DVD
The DVD is as tongue in the cheek as the film itself. The disc opens with an instruction video (in broken Japanese) on how to watch The Machine Girl. The viewer is adviced to cheer during the action scenes, avoid speaking to cellphone, and restrain from violence against other viewers. It is also not allowed to attack the director after the movie.
Unfortunately the transfer is interlaced. Looking at the
dvdbeaver screencaptures from the progressive R1 dvd, it seems like the R2J has more reddish colours, which may not be a good thing. There’s also edge enhancement visible. Audio options include Japanese 5.1 and English 2.0 audio, as well as Japanese and English subtitles.
The extras score full poins on any scale. On disc one you find an audio commentary by Noboru Iguchi and the crew, as well as a trailer for Tokyo Gore Police. Disc 2 kicks off with Hajirai Machine Girl. This 22 minute spin off film stars Noriko Kijima as a girl who gets a machine gun inserted into her, uhm, ass. Many characters from the main feature return from the dead and appear in Hajirai Machine Girl. There isn’t much gore, but the film is thrice as ridiculous as The Machine Girl. It also has a more sexual tone, although Kijima being a gravure idol you shouldn't expect anything more than bikini close ups.
The traditional extras start with a terrific 21 min behind the scenes documentary. We see the cast fooling around, Iguchi’s birthday surprise and even Yashiro’s audition where she doesn’t only read lines but also does some fighting. Seeing how much fun the crew had making the film you almost forget about the film’s flaws.
The special effects feature (12 min), showing how the gore effects were made, is also a lot of fun, as is the 10 minute clip of the stunt team practicing the action scenes. The Making Of (10 min) from the US dvd is also found here (with burnt in english subtitles). Storyboards are also available for viewing. 3 film premieres (or crew’s introductions for the film) run a total of 21 minutes, followed by a discussion with Iguchi and the crew (19 min). 2 trailers, 1 TV spot and a picture gallery (including some behind the scenes photos) wrap up the disc.
The first press comes in a stylish tin (similar to the Death Trance tin). The 2 disc amaray case is found inside, and with some padding to keep it still (brilliant idea, as these tins always tend to be too big for the content). The covert art is reversible, with a less nice cover on one side and the tin artwork on the reverse side. An 8 page booklet is also included.
Viewing instructions
Hajirai Machine Girl
Random extra features caps
Amaray Case (with tin artwork on reverse side)
Tin Case
