The Chasing World (Riaru Onigokko) (2008) |
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General | Extras | ||
Category | Horror/Sci-Fi |
Theatrical Trailer Trailer-Eastern Eye Trailers x 5 |
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Rating | |||
Year Of Production | 2008 | ||
Running Time | 93:51 (Case: 98) | ||
RSDL / Flipper | Dual Layered | Cast & Crew | |
Start Up | Menu | ||
Region Coding | 4 | Directed By | Issei Shibata |
Studio
Distributor |
Madman Entertainment |
Starring |
Takuya Ishida Mitsuki Tanimura Shunsuke Daitô Rio Matsumoto Mitsuru Fukikoshi Akira Emoto |
Case | Amaray-Transparent | ||
RPI | $29.95 | Music | Tarô Iwashiro |
Video | Audio | ||
Pan & Scan/Full Frame | None |
Japanese dts 5.1 (768Kb/s) Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s) |
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Widescreen Aspect Ratio | 1.78:1 | ||
16x9 Enhancement |
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Video Format | 576i (PAL) | ||
Original Aspect Ratio | 1.85:1 | Miscellaneous | |
Jacket Pictures | No | ||
Subtitles | English | Smoking | No |
Annoying Product Placement | No | ||
Action In or After Credits | No |
In modern day Japan the most popular surname is Sato. But even given that number, people called Sato are dying at a most alarming rate. Not that Tsubasa Sato (Takuya Ishida) has noticed as he has troubles of his own: his mother died when he was young, his father is an alcoholic and his sister Ai (Mitsuki Tanimura) is in the psychiatric ward of the local hospital where she neither speaks nor recognises Tsubasa when he visits. Tsubasa is also being pursued by a gang of punks connected to the mob led by Hiroshi Sato (Shunsuke Daito).
One day Tsubasa is mysteriously transported to a place where his friends, not to mention his enemies, do not seem to recognise him. Suddenly, for no reason, he is chased by men dressed totally in black, with black full face masks and red glaring eyes. Escaping, he is found by a fit and active Ai, who explains that he is in a parallel universe. The people he knows, such as Hiroshi and Ai herself, exist in both universes, and if a person dies or is killed in one of the universes, their double also dies in the other universe. The alternative universe, where he is now, is ruled by a King (a very Darth Vader look and sound alike) who rules from his palace, communicating through the TV program helmed by Kaori Watanabe (Rio Matsumoto). The King has decreed that for six days every person with the surname Sato will be hunted and captured by the black clad “Chasers”. Those who break the “rules” will be killed. Ai tells Tsubasa that he is different; because of the powers of his dead mother he is the only person who does not have a double in the other universe. He is, indeed, unique, and he may well hold the key to why everyone named Sato is being hunted. The only other person, he is told, who has special powers is his sister Ai in the other world.
Tsubasa, of course, finds this impossible to believe, even as he sees the hunting, capture and killing of others by the Chasers. By the end of the sixth day Tsubasa is the only Sato left on the streets; Hiroshi has been killed and Ai captured by the King. Tsubasa decides on a plan to rescue Ai based on the TV program of Kaori that is likely to have major ramifications for those he loves in both parallel worlds.
The Chasing World (Riaru onigokko) is based on the novel by Yusuke Yamada and is brought to the screen by director / screenwriter Issei Shibata. The action sequences feel like a live action video game with lots of running around, the POV of the Chasers being a red robot like tracking screen. Indeed, the look of the film adds to this feel. The night sequences especially seem unreal, with heavy grain and bleached out colours. Sometimes the sequences look almost black and white (75:21), other times very greeny (70:48) and other times brown (81:50) which has the effect for distancing the viewer from the events on screen. Indeed, the worlds of the film, and their rules, are quite complex, and the film stops on a number of occasions for quite lengthy exposition sequences which bring the chasing action to a halt.
When The Chasing World is in full flow it is certainly entertaining and Takuya Ishida, Mitsuki Tanimura and Shunsuke Daito are all likeable on screen. The film also touches on themes of friendship, family and friendship, but on balance the film has too much to explain so that the tension and good ideas come to a halt. The final twist sets up a sequel, and indeed at last count there have been four sequels, the first in 2010 and three in 2012. While Shibata was involved in number 2, the last three had a new director in Mari Asato.
The Chasing World is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, the original theatrical ratio being 1.85:1. It is 16x9 enhanced.
As noted, the film has an exceedingly grainy look and has dull, bleached out colours in many sequences with the blacks often very grey, green or brown. Skin tones also vary. Shadow detail is affected as well and can be quite indistinct. This is a deliberate effect of the filmmakers, for in some daytime scenes the colours, while still dull, are more natural, and the blacks of the Chasers’ costumes solid, allowing the distinctive red eyes to glow from the colour palate. In the TV station set the blue was quite vibrant. Other than some minor ghosting I noted no obvious marks, film or video to film artefacts.
The English subtitles are in a yellow font and are easy to read. They included a couple of minor grammatical errors, but the sense is fine.
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Audio is a choice between Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 at 448 Kbps or Japanese DTS 5.1 at 754 Kbps.
The DTS audio is excellent with good separation. Dialogue is clean and centred, the surrounds frequently in use for music, running footsteps and ambient sound. It was not overdone and the storm at the end hit the speakers with some fury, a nice touch. The sub-woofer supported the music, some effects and added bass to some of the tense moments.
Lip synchronisation was good.
The score by Taro Iwashiro was not overdone and supported the film’s visuals well.
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Trailers for other films from Madman: Ip Man – The Legend is Born (2:06), A Million (1:44), Death Note 1 & 2 Collection Special Edition (2:10), Survive Style 5 (1:36) and Monkey Magic (1:41).
NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.
There is currently no listing of either a Region 1 US or Region 2 UK release of the film. There are a number of Japanese Region 2 releases, including a 2 disc edition with three makings of, interviews, trailers and an audio commentary, but neither the feature nor extras have English subtitles. For English speakers, our Region 4 release is the only available option at this time.
Based on the novel by Yusuke Yamada, The Chasing World presupposes in Japan a parallel world where anyone with the most popular surname in Japan, Sato, is in danger of being hunted by “chasers”. A confusing, but entertaining Sci fi / thriller that has had, to date, four sequels.
The video is interesting given the filmmakers’ intentions, the audio good. A trailer is the only extra, but unless you understand Japanese this is the only version of the film available at the present moment for English speakers.
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Review Equipment | |
DVD | Sony BDP-S580, using HDMI output |
Display | LG 55inch HD LCD. This display device has not been calibrated. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p. |
Audio Decoder | NAD T737. This audio decoder/receiver has not been calibrated. |
Amplification | NAD T737 |
Speakers | Studio Acoustics 5.1 |