Hakuoki:
Demon Of The Fleeting Blossum: Theatrical Version Chapter One, Movie
2 - Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky (2012, 2016/Sentai Blu-ray)
Picture:
A Sound: B+ Extras: C- Main Program: B+
After
the battle of Koufu, the Shinsengumi are scattered to the winds as a
new age dawns. As they are hunted down by the new government and
Oni, Chizuru escapes with a wounded Hijikata, but how long can they
survive? As the Shinsengumi have partaken the 'Water of Life' it
grants them increased strength and healing, turning them into
'furies', but it also robs them of their humanity with bloodlust and
violence. No matter how strong or skilled the Shinsengumi is, can
they fight their fates or the changing times ...or will they go out
in a blaze of glory?
Hakuoki:
Demon Of The Fleeting Blossum: Theatrical Version Chapter One, Movie
2 - Warrior Spirit of the Blue Sky (2012,
2016) picks up where the last compilation left off. Chizuru was once
a captive of the Shinsengumi, now she can't live without them. The
Shinsengumi was an elite fighting force for the government and
par-took in an experiment that gave them enhanced fighting and
healing, but when the government fell, the Shinsengumi was hunted
down one by one. However, the Shinsengumi must fight even a greater
battle with themselves and the curse of that 'Water of Life', then
they learn each them they use the power of the Fury, their life is
shorten drastically. Chizuru must face her own origins as well, that
she is the last surviving female demon of the Oni clan, can she truly
hope to live in peace side by side with the humans she loves?
This
continues the historical fantasy of the Shinsengumi, while they were
on the losing side of a war, they will always be remember for their
courage, strength, devotion, duty and loyalty. This movie was
basically Season 2 of the series compressed; if you want to
get a fuller/richer story, I would recommend the series unedited.
This is still effective for what we get, though.
The
1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image here again 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 and both have Pro
Logic-like surrounds. Extras include trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang