REVIEW: ‘The Fearless Avenger’ (DVD – AnimEigo)

This is the second DVD release from AnimEigo in the Mikogami Trilogy that began with TRAIL OF BLOOD. It has since been superseded by a value-priced box set from the same distrib containing all three films. THE FEARLESS AVENGER comes with a modest collection of bonus content but the real selling point is a quality, 16×9 transfer of a great looking source print.

The original Japanese audio track sounds a little tinny but is otherwise fine. As with most AnimEigo releases, original English subtitles are a blessing and a curse. The distrib painstakingly translates its own subs with color coding to denote different speakers and great care in keeping the meaning of the original dialogue. They even translate the opening credits, which is always appreciated. The coloring and thick borders can be somewhat of a distraction while their placement and length of time on screen are not always ideal.

Extras are limited to a few original trailers, an image gallery with small pictures and program notes. Again, with the program notes, AnimEigo means well but is a little misguided in providing nothing but historical and cultural footnotes. I appreciate their desire to give us something extra but a grindhouse chambara movie release is not the right venue for a history, medical and geography lesson. We want to know about the director, actors and have some filmic context for the movie and its themes. If I want to know what prefecture the city of Matsudo is in or the number of foodborne illnesses in the United States I’ll look it up on Wikipedia and not on a DVD release of THE FEARLESS AVENGERS.

Format: Region 1 NTSC DVD
Aspect Ratio: 16×9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio: Japanese Dolby 2.0
Subtitles: English
Length: 80 minutes
Release Date: 2006.12.05