Though it may still seem like a relatively new sub-genre working through its infancy, the video game-based movie has actually been a steady
mainstay almost as long as video game consoles
have been staples -- even centerpieces -- of the home entertainment center. Names like Super Mario Brothers, Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat, and Street Fighter have dazzled players but generally fizzled in their
big-screen adaptations, which is perhaps why these movies don't feel as prevalent or dominant as, say, their comic book-inpsired peers. "Why"
these movies tend to bomb is anyone's guess, but filmmakers are hitting for a pretty darn low batting average when it comes to translating
popular
games into quality movies. A more recent trend -- with the same mixed results -- than even the generally futile attempts to cash in on big-screen
takes on popular small-screen
stories has been to create (mostly digital) movie tie-ins that aren't necessarily meant for mass consumption but that rather serve as bridges
between
video game titles. Blu-ray fans might be most familiar with such films as they relate to the Dead Space series; Dead Space: Downfall and Dead Space: Aftermath have both seen high def releases in recent
years. Then there
was Dante's Inferno, an animated adventure that more or less paralleled its
game rather than served as an ancillary piece of a greater puzzle. Now, there's Tekken: Blood Vengeance, a 3D adventure that falls into the
Dead Space category, the film telling a story that fills in some blanks between Tekken video game releases. The best news? It
comes with the game, so there's no extra discs to collect or extra money to spend to enjoy everything Tekken on Blu-ray.
We're not that impressed with your tattoo, sorry.
Student Ling Xiaoyu has been expelled from school, but in reality, her expulsion is merely a cover for a secret and potentially dangerous undercover
mission. Anna Williams, working for Kazuya Mishima and the G Corporation, has recruited the teen to enroll in a new school with the task of
keeping tabs on Shin Kamiya, a young man with a very special ability that both G and its rival Mishima Zaibatsu desperately want to possess and
control.
Mishima Zaibatsu's Jin Kazama, along with Anna's sister Nina, dispatches the android Alisa Bosconovitch to also spy on Shin. It's not long before
Alisa
and
Ling Xiaoyu become friends, and as they unravel the truth behind their missions and discover Shin's secret, they must prepare to do battle against
the powerful Heihachi
Mishima and his dark powers if they are to save the world from certain destruction.
It would seem that in a video game tie-in movie there are certain criteria that must be present to make such a film a success. Does it contains
many of
the fan-favorite characters from the game? Is there enough action to satisfy the game's button-mashing fan base? Is the animation up to par? Is
there enough of a
story
to warrant spending 90 minutes with the controller out of hand and popcorn and a remote in its place? Tekken: Blood Vengeance can
answer
"yes" to all of these questions, at least to varying degrees. The film is definitely geared towards hardcore fans of the franchise, those people who
tend to keep various Tekken video
games in their normal play rotations. But the film is also easy enough to follow for the newcomer, too. Tekken: Blood Vengeance nicely
balances plot complexities with raw
action scenes in its first hour, though the latter definitely dominates the movie and overwhelms the third act, brushing aside the story and themes
in
favor of some truly spectacular battle scenes. That's not necessarily a bad thing; the franchise is a fighter first and foremost, and it only seems
fitting that the movie follow the game's lead and offer fans exactly what they want to see: their favorite Tekken characters brought to life
and doing battle one versus another in 3D.
Visually, Tekken: Blood Vengeance plays with a polished technical veneer. The 3D visuals are superb, the animation is strong, and there are
several
scenes that literally blur the line between real and digital characters and environments. It also succeeds in painting a picture of a world that's not
dissimilar to this, but that certainly exists on a different plane, whether that be a future world or some alternate timeline. It's never quite clear
which is the case -- perhaps that's something fleshed out in the games -- but the end result is a movie that practically knows no limits in its world, a
movie that proves capable of digitally creating and re-creating anything and everything, and making it all fit seamlessly into its make-believe world.
Even if the story could stand a little more depth and the dialogue a bit more polish, there's no doubt that the film exudes a certain appeal based on
its raw technical prowess and the impressiveness of its fight scenes. The movie is rich, colorful, and carefully constructed and executed. It makes
the most of what it has to work with, and even when it comes up short in terms of its plot or themes, it still holds its audience's attention thanks to
its knack for delivering well-constructed raw entertainment.
Tekken: Blood Vengeance bursts onto Blu-ray with a proficient Blu-ray 3D transfer. The image is naturally deep in every scene; whether in
confined spaces or looking into sprawling areas and distant objects, Bandai's transfer takes full advantage of its 3D capabilities, creating a dynamic,
realistic sense of space in every shot. Objects enjoy a natural shape, whether people, buildings, holographic computer displays, or general odds and ends
around the frame. The transfer produces plenty of nifty 3D effects shots; debris in various scenes appears to fly or float out of the screen. Green laser
sights seem to emanate from outside the television and encroach deep inside its bowels. The image is free of crosstalk, and black levels are accurate
rather than unnaturally and disturbingly too dark. This transfer also yields a brilliant color palette; the decorations outside the school look fantastic, as
does clothes and hair. Fine detail is exceptional in close-up shots of make-believe digital skin, for instance. Clarity is very strong, too. The transfer does
suffer from some random bouts of aliasing and jagged edges, but not to a destructive degree. All told, this is a fine Blu-ray 3D transfer, maybe even one
of the better ones currently on the marketplace.
Tekken: Blood Vengeance features a high quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, available in both English and Japanese variations. This is a
dynamic, entertaining presentation. Directional effects are superb, and the track always seems capable and willing to completely immerse its audience in
both high-octane action scenes and more serene dramatic moments alike. It can be rather loud at reference levels, but it never seems unnaturally
balanced or forced. Music enjoys fine spacing, strong clarity, and a natural richness. Bass is tight and potent, but not rattly or otherwise unkempt.
Atmospherics are strong and prominent, but not always completely convincing. For instance, the sound of a crowded school hallway seems a little too
strong for the accompanying visuals that aren't as hectic as the sound would lead the listener to believe. Still, gusty winds and other natural ambience
is presented naturally. Gunfire enjoys power and precision. It's energetic and snappy, a fine compliment to all of the action scenes in which it plays a
part. The film's final act is awash in quality audio; it's a spacious, loud, and precise affair that effortlessly puts the listener in the middle of the mayhem.
Rounded into shape by faultless, center-focused dialogue, Tekken: Blood Vengeance's Blu-ray soundtrack may be labeled a success.
Tekken: Blood Vengeance is amongst the cream of the crop of the recent trend of video game-based movies that are not separate entities but
rather critical tie-ins to major game releases. Like Dead Space before it, Tekken has extended its world into the feature-length film
universe, and the end result is a net positive; the movie certainly lacks in greater purpose, but for raw entertainment value, wonderful visuals, and
captivating fight
scenes, Blood Vengeance proves a tough act to beat. Namco/Bandai's Blu-ray release of Tekken: Blood Vengeance features quality
Blu-ray 3D video, a fine lossless soundtrack, and a few extras. Of course, the video game is also included. Recommended.
