Gemini – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1999
Director: Shin’ya Tsukamoto
Writers: Shin’ya Tsukamoto, Rampo Edogawa
Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryô, Yasutaka Tsutsui, Masako Motai, Renji Ishibashi, Akaji Maro, Tomorô Taguchi, Jun Murakami

Release Date: August 25th, 2020
Approximate running time: 83 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Set in Tokyo in 1910. Dr. Yukio Daitokuji (Masahiro Motoki), is a former military doctor who has taken over a successful medical practice from his father. He appears to be living a charmed life: he is respected in the local community and is married to the beautiful Rin (Ryo). His only problem is that she suffers from amnesia, and her past is unknown.

But soon his world begins to crumble. Both his parents die suddenly, killed by a bizarre, rag-wearing stranger. Yukio’s relationship with his wife worsens after he refuses to cure the inhabitants of a nearby slum. Then one day he comes face to face with the mysterious killer and a shocking and deadly secret is revealed." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “HD transfer from film negative”. 

Gemini comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22 GB

Feature: 17.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look correct, details look crisp, black levels look strong throughout, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Japanese, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced and range-wise, ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this include the Mondo Macabro Promo Reel, theatrical trailer (1 minute 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival featurette tilted Behind The Scenes Footage (20 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Make-up Demonstration (6 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled Venice Film Festival 1999 Premier (16 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles) and an archival featurette titled The Making of Gemini (17 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles).

Summary:

Gemini was directed by Shin’ya Tsukamoto, a filmmaker who writes most of his films' screenplays from original ideas. Notable films directed by Shin’ya Tsukamoto include Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Tokyo Fist, Bullet Ballet, and A Snake of June. Gemini’s screenplay was adapted from Rampo Edogawa’s short story Sôseiji: Aru Shikeishû ga Kyôkaishi ni Uchiaketa Hanashi. Other Rampo Edogawa film adaptations include Black Lizard, Blind Beast, Horrors of Malformed Men, and The Watcher in the Attic.

Though Gemini is an adaptation, set in the late Meiji era, a world polar opposite to the industrial settings Shin’ya Tsukamoto’s films are known for, the result is a film that has most of the elements that have become synonymous with the films of Shin’ya Tsukamoto. Most notably, a love triangle where two men compete for the same woman.

From its opening moments, Gemini sets an uneasy tone that builds to a fever pitch by the time Gemini’s moment of truth arrives. The premise is superbly realized, there are an ample number of well-executed twists, and the narrative does a great job of foreshadowing the protagonist’s fate.

The cast is excellent, especially Masahiro Motoki (The Bird People of China) in the dual role of a doctor named Yukio Daitokuji and his doppelganger. He delivers a solid performance that perfectly captures his character's state of mind.

Every inch of every frame has been meticulously composed for the greatest effect. Also, the use of colors plays a strong role in the story at hand. Of course, there’s an abundance of visually arresting moments that are undeniably Shin’ya Tsukamoto. Ultimately, Gemini is an extraordinary film about identity crisis that’s reminiscent of the films of David Cronenberg.

Gemini gets a first-rate release Mondo Macabro that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an abundance of insightful extra content, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer