Hakuoki:
Demon Of The Fleeting Blossum: Theatrical Version Chapter One, Movie
1 - Wild Dance of Kyoto (2012, 2016/Sentai Blu-ray)
Picture:
A+ Sound: B+ Extras: D Main Program: B+
As
civil war erupts in the streets of Kyoto, the streets are filled with
Samurai, Ronins, and Rasetsu. The Shinsengumi, an armed militia
patrol the streets for any insurgents. Chizuru a young girl disguised
as a man (but failing miserably) searches for her father, only to get
caught and found out that she is somehow at the center of the chaos.
She gets taken in by the Shinsengumi under Commander Hijikata and his
elite captains. The Shinsengumi possesses an experimental elixir
granting untold strength and regenerative powers, but will it be
enough to protect Chizuru when the true Oni (devils) appears?
In
Hakuoki: Demon Of The Fleeting Blossum: Theatrical Version Chapter
One, Movie 1 - Wild Dance of Kyoto (2012, 2016), Chizuru while
searching for the whereabouts about her father get caught and taken
under the wing of the Shinsengumi, only to learn that he has been
working on an experimental 'elixir of life'. The elixir turns people
into Rasetsu or Furies (turning their hair white and eyes red), while
granting unbound strength and regeneration also curses them with
an uncontrollable bloodlust. However, her father has gone
missing and the Shinsengumi notices Chizuru somehow has also
regenerative powers (without side effects), which soon catches the
notice and eyes of the true Oni who claims Chizuru is one of them.
The
movie was based off the historical fiction of the Shinsengumi. While
romanticized and turned into a supernatural story it basically
compressed Hakuoki the TV series, summing up the first 2 seasons into
one film. While it the story alright, you missed out on all the
social interactions and relationships the main heroine has with the
handsome men of the Shinsengumi. If you want a more richer telling
of the characters and story you should watch the TV series with its
more extensive exposition.
The
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image is one of the best on
Sentai history, demo all the way and no second-generation issues
considering this is derived from a series, while the lossless DTS-HD
MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Stereo in English is passable, but the Japanese
version sounds really impressive. Both have Pro Logic-like
surrounds. Extra include trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
