Kansen rettô Blu-ray Review

Pandemic's Blu-ray video presentation, courtesy of Panorama, is framed in a theatrically correct 1.85:1 aspect ratio and employs a 1080p resolution with MPEG-4 AVC encoding, locked to region A. The initial scenes command attention with their overly vivid color palette, designed to differentiate locales like the Philippines through intense, primary hues that can border on garish. This is an intentional cinematic choice rather than a display error. Moving into Tokyo’s main narrative, the color grading shifts to a more subdued palette with occasional yellow/green tints. Unfortunately, this results in whites showing some blooming and blacks losing depth, leading to occasional crushing. Skin tones remain relatively consistent, though some scenes do portray ruddy cheeks or slightly off complexions.

The high-definition transfer offers inconsistent results. While close-ups effectively reveal the nuanced suffering of the infected with strong fine detail and pleasing clarity, other aspects falter. The picture sometimes lacks the sharpness Blu-ray enthusiasts expect, evident in the softness around edges and limited detail in hair and fabrics unless captured in close-up. Some scenes exhibit mild edge-enhancement and light noise reduction, particularly those with intentional color manipulations such as heavy orange tints accompanied by light pulsations.

Despite these issues, the urban scenes fare much better, showcasing rich and well-saturated greens, blues, grays, and blacks. Additionally, the transfer is free from macroblocking and has minimal stability issues. The image remains clean without disturbing scratches, marks, flecks, or stains. Overall, this is a decent presentation that displays strengths in certain areas but does not reach exceptional levels across all parameters. It remains an interesting visual experience that could benefit from finer detail and consistent coloring throughout.

The Blu-Ray audio presentation of "Kansen rettô" features a Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which proves to be robust and effective in delivering an immersive auditory experience. This generally front-heavy mix is punctuated with moments of ambient surround sound, although it falls short of providing a consistent 360-degree soundscape. Notable audio elements include dynamic helicopter pans that traverse the room effectively, enhancing spatial realism. Bass response is satisfyingly solid, underpinning the rhythmic beating of the score without distortion, though it recedes during more melodramatic score shifts.

Dialogue fidelity is a strong point with clear, stable, and warm integration into the front speaker array, ensuring comprehensibility throughout most of the film. However, there was a minor lapse in dialogue level in one scene, which was an isolated instance and did not significantly detract from the overall audio quality. Additionally, the high-frequencies are well-balanced, avoiding any harshness that could detract from the listening experience.

The rear channels are intelligently utilized to add depth without being overpowering. Goro Yasukawa's music score is well-integrated and free from balance issues, allowing for an undisturbed viewing experience. Importantly, no audio artifacts such as pops, cracks, hissings, or dropouts were detected, emphasizing the reliability of the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Overall, despite its lack of complexity, this audio track prioritizes critical elements like score and dialogue effectively, making it a solid choice for viewers.

The Blu-ray extras for "Kansen rettô" offer a modest yet insightful peek behind the scenes, though their accessibility is hindered by a lack of English subtitles and their placement on a Region 3 NTSC SDVD. The featurette includes comprehensive raw footage from film production, showcasing cast and crew interactions and directorial guidance, but remains unintelligible to non-Japanese speaking audiences unless they can read Traditional Chinese subtitles. The package also contains two original Japanese trailers, again with only Chinese subtitle options available.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making of: A standard featurette with behind-the-scenes footage. Primarily in Japanese with option for Traditional Chinese subtitles.
• Trailer 1: The original Japanese trailer for "Pandemic". In Japanese with Traditional Chinese subtitles.
• Trailer 2: Another original Japanese trailer for "Pandemic". In Japanese with Traditional Chinese subtitles.

Takahisa Zeze's "Kansen Rettô" (2009), also known as "Pandemic," presents a multifaceted narrative set against the backdrop of an avian influenza outbreak. This film, from Hong Kong-based distributors Panorama, delivers a blend of drama, horror, and romance that, while ambitious, risks leaving its audience divided. The basic premise aligns with the tense suspense of familiar outbreak thrillers like Wolfgang Petersen's "Outbreak" and Robert Wise's "The Andromeda Strain," albeit with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic and thematic approach.

The storyline follows Dr. Matsuoka (Satoshi Tsumabuki) and Dr. Kobayashi (Rei Dan) as they grapple with a rapidly spreading virus in Japan. Starting with a patient exhibiting alarming flu symptoms in a provincial ER, the situation escalates to a national crisis. The narrative dissects the chaos of emergency rooms inundated with patients, insufficient medical supplies, and the collapse of public order leading to government intervention. The depiction of social upheaval and governmental response is sincere and evocative, effectively highlighting mankind's vulnerabilities in the face of catastrophic outbreaks.

While "Pandemic" is well-shot across locations in Japan and the Philippines, offering a visually compelling experience, it is not without its flaws. The film's pacing is notably inconsistent, rendering its runtime somewhat bloated with unnecessary filler that could detract from its overall impact. Additionally, the character development is reliant on archetypes that may seem cliched, and some of the special effects appear jarring in their execution. Nevertheless, Zeze's narrative weaves an unmistakable and timely message: humanity's hubris can be its downfall. This thematic undercurrent becomes particularly salient given contemporary concerns about global pandemics. Overall, "Pandemic" demands an open-minded audience willing to appreciate its earnest critique of human fallibility amidst speculative yet plausible disaster scenarios.

"Kansen rettô," directed by Takahisa Zeze, offers a gripping depiction of a pandemic scenario that resonates with its potent message. Released as a Blu-ray by Hong Kong-based distributors Panorama, the film benefits from competent audiovisual presentation. The image quality, though slightly soft, maintains an adequate level of clarity to effectively convey the story's tension and atmosphere. The sound design is well-balanced, focusing on clear speech delivery and a compelling score that underscores the unfolding drama.

Technically, the Blu-ray delivers a satisfactory experience, albeit not without its limitations. The Region-A lock may be a hurdle for those outside this region without compatible players, but within this constraint, it performs admirably. The picture quality, while lacking in stunning sharpness, is sufficient for an engaging viewing experience. Audio elements are robust, contributing significantly to the immersion without overwhelming the viewer.

Extras on the disc are limited and predominantly tailored to Chinese-speaking audiences, which might reduce their appeal to international viewers. Nevertheless, the film itself remains the core attraction. Despite a tendency towards overacted melodrama, "Kansen rettô" emerges as an engaging narrative with a significant social message.

In conclusion, "Kansen rettô" on Blu-ray is a commendable release despite its regional limitations and somewhat modest technical attributes. The disc’s image and sound quality meet essential standards, and the film's message is both timely and compelling. While not a flawless package, it remains a worthwhile addition for genre enthusiasts and those interested in pandemic-themed storytelling.