Imprint Asia Spotlights Asian Cinema With Its Inaugural Blu-ray Releases

Australia’s Imprint Movies (a division of ViaVision) has been releasing a gradual stream of movies to Blu-ray since 2020 — older and newer, throughout all genres and worldwide origins. Their releases don’t see the label performing new restorations, however every thing else about their presentation usually shines beginning with slick slipcovers, alternate artwork, and extras. This additionally features a deference in the direction of movies that always have but to get a Blu-ray launch elsewhere.

2024 noticed Imprint department off with a brand new sub-label known as Imprint Asia, and as prompt by the title, the main focus right here is on movies from China, Japan, and (presumably) different Asian international locations. The primary three titles dropped final month (with the subsequent three due in June), they usually run the gamut from a blockbuster thriller to a romance written by Akira Kurosawa to an motion reboot headlined by the equally legendary Takeshi Kitano. Now preserve studying for our evaluations of the primary three releases from Imprint Asia, so as of their backbone numbers.

Misplaced within the Stars (2023)

He Fei (Yilong Zhu) is at his wit’s finish as he rushes right into a police station attempting as soon as once more to report his spouse as lacking. They don’t appear to care, and issues solely worsen when he wakes the subsequent morning to discover a girl (Janice Man) claiming to be his spouse beside him. She has the precise paperwork, photographs of the couple collectively, and is aware of intimate particulars, however he is aware of she’s not his spouse. Or is she? And if not, simply who’s she… and what does she need?

Rui Cui & Xiang Liu’s new movie might be an unknown to most People, but it surely may shock you to study that the movie earned the equal of practically half a billion {dollars} throughout its theatrical run in China final 12 months. There are not any superheroes in sight and minimal CG, however there’s a compelling thriller with a protagonist clearly properly over his head in hassle. The movie is a unfastened remake of the 1990 Russian film, A Entice for a Lonely Man, but it surely rapidly turns into its personal beast of a story unfolding with minor motion beats, dramatic flashbacks of the love that led as much as the disappearance, and extra turns than a household sport of Monopoly.

These story turns preserve the momentum going and peel again layers of reality, and whereas most are much less about shocking viewers than ratcheting up the dramatic pressure, there are a number of within the third act that go for broke with twisty revelations. It makes for a enjoyable time attempting to remain a step forward of the movie itself, and that solely grows as issues get vaguely ridiculous main up till the tip — the story feels wrapped up with half an hour left, however there’s extra to come back, child! It’s foolish at instances, melodramatic at others, and the movie takes itself very severely in the case of the drama of all of it, however the rattling factor works all the identical.

Misplaced within the Stars could also be removed from the anticipated in the case of blockbusters, but it surely appears good and maintains its sense of thriller and struggling all over. Followers of flicks for adults — critical tales tired of flash and quick consideration spans — ought to give it a spin.

The Sea Is Watching (2002)

O-Shin (Nagiko Tōno) is a geisha working alongside different ladies at a small city inn. Life is what it’s, a sequence of in and outs with males destined to overlook these women as quickly as they stroll out the door, however the monotony shifts when a younger samurai arrives on the run from authorities. O-Shin helps cover him, and he or she virtually instantly falls in love with him. The emotions are virtually mutual, too.

The massive calling card right here is that the movie relies on Akira Kurosawa’s final screenplay, but it surely’s in all probability greatest should you overlook that element moving into as The Sea Is Watching isn’t fairly the Kurosawa you already know and love. The legendary filmmaker made motion movies, dramas, and extra, however this story feels considerably faraway from his ordinary observations on folks and their behaviors. That’s not strictly a damaging as there’s loads right here to fulfill, but it surely’s a narrative and execution that by no means attain the highs of Kurosawa’s personal greatest.

It’s additionally arguably not the romance that’s marketed both, because it as an alternative seems like a personality piece exploring a subset of society normally relegated to the facet of the body. We spend time with the ladies, we see their friendships and the humdrum nature of their illicit occupations, and we understand that they’re not at all times the victims that the world and popular culture work to recommend. Nonetheless, it’s a tough life, and a lonely one too, and we rapidly come to see that they share that in frequent with the samurai. The latter isn’t the main focus right here, however the facet by facet comparability is an fascinating one.

The Sea Is Watching is a high-quality movie, participating in its characters and relationships, but it surely feels in want of one thing extra. The second act particularly, feels barely unmoored earlier than issues come collectively extra in the direction of the tip. Because it stands, although, there’s a compelling sufficient take a look at folks and a spot, each of which we’ll by no means expertise for ourselves.

The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)

A blind masseur named Zatoichi (Takeshi Kitano) wanders by way of the countryside on the lookout for something however hassle. Hassle, although, usually finds him. When he arrives in a small village and befriends two grownup sisters, he hears a story of woe shared by their neighbors as properly. It appears the Ginzo gang has been harassing the villagers by way of violence and intimidation, shaking them down for cash, and worse. Zatoichi takes all of it in and appears nonplussed at first, however issues change when the gang units their sights on him.

The Zatoichi character has been a mainstay in Japanese popular culture because the late 40s together with a run of twenty-six movies launched from 1962 to 1989. (He’s additionally the inspiration behind 1989’s motion/comedy, Blind Fury, starring Rutger Hauer within the function.) Kitano resurrects the character for this function, however he places his personal explicit spin on issues which means the tip result’s a movie far faraway from the motion/journey you could be primed to anticipate. It’s the skeleton of a revenge motion/drama completed up in its personal distinctive means.

Motion beats are extraordinarily temporary — an admitted hallmark of Kitano’s movies anyway as he’s a filmmaker extra curious about what comes earlier than and after the violence versus the violence itself — they usually’re by no means memorable in the way in which the most effective movie fights usually are. Neglect spectacular choreography or execution, and also you’ll simply have to simply accept the CG blood that Kitano makes use of for visible flourish fairly than life like spray. As an alternative, it’s the tone, persona, and sense of open marvel that makes the movie stand other than each its predecessors and the style basically.

Zatoichi is finally a playful however honest character piece, one exploring concepts of kindness, acceptance, and justice by way of the those who encompass our swordsman. He’s the title character, however he may not have essentially the most display time. It’s a story of swordplay and revenge, however music turns into a recurring addition to ambiance as rating and onscreen motions/sounds work hand in hand. It’s an motion movie, but it surely’s another curious about folks, expertise, and a way of near-whimsy. It’s a traditional character adaptation, but it surely’s additionally each bit a Takeshi Kitano movie.

• *New* Commentary by movie historian and writer Sean Redmond
• The Making of The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi [39:57]
• Crew interviews [38:41]

Buy these Imprint Asia titles and more from Imprint Films.

Associated Subjects: Home Video

Rob Hunter has been writing for Movie College Rejects since earlier than you have been born, which is bizarre seeing as he is so rattling younger. He is our Chief Movie Critic and Affiliate Editor and lists ‘Broadcast Information’ as his favourite movie of all time. Be at liberty to say hello should you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.