The Great War of Archimedes Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "The Great War of Archimedes" by Well Go USA is encapsulated in an AVC encoded 1080p transfer, maintaining an aspect ratio of 2.39:1. While authoritative technical data on the shoot remains elusive, the visual presentation demonstrates a mix of strengths and weaknesses. A notable positive is the introduction of a new Well Go USA logo, free from the banding issues observed in previous releases. However, attempts to invoke a traditional filmic appearance through additional digital grain can result in a noisy image. This is compounded by soft and occasionally hazy CGI elements. Despite these shortcomings, detail levels in human faces, props, and costumes are typically commendable, with a palette that often leans towards desaturated grays and blues, making certain vibrant scenes stand out more.

Resolution levels hover at an adequate tier, offering sufficient definition to convincingly reach HD quality, although sharpness is not as prominent as in most contemporary features. Facial details remain discernible even at a distance, capturing aspects like food remnants during dinners or the intricacies of medals on uniforms. Unfortunately, the grain layer struggles with varying intensity, leading to compression artifacts akin to mosquito noise, especially noticeable in brighter scenes drenched in haze. These issues are exacerbated by sporadic appearances of vivid colors, such as the bright red carpet in a Geisha house scene, plagued by digital artifacts. Additionally, black levels lack depth, adhering instead to a basic gray that fails to mask these faults. The overall image brightness and glow from sunlight reflections contribute to the visual depth but do not sufficiently mitigate the highlighted deficiencies.

The audio presentation of "The Great War of Archimedes" on Blu-Ray showcases exceptional quality, featuring DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 tracks in both Japanese and English, as well as lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 mixes. The 5.1 surround sound mix impressively captures the intensity of the film's opening scenes, delivering blistering bass from plane engines, turret fire, and a battleship's sinking sequences. This results in substantial engagement of side and rear channels, including forceful bursts of LFE and clear and dynamic transitions through all channels. The audio maintains a robust density and depth commonly seen in western blockbusters, making it an unexpected but impressive inclusion for a Japanese film.

As the narrative progresses, the sound mix shifts its focus to a more dialogue-driven format, emphasizing conversational clarity. Dialogue remains clear and articulate, with no issues reported, allowing viewers to remain deeply immersed in the film's more dramatic moments. Surround activity becomes subtler but still effectively employs ambient environmental effects that enhance the viewing experience. The score is well-integrated into the rear channels, maintaining a sense of space, while ambient sounds enrich indoor scenes with added depth and life. Optional English subtitles are available, further supporting audience accessibility.

For optimal enjoyment, the Japanese DTS-HD track is recommended due to its superior vocal performance compared to the occasionally exaggerated English dub. Nonetheless, both tracks deliver a high-quality audio experience that adequately supports the film's dynamic range from explosive action to introspective drama.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Great War of Archimedes" deliver an engaging and technically rich set, though they are somewhat limited in diversity. The primary additional content is the trailer for the film itself, presented in HD quality with a runtime of 1:42. As is customary with Well Go USA releases, this trailer is configured to proceed automatically to trailers for other releases by the company, which also play on disc startup. A visual representation comprising 15 untouched images from the Blu-ray provides a supplementary preview, and there’s mention of a more extensive collection accessible via subscription on Patreon. However, it should be noted that the extras don’t extend beyond this scope.

Extras included in this disc:

• Trailer: The most notable extra, showcasing the film in HD.
• Automatic Trailers: Previews for other Well Go USA releases that start automatically.

"The Great War of Archimedes" presents a complex yet intriguing portrayal of Japan's militaristic ambitions in the post-World War I era. By threading an unconventional narrative that melds mathematical precision with wartime decision-making, it diverges from the standard war film formula. The film starts powerfully with a CGI-heavy, intense depiction of the Yamato’s sinking in 1945, reminiscent of a seaborne "Saving Private Ryan". This opening sequence sets the stage for a historical drama grounded in intellectual and financial intrigue, focusing on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering within Japan's Navy as they debate the merits of building colossal battleships versus aircraft carriers.

The narrative pivots to the young mathematician Major Tadashi Kai (Masaki Suda), whose disinterest in military authority adds a unique dimensionality to the story. Kai is enlisted to scrutinize the exorbitant budget of the Yamato class battleships, suspecting it has been manipulated. His character, possibly on the spectrum, is depicted with quirks that give the film a distinctive flavor. Expectedly, the story isn’t your typical war drama. Kai’s journey through military bureaucracy and strategic deceit provides a fresh lens on Japan’s Imperialist missteps, offering both comedic moments and sharp critiques of the generational and philosophical divides in pre-WWII Japan.

The film does face some structural challenges. The climax unfolds in a high-stakes Admiralty board meeting where naval budgets and future strategies are debated, which might not be conventionally thrilling but is loaded with dramatic tension. The final twist reveals the true futility of Kai’s efforts, underscoring the tragic inevitability of Japan's wartime decisions. Overall, "The Great War of Archimedes" masterfully integrates historical facts with fictional elements, generating a compelling narrative that evokes both intellectual engagement and emotional resonance. The film succeeds in highlighting the doomed hubris and calculated manipulations of Japan’s pre-WWII military leadership while maintaining an engaging and thoughtfully crafted storyline.

"The Great War of Archimedes" is a compelling and intently executed rendition of pre-WWII tensions centered on Japan's naval aspirations. The Blu Ray release offers a striking visual presentation that skillfully captures the period's atmospheric essence, although it encounters moments of inconsistency in image clarity and detail. Nonetheless, the transfer is more than satisfactory for the majority of the film, with well-reproduced color accuracy and contrast that accentuates the historical setting meticulously.

The audio track, while not flawless, provides an immersive experience that complements the narrative's intensity. The soundtrack primarily maintains a robust presence, although its vigor fluctuates, particularly outside the film's opening sequences. This variance does not significantly detract from the overall listening experience but may leave critical audiophiles desiring more uniformity. The dialogue remains clear and well-balanced against the dynamic score and sound effects, facilitating an engaging auditory experience throughout.

Fans of certain Japanese franchises may be aware of offerings like Space Battleship Yamato, even if they're not completely cognizant of the fact that Yamato was a redolent name culled from actual history. This behind-the-scenes take on what supposedly happened in the creation of the real Yamato is perhaps fanciful, but it at least offers a distinctive perspective on things. Video encounters a few hurdles along the way, but audio is generally fine, even if it doesn't consistently sustain the energy of the film's opening moments, for those who are considering a purchase.