Blu-ray – Edition FR – Spectrum Films – 153 min – 16 February 2023
Video format
• Resolution: 1080p/24
• Ratio: 2.35
Soundtrack
• Cantonese DTS-HD MA 7.1
• Mandarin DTS-HD MA 7.1
• French DTS-HD 5.1
Subtitles
• French
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers as well as the viewing equipment specified and used by each tester of the MaG team, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence the rating. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
WORK – Dance with the swords
In the 17th century, when an edict banned martial arts practice in China, the Emperor authorized General Ravage to massacre the population in order to enforce this new law. Threatened by extinction, the inhabitants of the last frontier city will be protected by seven warriors carrying the legendary Shadow-Glow swords.
An epic fresco of all the moments when the force of armed fighting is disputed with the devastating charism of its heroes. The universe depicted here is exceptional (the mercenaries with anachronistic look, the weapons with unique personality), the staging of Tsui Hark is as visceral as it is poetic, the landscapes leave dreaming and martial choreography is not lacking in inventiveness. And despite mults ellipses as well as underdeveloped characters (because of the many cuts that were made just before its release), this must-have of the wu xia pian remains the best in its field since The Blade The same director.
IMAGE – Martial Village the rebel
Even though dated, this excellent HD transfer really has nothing to blame if it is perhaps a slight fluctuation of texture 35 mm giving planes to the more pronounced granularity.
The details are usually impeccable (the fabrics, make-up, accessories) to a handful of planes whose softness seems to be original (notably during tightness whose diffuse appearance is not without evoking the Green Snake The colorimetric palette is very well nuanced (reds during the desaturated prologue, the earthy atmosphere of the environments, the purple skies in the mountains, the orange glow of the flames), the contrasts are simply amazing (clear whites and deep blacks) and the compression is particularly strong.
SON – To arms and caetera 🎶
Filled with effects during the action scenes where the metal noises and the various blows carried erupt from one speaker to the other, these sound tracks cadenced by the unforgettable score of Kenji Kawai has a beautiful frontal opening, perfectly integrated clear voices (on both VO in any case), an honorable dynamic, sharp sharp (the impact of the swords) and competent spatialisation (see the propagation of the « singing » Chimera).
Curiously distrustful of the serious and thus almost-disturbed punches, even though the warrior impacts are demanding them, the Chinese soundtracks can only bow in front of the roundness of the VF where the LFE channel regains weight. But in return, the dubbing that is mixed at a slightly high level « foam » homogeneity of the whole.
CONCLUSION – Last Hurrah for Chivalry
If the publisher's objective was to present us with the most complete version of the work with the agreement of Tsui Hark, the first 4-hour montage being still invisible, the health crisis wanted another way. Despite this absence, this edition filled with supplements (presentations, interviews, audio comments, alternative sequences, making-of, Stephen Teo's book) Wu Xia Pian – Traditional Martial Art Cinema and comics Seven Swords Prelude) does justice to this essential « Chinese sword film » with the way (the A/V benefits are full of determination).
Artistic note
9
Video quality
8.5
Audio quality
8
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