Vexille (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]
![Vexille (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]](/images/Vexille-Special-Edition-Blu-ray-B001ECQK8E-L.jpg)
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Blu-ray details
Actor: Christine M. Auten, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Meisa Kuroki, Shosuke Tanihara, Travis WillinghamBrand: Funimation
Blu-ray: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Japanese (Original Language), Dolby TrueHD 5.1; English (Original Language), Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Format: Animated, Color, DVD, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 105 minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: 2008-11-04
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Model: 0
Studio: FUNimation
Product features:
- 2067: Isolation. Japan seals herself off from the eyes of the world in the face of unilateral international policy setting strict limits on the use of robotic technology. The island nation exists only behind a veil of seclusion. No soul shall enter. No soul shall leave. 2077: Revelation. The veil is breached. Japan is infiltrated by agents of the organization S.W.O.R.D., a fighting force operat
Blu-ray Reviews of Vexille (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]
Blu-ray Review: Good Blu-Ray, but not groundbreaking
Summary: 4 Stars
It seems the big buzzword when this first came out was that is was 3D anime. While these days that term would make people wonder if you need special glasses when watching what it really boils down to is the animation is made to look like traditional anime and use traditional anime sensibilities while being made completely as a CG animated film. I think in that regard the movie accomplishes its claim. As a feature film it also accomplishes a lot of what it set out to do. However this isn't the hallmark in film making or animation the "3-D Animated" buzzword makes it out to be. Leave that moniker behind and you still have a good film.
A lot of the plot and visual elements are pretty derivative of other films like Ghost in the Shell and Dune if you look for them. They aren't really blatant ripoffs, but you can see some ideas ended up being similar to previous films. That's not to say the story of Vexille is derivative. It's an interesting combination of military style action, social commentary, and a somewhat nihilistic view of the future. The big reveal of this movie is pretty disturbing if you think about it, and must of caused a stir in Japan when it was first released in theaters.
The character development in Vexille is kind of stilted and depends a lot upon subtle observations to really figure out what is going on inside the heads of the major players. Because of this what I think was one of the stronger points of the film ends up being muted. Part of also stems from the "acting" on the screen being just as muted. While visually it adheres better to the 3D Anime concept there is a trade off. Is it enough to kill that development? Not really, but better execution on this front would have enhanced the experience greatly.
The story is interesting and there is enough character development to satisfy me. What about the fun stuff? Well there is action aplenty on Vexille. The movie actually starts off on a high note with a dynamic infiltration scene complete with explosions fast moving mech suits and lots of robots getting blown up. A little later in the film you get a nice little chase scene with a cool looking motorcycle, more robots and explosions. After a few more little action scenes in between exposition you get a pretty exciting high speed tunnel race-against-time scene. So yeah there is some good, fun action that pulls at the chords of you adrenaline junkies.
Animated films sometimes live or die by the quality of their animation. While a really good story can make up for sub-par animation the ones people remember most at least look pretty. Vexille does a great job with the animated feat they were attempting. Essentially what you are getting is cell shaded CG animation, which is why I don't call this movie ground breaking. What makes this particular cell shaded CG animation stand out is the level of depth in the art they put into it. They really do take the best elements of traditional cell drawn anime and incorporate them into this new environment. Subtle details and movements are added for realism. Shading and lighting are put to very effective use. It really is a marriage of both worlds.
Visually the movie is striking, but I never saw it on DVD and have a hard time trying to pick out what may be resolution enhancements from the Blu-Ray that aren't as clear on upscaled standard definition. Don't get me wrong. There is likely a very, very big difference. But I'm not the one to tell you that for sure. What I can tell you is the audio is kind of a mixed bag for me. Dialog scenes are at a noticeably lower volume than scenes where the music kicks in. It was annoying enough for me to have to adjust the volume to hear the talking and lower it enough to not be drowned out by the soundtrack. The soundtrack? Eh... it's okay with some good points and some areas where the music misses the fit with the movie.
The Blu-Ray has essentially the same special features as the Special Edition DVD and packs it all into a single disk. The special features list a whole bunch of things, but essentially what you are getting are two documentaries. The first one has about 95% of that stuff you are reading on the back of the BD case, and are little chapters of the pre-release documentary. Each "chapter" runs anywhere between less than two minutes to a little over six minutes, and cover various parts of production up to the premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. The second documentary, THE SECRETS OF VEXILLE, cover post release comments from director Fumihiko Sori along with various film footage. All in all the two documentaries cover a lot of details, and easily make up for the lack of any audio commentary on the disk.
Anime fans will definitely want to see Vexille as it hits all the marks that generally make good anime. Sci-Fi fans should be able to appreciate how the story unfolds and the implications that you end up with by the end. If you like good stories and can afford to forgive a little dry character development in a movie that hangs on said development then you're going to find something to like in Vexille as well.
Description of Vexille (Special Edition) [Blu-ray]
2067: Isolation. Japan seals herself off from the eyes of the world in the face of unilateral international policy setting strict limits on the use of robotic technology. The island nation exists only behind a veil of seclusion. No soul shall enter. No soul shall leave.2077: Revelation. The veil is breached. Japan is infiltrated by agents of the organization S.W.O.R.D., a fighting force operating outside of the protection of the United States and her allies. Their mission: Determine if the Japanese are developing banned robotic bio-technology, forbidden due to its threat to humankind.
In the battle between machine and man, humanity stands to suffer most.
Includes 2 hours of special features:
Vexille (2007, subtitled 2077 Nippon Sakoku: "2077 Isolation of Japan") is a CG/motion capture film that apes the popular Appleseed series. In 2077, 10 years after Japan withdrew into a sort of neo-Tokugawa isolation to pursue illegal cyborg technology, most of the population has been turned into androids by the evil Daiwa Heavy Industries. Vexille, a tough-as-press-on-nails mecha pilot in theDeunan Knute mode, joins in a raid on the remains of Tokyo to learn about the threat this technology poses. An unremarkable series of chases, mecha battles and Morris-the-Explainer-scenes ensues as Vexille, her beau Leon, and the few Japanese who still cling to their humanity destroy Daiwa's fortified island headquarters. Most of the story elements are borrowed other films, including Appleseed Ex Machina, Dune and the two Ghost in the Shell features. Vexille was clearly a low-budget production: the poorly rendered figures ressemble wax puppets and their shadows shrink and grow like stains on their clothing. (Rated PG-13: violence, violence against women, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
Stills from Vexille (click for larger image)
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