Legend Of Seven Monks (2006/Westlake DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Film: C-

 

 

Unless one concentrates very hard, the combination of comedy and fantasy in any Martial Arts production always equals disaster, even when you have Sonny Chiba in your cast.  Kenji Tanigaki’s Legend Of Seven Monks (2006) unfortunately does not know what to do with him, the comedy is unfunny, action over choreographed (by the director as it turns out) and Chiba is so underutilized that he cannot be considered a lead of any kind.

 

That leaves us with undeveloped younger characters quickly forgotten and the fantasy elements are so badly done that it will give you new respect for Lidsville.  Unless you are a serious, diehard Chiba fan and completist, skip this one.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image has a phony video look that suggests an HD shoot or denatured film-to-tape transfer a generation down, with detail issues, color problems and generally cheap look when bad digital effects are added.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is also good at best, but the combination is still trying.  Extras include text bio/filmographies, stills, trailer and some behind the scenes footage.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo