Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King Blu-ray Review
The Berserk series of manga books is one of the most beloved and admired in the history of the medium. Think Game of Thrones, only illustrated and more Japanese. It has a well-realised universe, wonderful characters, brutal violence and its fair share of fantastical elements. A 25 episode anime series was produced in the late nineties, and while the television format gave the characters plenty of breathing room, it didn't do well enough to justify another season.
Thankfully, this did not stop the powers-that-be from commissioning a series of feature-length film trilogies based on the franchise. Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King is the first part of The Golden Age Arc trilogy, which also happens to be same arc as the original animated series. Based on the success and quality of this first entry, fans should look forward to the closure they never received from the animated series' unresolved cliffhanger.
The Egg of the King tells the story of Guts, a wandering mercenary with a sword as tall as he is, and a strength and skill level that makes him almost unmatched by any other swordsman. After witnessing Guts' takedown of an enormous brute on the battlefield, the angelic Griffith, leader of the Band of the Hawk mercenary group, confronts Guts on an open field. After easily taking down several of Griffith's men (and almost one of his women), Guts is struck down by Griffith in one fell swoop.
Guts wakes up days later to find that Casca, the female warrior he almost killed, has nursed him to health. Griffith recognises Guts' incredible talent, and persuades him to join the Band of the Hawk. Cut to three years later, and Guts, Griffith, Casca and the rest of the Band have risen to prominence. Everything seems good, until the King’s brother Julius starts plotting to kill Griffith, and dismantle the Band of the Hawk. How far will Guts go to protect his brother in arms?
From the outset, Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I - The Egg of the King looks gorgeous. Director Toshiyuki Kubooka does a good job of blending the film’s computer generated imagery with traditional animation. The film’s cel-shaded CGI is still noticeable, but stylistically everything matches up. It’s used to great effect, particularly in large, sweeping shots of carnage on the field of battle. Like most recent anime on blu-ray, the transfer is clean and vibrant. Sound is also exceptional - both Japanese and English dubs are provided.
Fans of the manga series are divided on The Egg of the King, with some claiming that the film is somewhat of a cliff-notes version of the story told in the original books. The Golden Age Arc is concerned mostly with the rise of the Band of the Hawk, however not much time is spent on characters other than our central trio. Many adventures take place in the three years that the film skips over, which may be a bit disconcerting for long-time fans. Newcomers however, will be treated to a lean, stripped-down version that covers most of the story’s core themes and events. And, let’s not forget that this arc still has two more films on the way. This hugely entertaining film is a must for fans of hard-hitting, action-packed anime.
☆☆☆☆
Blu-ray available now from Madman Entertainment.
Posted by Stephen Lambrechts - 4/7/2013
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