Painted Skin: The Resurrection Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Painted Skin: The Resurrection" from Well Go USA is delivered through an impressive AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The Red One shot film showcases incredibly sharp detailing, with close-ups revealing a wealth of fine object detail. The CGI is beautifully interwoven into the film's overall design, providing a dreamlike quality that enhances the viewing experience. Colors appear well-variegated, vibrant, and saturated without any oversaturation issues. Additionally, the contrast remains strong and consistent throughout the presentation. The image quality is highly commendable, free from any notable compression artifacts.

However, it is worth noting some minor critiques within the transfer. Wide establishing shots exhibited slight softness and a drop in detail and sharpness compared to the rest of the film, which detracts minimally from the overall visual experience. Furthermore, certain processed shots introduce unnecessary noise and dullness to otherwise pristine scenes, disrupting visual continuity. Despite these occasional drawbacks, the Blu-ray maintains an overall robust visual aesthetic.

The presentation effectively reproduces varied skin tones, capturing nuances from Xiaowei's milky complexion to Pang Lang's smoky hues with precision. Both whites and blacks are rendered accurately, with no visible issues like black crush or white bloom. The video section of "Painted Skin: The Resurrection" stands as a testament to high-quality Blu-ray transfers, notwithstanding the few criticized elements.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Mandarin track for "Painted Skin: The Resurrection" presents a balanced and mostly immersive listening experience. Notable for its finely nuanced foley effects, the mix is particularly adept at creating an otherworldly atmosphere essential to the film's narrative. The immediate impact of the ice-cracking sound demonstrates proficient use of side and rear channels, setting an atmospheric tone that persists throughout the film. Xiaowei's demonic cohort, a bird demon, contributes to intriguing panning opportunities that enhance the auditory immersion significantly. However, it is important to note some minor synch issues resulting from post-looped or dubbed performances, where lip movements occasionally do not match.

Technically, the audio mix features a wide dynamic range and strong fidelity, with no evidence of hiss or distortion. Quality is consistently high, but the mix does exhibit certain limitations regarding imaging and directionality. Action predominantly confined to the front speakers hampers the overall expansiveness of the soundstage, with the rear channels primarily relegated to handling the score and isolated sound effects that do not always seamlessly integrate into the broader auditory landscape. This leaves the mix feeling slightly cramped for a film as grand in scope as "Painted Skin: The Resurrection." Despite these drawbacks, the music cues remain evocative, and overall, while not transcending into greatness, the audio track provides a competent and engaging aural experience.

The Blu-ray extras for "Painted Skin: The Resurrection" offer a mixed bag of behind-the-scenes content, providing fans with some intriguing insights but also limited depth. The "Making of Painted Skin: The Resurrection" featurette, while extensive in duration at approximately 24 minutes, is presented as a series of fragmented mini-featurettes rather than a cohesive documentary. This segmented approach results in redundant intros and interruptions, detracting from the potential profundity of the material. However, the brief glimpses into the makeup and scoring processes do offer some redeeming value. The included trailer is a standard promotional piece that may intrigue new viewers but adds little to the overall understanding of the film’s production complexities.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making of Painted Skin: The Resurrection Featurette: Insightful interviews with cast and crew discussing folklore and technical elements.
• Trailer: A promotional piece for the film.

"Painted Skin: The Resurrection" is a visually striking and deeply engaging film that weaves traditional Chinese folklore with elements of Shakespearean tragedy. The story revolves around the fox demon Xiaowei (Zhou Xun), who escapes from an icy prison and must devour human hearts to survive. Her quest to become human involves Princess Jing (Zhao Wei), whose unrequited love for General Huo Xin (Chen Kun) drives much of the plot. Jing, scarred both physically and emotionally, hopes to regain her beauty and win Huo’s love. The narrative interlocks delicate personal dramas with fantastical elements, culminating in a grand, evocative climax.

The film's production value is notably high, featuring elaborate set designs, sumptuous costumes, and meticulously choreographed martial arts scenes. Zhou Xun and Zhao Wei deliver compelling performances, with their characters engaging in complex interplay, even switching skins at times to explore multifaceted identities. However, the CGI and process shots frequently break immersion due to their unconvincing quality, which somewhat undermines the film's otherwise grandiose aesthetic.

While the romantic tension between Jing and Huo Xin lacks sufficient depth and fails to ignite genuine emotional investment, secondary characters such as Feng Shaofeng’s Pang Lang and Yang Mi’s Que’er provide essential comic relief. Their dynamic augments the film’s broader narrative scale and adds layers of complexity that enrich the overall viewing experience. Although the movie could benefit from a tighter midsection, the climactic battle sequence delivers with breathtaking action and special effects, ensuring a satisfying conclusion. Despite its pacing issues and technical faults, "Painted Skin: The Resurrection" remains a richly crafted fantasy epic that continues to resonate through its wondrous blend of folklore and cinematic artistry.

"Painted Skin: The Resurrection" is a visually stunning film whose production design is both haunting and captivating. The narrative is bolstered by compelling performances, especially by the two female leads, providing depth to an intriguing storyline. The cinematography and artistic direction enhance the immersive experience, making for a richly evocative viewing. However, the film's pacing feels labored in its central section, suggesting that a more concise edit could significantly improve the overall flow. Despite this, the film ultimately delivers a satisfying conclusion, maintaining engagement throughout.

The Blu-ray release of "Painted Skin: The Resurrection" excels in video quality with an outstanding transfer that vividly brings out the intricate details of its exquisite set pieces and costumes. However, the special effects occasionally fall short, detracting from the otherwise high caliber of visuals. The audio performance is solid but does not stand out as exemplary, potentially leaving audiophiles wanting more. Additionally, the supplementary features provided are minimal and primarily promotional content, lacking the depth that might interest more discerning viewers.

In conclusion, "Painted Skin: The Resurrection" offers a mesmerizing journey through its rich visuals and strong performances, albeit with some shortcomings in pacing and special effects. Despite these flaws, its Blu-ray release is technically proficient and highly recommended for those seeking a visually arresting cinematic experience. Though room for improvement is evident, particularly in editing and feature content, the film remains an enjoyable and compelling watch.