Plot: What’s it about?
I think we’ve all seen a number of offbeat weather forecasters on television, as those segments tend be the most outlandish on news programs. You might see a man in a hula skirt talking about a warm front or a woman tasting chili at a cookoff, as the weatherpeople seem to be the public relations front for the news. In fact, a lot of viewers tune to a specific channel’s news just for the weather report and how it is delivered. But no weather report I’ve ever seen could match the ones shown in these movies, not even close. While not a traditional sequel, Weather Woman Returns is of the same ilk as the original, which means wild antics abound. The sequel is only available through this two disc collection also. So if you like offbeat cinema, then these two films should please and below is a brief synopsis on each movie.
1. Weather Woman- The world of television can be brutal, so when you’re given a chance, you have to do whatever it takes to score some ratings. As ratings drive the business, its that bottom line that matters to the bosses and not much else. So when Keiko (Kei Mizutani) gets to host the weather report, she decides to make a lasting impression and flashes her panties to the camera, sparking a tidal wave of attention and by turn, massive ratings. But when the audience tunes in next time, how will Keiko make sure they continue to be loyal viewers?
2. Weather Woman Returns- Keiko has taken over as owner at a new television station, which she is sure can become the top station around. But the competition is stiff and like Keiko, the rivals are determined to be the best in town. As it turns out, the rival station is willing to do even more than Keiko, stooping to underhanded tactics in order to keep Keiko’s ratings down. One by one, her new shows are sabotaged and she is left with few options. When the weather woman is tricked however, Keiko decides to take matters into her own hands and while on the air, she flashes her panties to the audience. But will her brief showcase of undies be enough to save her station, or will more drastic measures be needed?
Video: How does it look?
Weather Woman & Weather Woman Returns are both presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, but the transfers are not anamorphic. The images here look like lower budget video productions, which means some flaws do surface, but all in all, I found the transfers to be solid and acceptable. The colors are bold and rich, with no signs of error, while contrast provides stable, well balanced black levels throughout. I did see some light edge enhancement and some shimmering, but even so, these movies look fine in these releases. Weather Woman Returns is a little more refined, but both movies look more than solid.
Audio: How does it sound?
Weather Woman offers a choice between the original Japanese version and an English dub track, while Weather Woman Returns only provides the original Japanese option. The audio is rather basic, but the essentials seem well covered and I couldn’t find much to complain about. You won’t be too dazzled by these soundtracks, but they’re serviceable and with these flicks, that’s good enough. As not everyone speaks Japanese, you can choose to turn on English subtitles, though they’re optional, not forced.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The sole extra here is a reel of promotional trailers, but some extra supplements can be found if the discs are used in a DVD-ROM drive. I prefer all the bonus materials to be available in a normal player however, so I was let down in this department.
