Here's a comparison cap for the
dvdtimes review. Looks similar, although I'm seeing a bit more edge enhancement on the UK disc. Kevin complained about thick edge enhancement on the UK disc. The edge enhancement is there on R2J too, but it's most distracting in the opening scene (which is the one capped in the dvdtimes review). The rest of the film fares a bit better.
UK (shamelessly stolen from Kevin's review)
R2J
UK --- R2J
R2J
Either way, the R2J offers a progressive transfer, while the UK disc was said to be a ghosting conversion mess.
The film is quite fantastic. Here's my mini review:
Vampire Girl vs Frankenstein Girl (2009)
If Tokyo Gore Police had been a romantic high school comedy. Cute transfer student (Yukie Kawamura) and charming gothic lolita (Eri Otoguro) battle over the school's only decent guy. Love hurts, and leaves one hell of a mess. Yoshihiro Nishimura and Naoyuki Tomomatsu's film, drawing its inspiration from female manga artist Shungiku Uchida's comics, is hit and miss but with high accuracy. The sheer the amount of ridiculous jokes and gore effects is overwhelming. It's the combination of this kind of energy and cinematic skill – including terrific soundtrack that comes with a variety from chorus to cheesy love songs – that sets Vampire Girl apart from the standard Japanese gore film. Blood is plenty here too, although this time with CGI support. It's not a problem, as the film is a comedy, and there’s still thousands of liters of real fake blood. The visual look is competent with highly aesthetic bloodshed and eye popping caramel colors. The main actresses are both great and backed up by a load Nishimura regulars (Eihi Shiina, Takashi Shimizu, Cay Izumi、Jiji Bu) and some new faces, including Reiko Ike lookalike Sayaka Kametani. Some genre and cultural knowledge is recommended, as the film is packed with references to Nishimura's past works and Japanese social phenomena.
and the spin off film featured on the disc
Vampire Frankenstein Girl (2010)
A continuation of the very pleasant tradition of providing additional value to DVD buyers, Vampire Frankenstein Girl is Yoshihiro Nishimura’s 15 minute spin off for the main feature. Stylistically similar to the jaw ending opening episode of Tokyo Gore Police Short Collection, Vampire Frankenstein Girl gathers familiar supporting players (ganguro girls) and new characters, including leading girl Tsugumi Nagasawa, for violent showdown. Opening scene aside it’s a completely dialogue free, music video style mayhem collage that starts out lazy but aims high and eventually explodes in its gory, ridiculously imaginative glory. Nagasawa flies like a bird, Cay Izumi dances topless, Obama’s head explodes, and Trippi’s girls Maki Daimon and Youko Kobayashi perform Pinky Love in front of camera. Bravo!
Texas premiere
JP premiere
Making of
Stills gallery
Long story short: the film is great, the transfer is fine, the extras are excellent, and the soundtrack is a must own. Buy, Buy, Buy.
