Japanese cult cinema thread
-
- King of Beggars
- Posts: 664
- Joined: 29 Apr 2014, 16:37
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
I wonder if Toei thinks these more recent films will sell better than their catalogue releases from the 70ies... Do you know how well/poorly the older catalogue titles sold in Japan? For a while I was convinced that there are more fans of these films outside Japan than in Japan itself but your recent posts about retrospectives and theaters playing just these old films have changed that. Of course I also was told that Japan is a very rental-oriented country, with very little interest in buying films on DVD. Has that changed to VOD now, explaining why the Toei classics are now relegated to that instead of "proper" DVD releases?
As for the announced titles, LADY BATTLE COP so far remains the only purchase for me. I like Teruo Ishii and Hasebe but painful experience with the V-cinema works of Takashi Ishii (GAKKA NO RAN) and Yuuji Makiguchi (JOROGUMO) has taught me that some directors aren't capeable of excellence under any and all circumstances.
As for the announced titles, LADY BATTLE COP so far remains the only purchase for me. I like Teruo Ishii and Hasebe but painful experience with the V-cinema works of Takashi Ishii (GAKKA NO RAN) and Yuuji Makiguchi (JOROGUMO) has taught me that some directors aren't capeable of excellence under any and all circumstances.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
I doubt VoD affects Toei's business much. We get like 5 films a month, mostly 1950's or early 1960's stuff, and they are all VHS/TV prints. In fact, I think some of them are worse than VHS because there's a crazy amount of ghosing for whatever reason. Non-anamorphic, too, and that can be a nasty thing when you can only play them with Window's Media Player or the servive provoder's own player, which don't have proper zoom functions. I can't imagine it being a major business.
The retrospective screenings seem pretty popular indeed. Some of the theaters are pretty small, like Laputa Asagaya with about 50 seats, but they are often nearly full. I couldn't even see Coed Report: Yuko's White Breasts (1971) because it was sold out (Katagiri and Shiratori were attending the screening). In Sonny Chiba fest (150 seats) there was a good amount of audience in every screening, even though each film was played 7-10 times in total.
It could also be that now that 35mm is disappearing people are getting more interested in catching these films in theaters before it's too late. That's certainly the case for me. Also a good portion of this audience is old men who may feel more comfortable going to cinemas than watching DVDs.
One problem may be that the Toei has oversaturated their own dvd rental market. I live in a city of over 2 million people, yet only about 25% of Toei's new catalogue releases were ever carried by the rental stores. I can understand that, too. They've already got 50 Ken Takakura films and 30 Bunta Sugawara films in the shelf. No space left - and maybe not enough customers either.
I think the idea with the V-Cinema releases is that they're trying to advertise it as a kind of event. It should only be 2 large batches. So it's kind of special. There's going to be a V-Cinema retro in Laputa as well. But I really hope they will get back to 70's titles again some day.
The retrospective screenings seem pretty popular indeed. Some of the theaters are pretty small, like Laputa Asagaya with about 50 seats, but they are often nearly full. I couldn't even see Coed Report: Yuko's White Breasts (1971) because it was sold out (Katagiri and Shiratori were attending the screening). In Sonny Chiba fest (150 seats) there was a good amount of audience in every screening, even though each film was played 7-10 times in total.
It could also be that now that 35mm is disappearing people are getting more interested in catching these films in theaters before it's too late. That's certainly the case for me. Also a good portion of this audience is old men who may feel more comfortable going to cinemas than watching DVDs.
One problem may be that the Toei has oversaturated their own dvd rental market. I live in a city of over 2 million people, yet only about 25% of Toei's new catalogue releases were ever carried by the rental stores. I can understand that, too. They've already got 50 Ken Takakura films and 30 Bunta Sugawara films in the shelf. No space left - and maybe not enough customers either.
I think the idea with the V-Cinema releases is that they're trying to advertise it as a kind of event. It should only be 2 large batches. So it's kind of special. There's going to be a V-Cinema retro in Laputa as well. But I really hope they will get back to 70's titles again some day.
-
- King of Beggars
- Posts: 664
- Joined: 29 Apr 2014, 16:37
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
That makes a lot of sense. Kind of like what Geneon did when they pumped out dozens of Nikkatsu roman porno titles within a few months. It was like a decade worth of Christmases for me but even I only cherry-picked the titles I was really interested in and ignored the rest. Toei has been less excessive with the amount of titles released each month so it makes sense they lasted that much longer before oversaturating the market. Like I said earlier, I am really glad they got around to most of what I desperately wanted on DVD but it's still a shame they stopped.HungFist wrote:One problem may be that the Toei has oversaturated their own dvd rental market.
I also think they made a huge mistake to only do standard-definition transfers for their catalogue titles. The future is high definition and people won't settle for TV/VHS prints. They mostly already don't and they certainly won't in the future. If they had gone high-definition from the beginning it would have cost more but they could have milked their transfers for a DVD release and a Blu-ray upgrade down the line. Now they'll have to create an entirely new transfer and that's just not bloody likely in the case of most of these films.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
The second batch of V-Cinema titles has been added to the website
- http://www.toei-video.co.jp/vcinema/index.html
- http://www.toei-video.co.jp/vcinema/index.html
-
- Jackie Chan's Little Toe
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 10 Nov 2014, 01:11
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
I NEED to get all the Furyo Bancho DVDs with English subs. Can anyone help me?
-
- Jackie Chan's Little Toe
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 10 Nov 2014, 01:11
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Actually - is there a one-stop shop for Toei English subbed stuff. Would like Lady Battle Cop and a WHOLE LOT of others
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
The Toei dvds never come with subs. Of course a small number of their films have had a legit release in different countries, and a few may have fansubs floating around the internet, but that's it. Well, aside some bootlegs maybe.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Toei has announced Takakura BDs...
Abashiri Prison BD Box Set I
- Films 1-5
- March 13, 2015
Brutal Tales of Chivalry BD Box Set I
- Films 1-5
- May 13, 2015
Abashiri Prison BD Box Set II
- Films 6-10
- June 10, 2015
Brutal Tales of Chivalry BD Box Set I
- Films 6-9
- July 8, 2015
Abashiri Prison BD Box Set I
- Films 1-5
- March 13, 2015
Brutal Tales of Chivalry BD Box Set I
- Films 1-5
- May 13, 2015
Abashiri Prison BD Box Set II
- Films 6-10
- June 10, 2015
Brutal Tales of Chivalry BD Box Set I
- Films 6-9
- July 8, 2015
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
More BDs from Toei
Detective Story TV series BD Box Set
- 2015/03/13
- http://www.toei-video.co.jp/BD/tantei.html
New Battles without Honor and Humanity BD Box Set
- Films 1-3
- 2015/04/08
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942838
Cops vs. Thugs (1975)
- 2015/04/08
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942840
New Battles without Honor and Humanity: Aftermath (1979)
- 2015/05/13
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942839
Detective Story TV series BD Box Set
- 2015/03/13
- http://www.toei-video.co.jp/BD/tantei.html
New Battles without Honor and Humanity BD Box Set
- Films 1-3
- 2015/04/08
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942838
Cops vs. Thugs (1975)
- 2015/04/08
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942840
New Battles without Honor and Humanity: Aftermath (1979)
- 2015/05/13
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942839
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Here are all the 4K Scan BDs Kadokawa has released
Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (1979)
The Beast Must Die (1980)
Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (1980) (BD review here: https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... 8&start=21 )
The Girl who Leapt Through Time (1982)
Fancy Dance (1989) (also in a box set)
Sumo Do, Sumo Don't (1992) (also in a box set)
Shall We Dance? (1996) (also in a box set)
Resurrection of the Golden Wolf (1979)
The Beast Must Die (1980)
Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (1980) (BD review here: https://www.bulletsnbabesdvd.com/forums/ ... 8&start=21 )
The Girl who Leapt Through Time (1982)
Fancy Dance (1989) (also in a box set)
Sumo Do, Sumo Don't (1992) (also in a box set)
Shall We Dance? (1996) (also in a box set)
- Gaijin84
- Jackie Chan's BIG toe
- Posts: 33
- Joined: 10 Jun 2009, 16:02
- Location: NYC
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
So we had to wait for Takakura-san's death to get Blu-ray releases of his top films....
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
And one more Takakura set, simply called "Takakura Ken Leading Roles: Toei Selection", coming 2015/04/08HungFist wrote:More BDs from Toei
Detective Story TV series BD Box Set
- 2015/03/13
- http://www.toei-video.co.jp/BD/tantei.html
New Battles without Honor and Humanity BD Box Set
- Films 1-3
- 2015/04/08
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942838
Cops vs. Thugs (1975)
- 2015/04/08
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942840
New Battles without Honor and Humanity: Aftermath (1979)
- 2015/05/13
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=942839
- Bullet Train (1975)
- Winter's Flower (1978)
- Dôran (1980)
- Railroad Man (1999)
- The Firefly (2001)
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Another review I found in my files that I believe I've never posted. I must have written this more than 4 years ago because I sold the DVD in 2011 or 2012...
Bara no hyoteki (Target) (1980)
Yusaku Matsuda made one of his biggest hits with the hugely popular but somewhat underwhelming series of Yugi/Game –action films (1978-1979). After the final installment in 1979, Toei Central and director Toru Murakawa went on to deliver another film in the same vein, this time starring rocker turned actor Hiroshi Tachi.
Much like with the Matsuda trilogy, the film is a sloppily written action drama selling itself with stylish poster and charismatic star. It even has a Matsuda cameo, and a theatrical trailer that utilized the exact same still photos technique that was used for Matsuda’s The Execution Game (1979) trailer.
The storyline follows a double-crossed conman (Tachi) who goes after what rightfully belongs to him after being released from prison. Typical to Toei Central productions, action scenes are few and far between, and the film assumes cliché melodrama is enough to hold the viewer’s interest.
Leading star Tachi is the film’s asset. Tachi gave several good performances in the late 70’s, including school gang boss in Classroom of Terror, and a wounded gangster in Hell’s Angels: Red Roar, where his charisma and intensity overcame his somewhat limited repertoire. Bara no hyoteki is no exception.
Overall Bara no hyoteki is by no means a terrible film – it’s just an underwhelming one. It’s a relic from the era when Toei’s action cinema was moving away from the exploitative 70’s mayhem, yet did not quite manage to compensate the lack of action with good storylines or interesting characters.
Trailer (superb):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYjyOT2td7U
Bara no hyoteki (Target) (1980)
Yusaku Matsuda made one of his biggest hits with the hugely popular but somewhat underwhelming series of Yugi/Game –action films (1978-1979). After the final installment in 1979, Toei Central and director Toru Murakawa went on to deliver another film in the same vein, this time starring rocker turned actor Hiroshi Tachi.
Much like with the Matsuda trilogy, the film is a sloppily written action drama selling itself with stylish poster and charismatic star. It even has a Matsuda cameo, and a theatrical trailer that utilized the exact same still photos technique that was used for Matsuda’s The Execution Game (1979) trailer.
The storyline follows a double-crossed conman (Tachi) who goes after what rightfully belongs to him after being released from prison. Typical to Toei Central productions, action scenes are few and far between, and the film assumes cliché melodrama is enough to hold the viewer’s interest.
Leading star Tachi is the film’s asset. Tachi gave several good performances in the late 70’s, including school gang boss in Classroom of Terror, and a wounded gangster in Hell’s Angels: Red Roar, where his charisma and intensity overcame his somewhat limited repertoire. Bara no hyoteki is no exception.
Overall Bara no hyoteki is by no means a terrible film – it’s just an underwhelming one. It’s a relic from the era when Toei’s action cinema was moving away from the exploitative 70’s mayhem, yet did not quite manage to compensate the lack of action with good storylines or interesting characters.
Trailer (superb):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYjyOT2td7U
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Please, please, please, let this be a new start! After a two year break from catalogue releases, Toei is releasing three yakuza films by Shigero Ozawa on DVD November 11.
Gambler Life Stories (Bakuto retsuden) (博徒列伝) (1968)
Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura, Bunta Sugawara
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968323
Chivalrous Man's Life Story (Toseinin retsuden) (渡世人列伝) (1969)
Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968324
Biography of a Chivalrous Man (Yukyo retsuden) (遊侠列伝) (1970)
Starring: Ken Takakura, Junko Fuji, Kanjuro Arashi
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968325
These are parts 2-4 in the series. Part 1 (dir. Masahiro Makino) was already released years ago. Part 5 remains unavailable (dir. Kosaku Yamashita)
Now I'm just praing Toei will release some more Sonny Chiba treasures some day, especially my all time favorite Chiba film Wolfguy: Enraged Lycanthrope (1975), other gems like Army Intelligence 33 (1968) and some that I've never seen but really want to, e.g. the Yakuza Wolf films and the Narcotics / Prostitution G-Men (aka A Narcotics Agent's Ballad) films and many others.
I think now would be a good time to send Toei a message and order some Toei DVDs.
Gambler Life Stories (Bakuto retsuden) (博徒列伝) (1968)
Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura, Bunta Sugawara
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968323
Chivalrous Man's Life Story (Toseinin retsuden) (渡世人列伝) (1969)
Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968324
Biography of a Chivalrous Man (Yukyo retsuden) (遊侠列伝) (1970)
Starring: Ken Takakura, Junko Fuji, Kanjuro Arashi
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968325
These are parts 2-4 in the series. Part 1 (dir. Masahiro Makino) was already released years ago. Part 5 remains unavailable (dir. Kosaku Yamashita)
Now I'm just praing Toei will release some more Sonny Chiba treasures some day, especially my all time favorite Chiba film Wolfguy: Enraged Lycanthrope (1975), other gems like Army Intelligence 33 (1968) and some that I've never seen but really want to, e.g. the Yakuza Wolf films and the Narcotics / Prostitution G-Men (aka A Narcotics Agent's Ballad) films and many others.
I think now would be a good time to send Toei a message and order some Toei DVDs.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
I finally got round to buying and watching the Girls' Junior High School series... mini-reviews to follow.
Girls' Junior High School: Dangerous Games (1970)
Nikkatsu's lesser know bad girl series lacks the excessive sex and violence of its Toei contemporaries, which is only fitting for the series being set in a junior high school. There's no lack of bad behaviour, though, from frequent delinquent antics to shower room fights and strip gambling (none resulting in anything more than girls in underwear). Junko Natsu stars as a new student who enter a school where the girls are framing their poor teachers for rape and hanging out with a silly a yakuza gang running a strip club. There's a lot of good stuff going on during the first half, but the film somewhat runs out of steam towards the end. Also, it should be mentioned the film is just as much a comedy and drama as it is a bad girl flick. Still, it comes with many good moments, plenty of nostalgia, and an excellent, energetic turn by Natsu.
Enter Junko Natsu
Chieko Matsubara, who was a prominent Nikkatsu star the 1960s and is still acting in TV
Jiro Okazaki as silly yakuza
Girls' Junior High School: Dangerous Games (1970)
Nikkatsu's lesser know bad girl series lacks the excessive sex and violence of its Toei contemporaries, which is only fitting for the series being set in a junior high school. There's no lack of bad behaviour, though, from frequent delinquent antics to shower room fights and strip gambling (none resulting in anything more than girls in underwear). Junko Natsu stars as a new student who enter a school where the girls are framing their poor teachers for rape and hanging out with a silly a yakuza gang running a strip club. There's a lot of good stuff going on during the first half, but the film somewhat runs out of steam towards the end. Also, it should be mentioned the film is just as much a comedy and drama as it is a bad girl flick. Still, it comes with many good moments, plenty of nostalgia, and an excellent, energetic turn by Natsu.
Enter Junko Natsu
Chieko Matsubara, who was a prominent Nikkatsu star the 1960s and is still acting in TV
Jiro Okazaki as silly yakuza
-
- Jade Tiger
- Posts: 121
- Joined: 30 Oct 2009, 05:11
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Glad you got a chance to check these out. I enjoyed them a lot. Thanks for the caps and comments. Looking forward to more.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Girls' Junior High School: Trouble at Graduation (1970)
This second film in the series was released mere five weeks after the original - and oddly enough, produced by a different studio (Academy Pro). The latter may explain why the supporting cast is mostly different, while the former is likely the reason why the film isn't all that good. This time the girls are given homework regarding sex education, which results in a couple of fun but not-all-that-naughty jokes. The film mostly plays out like a mediocre schoolgirls coming-of-age comedy. There's a bit of anarchy at the climax when the girls let the teachers have what they deserve, but this scene too pales in comparison to what would come in Toei's exploitation films in just a few years. The real highlights are the opening scene and a great montage later on, both utilizing the terrific song 'Seishun no uta' by Takuro Yoshida. Director Yukihiro Sawada had a talent for creating that kind of cool scenes, as evidenced by several other films he made (e.g. Melody of Rebellion, 1970; Sex Hunter: Wet Target, 1972; Assault, 1976).
Takuro Yoshida
Sukeban montage
In case anyone is wondering what the DN logo at beginning of each of these films stands for, that's Dainichi. Dainichi was a distribution company joint venture by Daiei and Nikkatsu. Both companies were facing financial trouble in the early 70s, and probably because the standard back then was to release films as double features, they thought it would be a good idea to join forces. They would be able to distribute double features that contain Nikkatsu and Daiei films rather than trying to produce enough films alone to make a Nikkatsu double feature or Daiei double feature. Obviously the attempt failed: Nikkatsu shifted to Roman Porno in late 1971, and Daiei went bankrupt around the same time.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Girls' Junior High School: Too Young to Play Like This (1970)
The last film in the series is a slight improvement over the previous movie. This one, too, is pretty much a schoolgirl drama/comedy from start to finish with little in terms of bad girl action. The most amusing part involves three school boys sneaking into the girls' bathing facilities. There's a highly politically incorrect (by modern standards) joke when a big breasted girl gets up from the bath tub and a subtitle saying "15 years old, and she's got such big..." appears. Another good, and completely ridiculous, sketch features the girls fooling two teachers into believing the other person's got a crush on him/her. Star Junko Natsu also gets her share of the cameraman's love, especially during the last 15 minutes, which feature plenty of idol-like footage of her walking on the streets. Despite these strengths, however, the film isn't all that exciting and far outstays its welcome even at just 82 minutes. But, you gotta love the title!
The DVDs by Nikkatsu look fine other than being interlaced (odd for a 2013 release). My screen captures somehow look a little inferior; I may have screwed up some compression setting, or maybe I'm just imagining things. The DVDs include original trailers as well as cast and crew info. There's also a Junko Natsu interview divided into three parts, apparently conducted via phone because there's no video footage other than clips from the films. The DVD covers are not reversible, btw. Original artwork would have been preferable. There's also a photo booklet which is a box set exclusive but frankly, unless you're a huge fan I don't think you would miss it so much. The box set design, while ok, isn't that special in my opinion either.
I'd probably recommend purchasing the first film first, and then deciding whether to get the rest or not, unless you think these films sound exactly like your cup of tea. I already sold my DVD set, but if I had owned the stand alone releases, I probably would have kept the first film.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
ok, I admit, this looks sweet.
UK Release Date: 16th November 2015
US Release Date: 17th November 2015
Region: A+B/1+2
Synopsis:
Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale) gave the world Japan’s answer to The Godfather with this violent yakuza saga, influencing filmmakers from Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs) to Takashi Miike (Graveyard of Honor, Audition). Made within just two years, the five-film series brought a new kind of realism and ferocity to the crime genre in Japan, revitalizing the industry and leading to unprecedented commercial and critical success.
Literally exploding onscreen with a mushroom cloud, and ending with Hiroshima’s A-bomb Dome, the epic story of Battles Without Honor and Humanity follows over 100 characters through twenty years of gang wars, alliances, betrayals, and assassinations, in an exciting exploration of criminal power and politics in Japan. In the opening episode, ex-soldier Shozo Hirono escapes from the post-war black markets to become a key member of the Yamamori gang, but soon finds himself disillusioned by the selfish duplicity of his bosses. Hiroshima Death Match focuses on a demobilized kamikaze pilot drifting through the early 1950’s, whose suicidal impulses find good use as a mob assassin. Proxy War and Police Tactics form a labyrinthine, two-part story of ambition and betrayal set against Japan’s rapid economic growth of the 1960’s, with Shozo caught between warring factions. Final Episode concludes the series in the 1970’s as the former Yamamori gang transforms itself into an economic conglomerate called the Tensei Group, in a bid for mainstream respectability.
Fukasaku and his team broke with the longstanding studio tradition of casting marquee idols as honorable, kimono-clad heroes, defending their gang bosses against unscrupulous villains, and instead adapted true accounts torn from the headlines, shot in a documentary-like style, and with few clear-cut heroes or villains. The vibrancy and dynamism of the filmmaking, plus its shocking violence, Shakespearean plotlines, and wide tapestry of characters, launched a revolutionary new genre, establishing the series as one of the great masterpieces of world crime cinema.
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- Limited Edition Blu-ray Collection
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of all five original films
- Original Mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-rays)
- Optional English subtitles for all five films
- Remembering Kinji – a new featurette about director Kinji Fukasaku and his work, featuring interviews with Kenta Fukasaku and film critic and Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane
- Secrets of the Piranha Army – a new documentary about the troupe of supporting actors who appeared throughout the series, featuring new interviews with original Piranha members Masaru Shiga and Takashi Noguchi, plus second-generation Piranha, Takashi Nishina and Akira Murota
- All the Bad Guys – a new, comprehensive video guide to the actors in the films
- Fukasaku Family – a new interview with Proxy War and Police Tactics assistant director Toru Dobashi
- Man of Action – a new interview with series fight choreographer Ryuzo Ueno
- Tales of a Bit Player – a new interview with supporting actor and stuntman Seizo Fukumoto
- Last Days of the Boss – a new interview with Final Episode screenwriter Koji Takada
- Yakuza Graveyard – a new interview with Takashi Miike about Kinji Fukasaku and the yakuza film genre
- Original trailers for the series
- Original poster gallery for the series
- Limited Edition packaging and reversible sleeves for all five films including original and newly commissioned artwork by Reinhard Kleist
THE COMPLETE SAGA [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
- English-subtitled premiere of the 224-minute compilation edition of the first four films, previously screened only as part of a limited Japanese theatrical release in 1980 and on the Toei cable channel
- Introduction by Complete Saga editorial supervisor Toru Dobashi
THE YAKUZA PAPERS [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
150-page hardback book featuring writing on the history of the yakuza film genre, the background and continuing importance of the Battles series, and additional essays on the men who made them, including a newly-reprinted and fully annotated edition of Paul Schrader’s classic 1974 Film Comment essay Yakuza-Eiga: A Primer, a new, exclusive English translation of screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara’s 1974 Scenario magazine essay on his writing process for the first four films, as well as new essays and interviews from critics and authors Chris D., Grady Hendrix, Patrick Macias, Tom Mes, Mark Schilling, and Jasper Sharp.
UK LIMITED TO 2000 UNITS
US LIMITED TO 3000 UNITS
UK Release Date: 16th November 2015
US Release Date: 17th November 2015
Region: A+B/1+2
Synopsis:
Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale) gave the world Japan’s answer to The Godfather with this violent yakuza saga, influencing filmmakers from Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs) to Takashi Miike (Graveyard of Honor, Audition). Made within just two years, the five-film series brought a new kind of realism and ferocity to the crime genre in Japan, revitalizing the industry and leading to unprecedented commercial and critical success.
Literally exploding onscreen with a mushroom cloud, and ending with Hiroshima’s A-bomb Dome, the epic story of Battles Without Honor and Humanity follows over 100 characters through twenty years of gang wars, alliances, betrayals, and assassinations, in an exciting exploration of criminal power and politics in Japan. In the opening episode, ex-soldier Shozo Hirono escapes from the post-war black markets to become a key member of the Yamamori gang, but soon finds himself disillusioned by the selfish duplicity of his bosses. Hiroshima Death Match focuses on a demobilized kamikaze pilot drifting through the early 1950’s, whose suicidal impulses find good use as a mob assassin. Proxy War and Police Tactics form a labyrinthine, two-part story of ambition and betrayal set against Japan’s rapid economic growth of the 1960’s, with Shozo caught between warring factions. Final Episode concludes the series in the 1970’s as the former Yamamori gang transforms itself into an economic conglomerate called the Tensei Group, in a bid for mainstream respectability.
Fukasaku and his team broke with the longstanding studio tradition of casting marquee idols as honorable, kimono-clad heroes, defending their gang bosses against unscrupulous villains, and instead adapted true accounts torn from the headlines, shot in a documentary-like style, and with few clear-cut heroes or villains. The vibrancy and dynamism of the filmmaking, plus its shocking violence, Shakespearean plotlines, and wide tapestry of characters, launched a revolutionary new genre, establishing the series as one of the great masterpieces of world crime cinema.
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- Limited Edition Blu-ray Collection
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of all five original films
- Original Mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-rays)
- Optional English subtitles for all five films
- Remembering Kinji – a new featurette about director Kinji Fukasaku and his work, featuring interviews with Kenta Fukasaku and film critic and Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane
- Secrets of the Piranha Army – a new documentary about the troupe of supporting actors who appeared throughout the series, featuring new interviews with original Piranha members Masaru Shiga and Takashi Noguchi, plus second-generation Piranha, Takashi Nishina and Akira Murota
- All the Bad Guys – a new, comprehensive video guide to the actors in the films
- Fukasaku Family – a new interview with Proxy War and Police Tactics assistant director Toru Dobashi
- Man of Action – a new interview with series fight choreographer Ryuzo Ueno
- Tales of a Bit Player – a new interview with supporting actor and stuntman Seizo Fukumoto
- Last Days of the Boss – a new interview with Final Episode screenwriter Koji Takada
- Yakuza Graveyard – a new interview with Takashi Miike about Kinji Fukasaku and the yakuza film genre
- Original trailers for the series
- Original poster gallery for the series
- Limited Edition packaging and reversible sleeves for all five films including original and newly commissioned artwork by Reinhard Kleist
THE COMPLETE SAGA [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
- English-subtitled premiere of the 224-minute compilation edition of the first four films, previously screened only as part of a limited Japanese theatrical release in 1980 and on the Toei cable channel
- Introduction by Complete Saga editorial supervisor Toru Dobashi
THE YAKUZA PAPERS [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]
150-page hardback book featuring writing on the history of the yakuza film genre, the background and continuing importance of the Battles series, and additional essays on the men who made them, including a newly-reprinted and fully annotated edition of Paul Schrader’s classic 1974 Film Comment essay Yakuza-Eiga: A Primer, a new, exclusive English translation of screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara’s 1974 Scenario magazine essay on his writing process for the first four films, as well as new essays and interviews from critics and authors Chris D., Grady Hendrix, Patrick Macias, Tom Mes, Mark Schilling, and Jasper Sharp.
UK LIMITED TO 2000 UNITS
US LIMITED TO 3000 UNITS
-
- King of Beggars
- Posts: 664
- Joined: 29 Apr 2014, 16:37
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
I'm really digging all those box sets Arrow is releasing recently. Immediately went and preordered this one as well. I'm curious how the films will benefit from high definition. All DVD versions I have seen (including the ones released by Toei in Japan) were pretty rough looking, which most likely reflects the director's intent and the circumstances of their production.
Since they licensed YAKUZA PAPERS, do you think the odds are good they will also finally bring us all the ABASHIRI PRISON films in one or two box sets? Unlike YAKUZA PAPERS that series hasn't had numerous subtitled releases already so it'd be truly outstanding for them to keep the Toei HD train rolling. And I guess ABASHIRI is a more likely candidate than the TORAKKU YAROU! series...
Since they licensed YAKUZA PAPERS, do you think the odds are good they will also finally bring us all the ABASHIRI PRISON films in one or two box sets? Unlike YAKUZA PAPERS that series hasn't had numerous subtitled releases already so it'd be truly outstanding for them to keep the Toei HD train rolling. And I guess ABASHIRI is a more likely candidate than the TORAKKU YAROU! series...
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
To be honest, I don't see why they would release the Abashiri Prison series. It's a very long (10+9 films), uneven series, largely popular in Japan because of Ken Takakura who doesn't enjoy the same kind of popularity in the West. As for stuff like Abashiri, releasing a small box with the best films from several different series ala Panick House's Pinky Violence set could be an interesting idea.
I mentioned in the other topic that Toei actually has lots of HD masters for films no one has ever released even on DVD (e.g. Sonny Chiba films such as Yakuza Deka 3 & 4 and both Bodyguard Kiba films). I really with they would release my favourite Chiba film Wolfguy: Enraged Lycanthrope as well as films I never managed to see such as the Yakuza Wolf films or the Prostitution / Narcotics G-Men (aka Narcotic's Agent's Lullaby) films.
Melody of Rebellion (1970) [35mm]
A mediocre yakuza film starring Yoshio Harada as an outlaw who teams up with other rebels after his yakuza clan has disbanded. There's a great series of moody scenes that capture some of that 1970s nostalgia via music and images - something director Yukihiro Sawada was really good at - in the middle of the film. Otherwise it's a bit underwhelming movie with some comedic scenes, some serious ones, and not very much consistency to any of it. The supporting cast is great, e.g. Tatsuya Fuji, Takeo Chii and Meiko Kaji, but their roles are forgettable. Harada, too, would've deserved a better film. He was a charismatic badass comparable to Yusaku Matsuda, but he ended up in mediocre movies way too often.
I mentioned in the other topic that Toei actually has lots of HD masters for films no one has ever released even on DVD (e.g. Sonny Chiba films such as Yakuza Deka 3 & 4 and both Bodyguard Kiba films). I really with they would release my favourite Chiba film Wolfguy: Enraged Lycanthrope as well as films I never managed to see such as the Yakuza Wolf films or the Prostitution / Narcotics G-Men (aka Narcotic's Agent's Lullaby) films.
I saw it a few months ago:Marshall wrote:Someone will have to let me know how MELODY OF REBELLION is. Maybe a trailer will turn up?
Melody of Rebellion (1970) [35mm]
A mediocre yakuza film starring Yoshio Harada as an outlaw who teams up with other rebels after his yakuza clan has disbanded. There's a great series of moody scenes that capture some of that 1970s nostalgia via music and images - something director Yukihiro Sawada was really good at - in the middle of the film. Otherwise it's a bit underwhelming movie with some comedic scenes, some serious ones, and not very much consistency to any of it. The supporting cast is great, e.g. Tatsuya Fuji, Takeo Chii and Meiko Kaji, but their roles are forgettable. Harada, too, would've deserved a better film. He was a charismatic badass comparable to Yusaku Matsuda, but he ended up in mediocre movies way too often.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Toei is releasing a big bunch of samurai films that have been available for rental before, but not for sale. The price is very cheap, just over 2000 yen. The release date is Jan. 6, 2016.
There's too many titles for me to post perfect information about each. Please see the links below by yourself:
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970524
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970525
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970529
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970526
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970519
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970520
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970521
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970530
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970528
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970527
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970522
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970523
There's too many titles for me to post perfect information about each. Please see the links below by yourself:
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970524
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970525
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970529
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970526
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970519
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970520
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970521
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970530
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970528
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970527
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970522
http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=970523
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
There's more comingHungFist wrote:Please, please, please, let this be a new start! After a two year break from catalogue releases, Toei is releasing three yakuza films by Shigero Ozawa on DVD November 11.
Gambler Life Stories (Bakuto retsuden) (博徒列伝) (1968)
Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura, Bunta Sugawara
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968323
Chivalrous Man's Life Story (Toseinin retsuden) (渡世人列伝) (1969)
Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968324
Biography of a Chivalrous Man (Yukyo retsuden) (遊侠列伝) (1970)
Starring: Ken Takakura, Junko Fuji, Kanjuro Arashi
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968325
December 6
Modern Yakuza: Outlaw's Code (現代やくざ 与太者の掟) (1969)
Director: Yasuo Furuhata
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji
Modern Yakuza: Outlaw's Honor and Humanity (現代やくざ 与太者仁義) (1969)
Director: Yasuo Furuhata
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Ryo Ikebe, Fumio Watanabe
Modern Yakuza: Loyalty Offering Breakdown (現代やくざ 盃返します) (1971)
Director: Kiyoshi Saeki
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Hiroki Matsukata, Yumiko Nogawa, Asao Koike
These are parts 1, 2 and 4 in the series. I'm not sure why Toei skipped part 3. Parts 6 (Street Mobster) and 7 (Three Maddog Brothers) have already been released years ago.
January 6, 2016
Third Generation Yamaguchi Gang (山口組三代目) (1973)
Director: Kosaku Yamashita
Cast: Ken Takakura, Bunta Sugawara, Tetsuro Tamba
Third Generation Boss (三代目襲名) (1974)
Director: Shigero Ozawa
Cast: Ken Takakura, Tetsuro Tamba, Noboru Ando, Tsunehiko Watase
True Account of the Yamaguchi Gang: Life-and-Death Operations on Kyushu (aka Tattooed Hitman) (山口組外伝 九州進攻作戦) (1974)
Director: Kosaku Yamashita
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Tsunehiko Watase, Tatsuo Umemiya, Tetsuro Tamba, Hiroki Matsukata
Here's an old VHS cover for Tattooed Hitman:
Toei's release will of course contain the original Japanese version. The US is missing a lot of footage.
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Artworks:HungFist wrote: December 6
Modern Yakuza: Outlaw's Code (現代やくざ 与太者の掟) (1969)
Director: Yasuo Furuhata
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji
Modern Yakuza: Outlaw's Honor and Humanity (現代やくざ 与太者仁義) (1969)
Director: Yasuo Furuhata
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Ryo Ikebe, Fumio Watanabe
Modern Yakuza: Loyalty Offering Breakdown (現代やくざ 盃返します) (1971)
Director: Kiyoshi Saeki
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Hiroki Matsukata, Yumiko Nogawa, Asao Koike
HungFist wrote:
Gambler Life Stories (Bakuto retsuden) (博徒列伝) (1968)
Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura, Bunta Sugawara
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968323
Chivalrous Man's Life Story (Toseinin retsuden) (渡世人列伝) (1969)
Starring: Koji Tsuruta, Tomisaburo Wakayama, Junko Fuji, Ken Takakura
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968324
Biography of a Chivalrous Man (Yukyo retsuden) (遊侠列伝) (1970)
Starring: Ken Takakura, Junko Fuji, Kanjuro Arashi
- http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_dvd. ... sid=968325
- HungFist
- Bruce Lee's Fist
- Posts: 11731
- Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
- Location: Japan
- Contact:
Re: Japanese cult cinema thread
Lady Battle Cop (1990)
Toei's semi-entertaining V-Cinema cash-in on the popularity of Robocop. Here we have a lethally wounded tennis champ (who can't play tennis) turned into battle cop in a metal suit with high heels to fight an evil multinational syndicate. Enter the good old karate villain Masashi Ishibashi (in not one of his best roles) and a CIA developed evil wrestler with psychic powers. The film borrows its theme and dystopia from the Verhoeven classic; otherwise it's more in line with Japan's own tradition of tokusatsu entertainment, which no doubt inspired Robocop as well. Too bad the film tends to be a bit mediocre for the most part, and pretty lame in the violence department as well. Cool theme song (which steals half of its melody from Sukeban Deka III) combined with metal hero on a motorbike footage provides some great moments, though, and the film is amusingly nonsensical.
The DVD also contains a very silly "Lady Battle Cop Battle Manual" feature which shows how the suit works, how some of the special effects were made etc. I forgot how long exactly it was but must have been about 15 minutes. Comes with a super-over-the-top narration.
The Future
Masashi Ishibashi and the gang
And this guy...
Our heroine, who wouldn't even be able to beat a 5 year old in tennis
Somehow she got the trophy anyway
For some reason her cop boyfriend thought it would be a good idea to announce on TV how they are going to destroy the syndicate
For which reason the syndicate decided to pay them a visit
But before she dies...
the clever guy comes up with a fix
DVD extras: Battle Cop manual
Special make up effects
Toei's semi-entertaining V-Cinema cash-in on the popularity of Robocop. Here we have a lethally wounded tennis champ (who can't play tennis) turned into battle cop in a metal suit with high heels to fight an evil multinational syndicate. Enter the good old karate villain Masashi Ishibashi (in not one of his best roles) and a CIA developed evil wrestler with psychic powers. The film borrows its theme and dystopia from the Verhoeven classic; otherwise it's more in line with Japan's own tradition of tokusatsu entertainment, which no doubt inspired Robocop as well. Too bad the film tends to be a bit mediocre for the most part, and pretty lame in the violence department as well. Cool theme song (which steals half of its melody from Sukeban Deka III) combined with metal hero on a motorbike footage provides some great moments, though, and the film is amusingly nonsensical.
The DVD also contains a very silly "Lady Battle Cop Battle Manual" feature which shows how the suit works, how some of the special effects were made etc. I forgot how long exactly it was but must have been about 15 minutes. Comes with a super-over-the-top narration.
The Future
Masashi Ishibashi and the gang
And this guy...
Our heroine, who wouldn't even be able to beat a 5 year old in tennis
Somehow she got the trophy anyway
For some reason her cop boyfriend thought it would be a good idea to announce on TV how they are going to destroy the syndicate
For which reason the syndicate decided to pay them a visit
But before she dies...
the clever guy comes up with a fix
DVD extras: Battle Cop manual
Special make up effects