Mad Tiger

Released by: Film Movement
Released on: May 31st, 2016.
Director: Michael Haertlein, Jonathan Yi
Cast: Kengo Hioki, Kotaro Tsukada, Yumiko Hioki
Year: 2015
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The Movie:

If you've never heard of Peelander-Z, you should change that. And while checking out a few albums is definitely a good idea, the best way to change that is to check out one of their live shows, especially if the idea of color coordinated Japanese musicians battling giant monsters and engaging the audience in activities like 'human bowling' sounds like your idea of fun. The band has been around since the late nineties and continues to play and tour to this day. Kengo Hioki, a.k.a. Peelander Yellow, continues to be upfront but founding member Kotaro Tsukada, a.k.a. Peelander Red, was just as important in many ways.

Mad Tiger (named after the band's song of the same name) basically traces their friendship. It's not so much a history of the band, though it does at least partially serve as one, as it is a look at how Hioki and Tsukada dealt with one another when Red decided that it was time for him to move on. He basically has the opposite of your typical mid-life crisis: instead of doing something drastic to hold onto his youth, he wants to leave something drastic and settle down with his girlfriend. As the band, also comprised of Yumiko Kanazaki (a.k.a. Peelander Pink - also Hioki's wife) and Testuya Hayakawa (a.k.a. Peelander Black) - at least initially - prepare for Red's exit tensions rise. Hioki and Tsukada were clearly very close, the best of friends, and Red's departure would have been a big blow to the band and not something that the other members would have taken lightly.

And they don't. We witness first hand not only the camaraderie that exists between the group but also the infighting, particularly between Yellow and Red. Other members come and go - Akihiko Naruse (a.k.a Peelander Green) and Akiteru Ito (aka Peelander Purple - Red's replacement) for example - and they're featured here as well. They're not the main players but they do offer insight into the band's dynamic and into the up's and down's that occur before, during and after Red's split.

It's pretty interesting to watch. Rarely do you feel this is being put on for the camera, and some of the emotions that are on display are pretty moving. There's definitely an intimacy to this movie that comes not just from the fact that the band members are interviewed as themselves and not in character but also from the fact that it all seems very honest and heartfelt. You feel for Yellow as he does his damnedest to keep the band going. He knows that, in his mid-forties, age is catching up to him and as such, whether he wants to admit it or not he understands why his long time compatriot would do what he does here. Given how over the top Yellow is in terms of both his appearance and his persona there's a lot of melodramatics and yelling but so too is there plenty of humor evident both on and off the stage.

As great as the insight that the documentary gives us into the band dynamic and the toils of a working class, touring act like Peelander-Z, it's also worth talking about the live footage, most of which comes from small to medium sized venues around the band's native New York City. Live, this band is a force to be reckoned with. Not only do the band members all play in costume but people in kaiju style monster costumes (all made specifically for the band) frequently get in on the act. This, combined with Peelander-Z's antics and energy, typically make for some really nutty performance art. The music is catchy, it's got a sort of Ramones-infused pop punk style distilled through the uniquely Japanese cultural heritage of the band members. It's nuts, it's catchy, it's fun and unless you're dead it's pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Video/Audio/Extras:

Mad Tiger arrives on DVD in a 1.78.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that generally looks quite good. This was shot over a lengthy period of time and video quality can and will vary accordingly. There are a few shots that look a little heavy in the compression department and a few others that are a bit too dark. Those are exceptions though, and they never take away from the merits of the feature. Most of the material is clean and nicely detailed and the color reproduction, especially in terms of the costumes and the hair of the band members, really pops nicely here.

The audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, most of the time in English but occasionally in Japanese. Forced English subtitles are present for the duration of the film. Like the video critique, there are times where the audio is a bit messy - it's bound to happen during spontaneous life performances after all - but for the most part it's nicely balanced. As the band members all grew up in Japan (they didn't know each other until they had each individually relocated to New York City) they have thick accents that some might have trouble understanding. The subs come in handy there. An alternate 2.0 Stereo track is also included.

The first disc in the set includes a commentary track with directors Michael Haertlein, Jonathan Yi and band members Kengo Hioki and Kotaro Tsukada. Hioki seems kind of confused about what he's supposed to do on the commentary but once they get that sorted, he chimes in, loudly and enthusiastically, throughout the track. Haertlein and Yi do more talking than the band members, discussing what went into capturing some of the concert footage. Hioki and Tsukada talk about how and why they wound up making a squid for the band's live act, how at one point they tried to make a TV show, and hair coloring! We also learn about the storytelling aspect of the documentary and how important it was to Haertlein and Yi to capture it as it was unfolding, and quite a bit more. It's a very active track and actually quite a bit of fun.

Additionally we get two Peelander-Z music videos (Ninja High School and So Many Mike), menus and chapter selection.

The second disc includes Peelander Red's final live show with the band in its entirety, shot at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. It's pretty killer stuff and the normally different colored band members all play the whole set decked out in red with their hair dyed red as well - a sign of solidarity in a sense. This is high energy stuff and the audience eats it up (Peelander-Z fans tend to be pretty enthusiastic from my experience!). If you don't have the option of seeing them play live in person, this well shot and nicely edited set is definitely a good 'Plan B.'

Also included on the second disc is a selection of outtakes and deleted scenes. There are seven scenes here covering different aspects of the band. The most interesting one is a look at what goes into the costumes and monster props that factor into the band's live show. Menus and chapter selection are included on this second disc as well.

The Final Word:

Mad Tiger is a lot of things - it's touching, it's sad, it's inspiring, it's hilarious. What it's not is boring. The movie paints a pretty interesting picture of a band in a reasonable amount of turmoil and Peelander Yellow's search for redemption. Along the way we get a good feel for some of the different personalities that have been involved in the project over the years and some great live footage too. Film Movement's DVD release is a good one, the commentary is a lot of fun and the inclusion of Red's final show is a great addition to the set.