20th Century Boys: The Complete Saga

If viewers unfamiliar with the intricacies of Urasawa Naoki's 24-volume manga are to have any hope of keeping up with this trilogy's extensive dramatis personae, they will need to watch these films within a few days of each other - so this four-disc set, comprising the complete trilogy plus several hours of extras, is virtually a necessity.

The making-of documentary and the alternate ending to the third film (whose original ending, though different from that of the manga, is well-nigh perfect) were unavailable for review. With the exception of the information-packed accompanying booklet, however, all the other extras are entirely disposable.

The cast interviews with Karasawa Toshiaki, Tokiwa Takako, Toyokawa Etsushi, Kagawa Teruyuki, Ishizuka Hidehiko, Ukaji Takeshi, Miyasako Hiroyuke, Sasaki Kuranosuke reveal nothing of interest, but at 21 minutes are at least mercifully short. The same could not be said for the 50-minute featurette documenting the first film's Japanese premiere, where cast and crew are wheeled out before a model of the robot for a lengthy photo opportunity, and later brought on-stage at the auditorium to exchange more banalities.

The 35-minute coverage of the film's world premiere in Paris is essentially more of the same, but only Karasawa Toshiaki and Tokiwa Takako (elaborately styled in Japanese dress) are in attendance, and are shown conducting a bizarre press conference in front of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. "I don't know why here," comments Karasawa.