Bushido Man Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles" offers an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Despite being a relatively recent film, the visual presentation often appears surprisingly soft. This softness primarily results from the director's choice to employ a high contrast look, which occasionally causes whites to bloom slightly. This effect is especially noticeable in some of the film's outdoor scenes, where saffron hues are added to enhance the sunny environment. However, during normal lighting and contrast conditions, the colors remain natural and well-saturated, accurately reflecting the intended palette.

In terms of detail, the transfer excels during extreme close-up shots, showcasing fine elements such as wrinkles, dirt, makeup blemishes, and individual hairs with impressive clarity. Wider shots demonstrate a respectable depth, contributing to a solid sense of immersion. The black levels are mostly deep and inky, providing a strong contrast against the natural, lifelike skin tones. There is minor video noise and banding throughout, but these issues are minimal and do not detract significantly from the overall viewing experience.

Overall, while the intentionally high contrast and occasional softness may not appeal to everyone, "Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles" delivers a satisfactory video presentation. The transfer effectively captures the director's artistic vision while maintaining good clarity and color fidelity in most scenes.

The Blu-Ray release of "Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles" offers a variety of audio options, including LPCM 2.0 stereo mixes in both Japanese and English, alongside an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. For purists, the original Japanese LPCM 2.0 track is recommended due to its authenticity and fidelity, providing crisp, clear dialogue without any hissing or distortion. However, the English dub, available in both LPCM 2.0 and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, is also notably well-executed, avoiding the exaggerated tones that are often found in similar releases.

The highlight for surround sound enthusiasts is undoubtedly the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. This option significantly enhances the immersive experience by artfully remixing battle sounds to envelop the listener, and it delivers a richer low-end. This dynamic range is particularly effective in heightening the impact of the action scenes, with a more distinctive bass and broader spectrum of audio effects compared to the LPCM 2.0 tracks. Regardless of the chosen format, all three tracks maintain excellent fidelity and are devoid of any technical imperfections, ensuring a high-quality auditory experience.

The extras on the "Bushido Man" Blu-ray offer an engaging behind-the-scenes look at the making of this martial arts film. The standout feature is a segment titled "The Making of Bushido Man: From the Fantasia Film Festival," which provides viewers with both a glimpse of the filmmakers’ arrival in Montreal and an insightful Q&A session during the screening. While some may feel this doesn't quite live up to traditional 'Making-Of' features, it does effectively capture the essence of the festival atmosphere and the passion behind the fight scenes.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Making of Bushido Man: From the Fantasia Film Festival: Behind the scenes footage and Q&A session.

Takanori Tsujimoto's "Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles" eschews traditional narrative depth for an unapologetically kinetic showcase of martial arts choreography. At its core, the film revolves around acolyte Toramaru (Mitsuki Koga), who recounts his encounters with various combatants to his mentor Gensai (Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi). The structure, a series of flashbacks, inherently removes suspense, as the outcome of each duel is never in doubt. However, the movie compensates with its lighthearted and almost cartoonish approach. The philosophical subplot in which Toramaru eats his opponents' food to understand their fighting styles adds an amusing though underdeveloped layer to this high-energy spectacle.

The action sequences are a remarkable blend of aggression and nuance, masterfully staged by Action Director Kensuke Sonomura. Fighting styles extend from kung-fu and nunchaku to more unconventional forms like knife fighting and even gunplay. The film progresses toward an increasingly surreal tone, evoking Looney Tunes-like absurdity without ever abandoning its martial arts roots. Toramaru’s fights, occasionally interspersed with whimsical moments like pausing to let a turtle cross the road, transition from believable to almost fantastical, amplifying the entertainment factor. This zaniness peaks in the film’s finale, wherein the inclusion of Gensai’s assistant Denko (Ema) briefly imbues the narrative with Sushi Typhoon-like madness.

While "Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles" skimps on meaningful character development and story depth, it excels in its primary mission: delivering relentless, vividly choreographed martial arts action. Mitsuki Koga proves to be an appealing lead despite his character’s predictability. The film’s commitment to practical stunts over digital effects lends authenticity to the frenetic combat scenes. Ultimately, this production thrives on its engaging fight sequences and comedic undertones, making it an enjoyable watch for martial arts enthusiasts seeking pure, unadulterated action.

"Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles" is an enjoyable foray into the realm of Japanese martial arts cinema. The film presents a series of dynamic fighting sequences, cleverly interwoven with culinary elements, creating a unique viewing experience. The narrative, while admittedly sparse and straightforward, serves primarily as a vehicle to transition the protagonist, Toramaru, from one engaging combat encounter to the next. Fans of martial arts films will appreciate the diverse array of fighting styles on display and the film’s deliberate sense of humor, which periodically punctuates the action.

From a technical standpoint, the Blu-ray release of "Bushido Man" presents mixed results. The video quality is decent but not exceptional, with some reviewers noting occasional flaws in the visual presentation. Conversely, the audio quality stands out as a definitive highlight, providing a robust and immersive sound experience that complements the on-screen action effectively. However, the release falls short in terms of supplementary content, with limited extras that fail to add significant value to the package.

In conclusion, "Bushido Man: Seven Deadly Battles" distills the essence of martial arts action cinema into a succinct and entertaining package, omitting the filler to focus on high-impact fight scenes and quirky humor. Despite some limitations in video quality and bonus features, the film's inventive blend of combat and culinary themes, coupled with strong audio performance, makes it a recommended addition for enthusiasts of the genre.