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The imagery, the powerful acting, and the raw emotion this movie elicits makes "Sky High" one of the best films to come out of Japan.

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Sky High

Review by Matthew Anderson

Japanese Live Action Film

Company: Tokyo Shock

Running Time: 122 minutes

Region: 1

Rated: R for violence, gore, and subject matter

EXTERNAL EXAM

For Mina and Kohei, their wedding day was supposed to be the happiest moment of their lives. Instead, it became a day of hell, as Mina is brutally murdered by a serial killer. Kohei, a detective with the Tokyo Police begins a self destructive search for the killer so he can deliver his own brand of justice. When he is finished, he will join his beloved in the afterlife.

In the afterlife, Mina has arrived at the Gate of Rage. Izuko, the guardian gives her three choices; be reincarnated, become a ghost, or curse her killer and go to hell. When she learns what Kohei is going to do, she tries to stop him. At the same time, she and the other victims endeavor to learn why they were killed, and save the next victim.

Mina has 12 days to discover the truth and save Kohei, or watch him go to hell for all eternity.

DVD VISION TEST

VIDEO: The transfer is gorgeous. The colors are bright, not washed out at all. The details are fine, with no noticeable edge enhancement. There are no pixels or artifacts that were noticeable. I really need to get a plasma screen TV so I can really experience the beauty of this transfer.

AUDIO: On the Theatrical version we have 4 audio tracks to choose from. On the Director's Cut, we have 2.

On the first disc we have a Japanese 5.1 audio that will knock your socks off. Sound is a major part of this movie, so it's important that you can hear every rustle of the wind, call from the radio, and swish from a blade. The mix is perfect, so the music doesn't over power the dialogue and vice versa.

Number two is a English 5.1 audio mix that will also blow you sky high. It's a little louder than the Japanese 5.1, but it too has crystal clear sound.

Number three is a Japanese commentary track, done in 2.0. Like most commentary, the voices are center and front speaker based, with the movie in the background.

Number four is an English 2.0 Dolby mix. Not as powerful as the 5.1, but it comes close. The music, dialogue and sound effects are pretty evenly distributed across the soundstage.

For the Directors Cut version on the second disc, you have a Japanese 5.1 and 2.0 mix. Exactly the same as the "Theatrical Version", you will be enraptured with the quality of this DVD.

EDITS: This release of "Sky High" consists of a theatrical version and a director's cut. The Director's Cut restores about 11 minutes of footage. No other edits have been made.

EXTRAS: On the first disc we have the audio commentary with Director Ryuhei Kitamura, Actress Yumiko Shaku (Mina), Shosuke Tanihara (Kohei) and producer Keishiro Shin.

With the second disc, we have the directors cut, a 23 minute "Making of Sky High" video, a small still gallery, and original TV and Theatrical trailers.

WIDESCREEN REVIEW

STORY: A follow up to the television series, "Sky High" is more "Ghost" than "The Crow". The movie tackles the question of what would you do when the great love of your life is taken from you. Ryuhei Kitamura wanted make a romantic drama that went way beyond your typical "boy looses girl" plotline, and screenwriter Isao Kiriyama helped to deliver. Those of you expecting something along the non stop violence of "Versus" may be disappointed.

ACTING: The acting is superb. Shosuke Tanihara does a fine job as Kohei, a cop on the edge who has lost everything he holds dear, even his will to survive. Yumiko Shaku reprises her role from the "Sky High" TV series, bringing a quiet dignity to the role of Mina, a woman trying to do the right thing, yet is generally helpless to stop the horrific events unfold before her.

Takao Osawa is down right creepy as serial killer Kudo. His expressive eyes, menacing sneer, and the intensity he brings forth makes him one of the most charismatic villains in Japanese Cinema.

The supporting cast is excellent, with stand out performances by first time actress Yumi Kikuchi and by Kanae Uotani. Both women are strong, sexy, and can kick ass just as good as Yumiko Shaku!

While the Japanese cast thrills me, the English dub drives me nuts. It is absolutely horrible. Not a single voice matched the character, and their delivery was flat and dull. This shows why live action films should never be dubbed.

FAN SERVICE: For those of you who have watched the Sky High TV series, you will be delighted to see Yumiko Shaku return to the role of Mina, as well as plenty of physical references to the show. You also get to see some familiar faces from "Versus". In the costume department, the outfits Rei wears are both sexy and tough at the same time.

FINAL EXAM

Back in 2000, Director Ryuhei Kitamura became a star in Japan with his raw and frenetic zombie action film, Versus. A hit on both sides of the Pacific, he spent the next 4 years honing his craft on both TV and movies. After the success of the "Sky High" TV series, he quickly rolled into the theatrical version of this popular series. With a bigger budget and a solid script by Isao Kiriyama, he presented his sweeping love story to an eager audience. Now, US audiences gets to see a great movie by a director that is at the top of his game.

At its heart, "Sky High" is a love story, not an action spectacle. What would you do for the greatest love of your life? Would you lie for them, steal for them, even kill for them? These basic questions are ones that every character in this movie has faced. Will Mina give up her chance for reincarnation to stop her lover Kohei? Is seeking vengeance after the person that killed your fiancé the right thing for Kohei to do? Even the main villain, Kudo, must decide if killing in the name of love is right. Ryuhei Kitamura wanted to make an exceptional love story, and as far as I am concerned, he succeeded.

"Sky High" is a beautiful looking movie. With fantastic visuals, astonishing sets, and a strong use of color, every frame, be it action filled or static, is a joy to behold. But, if your thinking that he has gone soft, think again. The unmistakable Ryuhei Kitamura vibe is still present. Just like his other films there are wicked cool poses, killer action, and visceral thrills to keep you entertained.

The cast is what really makes "Sky High" so powerful. While the story is mostly centered on Mina, Kohei, and to some extent Kubo, everyone does a superb job at setting the tone for this dark love story.

Yumiko Shaku, usually known for her tough chick roles like "The Princess Blade" and "Godzilla Vs. Mechagodzilla" will be surprised at how sweet and innocent she is in this movie. Her portrayal of Mina is of a sweet, happy young woman, totally in love with her man Kohei. Her wistful smile, her penetrating gaze will melt your heart. As she journeys in the land of the dead, and she sees the horrible path her love is taking, her frustration, and her insecurities are translated with her whole body. When she finally makes her decision, her voice gets deeper, and her stride becomes stronger as you see her confidence grow.

Shosuke Tanihara's downward spiral from good cop to vengeance incarnate was incredibly powerful. You can feel his desperation in every labored movement in his body. As he faces his desire to avenge Mina verses his desire to do the right thing, Shosuke Tanihara really goes above and beyond with his performance. You really believe the chemistry between Yumiko Shaku and Shosuke Tanihara, even when they can't see each other.

Debate among the staff on who the best supporting character is almost sent a few of us to the "Gates of Rage". Yumi Kikuchi as Shuho emerged as the top favorite among the women. While it may have been her first "movie role", she did a bang up job. Her stage presence, regal with just a touch of arrogance, is quite powerful. She is another actress who uses her face to express more emotion than words could possible convey. Here is hoping that we see more of her in the future.

Among the men, our favorite was Kanae Uotani, Kubo's "secretary" Rei. Like Yumi Kikuchi, she has an amazing presence; intense, sexy, and powerful. Her moves are graceful, elegant, and smooth. While her character doesn't say much, when she does speak, the emotion she is feeling pours forth. Again, she is one actress I would like to see more of.

There was also some discussion on the rules of the "Sky High" universe. In it, anyone who is murdered goes to the Gate of Rage, yet the one who does the killing goes straight to hell. While that seems simple enough, what about people who kill in self defense, or in war? Does that mean that they go to hell, even if they had no other choice? This question came up during one scene, where one of the characters is killed in order to help save the world. Does this mean that the one who did the shooting is going to hell? Also, what happens when an enchanted sword kills a ghost? Do the ghosts get automatic reincarnation or do they go into limbo? While these questions are part of the whole afterworld pastiche, they are not so overwhelming that they will distract from the main story.

I will admit that the first time I watched "Sky High", I was expecting something along the line of "Versus" or "The Crow". I was disappointed that there wasn't wall to wall action, heavy violence, or an extreme amount of blood and guts. After I watched the "making of" and I realized that this was a love story, I made sure I watched it again to see what I missed. Now, I think this is the best kind of love story, heavy on the emotion for the ladies, but with enough action to keep the boys interested. To put it another way, it's a chick flick with an edge.

"Media Blasters" continues to set the example of what a DVD release should be like. Releasing two, high quality versions of "Sky High" in one set was an absolute joy. It was like getting two movies for the price of on. The "Making of" feature was interesting, and gave a lot of insight on how "Sky High" came into being. The audio commentary was great, full of behind the scenes information. You can really see how much heart and soul went into this movie.

In case you were wondering, most of the the restored footage in the director's cut expands on several key scenes, and fleshes out some of the supporting characters.

I can not rave enough about "Sky High". The imagery, the powerful acting, and the raw emotion this movie elicits makes "Sky High" one of the best films to come out of Japan. Whether you are a fan of Ryuhei Kitamura, or in the mood for a intense love story, look no further.

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