Plot: What’s it about?
Goodbye Monster is the latest in a long list of Chinese Productions I have seen in the last several years. While some are better than others, they are mostly always interesting in their own way. Here, we have an animated feature that we can watch in the native track or English dubbed. It comes with beautiful animation style and a story that is basic on the surface, but certainly not as clear as it likely needed to be.
After disobeying orders and using an untested idea to try and defeat the Dark Spirit, a young Doctor named Bai Ze finds himself in quite a bit of trouble. He accidentally destroys his island and is in return, banished from Kunlun Hospital where he practices medicine. Surely, his intentions were good, but the results of his actions have serious consequences. It’s when a young boy comes to him for healing that he feels it’s time to redeem himself. The threat here is certainly imposing but the Dark Spirit is never fully explained, so that can leave some head scratching for sure. If you take it at face value, and just enjoy the visuals, you might be better off.
We hear a LOT about the Dark Spirit in this feature, and it is so much so that it can lose a bit of its intended impact. Another review I came across mentioned some confusion over what exactly the Dark Spirit is, and I can’t say I disagree entirely with that. Something was clearly lost in translation here as this threat we hear so much about is often more than a little vague. While I can’t say this is something I will return to, I didn’t hate it. It’s gorgeous to look at and the story at its core is a simple but reasonably effective one. I just wish there was more clarity with the larger picture.
Video: How’s it look?
The 2.39:1 AVC HD image really lets the visuals and colors come through nicely. The images here are nothing short of breathtaking, and that helps with some of the story’s shortcomings. On my 4K set especially, the transfer was simply amazing. I can’t think of any detractors here. Viewers should feel quite impressed with the results here.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Also strong is the DTS HD track. You have the option to view English dubbed or the original track with subtitles. I opted for the former, but the vocals have clarity and the surrounds kept me with involved with the action on screen. The score came across strongly as well. All things considered this is an engaging track.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
Fans of Chinese Cinema might appreciate this more than I did. I appreciated elements of the story and the visuals, but overall, it isn’t something that resonates strongly with me.
