‘Knights Of The Zodiac’ Blu-Ray Review – A Misguided Live-Action Take On A Beloved Anime

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Based on the international anime sensation, Knights of the Zodiac brings the Saint Seiya saga to the big screen in live-action for the first time. Seiya (Mackenyu), a headstrong street teen, spends his time fighting for cash while he searches for his abducted sister. When one of his fights unwittingly taps into mystical powers he never knew he had, Seiya finds himself thrust into a world of warring saints, ancient magical training and a reincarnated goddess who needs his protection. If he’s to survive, he will need to embrace his destiny and sacrifice everything to take his rightful place among the Knights of the Zodiac.

For thoughts on Knights of the Zodiac, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/Nj7nOR-2yJ8?t=3759]

Video Quality

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment brings Knights of the Zodiac to Blu-Ray with a tremendous 1080p video presentation. The film provides bold splashes of colors within the special effects, the production design and costumes which makes for a sumptuous image. Black levels are robust with not much in the way of digital noise or crush. Highlights likewise render favorably with no blooming in sight. The flesh tones are natural with a strong amount of detail present in close-ups. The presentation provides a good amount of depth on display in the various locations. The extravagant production design along with the fabrics of clothing provide clear textural details. The image is crisp with the radiant color palette popping off the screen. This Blu-Ray is as strong as any modern disc from Sony. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a rock solid DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures this fantastical tale admirably. The valiant score radiates from the speakers in a powerful, well-balanced way. This action-driven movie springs to life with environmental sounds of the world engaging the surround speakers in a pleasing way. The low end of the track is particularly robust during moments of confrontation. There are some really nice ambient details that flesh out the setting with good dimension. Dialogue comes through clearly without being clipped by any competing sounds. The audio track is an excellent sounding presentation that fans should enjoy. 

Special Features

• On Set with Andy Cheng’s Stunt Team: A three-minute piece which explores the intense amount of work that went into planning the stunts in the film.

• Behind The Characters: A five-minute collection of videos in which the performers discuss their characters and their place within the story. 

• • Alman (0:56)

• • Guraad (0:59)

• • Seiya (0:58)

• • Sienna (1:02)

• • Nero (0:59)

• Deleted Scenes: An eight-minute collection of unused moments including an alternate opening and an extended training scene. 

• Animatic: A minute-long animatic with live-action accompaniment is provided. 

• Concept Art: A gallery of concept art is provided. 

• Octagon Previs: A four-minute test run of the octagon showdown is provided with the stunt men. 

• Previews: There are trailers provided for Bullet Train, 65, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse and Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness. 

Final Thoughts

Knights of the Zodiac has some decent individual moments, but it struggles when trying to succeed as a cohesive movie. This may be coming from a rich source material, but the translation to live action feels rushed and unsatisfying for established fans and newcomers alike. None of the character motivations hook you, leaving every development to fall flat when they arise. The performers do a decent job with what they are given, but there are individuals who feel miscast for this particular story. This is a classic case of Hollywood misjudging how to appropriately adapt a beloved international property. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has provided a Blu-Ray disc that sports a great A/V presentation and a few brief supplements for those who do decide to check it out.

Knights of the Zodiac is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.