Coming-of-age tales are plentiful for a reason; when done right, this type of narrative can reveal the unique fabric of a particular background you otherwise might be oblivious to while simultaneously speaking to a universal truth. In Death Of Nintendo, one of our newest entries into the genre, indie director Raya Martin tackles a script from Valerie Castillo Martinez which transports us back into the simpler time of the 1990s where a simple cartridge video game felt like a portal to a whole new world. It is not a completely unfamiliar setup, but more texture is brought to the story through its setting in the Philippines. The young souls at the heart of this story are into the same things that are familiar to American kids; The Legend of Zelda, strategy card games, and handfuls of junk food. Yet, this setting allows for deeper examinations of the cultural elements that make this community stand apart from others. The raw opportunity to breakthrough to something enlightening is not always seized, but this journey is always pleasant enough to keep you invested in the ride.
At the center of our story is 13-year-old Paolo (Noel Comia Jr.), a rich kid of a devout Catholic single mother who buys him video games and brand name sneakers as long as he is a good son who obeys her rules. The delicate class divide is never overtly spelled out when it comes to his friends who struggle a bit more in the working class. Siblings Mimaw (Kim Chloe Oquendo) and Gilligan (Jigger Sementilla) have a loving mother who is falling apart a bit after her cheating husband took off to Canada with his mistress. Even further down the line is Kachi (John Vincent Servilla), whose surroundings present a fork in the road that could lead to an upstanding life or one of crime with one seeming tragically easier. This particular thread is one of several promising directions this breezy film fails to develop into something of depth. While enjoyable, this film typically takes the easy and obvious routes; this story is set opposite the impending eruption of Mt. Pinatubo – an obvious metaphor for this time of transition.
This summertime tale finds these four adolescents running away from the challenges they face at home while trying to figure out what comes next. In an age before cell phones, these kids just roam around to various hot spots around town such as the local swimming pool or food court. Sex is a hot topic of conversation among the boys, leaving the eye-rolling Mimaw to be treated like one of the guys. Paolo has a crush on preppy girl Shiara (Elijah Alejo), who starts to welcome Mimaw into her group. The boys think this could open up an opportunity for Paolo, but no one seems to notice that Mimaw has some feelings of her own for Paolo. These kids are still at a point where their innocence has not been lost, as shown by a late-night trip to the graveyard to see if they can spot a mythical creature. Sometimes this is put to the test when it comes to the requisite bully who pops in and out of their lives. These characters are somewhere between the magic and cruel reality of life. All of these young performers are very natural in the way they portray these individuals. You never feel as if any acting is happening on the screen.
While the metaphorical “death of Nintendo” signifying their awakening to the next stage of their life is handled as well as most films, the film struggles to really harness what makes it unique. It comes closest in the overarching pact the boys make to get circumcised together in a practice known as Tuli. That they choose to travel a significant distance to a witch doctor in the middle of nowhere to have it done is both hilariously reckless and fascinating from an outside perspective. Moments like these and a religious ceremony that is glimpsed in the street separate these kids from the tropes you have seen a thousand times. Yet, the tropes are what make up the majority of the film with the unusual bits more of a rarity rather than the focus. As we head into the final moments of the film, the idea that this story was Mimaw’s all along really piques your interest, but this does not line up narratively as perfectly as one would want to solidify that argument. There is enough inconsistency in the tone that it is easy to believe that there were detours from the script to accommodate a conflicting vision. There is so much to love about this feature, but it never reaches the full potential which you can see in it.
Video Quality
Death Of Nintendo comes to Blu-Ray with a gorgeous AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. This film has some nice pops of color with everything appearing very natural from the lush landscapes to some vivid hues in the production design. The color palette mostly remains natural with a stark eye towards some brighter tones. Where the transfer really shines is the impressive level of detail in even the subtlest aspects. Everything from the smallest facial details to the texture of the interior of Paolo’s room is quite impressive. The picture is mostly clear with only brief instances of murkiness during a few darker scenes. Black levels are fairly deep throughout with no overwhelming instances of crush. Skin tones are natural throughout with some impeccable details present in certain shots. The film sports some luscious cinematography, and that is showcased pretty well here. Overall, this is quite a powerful transfer.
Audio Quality
The film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track in the original Tagalog and brief instances of English which is purposefully not showy and well balanced to match the dialogue-driven nature of the feature. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overwhelmed by any of the other sounds. Environmental and sound effects play a notable role in the film, and this track brings these elements to life quite capably. The use of the rear channels to create a fully enveloping world works quite well. The directionality is quite precise so sounds always present as natural when coming from their respective points. Activity in the low end is nearly nonexistent which is to be expected given the nature of the story. Altered Innocence has delivered a pleasing track for this gentle film.
Special Features
- Trailers: The minute-long theatrical trailer is provided here. There are also trailers provided for A Dim Valley, So Long Billie, Sound and Fury and Tiger Milk.
Final Thoughts
Death Of Nintendo is an enjoyable coming-of-age tale which provides a different perspective for the genre. The potential is not fully realized, but the impeccable performances and overall tone makes this one well worth a watch. The film does not go overboard on nostalgia for the 90s, but those who grew up during this time may find themselves reminiscing for several days after you see this one. Altered Innocence and Vinegar Syndrome have released a Blu-Ray featuring a top-notch A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of special features. Recommended
Death Of Nintendo is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Altered Innocence and Vinegar Syndrome have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
