keep her away from her husband, she meets a stranger (portrayed by Aidan Quinn) at the nursing home and somehow these two individuals enjoy talking with each other and have an enjoyable time with each other’s company.

With this complicated life that Madelyn lives, what will she do next?

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“if i were you” is presented in 16:9, 5.1 Dolby Digital and 2.0 Stereo with closed captioning. Picture quality is very good on DVD, didn’t notice any major compression artifacts and the dialogue and musical soundtrack was clear but is primarily front and center channel driven. I detected no major problems for video or audio during my viewing of the film.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“if i were you” comes with the following special features:

Cast Interviews – (31:13) Interviews with Marcia Gay Harden, Leonor Watling, Joseph Kell, Aidan Quinn and Michael Therriault.
Theatrical Trailer – The theatrical trailer for “if i were you”.

Joan Carr-Wiggin’s “if i were you” takes an old concept, of one finding out about their spouse’s affair but giving it a twist with the betrayed wife becoming friends with the mistress.

But I found it more surprising to find award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden with the main character role for a comedy, after decades of playing serious, dramatic roles.

If anything, Marcia has proven her versatility as an actress but with this film, it’s showing her ability to play something unique to her career and that is a playing a wife who can pull of the dramatic role of losing her mother and now losing a husband, but also a comedic role of being a friend to the mistress but somehow carrying on with life with anger, affecting her job but also winning the lead role to a theatrical play, accidentally.

The film plays off like an “odd couple” of Madelyn, a serious, business wife and Lucy, the sexually-driven, naive mistress, bad model and actress. But despite Madelyn hanging out with Lucy to have her steer clear from her husband, it’s having someone to talk to during her most difficult time that keeps her from associating with her than going all-mad-as-hell towards her. And the result of this new friendship is now making her husband jealous (because he thinks that Madelyn is having an affair behind his back) but most of all, letting her know how her husband and others have perceived of her.

But the primary positive of the film is Marcia Gay Harden’s versatility as an actress and to be truthful, the film benefits because of her ability to switch from dramatic to comedy, drunk to angry and we get to see the actress give a wonderful performance despite the film having scenes that seem unevenly paced, some scenes you wished had music (as the film had a little of that Nora Ephron-flair) to enlighten the mood. If anything, the film seems like a wild dream sequence but for the most part, I did enjoy the film and found it charming.

Overall, Joan Carr-Wiggin’s “if i were you” is a comedy that rides on the shoulders of Marcia Gay Harden’s acting performance. It’s not a great film but it’s an enjoyable and charming film worth watching.

Filed Under: DVD Reviews, KINO VIDEO/INTL./LORBER

Monsuno: Power (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

May 7, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“Monsuno” is a fun and entertaining animated series that has similarities to shows such as “Pokemon” or “Digimon” but a unique story that ties in with their toy merchandise line very well. An animated series that parents (who are young at heart) will enjoy watching with their children, “Monsuno: Power” is recommended!

DVD TITLE: Monsuno: Power

DURATION: Episodes 6-10 (110 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Color, NTSC, English Dolby Digital 2.0

COMPANY: Jakks Pacific, dentsu, Fremantle Media Enterprises, Topps, Shout Factory

RATED: TV Y7 FV

Release Date: May 21, 2013

Director: Yoshiaki Okumura

Produced By: Jared Wolfson, Yukio Kusumoto

Producer: Chapman Maddox

Associate Producer: Joh Hudson, Yuichi Kinishita

Story Editor: Michael Ryan

Character Design: Yuichiro Hayashi

Creature Design: Designmate

Animation Creature Design: Hiroto Kato

Creature Design Director: Takaaki Hirayama, Masahiko Okura, Hiroto Kato

Art Director: Tomoko Iwasa

Mecha / Prop Design: Yasuhiro Moriki

Background Director: Shigemi Ikeda

Background Art: Shigemi Ikeda

Music by Michael Taera

Cinematography by Naoki Serizawa

Edited by Masaki Sakamoto

Casting by Rene Veilleux

Featuring the following voice talent:

Cam Clark as Chase

Christopher Smith as Bren

Karen Strassman as Jinja

Keith Silverstein as Dax

Kirk Thornton as Beyal

The Monsuno series is a high-octane epic action-adventure series where kids discover, command and battle creatures with tremendous destructive potential. When a race to harness the power of Monsuno ensues between a group of teenagers and evil forces focused on destroying the Earth, the adolescents spring into action to defend our planet! Built around powerful, action-driven animation, dynamic characters and a deeply woven original story mythology

The adventures continue in the second “Monsuno” DVD as Chase Suno, Jinja, Bren and Beyal search for Chase’s father, meanwhile Commandant Marshall Charlemagne continues to pursue them. But the group meet a cocky individual named Dax, but is he friend or foe?

Find out in the episodes 5-10 of of “Monsuno”!

What is Monsuno?

In Japan is known for having popular series that revolved around its product merchandise! From “Pokemon”, “Digimon”, “B-Daman”, “Bakugan” and many others.

But in America, replicating that success would have to feature toys that are fun to play and characters that children can identify with and also lead them to buying the merchandise in stores.

One of popular toys that have made it onto store shelves with a lot of buzz is “Monsuno” and for its animated series, we are seeing the collaboration between American and Japanese companies with the involvement of Dentsu, Jakks Pacific, FremantleMedia Enterprises and Topps.

“Monsuno” (also known as “Jusen Batoru Monsuno” or “Beast Rotation Battle Monsuno” in Japan) is directed by Yoshiaki Okumura (“Eyeshield 21″, “Dragon Drive”, “Eien no Aseria”), featuring character designs by Yuichiro Hayashi (“Soten Koro”, “PES: Peace Eco Smile”) and art direction by Shigemi Ikeda (“Bokurano”, “Basilisk”, “Gantz”, “Afro Samurai”, “Mobile Suit Gundam Seed”, “InuYasha”).

Premiering on Nicktoons in the U.S. with a total of 26-episodes shown, “Monsuno” will receive its first DVD release (titled “Monsuno: Destiny”) courtesy of Shout Factory featuring the first five episodes.

“Monsuno” revolves around three teenagers: Chase Suno, Jinja and Bren. As all three are adventure-seeking individuals, both Jinja and Bren help Chase look for his father Jeredy Suno who has gone missing in the Himalayas.

When they arrive to S.T.O.R.M. lab, the place looks like it has received major damage but inside is Jon Ace, a man that Chase is familiar with. Jon tells Chase that his father left him something inside a sealed door but the only way to get access is through his handprint. When Jon puts his hand on the panel the door opens to reveal a a Monsuno Glowblade with a computer featuring a special message for his son. But once Chase grabs the GlowBlade, Charlemagne, the commander of S.T.O.R.M. has his soldiers hold Chase and friends by gunpoint and for them to give up the GlowBlade since it belongs to S.T.O.R.M.

But Chase refuses and when things go for the worse, Chase thinks about the message that his father left and so Chase throws the Monsuno GlowBlade to the ground and upon contact, a big Monsuno monster comes out. Nearly invincible Chase and friends run away. As the big white monster pretty much chases all soldiers of S.T.O.R.M. out of the building, including Chase and friends, thinking that Chase and friends have lost the big white monster, the monster finds them immediately.

But to their surprise, the big white monster, which Chase gives the name “Lock” is friendly to them. The computer message left by Chase’s father explains that he discovered Monsuno DNA that has been around since before mankind. And by using the DNA of other animals, he was able to create the Monsuno. In Lock’s case, he is a hybrid of a polar bear, gorilla and tiger But with this technology, he wants to keep it out of the hands of S.T.O.R.M. Also, learning that the GlowBlade is where the Monsuno lives and where it heals.

But just as Chase and friends think they have escaped from S.T.O.R.M., the evil company manages to find them and each time, a battle between S.T.O.R.M’s Monsuno vs. Chase’s Lock are engaged in battle.

Eventually in the next two episodes, we see how Bren and Jinja end up getting their own Monsuno, plus the trio learn how important it is to trust the right people because not only is S.T.O.R.M. after Locke, as well as the Monsuno, but other evil antagonists are after it as well.

Can Chase and friends find his father in time? And will he and his friends be able to master the Monsuno in battle?

In “Monsuno: Power”, as the group have traveled to Mandala and met a young controller named Beyal, S.T.O.R.M. tries to set-up a blockade to prevent Team Core-Tech to leave Mandala. Meanwhile, Beyal reveals through meditation that there will be a fifth member to join them. While Chase is determined in finding his brother, Jinja starts to have a crush on Beyal and Bren starts to be disappointed that others are joining the group.

The episodes featured in “Monsuno: Power” are the following (spoilerless summaries):

EPISODE 6 – Breakthrough – As the group try to leave Mandala, S.T.O.R.M. tries to prevent the group from leaving.
EPISODE 7 – R.S.V.P. – As the group head to the Lowlands, the group run into a cocky controller named Dax and Chase goes against him.
EPISODE 8 – Appleseeds – The group continue on to the Lowlands to follow Dax, but can they trust him?
EPISODE 9 – Eye – Dax joins the team, but no one trusts him.
EPISODE 10 – Deceit – Dax joins the group and Chase wonders if the fifth member should be Dax.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Monsuno” is an interesting animated series because right off the bat, it looks like an anime series but the character designs seem a bit different from most anime television series and that is probably because the studio was focusing on making the series look and feel like an anime but with a western animated feel. Character and monster designs are well animated and the art backgrounds look well-detailed and look very good on DVD.

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 and is front channel driven and English dialogue is clear and well-acted.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Monsuno: Power” comes with short video profiles for Dr. Klipse and Jinja.

The group continues to grow with the addition of Beyal and Dax in the latest episodes of “Monsuno”!

“Monsuno” is an entertaining animated series featuring a joint-collaboration between American and Japanese companies and literally a series that helps promote the toyline courtesy of Jakks Pacific.

While the series has the feel of “Pokemon”, what makes the series so different is that the main protagonists are older teenagers and they tend to get themselves into trouble often. The series is action-packed but also tied to their toyline, so the teenagers are often seen throwing their “Monsuno” capsules to release them.

While I’m not sure how the toys are, since the debut of the first DVD, I’ve been seeing a lot of “Monsuno” toys on the shelves, so I’m guessing the series has a dedicated audience.

“Monsuno” is also diverse as it features a Japanese (or Japanese American) protagonist with Chase Suno, Jinja is an independent, intelligent and kick-butt female protagonist and while Bren does a lot of whining, he makes up for it with his excellent computer skills. “Monsuno: Power” adds Beyal and Dax, two individuals who are also of a different race and adds to the diverse cast of the animated series so far.

My 10-year-old son is a big Pokemon fan but immediately after watching these five episodes, he was really getting into the series and wanted to check out the “Monsuno” toys immediately after watching. The whole concept of tossing your GlowBlade toy with a Monsuno coming out is quite interesting and I have no doubt that this series will appeal to children who will most likely ask their parents to purchase them the toys.

So far, the first five episodes of the series have been enjoyable but for parents who are wondering if the series is safe for their children, I would recommend it for older children.

The monsters may seem scar to younger children and the fact that Chase and friends are constantly being chased down by soldiers with weapons and they do get injured at times, while not super violent, parents may want to watch the series with their child to see if its right for them. But no doubt, I know that with these episodes alone, more than likely like my child, your children will be wanting the toys.

As for the DVD, while I prefer watching the series as a full complete season versus a five episode DVD release, I can only hope that Shout Factory does plan to release the whole series as a full set, otherwise, one will probably have to purchase several volumes just to complete a season.

Overall, “Monsuno” is a fun and entertaining animated series that has similarities to shows such as “Pokemon” or “Digimon” but a unique story that ties in with their toy merchandise line very well. An animated series that parents (who are young at heart) will enjoy watching with their children, me and my son really enjoyed “Monsuno” and look forward to the next DVD release.

“Monsuno: Power” is recommended!

Filed Under: Children's DVD/Blu-ray, DVD Reviews

Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

May 3, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“Private Practice” was an a good season and as a longtime viewer, this series has really played out like an emotional roller coaster, with episodes that were exciting, shocking, emotional and some even frustrating. But everything has come full circle with this sixth and final season. If you are a fan of “Private Practice” and have watched every season thus far, Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season” is recommended!

DVD TITLE: Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season

YEAR AIRED: 2012-2013

DURATION: 13 Episodes (559 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Spanish and French Subtitles, Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions

COMPANY: abc studios

RATED: TV 14 DSLV

RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2013

Created by Shonda Rhimes

Directed by Mark Tinker, Michael Zinberg, James Frawley and Tom Verica

Written by Shonda Rhimes, Jon Cowan, Robert L. Rovner, Ayanna Floyd, Michael Ostrowski, Lauren Scmidt, Craig Turk, Steve Blackman

Executive Producer: Shonda Rhimes, Mark Tinker, Betsy Beers

Producer: Lauren Schmidt

Co-Producer: Scott Printz

Music by Chad Fischer

Cinematography by Lex DuPont

Editing by Christal Khatib, Noah Pontell

Casting by John Brace, Linda Lowy

Series Production Design by Richard C. Hankins

Starring:

Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Montgomery

KaDee Strickland as Dr. Charlotte King

Paul Adelstein as Dr. Cooper Freedman

Amy Brennerman as Dr. Violet Turner

Audra McDonald as Dr. Naomi Bennett

Taye Diggs as Dr. Sam Bennett

David Sutcliffe as Officer Kevin Nelson

Brian Benben as Dr. Sheldon Wallace

Benjamin Bratt as Dr. Jake Reilly

Caterina Scorsone as Dr. Amelia Shepherd

Matt Long as Dr. James Peterson

Griffin Gluck as Mason Warner

Justina Machado as Stephanie Kemp

Prepare yourself for the stunning no holds barred final season of television’s most seductive medical drama from the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes. Feel the passion and relive the heartbreaking moments from every episode of ABC’s Private Practice: The Complete Sixth Season. The tight knit family at Seaside Health and Wellness is in for a huge shakeup as a new doctor arrives in the wake of a devastating loss; meanwhile, Addison makes a heart-wrenching choice between Jake and Sam; and more changes are in store for Cooper and Charlotte who discover that life’s biggest events come in threes. Lastly, Sheldon finds true happiness in the midst of a traumatic personal challenge. Experience all 13 episodes complete with never-before-seen bonus features on ABC’s Private Practice: The Complete Sixth Season!

For fans of “Private Practice”, The sixth and final season of “Private Practice” features a story about tragedy, dealing with tragedy, a new chapter in the lives of those at Oceanside Wellness Center. The season also provides closure for fans who wonder how these characters will fare in the final season!

What is “Private Practice”?

In 2007, Shonda Rhimes (creator/executive producer of “Grey’s Anatomy” and writer of “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”) developed a spin-off of “Grey’s Anatomy” titled “Private Practice” based on the life of Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh). For the most part, “Private Practice” Season One lasted about nine episodes and received a so/so reception from fans.

For the second season, viewers were promised a much more exciting season and sure enough, Shondra Rhimes and crew were able to take the series to different heights this time around.

The premise of the series is that Dr. Addison Montgomery has left Seattle Grace Hospital and moved to California to work for a private practice, Oceanside Wellness Center. In the first season, Dr. Addison Montgomery had to win the respect of her fellow doctors and relationships were examined in the first season.

In the second season, Oceanside Wellness Center is not exactly in the best circumstances as the center faces major financial problems, a new rival practice trying to steal their clients, more relationship problems and drama, cross-over episodes with “Grey’s Anatomy” and to cap things off, a dark and twisted season finale that viewers were probably not expecting.

For the third season, “Private Practice” was all about personal challenges and taking things up a notch. For Addison, we know that her promiscuity comes from her father and she knows she has to deal with it. This season, she finds herself in more complication situations and also having to decide where she stands with Pete and Sam.

Naomi is also put into an interesting situation as her move to another center tests her friendship with Addison but also her business/personal relationships with the men she works with. But most of all, she’s tested as a mother, with a teenager who is growing up.

Violet and Pete must take on many challenges after Violet has suffered a major attack and now, not sure where she is in her life after the attack and having to give up her baby and making Pete a single father. Cooper and Charlotte’s relationship is tested and as volatile as a couple, they are also in love but have a difficult time showing it.

Last season, Dr. Addison Montgomery and Dr. Sam Bennet kept their relationship secret, meanwhile Dr. Peter Wilder and Dr. Violet Turner grew closer in their relationship, as with Dr. Cooper Freedman and Dr. Charlotte King. Also, the season featured Dr. Amelia Shepherd moving in with Dr. Addison Montgomery and the season ended with tragedy as Dell and Myra were in car accident and while Myra and her baby survived, Dell died from his injuries.

For “Private Practice – The Complete Fourth Season”, the doctors recover from the death of Dell, meanwhile they must decide what to do with his daughter. Meanwhile, couples get married, a couple breaks up and as their is one joyous occasion, there is also heartbreak as one of the doctors is raped and beaten savagely, one of the doctor’s may lose her license and one suffers a heart attack.

And here we are now with “Private Practice – The Complete Fifth Season” as Addison and Sam continue their sexual relationship but things start to change when Addison wants to have a child. Meanwhile, Pete dealing with PTSD after his heart attack, must deal with his spiteful emotions towards his wife Violet, as he can’t stop himself from yelling at her.

Meanwhile, as Cooper and Charlotte try to adjust to their married life, Cooper is visited by a woman he had a one night stand with and finds out that she gave birth to a child. And now this eight-year-old child Mason may not have a mother, because her cancer has spread.

Meanwhile, Amelia is drinking and doing drugs once again, Sheldon is still Sheldon but now we have a new doctor at the practice as Dr. Jake Reilly joins the practice and it appears that perhaps he and Addison still have some unfinished business.

And with the finale of season 5, Pete is locked up for trying to help a doctor/patient assisted suicide and Amelia crashed down so hard with her addiction that she needed to get the help necessary. Meanwhile, we were left wondering which man will Addison pick… Sam or Jake?

With the sixth and final season, the series begins four months later with Pete missing his court date. Did he jet off to another country to avoid being imprisoned? Meanwhile, Cooper and Charlotte receive news that they are having triplets, but Charlotte is not so thrilled about it.

Meanwhile, as Violet tries to wonder where Pete had gone, Addison is shown to have chosen Jake, Sam tries to deal with rejection and wondering if he can ever be friends with her. Amelia has become sober, but is also being pursued by the new doctor James Peterson. And Sheldon’s health takes a turn for the worse.

What will happen to these individuals by season finale? Find out by watching “Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season”.

“Private Practice” focuses on the following main characters:

Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “The Drew Carey Show”) - A doctor at Seattle’s Grace Hospital and was married to Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey, “Grey’s Anatomy”) but had an affair with his best friend, Dr. Mark Sloan (Eric Dane, “Grey’s Anatomy”) and thus ruined her marriage. Thus leaving to Los Angeles and joining a private practice. Addison was dating Dr. Dam Bennet and is now in a relationship with Dr. Jake Reilly.

Dr. Sam Bennett (Taye Diggs. “Day Break”, “Kevin Hill”, “Grey’s Anatomy”) - Known to the other doctors as “Doctor Feelgood”, Sam is a founding partner of Oceanside Wellness Center and is an internist. Was dating Dr. Addison Montgomery but after their breakup, their friendship is not the same. Currently dating Stephanie Kemp.

Dr. Violet Turner (Amy Brenneman, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Judging Amy”, “Frasier”) – A psychiatrist at Oceanside Wellness Center. Married to Dr. Pete Wilder and in the process of divorce with Dr. Pete Wilder.

Dr. Cooper Freedman (Paul Adelstein, “Prison Break”, “Hack”) - The pediatrician at Oceanside Wellness Center and is the private practice’s pediatrician. Married to Dr. Charlotte King and trying to prepare in becoming a father of several children. He tries to balance his personal time with both Violet (as a friend) and Dr. Charlotte King.

Dr. Charlotte King (KaDee Strickland, “The Grudge”, “The Wedding Bells”, “American Gangster”) - The Chief of Staff at St. Ambrose Hospital in Santa Monica. She helps open Pacific Wellcare, a competition to Oceanside Wellness Center. She is also married to Dr. Cooper Freedman and is known for being a cold-person. In Season 6, Charlotte finds out she will be pregnant with triplets and is not taking it so well.

Dr. Sheldon Wallace (Brian Benben, “The Brian Benben Show”, Dream On”) – A psychiatrist who is often busy dealing with his patients but finds out that he has cancer.

Dr. Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone, “1-800-Missing”) – Sister of Dr. Derek Shepherd (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and a surgeon. Also, a recovering drug addict who is being pursued by the new doctor, James Peterson.

Dr. Jake Reilly (Benjamin Bratt, “Law & Order”, “Miss Congeniality”, “Catwoman”) – A general surgeon and OB/GYN who specializes in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. He and Addison are currently dating.

Dr. James Peterson (Matt Long, “Ghost Rider”, “Reflections”, “Homecoming”) – A new physician at Ocean Wellness Center who wants a relationship with Dr. Amelia Shepherd.

“Private Practice – The Complete Sixth Season” features 13 episodes on three DVD discs. Here are spoilerless summaries for each episode:

DISC: 1

EPISODE 99 – Aftershock – Four months have past and Pete has skipped out on bail and is missing, Addison chooses Jake over Sam and their friendship, Charlotte finds out that she is pregnant with triplets and Amelia has been sober for a year. But not all is good when one of their own is found dead.
EPISODE 100 – Mourning Sickness - Charlotte tries to continue with what Pete had wanted in his will, meanwhile Addison receives a call in regards to Mark Sloan.
EPISODE 101 – Good Grief – Addison grieves over Mark’s death but does not know how to tell Jake about her past. Amelia tries to help Violet who is having to take grief counseling.
EPISODE 102 – You Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till It’s Gone – Dr. James Peterson is hired to replace Pete, meanwhile a girl has gone missing at the hospital.
EPISODE 103 – The Next Episode – Sam is asked to take part in a reality show pilot based on his life. And Sam mom comes to town.

DISC 2:

EPISODE 104 – Apron Strings - Addison is worried when Henry’s biological mother comes back and James works on a patient who has connections to Addison.
EPISODE 105 – The World According to Jake – What happens when Jake proposes to Addison and James continues to pursue Amelia.
EPISODE 106 – Life Support – Charlotte is upset that Cooper did not keep her pregnancy a secret and both argue what religion the triplets will practice. But what happens when Addison is forced to deliver one of the triplets at 26 weeks?
EPISODE 107 – I’m Fine- Sheldon tells his ex-wife about his cancer. While doing chemo, Sheldon believes that his patient may have kidnapped the girl that went missing (in episode 102).
EPISODE 108 – Georgia On My Mind - Charlotte is put on bed rest and both Charlotte and Cooper can’t agree on the names of their new baby.

DISC 3:

EPISODE 109 – Good Fries Are Hard To Come By - Amelia and James go on dates but will they have a relationship together?
EPISODE 110 – Full Release – Charlotte goes into labor but with the first baby being delivered fine, the second baby is turned to its side and Addison must try to save the baby.
EPISODE 111 – In Which We Say Goodbye – The final episode. What will happen to Addison and Jake? What will happen to Sam, especially when Naomi returns? How will Cooper deal with being a stay at home father? Will Amelia and James’ relationship last? And how will Sheldon deal with the final days of Miranda’s life? And what new book does Violet have planned?

VIDEO:

“Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season” is presented in Widescreen (1:78:1) – Enhanced for 16×9 televisions. In the past, part of the cool look that “Private Practice” had was this slick California look and many shots outdoors. For the final season, a lot of the shots are shot indoor. Indoor scenes are well-lit and during the low-light scenes, you do see a bit of noise but compared to other drama series on television, the series is above average in terms of picture quality on DVD.

AUDIO:

As for audio, “Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season” is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Dialogue and music is crystal clear, while surround channels are not too active and is a dialogue/music driven soundtrack coming from the center and front channels. The show is presented with English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season” includes the following special features:

DISC 6:

Deleted Scenes – Featuring 21deleted scenes from season six of “Private Practice”.
Bloopers – (3:08) “Private Practice” season 6 outtakes.

EXTRAS:

“Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season” comes with a slip cover.

Having watched “Private Practice” all these years, the show has had its ups and downs. While the storyline was bogged down by a circle of friends who would date another friend after a breakup, I worried at times that this series was not going to get any better because it was stuck after season two.

While season 2-4 really tried to shock viewers with their season finales, while , “Private Practice” had to stake a step back and bring some realism once again and focus on the character dynamics, relationships and exploring the characters one last time. It was known that some of the actors were not planning on coming back but with a shortened six season, while Tim Daly departed from the show, I was happy to see that Kate Walsh would stay for the final season.

So, what are my thoughts on season six.

I guest the best way to explain it in one word is “closure”.

These characters have been put through so many traumatic experiences that I was happy to see less of that and to focus on a somewhat brighter storyline and end things on a much more positive note. The season’s focal point was Cooper and Charlotte having triplets, while the first few episodes focused on Violet getting over Pete’s death, while the latter episodes focused on other storylines based on relationships.

Addison and Jake discussing how to keep Henry and strengthening their relationship. Amelia and the newest doctor, James Peterson. While Sam, Violet and Sheldon each have their own situation personal situations to deal with. Will any of them find love? While most of the storyline of the series played it safe, as to give their characters some closure, there is an interesting storyline that deals with a patient of Sheldon’s but also a young girl who had gone missing.

If anything, the sixth and final season of “Private Practice” played things quite safely this time around. Which is not a bad thing, as people want a positive finale rather than seeing any more characters dead. Making Benjamin Bratt’s Jake Reilly a full-time character was a good choice but also bringing in some new blood with Matt Long as Dr. James Peterson. It’s too bad that the character of James Peterson didn’t come earlier, as it would have made a better buildup between Amanda and James.

Unfortunately, I felt Sam’s character tend to go from one of the primary characters to suddenly a more secondary character with problems with women. At least he received a pretty solid episode this final season, as well as the character of Sheldon.

But overall, I was quite pleased with how the season ended and no doubt that fans will get some closure with the season finale.

As for the DVD box set, you get two special features (“Deleted Scenes” and “Bloopers”) but it would have been nice to have a finale featurette with the talents. Even behind-the-scenes footage of the final taping. For a show that has gone on for six years with a lot of fans invested in it, you kind of expect these special features for a series finale.

Overall, “Private Practice” was an a good season and as a longtime viewer, this series has really played out like an emotional roller coaster, with episodes that were exciting, shocking, emotional and some even frustrating. But everything has come full circle with this sixth and final season.

If you are a fan of “Private Practice” and have watched every season thus far, Private Practice – The Complete Sixth and Final Season” is recommended!

Filed Under: DVD Reviews

Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

April 14, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

The “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” DVD box set is a sample of Masaki Kobayashi’s work and what he has done for his entire career. His humanism and pacifism is noted throughout his career and while he may be known best for “The Human Condition”, “Harakiri” and “Kwaidan”, the four films presented in this set shows how this one man went into filmmaking to make a difference and to not be like other Japanese filmmakers. From his first film in the 1950′s to his last in the 1980′s, his films were seen as rebellious but in truth, it was his voice trying to reach a larger audience and challenging the viewer to consider their the direction that society was headed. “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” is highly recommended!

TITLE: Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System

DURATION: The Thick-Walled Room (110 minutes), I Will Buy You (112 minutes), Black River (110 minutes) and The Inheritance (108 minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Black and White, 1:33:1 Aspect Ratio, (2:40:1 for “The Inheritance”), Monaural, Japanese with English subtitles

COMPANY: Janus Films/The Criterion Collection

RELEASED: April 16, 2013

One of the most important filmmakers to emerge from Japan’s cinematic golden age, Masaki Kobayashi is best remembered today for his 1959 epic The Human Condition, but that is just one of the blistering films he made in a career dedicated to criticizing his country’s rigid social and political orders. He first found his voice—rebellious, angry, engaged—in the fifties, following his life-altering experiences as a soldier in World War II; the four films collected here, made in the same period as The Human Condition, reflect Kobayashi’s coming into his own as an artist. He fought to get these powerful dramas made at a studio more oriented at the time toward quiet family melodramas; they are unforgettable pictures of a postwar Japan troubled by identity crises and moral corruption on scales both intimate and institutional.

When it comes to Japanese cinema, when Masaki Kobayashi’s name comes up, one will remember the filmmaker for being a pacifist but taking on films that criticized his country’s social and political orders.

Best known for his trilogy of films titled “The Human Condition” (1959-1961), a trilogy on the effects of World War II on a Japanese pacifist and socialist, Kobayashi is also known for his films “Harakiri” (1962, which won the Jury Prize at the 1963 Cannes Film Festival) and “Kwaidan ” (1964, which won the Special Jury Prize at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival and received a “Best Foreign Language Film” Academy Award nomination).

But prior to these cinematic masterpiece, Kobayashi showed a rebellious side in his earlier films from the ’50s. To best showcase his earlier work, The Criterion Collection has put together four of his earlier films in an Eclipse Series set titled “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System”.

Included are the following three films from the ’50s and one from the ’60s : “The Thick-Walled Room” (“Kabe atsuki heya”, 1953), “I Will Buy You” (“Anata Kaimasu”, 1956), “Black River” (“Kuroi kawa”, 1957) and “The Inheritance” (“Karami-Ai”, 1964).

Here are my reviews for each of the films included in this DVD set:

The Thick-Walled Room” (“Kabe atsuki heya”, 1953)

“I Will Buy You” (“Anata Kaimasu”, 1956)

“Black River” (“Kuroi kawa”, 1957)

“The Inheritance” (“Karami-Ai”, 1964)

For those unfamiliar with Masaki Kobayashi’s films, one must know that there is always a message that he wants his viewers to see, learn and realize how society is being corrupted . It’s a Japan that he has seen change and not for the best.

His films tend to feature characters that are flawed, characters who have shaded pasts or are currently shady that you can understand why Kobayashi goes through the effort of trying to get his message out. It’s because its a big part of the human nature that existed and still exists today not just in Japanese culture but all around the world.

With the release of the four-movie DVD set “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System”, the Criterion Collection has selected four films that are very different from each other, but they also have similarities.

Masaki Kobayashi’s “The Thick-Walled Room” is thought-provoking and bold.

Considering the film was one of the first to be made after World War II about Japanese soldiers after the war, his film confronts the harsh realities of life for war criminals but also confronting the reality that those who made the decisions of war, those who ordered the soldiers to do the things they did were not punished as badly as them.

But also the harsh reality that life for these war criminals would no longer be the same after they leave prison, even if it’s for a day of mourning.

Their life for many of these war criminals have been stripped and during American occupation, because of the atrocities that some of the soldiers had committed, they weren’t going to receive any special treatment.

“The Thick-Walled Room” was not about coming up with solutions. Yamashita is a man who was forced by his commanding officer to kill an innocent man that too them in and fed them and to make things worse, his friend makes up a lie that he is responsible for killing innocent people to steal their food and earning him more time in jail. And among the soldiers featured, he is the one that has suffered the most. And you wonder what will happen if released from jail, so he can go back to his family to mourn his mother’s death for a day. Will he seek revenge against the former friend who lied? Will he run away, so he can never return back to prison? How will life be for this man outside of prison? Or is life much better for him if he goes back to prison?

Yokota is the complex character of the film. During the war, he was a translator who did not want to fight. But with a rotten superior officer, he was forced to do things he never wanted to do.

He is a man who also tries to understand who is at fault for the war. Was it the soldiers? Was it the people who commanded them? Is this harsh prison sentence created for them to repent? He struggles with how life has changed for him and his fellow soldiers.

But he really wants to repent or at least contribute while in prison.

While the portrayals of the Japanese are well-done, there are things that are important to point out. In Japan, there was a lot of propaganda during World War II that Americans and other allies had mistreated and tortured Japanese prisoner of war. There were major incidents that things did happen such as a soldier sending a Japanese skull back home or a letter opener carved from Japanese bone. But also those who did surrender being killed to death by soldiers. Of course, American military said these actions were based on rumors. But true or false, it did make Japanese feel that they should die by fighting back than surrender and be stuck in a prison where they would be tortured. It is known that in some areas, Japanese POW’s treatment were terrible, especially those who surrendered to the Soviet forces as these POW’s.

We do see how in the film, Japanese POW’s were used for propaganda and to spread rumors around the prison. We do see POW’s who wish they can kill themselves but also the shame that many feel about surrendering and not dying.

While Kobayashi probably could have been more polemic with this film, the film was more about how these men have changed from being soldiers to prisoners that feel there is no life for them. Anything that literally made them happy, has been stripped away. Honor for their family, love for their wives or girlfriends, all they know is the cell they sleep in, the hard labor that they occasionally have to do and being around other Japanese who feel shamed, or dealing with the atrocities they had committed, these things weigh heavily on their mind and some can suppress it and try to repent, other just want to end their miserable life.

For his next film titled “I Will Buy You”, it’s probably a film that can be summarized with the word “greed” or perhaps one can call it “the way of modern business”.

I suppose in our day and age of professional athletes making millions of dollars and endorsement deals, we no longer balk about a unique quarterback, a pitcher or a basketball player making a ton of money. The agents get the same amount of press for landing major deals and as for scouting, go on a sports news site and colleges incurring major infractions because of incorrect scouting is still big news.

But while the concept of scouting athletes have gone on for decades, I find it interesting that filmmaker Masaki Kobayashi zeroed on this back in 1956 for his film “I Will Buy You”.

At first, we are shown how a scout named Kishimoto, for the baseball team, the Toyo Flowers is determined on trying to recruit graduating college player Kurita. We see through his narration of how he observes everyone around Kurita, from his mentor and handler Kyuki, his brothers and even his girlfriend.

But while Kishimoto is wise, we also learn that Kyuki is also wise to the scouts, trying to make things better for him as a businessman and also earning a fat paycheck. But Kyuki is also sick…or is he?

We see this tete a tete between both men, also seeing other scouts trying to shower the family and Kurita with gifts.

But then the bombshell…Kurita is not a dumb athlete, he knows that by milking everyone, he can earn big money and gifts for his family and he is just as bad as the scout and his handler, which his girlfriend now detests.

While I’m not sure how the impact of the film was to professional baseball in Japan at the time, while Kobayashi is a rebel when it comes to his films, having followed Japanese pop culture for decades and seeing how Japanese baseball is such a popular pasttime in the country, it’s almost how we feel today when star players receive a major deal from their sports team or even an actor or actress that receives a big payday for a film, we don’t blink an eye because it’s how things are.

Still, this was 1956, not long after World War II, so I’m sure the film did probably raise a few eyebrows, but this is the atmosphere created by the team owners and them wanting to land a huge star athlete. But in the case of “I Will Buy You”, we start to see Kishimoto realizing things about the work that he does. He is torn by the dishonesty and the practices of the industry, but that is part of the business of professional sports.

Forty years after this film was made, in America, Cameron Crowe would direct the film “Jerry Maguire” which centers around an agent with his only star athlete but showing how the business of professional sports is about, with an added romantic angle to the film.

And nearly 20-years after that film was made, now all we hear is about college infractions of bad recruiting practices to star athletes who lost their fortune.

But it’s obvious that Minoru Ono (who wrote the original novel) saw how professional sports was heading and Masaki Kobayashi saw it as a way to show people the greed that exists in professional sports.

Unfortunately, where greed and corruption in politics is what people rebel against, but when it comes to sports, it’s still entertainment and whenever it comes to athletes making big money, may it be in the 1950′s to today’s major sports, people are much more forgiving.

“Black River” has a message from filmmaker Masaki Kobayashi that tries to show how life for people after post-war and those living near the U.S. military bases are being affected negatively by Western culture.

The message of western culture affecting other countries is nothing new. Even in feudal Japan with the first confrontation of foreign merchants, there have always been a belief that the foreigners brought diseases and other unwanted situations to their country and it changed people for the worse.

Even today, the political debate of US bases in Asia is still a sore spot for many people and unfortunate, even American soldiers have been guilty of committing crimes upon Japanese that increases the hostility of locals even more.

But after World War II, Japan was under uncertain times. Actually, many countries and their future were uncertain as people lived in poverty, without jobs, without income and people did things in order to survive.

For “Black River”, women are seen turning to prostitution in order to make money. Men were unemployed and in order to get things done (or to get people out of an establishment), some turned to the yakuza.

While the living conditions of these people are bad but not the worst, the message that Kobayashi delivered with this film at the time is why isn’t anything being done to stop this deviant behavior?

The film also goes into the woman’s right after rape. The character of Shizuko is set-up by Killer Joe, who has been infatuated with the young woman and pretends to be her savior, when in truth, he became the man who raped her while she was unconscious.

The following day, she wants Killer Joe to accompany her to the police but Joe reminds her that all it would do is embarrass the both of them. And she knows it is true. Rape laws were not as strong as today and even in America during the 1950′s, rape was only punishable if there was extreme physical violence involved. If a woman did not fight back, there was no crime. Eventually, laws in the 1960′s would later change this but Masaki Kobayashi knew that it was terrible that a woman’s word was not strong enough and Kobayashi showed the film that because of her situation, she couldn’t tell police because she was unconscious at the time and probably for many rape victims in Japan of the time, whether or not it was intentional, the message was that women had to bear the burden after becoming a rape victim, as there were no major rape laws in Japan.

As for the film, while enjoyable as a whole, the problem lies within its pacing as the film starts introducing us to the people who live in the slum village but then begins to focus on Nishida, Shizuka and Joe and the love triangle that exists for the three. The other characters featured in the first half are not given the same presence by the second half and you tend to forget them, as your attention is diverted on the love triangle and how things will eventually resolve itself by the end of the film.

Still, when it comes to a message about the changes upon Japan society because of the U.S. military bases, Kobayashi’s “Black River” definitely showcases a message of a corrupted culture.

While created after his masterpiece “The Human Condition”, Masaki Kobayashi’s “The Inheritance” showcases the worst behavior of people and sometimes it happens after the death of a loved one (especially if that loved one had money).

While the story of people trying to get their cut from one’s will may seem banal, Kobayashi’s film is different as it showcases how one secretary was able to methodically plan her way to get into her boss’s will.

“The Inheritance” begins with a wealthy business man dying from cancer and trying to plan his will before he dies. What he knows is that his current wife will get a third from the will, but also wanting to give a third to his illegitimate children, the problem is that he doesn’t even know who his children are, nor has he been a part of their lives. But he sends his secretary Yasuko to find them.

Meanwhile, his lawyer and his staff know they want a cut from the will and try to find a way to get some of that money, as does the businessman’s young wife who tries to find a way to derail any finding of the illegitimate children, so she can get most of the money herself.

Suffice to say, a common theme from Kobayashi’s films are characters that are typically shady in their own right. But the performance from actress Keiko Kishi as the cool and collected secretary Yasuko was well-done, and to see how her character is able to plan her way of getting into the film was quite fascinating and the writing was clever.

Overall, the “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” DVD box set is a sample of Masaki Kobayashi’s work and what he has done for his entire career. His humanism and pacifism is noted throughout his career and while he may be known best for “The Human Condition”, “Harakiri” and “Kwaidan”, the four films presented in this set shows how this one man went into filmmaking to make a difference and to not be like other Japanese filmmakers. From his first film in the 1950′s to his last in the 1980′s, his films were seen as rebellious but in truth, it was his voice trying to reach a larger audience and challenging the viewer to consider their the direction that society was headed.

“Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” is highly recommended!

Filed Under: Asian Cinema DVD/Blu-ray, DVD Reviews, THE CRITERION COLLECTION

The Inheritance (as part of the Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System) (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

April 14, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“The Inheritance” is a film that benefits from its use of 2:40:1 and capturing more of the surroundings of its characters, the film also benefits from the performances of its cast and also clever writing. As the fourth film presented in the “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System”, the film is probably the best of the four in terms of quality and storytelling. A fitting addition to this DVD set!

TITLE: The Inheritance (as part of the Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System)

YEAR OF FILM: 1962

DURATION: 108 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Black and White, 2:40:1 Aspect Ratio, Monaural, Japanese with English subtitles

COMPANY: Janus Films/The Criterion Collection

RELEASED: April 16, 2013

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi

Based on the Novel by Norio Nanjo

Written by Koichi Inagaki

Music by Toru Takemitsu

Cinematography by Takashi Kawamata

Starring:

Toru Abe as Detective

Minoru Chiaki as Fujii Junichi

Jun Hamamura

Atsuko Kawaguchi as Mayumi

Yusuke Kawazu as Sadao

Keiko Kishi as Yasuko

Tatsuya Nakadai as Furukawa Kikuo

On his deathbed, a wealthy businessman announces that his fortune is to be split equally among his three illegitimate children, whose whereabouts are unknown. A bevy of lawyers and associates begin machinations to procure the money for themselves, resorting to the use of impostors and blackmail. Yet all are outwitted by the cunning of the man’s secretary (Keiko Kishi), in this entertaining condemnation of unchecked greed.

With the previous three films included in the “Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” released in the 1950′s, “The Inheritance” was released in 1962 after Kobayashi’s hit film “The Human Condition”. Also, another major difference is this film was shot in 2:40:1 aspect ratio versus the standard 1:33:1.

“The Inheritance” begins with a woman named Yasuko (portrayed by Keiko Kishi) doing some shopping and runs into a man that she did not want to see.

Yasuko’s story begins with the introduction to the wealthy businessman (portrayed by So Yamamura) who finds out that he has only several months to live. Knowing that he is about to die, he plans out his will of who will get the inheritance. He knows that his young wife (portrayed by Misako Watanabe) will get a third but he also has three illegitimate children that need to be found.

He has not kept up with the whereabouts of the three children and no one knows about them. So, the search begins for these three illegitimate children as they would get a right to his inheritance. And as his lawyer tries to search for them, the businessman also has his secretary looking for them as well.

But when word of an inheritance begins catch the attention of various individuals, everyone starts to have their own personal interest of trying to get a piece of it.

But are any of these individuals entitled to the inheritance?

VIDEO:

“The Inheritance” is presented in black and white and the only film in the “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” DVD set to be featured in 2:40:1 aspect ratio. Of the four films featured in the DVD box set, “The Inheritance” does look the best. Better contrast when it comes to the gray and white and black levels are also good. Detail is much more evident and the picture quality is just looks better than Kobayashi’s films from the 50′s.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“The Inheritance” is presented in Japanese monaural with English subtitles. Dialogue is clear, Toru Takemitsu’s jazzy score sounds very good and I heard no significant clicks, pops or humming through the entire film.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Eclipse Series releases do not come with special features but included in the insert is a background on Kobayashi and the information about the film.

Watching “The Inheritance”, the four film included in the “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” DVD box set. You start to realize the underlying theme of capitalism and greed.

Overall, “The Inheritance” is a film that benefits from its use of 2:40:1 and capturing more of the surroundings of its characters, the film also benefits from the performances of its cast and also clever writing. As the fourth film presented in the “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System”, the film is probably the best of the four in terms of quality and storytelling. A fitting addition to this DVD set!

Filed Under: Asian Cinema DVD/Blu-ray, DVD Reviews, THE CRITERION COLLECTION

Black River (as part of the Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System) (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

April 13, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

When it comes to a message about the changes upon Japan society because of the U.S. military bases, Kobayashi’s “Black River” definitely showcases a message of a corrupted culture. As the third film featured in the “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System”, “Black River” is another worthy addition to this DVD box set.

TITLE: Black River (as part of the Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System)

YEAR OF FILM: 1956

DURATION: 110 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Black and White, 1:33:1 Aspect Ratio, Monaural, Japanese with English subtitles

COMPANY: Janus Films/The Criterion Collection

RELEASED: April 16, 2013

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi

Based on the Story by Takeo Tomishima

Written by Zenzo Matsuyama

Music by Chuji Kinoshita

Cinematography by Yuharu Atsuta

Art Direction by Kazue Hirataka

Starring:

Fumio Watanabe as Nishida

Ineko Arima as Shizuka

Tatsuya Nakadai as Killer Joe

Asao Sano

Seiji Miyaguchi

Eijiro Tono

Perhaps Masaki Kobayashi’s most sordid film, Black River examines the rampant corruption on and around U.S. military bases in Japan following World War II. Kobayashi spirals out from the story of a love triangle that develops between a good-natured student, his innocent girlfriend, and a coldhearted petty criminal (Tatsuya Nakadai, in his first major role) to reveal a nation slowly succumbing to lawlessness and violence.

With “The Thick-Walled Room” focusing on Japanese prisoners during American occupation and “I Will Buy You” focusing on the Japanese business of scouting and high earnings for an upcoming college baseball player, for the film “Black River”, Masaki Kobayashi focused on life for Japanese near the U.S. military bases near Japan following World War II.

With many Japanese not having an income, for one neighborhood near Atsugi naval air base, the people living in the area are poor and Japanese women earn their money through prostitution while bars catering to American serviceman can be seen in the area. The area invites the criminal element, especially the yakuza and the message that Kobayashi wants people to see is how can this behavior go on without anyone being punished?

“Black River” focuses on a group of people living in the slum neighborhood, just barely surviving. And for many of them, they live under a landlord (portrayed by Isuzu Yamada) who is becoming more adamant when it comes to collecting the end of the month rent. But unknown to them is that the landlord is conspiring with a yakuza named Killer Joe (portrayed by Tatsuya Nakadai) to drive the residents out, so she can install a bathhouse. The landlord has also hired a woman to take the feces from the waste area and use it as fertilizer for plants to be planted near the slum.

For book seller/reader Nishida (portrayed by Fumio Watanabe), he is more interested in doing his work and reading that working a full-time or part-time job and rather not integrate with the people living in the slum but preferring to live in the area because it is cheap. Shizuko (portrayed by Ineko Arima) is a local girl who works to pay the bills and has an interest in Nishida.

The two live alongside a man with tuberculosis who is sick and his wife is trying to help him, several prostitutes and a husband who finds out his wife is a prostitute for the American servicemen.

And while the US military police try to prevent prostitution, servicemen end up finding their way into the neighborhood.

As for Shizuko, her life is changed when Killer Joe stages a kidnapping and comes to save Shizuko, but ends up raping her and making her his girlfriend. But when Joe finds out that she has an interest towards Nishida, and she tells Nishida the truth of what happened to her and why she’s with a guy like Joe, what will happen?

VIDEO:

“Black River” is presented in black and white (1:33:1 Aspect Ratio). Considering the film is nearly 60-years-old, this film fares better compared to “The Thick-Walled Room” which had a bit of damage and white and black specks. For “Black River”, picture quality is much better and looks great on DVD. The film looks very good for its age, better contrast with white and grays, black levels are good and no signs of excessive digital noise reduction, flicker and maintains a good amount of detail.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Black River” is presented in Japanese monaural with English subtitles. Dialogue is clear and heard no significant clicks, pops or humming through the entire film.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Eclipse Series releases do not come with special features but included in the insert is a background on Kobayashi and the information about the “Black River”.

Still, when it comes to a message about the changes upon Japan society because of the U.S. military bases, Kobayashi’s “Black River” definitely showcases a message of a corrupted culture. As the third film featured in the “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System”, “Black River” is another worthy addition to this DVD box set.

Filed Under: Asian Cinema DVD/Blu-ray, DVD Reviews, THE CRITERION COLLECTION

I Will Buy You (as part of the Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System) (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

April 13, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“I Will Buy You” is an exciting and enjoyable film from Masaki Kobayashi showing us the big business of recruiting a star college baseball player for the big leagues and how far these scouts would go, as well as the handlers and even the athlete themselves. A worthy addition to “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” DVD box set.

TITLE: I Will Buy You (as part of the Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System)

YEAR OF FILM: 1956

DURATION: 112 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Black and White, 1:33:1 Aspect Ratio, Monaural, Japanese with English subtitles

COMPANY: Janus Films/The Criterion Collection

RELEASED: April 16, 2013

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi

Based on the Story by Minoru Ono

Written by Zenzo Matsuyama

Music by Chuji Kinoshita

Cinematography by Yuharu Atsuta

Art Direction by Kazue Hirataka

Starring:

Keiji Sada as Kishimoto

Keiko Kishi as Fueko

Minoru Oki as Kurita

Yunosuke Ito as Kyuki

Mitsuko Mito

Jun Tatara

Masaki Kobayashi’s pitiless take on Japan’s professional baseball industry is unlike any other sports film ever made. A condemnation of the inhumanity bred by a mercenary, bribery-fueled business, it follows the sharklike maneuvers of a scout dead set on signing a promising player to the team the Toyo Flowers.

As baseball is loved by the Japanese, as professional sports is known to be big business today with scouting, agents, coaches and so many people involved in trying to find the next big thing, it’s almost common knowledge to see how each year, colleges try to recruit the best athletes for their program. But before then, when a player was to go professional, before any draft system was in place, players were scouted and they and their families were enticed by gifts to join a team.

While one can see such a trait as life for a professional athlete and in today’s world, it may seem trivial since football, baseball and basketball athletes become multimillionaires and some have seen the asking price of these athletes as a sport corrupted by big money and greed.

In Japan, back in 1956, director Masaki Kobayashi saw how the sports world was full of greed and ruthless people on both sides were affected and decided to take a step back from criticizing Japan’s social and political stance and take on Japan’s favorite pasttime…baseball.

And with his film “I will Buy You, an adaptation of Minoru Ono’s novel, it’s not more about baseball but the strategy scouts try to recruit a top athlete, how far they will go and how the players and their families get involved in the process.

The film is about a scout named Kishimoto (portrayed by Keiji Sada) for the Toyo Flowers, team not known for its finances but they really want to land baseball’s young and popular hitters about to graduate from college, Goro Kurita (portrayed by Minoru Ooki). But Kishimoto quickly learns that to entice Kurita, he must try to win over the young player’s mentor and guardian Kyuki (portrayed by Yunosuke Ito).

And Kishimoto tries to use strategies to winover Kyuki but also try and entice Kyuki’s poor family, especially his brothers.

But Kishimoto knows that things are going to be tough because Kyuki also has his own interests and that is to use his position with Kurita and get a better job and earn a lot of money.

And as Kishimoto must go against other scouting companies using strategies to land Kurita, Kyuki tries to be a middleman and try to hold out in the last minute, in order to raise Kurita’s stock as a baseball player, so the asking price can go up.

But as these men try to outwit each other by brandishing gifts to Kurita and his family, his girlfriend Fueko (portrayed by Keiko Kishi), is absolutely disgusted by Kurita because Kurita is pretending that he knows nothing about baseball, when in fact, he is milking everyone in order for him and his family to get free gifts, but also using them in the process.

But in the end, how far will each of these men go in order to seal the deal!

VIDEO:

“I Will Buy You” is presented in black and white (1:33:1 Aspect Ratio). Considering the film is nearly 60-years-old, this film fares better compared to “The Thick-Walled Room” which had a bit of damage and white and black specks. For “I Will Buy You”, picture quality is much better and looks great on DVD. The film looks very good for its age, better contrast with white and grays, black levels are good and no signs of excessive digital noise reduction, flicker and maintains a good amount of detail.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“I Will Buy You” is presented in Japanese monaural with English subtitles. Dialogue is clear and heard no significant clicks, pops or humming through the entire film.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Eclipse Series releases do not come with special features but included in the insert is a background on Kobayashi and the information about the film.

A film about greed or perhaps one can call it “the way of modern business”.

But while the concept of scouting athletes have gone on for decades, I find it interesting that filmmaker Masaki Kobayashi zeroed on this back in 1956 for his film “I Will Buy You”.

We see this tete a tete between both men, also seeing other scouts trying to shower the family and Kurita with gifts.

And nearly 20-years after that film was made, now all we hear is about college infractions of bad recruiting practices to star athletes who lost their fortune.

Overall, “I Will Buy You” is an exciting and enjoyable film from Masaki Kobayashi showing us the big business of recruiting a star college baseball player for the big leagues and how far these scouts would go, as well as the handlers and even the athlete themselves. A worthy addition to “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System” DVD box set.

Filed Under: Asian Cinema DVD/Blu-ray, DVD Reviews, THE CRITERION COLLECTION

The Thick-Walled Room (as part of the Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System) (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

April 11, 2013 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“The Thick-Walled Room” is a fascinating film by Masaki Kobayashi and as an earlier work, he would go so much further in a film like “The Human Condition” over a decade later. But a film such as “The Thick-Walled Room”, goes to show how bold he was to stand up against social and political orders. A rebellious early film for Masaki Kobayashi and a fitting film to be included in “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System”!

TITLE: The Thick-Walled Room (as part of the Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System)

YEAR OF FILM: 1956

DURATION: 110 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Black and White, 1:33:1 Aspect Ratio, Monaural, Japanese with English subtitles

COMPANY: Janus Films/The Criterion Collection

RELEASED: April 16, 2013

Directed by Masaki Kobayashi

Written by Kobo Abe

Music by Chuji Kinoshita

Cinematography by Hiroyuki Kusuda

Starring:

Ko Mishima

Torahiko Hamada

Keiko Kishi

Toshiko Kobayashi

Eitaro Ozawa

Even early on in his directing career, Masaki Kobayashi didn’t shy away from controversy. Among the first Japanese films to deal directly with the scars of World War II, this drama about a group of rank-and-file Japanese soldiers jailed for crimes against humanity was adapted from the diaries of real prisoners. Because of its potentially inflammatory content, the film was shelved by the studio for three years before being released.

Back in 1941, Kobayashi became an apprentice director for Shochiku Studios. But he was immediately drafted into the army and sent to Manchuria. As a pacifist, he would do all he can to refuse promotion to a rank higher than a private and also spent time as a prisoner of war.

This would have an influence in his third film made in 1953 titled “Kabe atsuki heya” (“The Thick-Walled room”) in which he wanted to create a post-war film in regards to war criminals, rank-and-file military men who acted on orders and have been imprisoned and are treated cruelly by the American occupying force.

The film is based on the diaries of real-life prisoners and how the low-ranking soldiers are treated and the psychological anguish they endured in the prison.

Although the film was created after American occupation of Japan ended in 1952, the Japanese government feared that it would offend the U.S. and demanded the film to be cut or withheld. Kobayashi would not cut the film but the film was shelved and released three years later, in 1956.

“The Thick-Walled Room” focuses on six former B and C class soldiers held inside a thick-walled room. Tired of having to break rocks, the group sits in their cells reading letters (from family members who are shamed of their kin being war criminal or loved ones who have no idea what has happened to them) and remembering their life when they were free men or life as a soldier.

For Yamashita, he remembers how his group was helped by a villager and fed. But Yamashita receives orders from his commanding officer to kill the villager despite how much the villager has helped their group. And this memory continues to haunt them.

The film then transitions to the war between North and South Korea and how the Americans are involved. Yokota receives word that he is being visited by a guest in prison and it’s his brother, a journalist. His brother asks him how his cell mates are doing and Yokota describes how he thought life in prison would make things much more spiritual but it became the opposite. People became more vulgar.

He describes how one guy keeps imagining that he has a store, another keeps talking about intimate details of his wife, but for the most part, everyone has gone for the worse. Yokota’s brother tells him that they aren’t guilty for their crimes (as they were just following orders), but Yokota tells him that he has begun to think differently. War is evil but no one opposed the war. But Yokota’s brother tells him that those who started the war are at fault. The conglomerates, the military and their minions. And those who led the war got light sentences, while the B and C-class soldiers received the heavier sentences.

The film then shows Yokota’s past as a soldier and how he was a foreign language translator. And how a foreign prisoner of war was caught stealing and under orders, Yokota was forced to whip a foreign man, who screamed for help in front of Yokota. The foreign man ends up dying and Yokota would be responsible for taking the body to the crematorium but where he met a girl that he fell in love with.

But as other men have their own past and some who have their own inner personal demons to contend with, when Yokota’s brother publishes an article that may jeopardize the release of the group. But for the Japanese that are imprisoned, will their lives be the same after they are released?

VIDEO:

“The Thick-Walled Room” is presented in black and white (1:33:1 Aspect Ratio). Considering the film is 60-years-old, while some frames of the film had suffered damage overtime, and features white/black specks, they are not the type that hurts your viewing of the film. The film looks very good for its age, no signs of excessive digital noise reduction and maintains a good amount of detail.

It’s also important for people to remember that Eclipse Series films do not get the remastering and restoration that goes into a Criterion Collection release, but is presented on DVD the best possible way it can. And for the most part, the picture quality is as good as what one can expect from a DVD release.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“The Thick-Walled Room” is presented in Japanese monaural with English subtitles. Dialogue is clear and heard no significant clicks, pops or humming through the entire film.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Eclipse Series releases do not come with special features but included in the insert is a background on Kobayashi and the information about the film and why Shochiku was worried about “The Thick-Walled Room”.

Masaki Kobayashi’s “The Thick-Walled Room” is thought-provoking and bold.

But also the harsh reality that life for these war criminals would no longer be the same after they leave prison, even if it’s for a day of mourning.

Yokota is the complex character of the film. During the war, he was a translator who did not want to fight. But with a rotten superior officer, he was forced to do things he never wanted to do.

But he really wants to repent or at least contribute while in prison.

A rebellious early film for Masaki Kobayashi and a fitting film to be included in “Eclipse Series 38: Masaki Kobayashi Against the System”!

Filed Under: Asian Cinema DVD/Blu-ray, DVD Reviews, THE CRITERION COLLECTION

Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

April 9, 2013 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

“Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters” is a cool, stylish, well-written and exciting action-packed animated series worth watching! And if you are a parent or the young at heart who loves the card series or just wanting an exciting animated series, I definitely recommend “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike” on DVD!

DVD TITLE: Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike

TV AIRDATE: 2012

DURATION: 110 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, English and Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1, English subtitles

COMPANY: Hasbro Studios/Shout! Factory

RATED: TV Y7 FV

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Written by Andrew Robinson, Henry Gilroy, Brandon Auman, Mark Hoffmeier, Marty Isenberg, Joseph Kuhr

Producer: Haven Alexander

Executive Producer: Stephen Davis

Supervising Producer: Gary Hartle

Music by Kristopher Carter, Michael McCuistion, Lolita Ritmanis

Edited by Michael William Miles, Matt Barrios

Art Direction by David Colman

Featuring the following voice talent:

Phil LaMarr as Gabe Wallace

Kari Wahlgren as Allie Underhill

Scott Wolf as Ray Pierce-Okamoto

David Sobolov as Bob

Dee Bradley Baker as Gargle

Oded Fehr as The Choten

Andrew Kishino as Grandpa

Freddy Rodriguez as Chavez

Grey DeLisle as Alakshmi

John Di Maggio as Nigel

Jason Marsden as Fingers

Rachel Robinson as Megaria

Recruited by the mysterious Duel Masters, young Ray, joined by his best friends Gabe and Allie, must use the powerful art of Kaijudo to defend his home dimension from the sinister mastermind known as the Choten, whose own skills in The Way Of The Creature allow him to summon vicious beasts from a parallel dimension to wreak havoc across Earth.

What happens when Allison is transported to the land of the creatures and where the Lord Skycrusher reigns. Will Ray and Gabe be able to find her?

Find out in the second volume of “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike” available in April 2013 from Shout! Factory.

What is “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters”?

In 2012, Hasbro’s subsidiary Wizards of the West Coast released the Kaijudo collectible card game.

With the popularity of the “Duel Masters” franchise, Hasbro Studios with South Korean animation company Moi Animation, created “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters” developed by Henry Gilroy and Andrew Robinson of Wizards of the West Coast.

The series premiered on The Hub in June 2012 and with close to two dozen episodes aired on television since, the first five episodes of the animated series will be released on DVD titled “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Creatures Unleashed”.

“Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters” is a series that revolves around three friends: Ray Pierce-Okamoto is half-Japanese and lives with his mother and his elderly Japanese grandfather. Ray hangs out with his good friends Allison Underhill (who looks tough but has a soft heart for cute things) and his tech-loving friend Gabriel Wallace.

He and his friends are often bullied in school, mostly Ray and is teased about being half Japanese and half Caucasian. And despite being bullied, his grandfather tries to give him advice to bob and weave if he is ever attacked by the bullies.

Meanwhile, in town, monsters have been coming into the human world through a rift. And Duel Master Hector Chavez of the Fire Civilization is seen trying to send the monsters back and closing the rift. It appears that The Choten, a former Duel Master and now evil genius has went rogue to pursue his own goals of enslaving the creatures, so he can take over Earth.

One day, one of Ray’s drawings of a creature comes out of the rift and in the process, the Duel Masters wonder how is it that this young boy is able to draw these creatures out to the real world.

When taken to the Kaijudo Temple, the Duel Masters sense something special within Ray and want him to become a Duel Master, but Ray will not join unless his two friends become Duel Masters as well. And so, the three must prove themselves deserving of this new power and to train and learn the basics of creature dueling.

But while these three train, the antagonist known as the Choten has his own plans by creating chaos through bringing the creatures to the real world. Can Ray and friends stop him and the creatures for hurting anyone?

In “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike”, the DVD contains the following episodes (spoilerless summary):

EPISODE 6 – Into the Fire, Part 1 - Allison is transported to the land of the creatures and is held captive by Lord Skycrusher.
EPISODE 7 – Into the Fire, Part 2 – Lord Skycrusher makes Tatsurion fight against Ray and Allison.
EPISODE 23 – Heavenly Creatures – The Duel Masters and Acolytes look for Choten’s spell.
EPISODE 25 – The Rising, Part 1 – Choten has taken all five artifacts and intends to collapse the Veil and awaken the 5 Creature Kings.
EPISODE 26 – The Rising, Part 2 – The Duel Masters must take on the 5 Creature Kings.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Kaijudo: Rose of the Duel Masters” is an animated series that has an anime style, but thanks to its Korean roots of animation, definitely its own unique style when it comes to character design. Character designs are well-done and also the art backgrounds which compliment the action which happen in various locations throughout the series. Animation is vibrant on DVD and as for dialogue, the dialogue is crystal clear via Dolby Digital.

While it would be nice to hear a more immersive 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack, I was quite pleased with the voice acting. You have solid talent involved with this series such as Scott Wolf, Kari Wahlgren, Oded Fehr, David Sobolov and others that bring a cool, exciting overall feel to the animated series.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike” comes with no special features.

EXTRAS:

“Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike” comes with a “Herald of Infernus Card” featuring exclusive art.

The adventures of the Duel Masters continues in “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike”!

Exciting, action-packed and a great compliment to the popular “Duel Masters” card game, “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters” is awesome!

And with the latest “Dragonstrike” volume you get five episodes. Each of the episodes are exciting and action-packed but where the last volume featured the first five episodes, “Dragonstrike” features episodes 6-7, 23, 25-26. So, I’m wondering why they didn’t continue the order of 6-10 and went directly to the final episodes of the first season.

Sure, “Kaijudo” may receive comparisons to “Pokemon” or “Digimon” through its young characters being able to access creatures with special abilities during battle but the series definitely has a style that will attract younger viewers as well as older viewers.

For one, the monsters are not necessarily cute and cuddly and created for the sake of stuffed animal merchandise to appeal to young children. These creatures are created for the sake of battle and for the card battles, when people compete, they want to use a creature that is powerful.

And so, the series has creatures that can be deadly or menacing. And unlike “Pokemon” where the creatures are often going against each other, the antagonists are evil people, so bad that Ray and friends are often targeted and their lives can be at stake. Granted, I doubt the writers would put these young characters into any harm but you will see a character like Alkashmi with an evil puppet like creature with razor sharp claws and throwing these bladed claws towards Ray and friends. You have one scene where a demon burping creature is trying to destroy a bridge where the train goes through and with help, Ray and friends must try to find a way to defeat the monster and prevent a major, tragic disaster.

So, these creatures can cause harm to humans and also, these human characters fight back. Unlike a series such as “Pokemon” where the trainer tells the monster what to do, the human owners/trainers must also take part in battle and even become part of the action against the antagonists.

And what I also enjoyed about the series is how it takes normal people and put them in situations where they must grow up and learn about each other. One of the things that surprised me is how the bullies picked on Ray especially for being half-Caucasian and half-Japanese. As an Asian American, the topic of being “hapa” (half) is always something that I have known friends struggling with, when it comes to identity to also being teased by others. And the fact that Ray is a person who was bullied by it but yet respects both sides of his heritage is a positive character role. And the series also features his friends such as Allie, who sticks up for her friends and Gabe who is African-American yet is smart with technology. So, it’s great to see this diversity in an animated series.

I watched the series with my ten-year-old and he absolutely loved the series and I also enjoyed it as well. It’s full of humor, action and the five episodes included on the DVD are quite exciting. And as marketing for the collectible cards, even my son was intrigued as he is a Pokemon collectible card collector and now is interested in “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters”. And with this volume, a “Kaijudo” card is included (although, there are no special features).

I can only hope that the complete series will be released on Blu-ray and DVD because it’s a very well-written, cool animated series!

Overall, “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters” is a cool, stylish, well-written and exciting action-packed animated series worth watching! And if you are a parent or the young at heart who loves the card series or just wanting an exciting animated series, I definitely recommend “Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Dragonstrike” on DVD!

Filed Under: Children's DVD/Blu-ray, DVD Reviews