Japanese cult cinema thread

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Gaijin84
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Post by Gaijin84 »

Toei's dvds are heavily over-priced (especially TV shows) but then again, who else is releasing 4-6 classic Toei movies every month year after year?
Good point - my bank account is suffering as a result. Where do you recommend buying them from (and shipping overseas) to reduce financial damage as much as possible?
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Post by HungFist »

I usually use cdjapan, but that's mostly because I'm trying to take full use of all the money saving programs they have (coupons, frequent shopper points, and affliate program). Otherwise I'd say yesasia might be the best, at least if you get free shipping. They price all their items originally in US dollar and are very slow at reacting to changes in currency rates. In other words, their Toei dvds cost the same amount in US dollars week after week. For this reason they are sometimes more expensive than cdjapan, sometimes cheaper.

Amazon used to be the best. They, and many other japanese retailers, have 25% off discounts for pre-orders. But amazon became useless a few years ago when they went "DHL only", meaning terrible shipping cost.

But you have to compare yourself. At the moment the Euro-Yen conversion rate sucks, but I'm not sure about $US-Yen.
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Post by Gaijin84 »

Thanks! I did a quick calculation from the ones you mentioned for the Toei movie "The Winter Camellia (Kantsubaki - 寒椿)" - 6/1 release

cdJapan - 3000 yen + 500 yen shipping = 3500 yen ($35.64)
YesAsia - $34.99 + free shipping
Amazon - 3000 yen + 2000 yen shipping! = 5000 yen ($50.92)

Well that stops my use of Amazon cold in its tracks. You're definitely right... with cdJapan's promotions they seem like the way to go over the long haul, at least at this point.

thanks again
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Post by HungFist »

If you're a millionaire, here's a great way to get rid of your money

Yujiro Ishihara Golden Treasure - Nikkatsu Eiga Taizen

"DVD collection box set features one of Japanese greatest actor Yujiro Ishihara. This box set includes all 90 films Yujiro Ishihara appears, rare footages collection, talk by the director Toshio Masuda who shooted Yujiro the most, booklet featuring 90 posters created from 1956 to 1971, data book featuring all 90 films, PR materials, and three bonus discs."

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- http://toshiakis.at.webry.info/200904/article_2.html

Cdjapan's got if for 270 000. Better use amazon, you'll save 62 100
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Gaijin84
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Post by Gaijin84 »

good lord that's cool

I wonder if all 90 films of his are available on DVD individually. If not this seems to indicate that they could be soon.
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Post by HungFist »

And Allcinema knows Toei November is a Nakamura Kinnosuke month (again)

清水港の名物男 遠州森の石松 (The Traveling Ruffian) (1958)
Director: Masahiro Makino
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0202009/
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1958/ch002650.htm

若き日の次郎長 東海の顔役 (1960)
Director: Masahiro Makino
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1960/cj005880.htm

美男城 (The Forbidden Castle) (1959)
Director: Yasushi Sasaki
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186879/
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1959/ci000980.htm

花と龍 (The Flower and the Dragon) (1965)
Director: Kosaku Yamashita
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186190/
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1965/co004080.htm

丹下左膳 飛燕居合斬り (Tange Sazen: The Secret of the Urn) (1966)
Director: Hideo Gosha
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171812/
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1966/cp001950.htm


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In December Toei will release 4 Wives of the Yakuza films from 1999-2001. All directed by Ikuo Sekimoto. I believe these are V-Cinema productions, however Toei has priced them at 4500 yen so I assume these will be their main releases in December. Not classic cult cinema, but I thought to mention anyway.

And something related to the Yusaku Matsuda Detective Story TV series. Except that this was released theatrically in 1998... that's 9 years after Matsuda's death. Find out yourself what it is, I need to go take a shower.
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=701254

and btw, ran into Yusaku Matsuda Action figures:
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/tamontei/diary/200706160000/
http://www.edge-collection.com/index.ph ... cts_id=138
http://www.edge-collection.com/index.ph ... cts_id=139

Legendary guy.
Last edited by HungFist on 06 Mar 2010, 03:58, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by HungFist »

3 Seconds Before Explosion (Bakuhatsu sanbyômae) (1967)

Pistols, dynamite and helicopters in a Nikkatsu turbo action film starring Akira Kobayahi and Hideki Takahashi. Kobayashi plays a government spy who is assigned to gain possession of diamonds that are currently in the hands of a yakuza gang – while another gang is doing their best to steal the diamonds. German smugglers, Chinese femme fatales and Japanese government agents turned villains further complicate the mission. 3 Seconds Before Explosion is stylish, silly (the fist fights are done with a 30 cm safe margin) and very entertaining spy film with loads of action and legendary leading man.

Kino’s R1 dvd is barebones (only photo gallery and two Fukasaku trailers as extras) but gives the film a good presentation. The interlaced transfer looks good throughout. Minor print damage and dirt can hardly be considered a problem.

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Post by HungFist »

A small gift from god coming in September
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Read more:
http://adg.invisionzone.com/index.php?s ... l=nunchaku

Don't expect the sequels to follow immediately, they are owned by a different studio (Toho). But maybe Toho will now come to their senses. Lets hope so.
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by HungFist »

Are you ready? Toei's 2009/11/01 low priced batch is their biggest and best ever. Fortunes will be spent this Christmas. It's more than one man can take. Bloody idiots. I don't know if love them or hate them. It's confusing. Too much love.

See the full list here (3150 yen dvds)
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/softcalen ... ategory=#2

Here’s just a few picks from famous directors and actors. Notice that some of these have been low priced before.

Yusaku Matsuda
No Grave for Us (Oretachi ni haka wa nai)
The Violent Classroom (Bôryoku kyôshitsu)
The Most Dangerous Game (Mottomo kiken na yuugi)
Yokohama BJ Blues
A Homance
And Then (Soreka)
Satsujin yugi
Shokei yugi

Kinji Fukasaku
The Gate of Youth
Battles Without Honor and Humanity 1
Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2
Battles Without Honor and Humanity 3
Battles Without Honor and Humanity 4
Battles Without Honor and Humanity 5
Battles Without Honor and Humanity 6
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 1
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 3
New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 4 (dir. Eichi Kudo)

Norifumi Suzuki
Truck Yaro: Goiken muyou
Truck Yaro: Bakusou ichiban-boshi
Truck Yaro Boukyo ichiban-boshi
Truck Yaro: Tenka gomen
Truck Yaro: Dokyo ichibanboshi
Truck Yaro: Otoko ippiki momojiro
Truck Yaro: Totsugeki ichiban-boshi
Truck Yaro: Ichiban-boshi kita he kaeru
Truck Yaro: Neppu 5000 km
Truck Yaro: Furusato tokkyubin

Koji Tsuruta
Jinsei gekijo: hisha kaku
Jinsei gekijo zoku: hisha kaku
Jinsei-gekijô: Hishakaku to kiratsune
Bakuchi Uchi (Gambler)
Bakuchi Uchi:Ippiki Ryu
Bakuchi-uchi: socho tobaku (Big Time Gambling Boss)
Bakuchi Uchi: Nagurikomi
Bakuchi Uchi: Fujimi No Shobu

Shinichi Chiba
The Killing Machine
Karate Bullfighter
Karate Bearfighter
The Executioner
Karate Inferno: The Executioner 2
The Street Fighter
Return of the Street Fighter

Sadao Nakajima
Gekido no 1750 nichi
Gokudô sensô: Butôha

Hiroko Yakushimaru
Shinshi dômei
Yabanjin no youni

There's a few dozen must buy films (that I don't already own) but I'm especially exited about the Yusaku Matsuda films. He's one of the most legendary and coolest Japanese actors of all time. I've been waiting for the right time to fully introduce myself to his Toei works.

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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

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Just one week before Toei's low priced dvds Kadokawa will release 4 Yusaku Matsuda films on remastered DVD and Blu-Ray. They will be available in box set as well as separately. The Blu-Ray box set also includes booklet and screenplay for The Beast to Die (limited to first press). It seems like the extras will be the same as on Kadokawa's old dvds. The release date is 23.10.2009

Proof of a Man (Ningen no shomei) (1977)
Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (Yomigaeru kinro) (1979)
The Beast to Die (Yaju shisubeshi) (1980)
Detective Story (Tantei monogatari) (1983)

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All of these films have been released on English subbed dvd in Hong Kong by IVL. Resurrection of the Golden Wolf is also available on R1 dvd.

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Amazon's got more pictures of the BDs

Box Set and The Beast Must Die script.
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Japanese mono (stereo) and Linear PCM sound, no subtitles, region free (according to cdjapan). The box set comes with the fore mentioned screenplay, and a booklet containing interviews. The BDs only feature trailers and TV spots (in SD).
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

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The Beast Must Die (Yaju shisubeshi) (1980)

Toru Murakami and Yusaku Matsuda’s last collaboration is an adaptation from Haruhiko Oyabu’s novel, which has been brought to silver screen a few times before. Changes were made to the original story, and the director and star also had their disagreements about how the topic should be handled. Matsuda plays a man who murders four people and robs a casino. But he’s planning something else, too. The approach to the story is interesting, on both Matsuda and Murakami’s behalf. Matsuda’s acting – despite his superstar status – is minimal, weird, and he hardly speaks at all (his first lines don’t come until 15 minutes in). Apparently the actor was quite deep into the role. Murakami’s directing is partly in the same alley. The storyline moves slowly and doesn’t reveal its motives until later on. This makes the film more intesting scene by scene, as it’s building up for something bigger. A high level of intensity is ultimately reached, but the ending is a let down. Matsuda’s underacting becomes severe overacting, and Murakami explains in great detail and constant flashbacks what should only have been vaguely suggested. Even then the final scene is slighty notorious for being difficult to interpret. In this wild mix supporting star Hideo Murota’s policeman performance stands out as being one of the few even elements in the film.

Kadokawa’s 2000 dvd release is far from pristine, but gets the job done without major distractions. Audio is original mono plus 5.1 remix. Trailer, TV spot and biographes are included. IVL has released the film with English subtitles in Hong Kong. Kadokawa's newly remastered dvd and blu-ray will be released 23.10.2009. The screencaps below are from the original Kadokawa dvd.

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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by gasteropod »

That's the first time I've seen black Blu-ray cases - they look kind of cool.
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

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Two years ago when I started this thread, I wrote in the first post that I wish someone would release Kinji Fukasaku's crime thriller Boso panikku: Daigekitotsu (1976) on dvd. Now it's finally coming from Toei. They also grant another wish of mine from this thread; finally I can get rid of the poorly encoded solar explosion R1 edition of Yakuza Graveyard, my favourite of Fukasaku's jitsuroku yakuza movies.

Toei January 2010 is a Kinji Fukasaku month.

The Threat (Odoshi) (脅迫) (1966)
Starring Rentaro Mikuni, Kô Nishimura and Hideo Murora
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323472/
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Ceremony of Disbanding (Kaisanshiki) (解散式 ) (1967)
Starrin Koji Tsuruta, Tetsuro Tamba and Junko Miyazono
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061869/
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Bloodstained Clan Honor (Chizome no daimon) (血染の代紋 ) (1970)
Starring Tatsuo Umemiya, Bunta Sugawara and Koji Tsuruta
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065543/
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Yakuza Graveyard (Yakuza no hakaba: Kuchinashi no hana) (やくざの墓場 くちなしの花 ) (1976)
Starring Tetsuya Watari, Meiko Kaji and Hideo Murota
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075441/
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Violent Panic: The Big Crash (Boso panikku: Dai gekitotsu) (暴走パニック 大激突) (1976)
Starring Tsunehiko Watase, Miki Sugimoto and Hideo Murota
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325140/
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Toei February 2010 is a Hiroshi Tachi action month

Otokogumi shonen keimusho (男組 少年刑務所) (1976)
Director: Akihisa Okamoto
Cast: Hiroshi Tachi, Akiko Kana, Hayato Tani
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0227212/
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1976/cz002820.htm
School violence in a manga adaptation, according to Allcinema.
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Hell's Angels: Crimson Roar (地獄の天使 紅い爆音) (1977)
Director: Makoto Naito
Cast: Hiroshi Tachi, Aiko Morishita, Katsuhiro Fukuda
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1977/da003020.htm
Pinky Violence from the director of Etsuko Shihomi's 13 Steps
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皮ジャン反抗族 (1978)
Director: Yasuharu Hasebe
Cast: Hiroshi Tachi, Yoko Natsuki, Aiko Morishita
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1978/db003440.htm
A little known youth action film that Yasuharu Hasebe did for Toei in the middle of his violent pink period.
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薔薇の標的 (1980)
Director: Toru Murakawa
Cast: Hiroshi Tachi, Ryohei Uchida, Yusaku Matsuda
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1980/dd001190.htm
An action film directed by Toru Murakawa, who is best known for his late 70's / early 80's Yusaku Matsuda action films.
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Toei continues their rapid fire series of killing fists (don't ask) in March that is a kick ass motorcycle month.

爆発!暴走族 (Bakuhatsu! Boso zoku) (Detonation! Violent Tribe) (1975)
Director: Teruo Ishii
Cast: Koichi Iwaki, Shinichi Chiba
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1975/cy002820.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142100/
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爆発!暴走遊戯(Bakuhatsu! Boso yugi) (Detonation! Violent Games) (1976)
Director: Teruo Ishii
Cast: Koichi Iwaki, Yuko Kano
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142099/
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1976/cz000060.htm
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爆発!750cc族 (Bakuhatsu! Nana-han zoku) (1976)
Director: Yutaka Kohira
Cast: Kouichi Iwaki, Ken Nishida
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1976/cz002830.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0222781/
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暴走の季節 (Boso no kisetsu) (Season of Violence (1976)
Director: Teruo Ishii
Cast: Koichi Iwaki, Yayoi Watanabe
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1976/cz002030.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142130/
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

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Brief introduction to Truck Yarou

One of Toei’s most succefull cash cows in the 1970’s was the Truck Yarou series. This 10 film series remains relatively unknown outside Japan, but it just may be director Norifumi Suzuki’s most remarkable work. Suzuki’s career could be divided into three parts. Western audiences are familiar with the middle part, the early 1970’s pinky violence movies. However, already before that Suzuki was an important yakuza film screenwriter and director, being involved with a large number of ninkyo yakuza productions such as the Red Peony Gambler movies, one of which Suzuki directed. After the exploitation period Suzuki became an official box office champion with his mainstream friendly Truck Yarou films in the mid/late 70's. This is the third major phase in his career which then continued with a few more mainstream action films and an occasional exploitation film.

Truck Yarou stars Bunta Sugawara (Momojiro aka First Star) and Kinya Aikawa (Jonathan) as two truck drivers driving across the country. Momojiro is an eternal bachelor, usually falling in love in every film, but never settling down. Jonathan is the opposite; he has a wife and too many kids. He can never tell them appart or remember their names. Both men tend to have problems with authorities, especially Jonathan who used to be a policeman. The authority issue is a regular theme in Suzuki’s movies. Most of his post yakuza-era films make fun of hypocrite teachers, policemen, priests, nuns etc.

The series features a great mix of low brow comedy, emotional drama, and action. Tearful family reunions (the supporting characters often turn out to be each other’s long lost sisters / brothers / daughters) walk in hand to hand with climatic car chases and regularly make way for naughty gags and female nudity. Suzuki’s exploitation preferences are sometimes visible, but always filtered through a mainstream lens. The Truck Yarou films are enjoyable, high energy movies for big crowds. Probably most surprising is that the mixture really works and even the drama parts are strong enough. One can also find fun references to timely events and movies. For example, in the beginning of the seventh movie Momojiro dreams of his truck turning into a space ship. Yes, this movie was indeed released briefly after the Japanese opening of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Stars Wars.

While all 10 movies are good, most of them are excellent. The earlier films tend to be a bit more drama heavy and the best action scenes are seen in the later installments. One theme that is repeated in most films is festivals. Since the storylines take the characters all around Japan, Suzuki chooses not only to present beatiful landscales but also various local festivals. The cinematography and music are good throughout the series. The theme song is sung by Sugawara and Aikawa. It’s a great song and after just a few films becomes an unseparable part of the series. You’ll notice it at the latest in the 8th film where the song is not included, immediately hurting the viewing experience.

More or less all of the films share the same structure. There’s a delivery task, rival trucker, love interest for Momojiro, and a big finale where enemies usually become friends and help each other to make the final delivery while the police force throws everything they’ve got at them to stop the truck bastards. Some of the action scenes feature a bit of stock footage as Toei couldn’t afford to trash so many police cars. Scenes like restaurant fights and Momojiro’s visists to bathhouse (always bringing the girls some gifts related to his current delivery mission) appear in almost every film. A cynical viewer could say that if you’ve seen one or two Truck Yarou films you’ve seen them all. But these films are not made for cynical viewers. It is a part of the concept to always throw our beloved characters into somewhat similar but slightly modified situations.

One of series’s main attractions is the dekotora vehicles. The term is an abbreviation of Decoration Truck. In the 1970’s it became popular among lonely Japanese truck drivers to decorate their vehicles with wild artwork, exterior parts and neon lights. It was in interesting deviation of the traditional Japanese work harmony, and a way to express oneself. There trucks were gorgeous to look at especially at night time. The Truck Yarou series played important part in popularizing the phenomena in all of Japan. During the series’ course we get to see various different artworks and decorations on the main characters’ trucks. Some of the supporting characters would also drive very distinctive and memorable vehicles.

There’s a load of famous actors appearing in the series. The better you know Toei movies, the more faces you’ll be able to recognize. Even if you’re not a Japanese cinema aficionado, you’ll surely recognize some superstars like Sonny Chiba (the 5th film) and Tomisaburo Wakayama (the 6th film) playing rival truckers. Chiba’s role especially is memorable. He plays the leader of the Jaws gang (the trucks are numbered Jaws I, Jaws II, Jaws III etc.). Chiba’s fight scene with Sugawara is a classic comedy piece on both stars’ career. Other famous actors appearing in the films include Junko Natsu, Downtown Boogie Woogie Band (both in the 1st film), Tatsuo Umemiya (2nd film), Mieko Harada (7th film), and singer Sayuri Ishikawa (10th film), just to mention a few.

The successful series ran from 1975 to 1979, with two films being released every year. Apart from the final film they were all Toei Top 10 box office hits in their release year. Director Suzuki still found time for other projects as well. Most interestingly, in his depraved 1979 exploitation film Beautiful Girl Hunter Suzuki made a direct reference to the Truck Yarou series. Perhaps this connection will remind people of the versatility of both tough guy Sugawara and ”exploitation director” Suzuki. Indeed, most Western viewers who only know Sugawara from Kinji Fukasaku’s violent yakuza films will be very surprised to see him do some very silly physical comedy in the Truck Yarou films.

Films in the series
Truck Yarou: Goiken muyou (トラック野郎 御意見無用 ) (1975)
Truck Yarou: Bakusou ichiban-boshi (トラック野郎 爆走一番星 ) (1975)
Truck Yarou Boukyo ichiban-boshi (トラック野郎 望郷一番星 ) (1976)
Truck Yarou: Tenka gomen (トラック野郎 天下御免 ) (1976)
Truck Yarou: Dokyo ichibanboshi (トラック野郎 度胸一番星 ) (1977)
Truck Yarou: Otoko ippiki Momojiro (トラック野郎 男一匹桃次郎 ) (1977)
Truck Yarou: Totsugeki ichiban-boshi (トラック野郎 突撃一番星 ) (1978)
Truck Yarou: Ichiban-boshi kita he kaeru (トラック野郎 一番星北へ帰る) (1978)
Truck Yarou: Neppu 5000 km (トラック野郎 熱風5000キロ ) (1979)
Truck Yarou: Furusato tokkyubin (トラック野郎 故郷特急便 ) (1979)

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Post by HungFist »

HungFist wrote:A small gift from god coming in September
Image

Read more:
http://adg.invisionzone.com/index.php?s ... l=nunchaku

Don't expect the sequels to follow immediately, they are owned by a different studio (Toho). But maybe Toho will now come to their senses. Lets hope so.
I so love to be wrong.

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January 22, 2010

- http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%88%91%E4%BA ... 673&sr=1-1
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by eddyospina »

Looking forward to picking up all the Truck Yaro films, glad I held off on the expensive versions now. You're right though, there's too much great stuff in the priced-down releases! Need to think carefully...
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by HungFist »

Toei April. And before anyone asks, no, none of the three Makiguchi films are his (in)famous torture or action movies. I'm also disappointed Toei went the erotic drama path. Oh well, at least I can some some money in April... or rather recover from the series of bankruptcies of the previous months...

EDIT EDIT, STOP THE PRESS
雪夫人絵図 (Yuki fujin ezu) (A Picture of Madame Yuki) (1950)
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
Starring Michiyo Kogure and Ken Uehara
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1950/bz001970.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043155/


I made a mistake. This one isn't even a Toei film. It's a Shintoho film. A Kenji Mizoguchi film for god's sake. What was I thinking? Not much, it seems. What Toei is releasing is a 1975 film with the same title.

雪夫人絵図 (Yuki fujin ezu) (1975)
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Directed by Masashige Narusawa
Starring Yoshiko Sakuma
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1975/cy000960.htm

尼寺(秘)物語 (Amadera maruhi monogatari) (Nunnery Confidential)(1968)
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Directed by Sadao Nakajima
Assistant Director: Yuuji Makiguchi
Starring Junko Fuji and Tomisaburo Wakayama
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1968/cr000400.htm
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0292918/

玉割り人ゆき (Tamawari nin Yuki) (Virgin Breaker Yuki) (1975)
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Directed by Yuuji Makiguchi
Starring Jun Masumi
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1975/cy001410.htm
http://www.ofdb.de/film/111914,Gyokuwarijin-Yuki

玉割り人ゆき 西の廓夕月楼 (Tamawari nin Yuki: Nishi no kuruwa yuzuki ro) (Virgin Breaker Yuki 2) (1976)
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Directed by Yuuji Makiguchi
Starring Jun Masumi
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1976/cz000420.htm
http://www.ofdb.de/film/111916,Gyokuwar ... ukir%C3%B4

らしゃめん(Rashamen) (1977)
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Directed by Yuuji Makiguchi
Starring Haruko Wanibuchi
http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1977/da002630.htm
http://www.ofdb.de/film/111917,Rashamen

I will post a couple of poster pics in the exploit thread.

As for the Sadao Nakajima film, it's the third and final film in the series. The first two films (also directed by Nakajima) were released on dvd in 2007. Some websites state "erotic" as the genre, but considering it stars Junko "the loving Japanese mother" Fuji, I would be very hesitant to place these in pink genre. But I haven't seen the movies, so I'm just guessing here.

The films in the series are

大奥(秘)物語 (Ô-oku maruhi monogatari) (1967) (imdb)
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続・大奥(秘)物語 (Zoku ô-oku maruhi monogatari) (1967) (imdb)
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尼寺(秘)物語 (Amadera maruhi monogatari) (1968) (imdb)
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Last edited by HungFist on 10 Feb 2010, 16:37, edited 2 times in total.
Marshall
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Re:

Post by Marshall »

HungFist wrote:
不良番長 やらずぶったくり
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Got this. Would "DELINQUENT BOSS: RIP-OFF GAME" be about right in English? Eleventh in the series.

I was surprised at how zany it was. I have subtitled boots of the first two, but this was far more wacky. In fact, it reminded me a little of LUPIN THE THIRD: STRANGE PSYCHOKINETIC STRATEGY. Lots of characters running around in outlandish costumes. One great scene of the gang getting their asses kicked by a bunch of young lovelies.

I got this in part because I read that Yoko Mihara was in it. I believe she may be, as a villager in a fishing town. Almost unrecognizable, as they have deglamorized her for the role. If it's her! Also, all the Toei comic relief supporting players turn up at one point or another.
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Re:

Post by Marshall »

HungFist wrote:Toei February 2008: Furyo Bancho 11-16 (the end, as far as I know).
Don't know if this was ever discussed, but I think there was sort of a 17th film, a crossover between Furyo Bancho and some other series with which I am unfamiliar. I seem to recall finding a DVD listing on Yesasia with some difficulty.

http://www.weirdwildrealm.com/f-furyobancho.html
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by HungFist »

You're right. I wasn't aware of that film (極道VS不良番長). It's not available on DVD, only VHS.

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Excellent website that is, btw. Even though the reviewer's opinions are all wrong half of the time.

******

News:
Derrick King / AV Maniacs wrote:on the facebook page Criterion confirmed some more Hideo Gosha films are coming (I think they have the rights to Three Outlaw Samurai and Bandits vs. Samurai Squadron) and that Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill are going to be reissued with new transfers.
http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/forums/showth ... 541&page=3

****

Gamera dvds in the US
http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=43984

No BD's though (Kadokawa has released some BD's)
Last edited by HungFist on 06 Mar 2010, 04:08, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by kemushi »

HungFist wrote:As for the Sadao Nakajima film, it's the third and final film in the series. The first two films (also directed by Nakajima) were released on dvd in 2007. Some websites state "erotic" as the genre, but considering it stars Junko "the loving Japanese mother" Fuji, I would be very hesitant to place these in pink genre. But I haven't seen the movies, so I'm just guessing here.
I've seen the first film in the series, 大奥(秘)物語 (Ô-oku maruhi monogatari) (1967), on VHS and I can confirm that this serious should not be classified as erotica. The story may deal with the Oooku (Shogun's Harem) and intrigues among the various concubines but it does so without showing any nudity or sex. I'd label it as a period drama.

Image
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by HungFist »

According to Allcinema in May Toei will release three 夜の歌謡シリーズ (Yoru no kayou shiriizu) movies. I would expect more announcements later as usually Toei releases 4-6 catalogue titles each month.

夜の歌謡シリーズ 命かれても (1968)
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Directed by: Ryuichi Takamori
Starring: Tatsuo Umemiya, Shin'ichi Mori, Miyuki Shirono
- http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1968/cr003000.htm


夜の歌謡シリーズ 伊勢佐木町ブルース (1968)
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Directed by: Shinji Murayama
Starring: Tatsuo Umemiya, Teruo Yoshida, Junko Miyazono
- http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1968/cr003550.htm


夜の歌謡シリーズ 長崎ブルース (1969)
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Directed by: Ryuichi Takamori
Starring: Hiroki Matsukata, Hayato Tani, Reiko Ohara, Junko Miyazono
- http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/1969/cs001340.htm

According to Eiren there's a total of 8 movies in the series.

Also coming in May are 5 Minoru Shiraki movies

てなもんや三度笠 (1963)
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続てなもんや三度笠 (1963)
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赤いダイヤ (1964)
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大笑い殿さま道中 (1964)
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一発かましたれ (1965)
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by Yi-Long »

Are the Female Prisoner Scorpion movies any good? And how is that 3 DVD boxset!?

Also, how is Hanzo the Razor, and Shoguns Samurai!?
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I was there, the big BNB blackout of november, 2008. We lost many that day...
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Re: Japanese cult cinema thread

Post by Marshall »

In my opinion and the opinion of many others I have read, yes, the original Female Prisoner Scorpion films are good. Some of them are very good. I think there are two or more sets available, and I am not certain which one you are referencing.

HANZO didn't do it for me, but I gather that many people like it. Haven't seen SHOGUN'S SAMURAI.
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