What asian film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[Markgway]

Surprisingly, I found Red to Kill less offensive than many other similar Cat-3 horrors (i.e. Dr. Lamb), largely because we're allowed to empathise with the victim (a sympathetic, fully-formed character) and rape is depicted (though brutally and graphically) in a wholly negative light (maybe my memory is playing tricks, but it seem a lot less masturbatory than stuff like Raped By an Angel).

[HungFist]

Surprisingly, I found Red to Kill less offensive than many other similar Cat-3 horrors (i.e. Dr. Lamb), largely because we're allowed to empathise with the victim (a sympathetic, fully-formed character) and rape is depicted (though brutally and graphically) in a wholly negative light (maybe my memory is playing tricks, but it seem a lot less masturbatory than stuff like Raped By an Angel).

It's probably a bit more graphic, and the rape scenes longer, than you recall. But that's a good point.

As a JP film fan I'm used to seeing rape presented as harmless pastime, so I tend to forget to evaluate that aspect

[HungFist]

Shaolin Soccer (Hong Kong, 2001) [DVD] - 1/5
Wait, this is what we were all getting so excited about 15 years ago? Unwatchable CGI mess with very, very few laughs. I couldn't finish it even by fast forwarding. I don't think I'm going to try re-watching Kung Fu Hustle anytime soon.

+ Sonny Chiba Special: Part 18

Human Torpedoes (Japan, 1968) [DVD] - 2/5
Hiroyuki Matsukata plays the man who developed the Japanese human torpedo, a suicide weapon used in WWII. It's an interesting topic and makes good cinema for the first 30 minutes, after which the film turns into to a typical human relationship war drama with melodramatic and nationalistic undertones. It gets a bit better again towards the end when the human torpedoes are put into use. Sonny Chiba appears briefly during the last 15 minutes as a submarine captain, looking cool and charismatic with beard. It's too bad he only a has a couple of minutes of screen time, despite getting his name listed 3rd in the opening credits. The film would be much better if most of the middle third was cut out, and the focus was on developing and using the human torpedoes.

Army Intelligence 33 (Japan, 1968) [35mm] – 4/5
Sonny Chiba stars in this superb mix of spy noir and commando action, loosely based on the Nakano Spy School that operated in Tokyo during WWII. Chiba is a young solder framed for murder and forced to become a government spy. He first goes through a severe training in weapons, explosives, martial arts, and spy skills, before being sent for his first mission. This is when the film then takes a surprise turn to elegant spy noir with gorgeous cinematography, great score and terrific atmosphere as Chiba, looking like Humphrey Bogart in his long dark coat and black hat, tries to get close to a foreign diplomat in order to steal secret information. The film's final third sees Chiba sent for an entertaining, if small scale Lee Marvin style commando mission to South East Asia. The only weakness is some lazy screenwriting, including some nonsensical enemy behaviour. One of Chiba’s best movies!

[Killer Meteor]

The Assassin (2015)

I have to admit I really struggled with this. Some great fight scenes, and a cool dance number, are propping up an inpenetrable mire of scenes where people fail to have proper conversations, and instead we are forced to see a guy sloooowwwwwlllly slurp soup 6 times, or a very squeaky door being opened out of shot repeatedly.

I really don't get it.

4/10

[HungFist]

Beast Hunt (Japan, 1973) [35mm] - 3.5/5
A gritty, extremely realistic cop film follows detectives trying to track down a bunch of kidnappers who are holding a company boss for ransom. The film contains some exceptionally intense sequences and scenes that reach a completely unexpected outcome. It's lacking in character development , though, and often trades cinematic thrills for realism. What it does with its material is nevertheless quite impressive. Though not quite as good, it could probably be named as one of the seminal Japanese police films alongside Car 33 Doesn’t Answer (1955) and High and Low (1963).

+ Sonny Chiba Special: Part 19

Delinquent Boss: Ocho the She-Wolf (Japan, 1969) [DVD] - 1/5
The second film in the Delinquent Boss series is a tiresome action comedy without a hint of inspiration. It was - for some reason - a phenomenally successful series for star Tatsuo Umemiya, who plays a silly biker gang boss surrounded by - at least in this entry - unfunny comic reliefs. Sonny Chiba appears in a small supporting role, and while it's always a pleasure to see Chiba on screen, he has very little to do here. The same can be said about Bunta Sugawara. Even the massive end slaughter is an utter bore despite all the gunplay, explosions and bikes. The only interesting thing about the film is that it actually features an early appearance by the same character who was played by Reiko Ike in Sex & Fury and Female Yakuza Tale, although those films were set in a different period and featured quite a different kind of Ocho.

Memoir of Japanese Assassins (Japan, 1969) [35mm] – 4/5
This is one of Sonny Chiba 1960s career highlights; a powerful political thriller that chronicles real life assassinations from Japan's recent history. The film opens with a seemingly endless cavalcade of violent assassinations, which finally comes to an end when the storyline reaches the 1930s and the film's main story begins. Chiba is Sho Onuma, an ill but loyal factory employee who, after losing his job and attempting suicide is taken in by a charismatic priest Nissho Inoue, whom the world would later come to know as the leader of the ultra nationalist League of Blood organization. A very controversial movie that offers an interesting, and surprisingly sympathetic, view on terrorism, and caused the Japanese Liberal Democrat Party to try to prevent it from being completed. Chiba's performance is one of the best of his career.

[HungFist]

Quick break from Chiba to get some other stuff out of the way

Noboru Tanaka films

A Woman Called Abe Sada (Japan, 1975) [35mm] - 3/5
Noboru Tanaka beat Nagisa Oshima in timing, releasing his version of the story a year earlier. It's essentially a one room drama with decent performances and some haunting moments, but it's not really Tanaka's finest moment. Is it as good as Oshima's version? Probably not, but it's been too long since I've seen In the Realm of the Senses to compare. Some people do think so, though.

Noboru Ando's Account of Filthy Escape into Sex (Japan, 1976) [35mm] - 3/5
The recently deceased gangster film star Noboru Ando was the real deal: a former yakuza leader who was sent to prison after his man nearly killed a blackmail victim on his order. After his release, Ando became an actor, starring in several fictional movies as well as films based on his own life. The accuracy of these films is probably best demonstrated by the fact that Ando sometimes dies at the end of the story. This film, directed for Toei by Nikkatsu import Noboru Tanaka, shows Ando's fugitive days before his capture. According the Chris D, his sexual exploits were exaggerated "just a wee bit" and that's easy to believe. Here Ando spends his time hiding from the police by taking turns banging his 3 girlfriends and several one night (or one afternoon in front of the pool) stands. It's moderately fun and sleazy, and Ando has his dangerous charm, but one wishes there would be more violence and crime film imagery. The ending is quite a delighting "fuck you" to the police, though.

Beauty's Exotic Dance: Torture (Japan, 1977) [35mm] - 4/5
Leave it to Noboru Tanaka to deliver the most intelligent SM film found in the Roman Porno genre. The final and best film in Tanaka's Showa Mad Love trilogy, it's a true account of a writer/artist with an obsession on the "beauty" of female torture. After his own wife has been consumed by the physical stress, he hooks up with a bar girl (Junko Miyashita) who, likewise, goes thru an enormous amount of physical stress until her mind and body give up. Tanaka is more interested in the mental aspect of an SM relationship, and its consequences on both body and mind, than exploitation. The usual villain-victim angle is completely ignored. He creates an interesting character drama with several haunting scenes, using silence especially well, and some impressive images in the brutal winter nature where most of the SM scenes are set. Newcomers be warned, though, it's still a rough film and the thin line between misogynist exploitation and character drama may not always be so clear.



Village of Doom (Japan, 1983) [35mm] - 3.5/5
As a truly odd move, Roman Porno director Noboru Tanaka went to "family film studio" Shochiku for a movie that is not only full of sex, but also so violent it would've been considered a prime example of a video nasty had it been released in the UK back in the days. It's a film that belongs to a genre I like very much: the "something odd going on in a small village" movies. The film follows a young man, unfit for army, who is left practically alone with all the women after the other men are sent to war. He ends up getting seduced by the horny housewives, then dumped by everyone when their husbands return. He eventually goes crazy and conducts an amazingly bloody massacre, the kind that hasn't been seen in Japanese cinema since then until Miike's Lesson of Evil. A fascinating movie, and very bleak. Potentially harmful for mental health. And based on true story. Co-star Misako Tanaka is very cute, btw, and gets naked.

Monster Woman '88 (Japan, 1988) [35mm] - 2.5/5
Noboru Tanaka's final movie is a trendy fantasy / mystery / love story with video game programmers as main characters! A dead woman begins communicating with a young video game programmer via his computer. What's going on? This is one of those movies that keep your interest from beginning to end without ever being especially good. It's strictly a mainstream affair without any exploitation, but the programmer angle is pretty cool indeed. There's also an amusing otaku love story side plot with the guys hiring a pretty girl with big boobs to help them beat the coding deadline, despite her complete lack of programming skills.

+ something else

The Lost Virgin (Japan, 2002) [DVD] - 3/5
Director Toshiki Sato was one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Pink", who were using the genre to make highly personal films, and whose work often found more appreciation among the arthouse crowds than regular pink audiences. This one is a realistic drama about a single woman who loses her virginity to a no-good guy while in high school, then meets him again 5 years later, and then one more time 10 years later. Though hardly an exceptional film, and the acting isn't all that great, there’s something oddly captivating about its socially conscious depiction of the era and characters. It’s unmistakably a film born between the late 90s / early 2000s pink and indie drama genres. The screenplay was written by Shinji Imaoka.

Litchi Hikari Club (Japan, 2015) [DCP] - 3.5/5
Odd, but interesting film by young rising talent Eisuke Naito, who can usually be relied on to deliver something spicy. This one is based on a fantasy/dystopia/horror/boy's love manga following a group of 14 year old boys who are seeking eternal beauty. They build a robot, Litchi, which is programmed to abduct beautiful young girls for them. However, their sexual desires are purely homosexual. The film is being largely marketed for female audiences with its popular "boy's love" theme - indeed, there were quite a few high school girls in the audience - while director Naito is what you'd label as "violence director". There isn't so much violence in Litchi Hikari Club, but when the violence hits, it's incredibly juicy and meaty splatter done without a drop of CGI. Litchi, likewise, is a fantastic steam punk creation brought to life using only practical effects. The characters, beauty seeking, ultra-cool, manga-like gothic boys can be somewhat alienating for many viewers, and their power/love struggle is the film's weakest point. The film also runs a bit too long. But damn if the ending isn't fantastic, and feature one of the greatest "human explosions" ever.

[HungFist]

Zatoichi Challenged (1967) [35mm] - 3/5
An entertaining Zatoichi film with a great final duel. The standard storyline and direction are a little disappointing considering the film was helmed by Kenji Misumi, but this was a common problem with many Zatoichi films.

Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (Japan, 1970) [35mm] - 3.5/5
A fine Zatoichi film that feels like a journey to the long-gone Japan. Great scenery, pretty girls, and better than average characters. The only disappointing aspect is the final duel between Katsu and Tatsuya Nakadai, which is not bad, but should've been better considering the talent involved.

Side note 1: the 35mm print was one of the most beautiful prints I have ever seen. I could have eaten if for breakfast.
Side note 2: almost full house, great to see Zatoichi remains very popular.

+ Sonny Chiba Special: Part 20

Yakuza Deka (Japan, 1970) [DVD] - 2.5/5
The first film in the Yakuza Deka series. Chiba is an undercover cop who infiltrates the yakuza. Action and comedy ensues. These movies were essentially a series of cheap but fun programmer pictures that brought Chiba's contemporary action formula from television (Key Hunter, 1968-1972) to the big screen, only with more comedy. The first movie is the sloppiest of them, with plenty of action that seems to have been filmed in great hurry by director Yukio Noda (he's best known for the outrageous pinky violence classic Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs, which gives a false impression of him as a better director than he really was). Chiba is fun to watch and he has some great buddy scenes with friend/foe Ryuhei Uchida, who is also one of the film's strengths. However, the stunt work isn't nearly as accomplished as it was in some of the sequels, and more care should've been put into the production. Oh, and Chiba shows his ass. Twice.

Yakuza Deka: The Assassin (Japan, 1970) [DVD] - 3/5
The second film in the Yakuza Deka series. Sonny Chiba shows his ass again. This is an improvement over the sloppy original, even though the storyline is a direct copy of the previous movie and we once again have to suffer through a painful Toru Yuri comedy scene. Chiba is an undercover cop again, operating between two yakuza gangs trying to bring them both down. What is new is new is that the mayhem is much better executed this time. Action is wilder, stunts are bigger, comedy is funnier and Chiba sports one hell of a wardrobe in the film. It's obvious more care was put into the production than last time. It's still nothing more than a harmless time waster, but as such it delivers the goods. Ryuhei Uchida co-stars again as Chiba's friend/nemesis. He basically plays the exact same character as last time, only his name is different, but no one would complain because he's excellent as usual.

[HungFist]

Wild Cop (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 3/5
Dirty Harry influenced cop film with Tetsuya Watari as a detective who spends most of his time beating, drugging or suffocating suspects. And when he isn't, he's either giving nasty looks to his superiors or visiting a girl whose boyfriend he killed. Gritty and entertaining, but mostly unexceptional. More action and character development wouldn't have hurt; now the film pales in comparison to Kinji Fukasaku's terrific and somewhat similar Yakuza Graveyard (1976), also starring Watari. The finale is quite memorable, though, with Watari literally crashing into the villains' headquarters with a front loader, and the film is never boring.

+ Sonny Chiba Special: Part 21

Yakuza Deka: Poison Gas Affair (Japan, 1971) [TV] - 3/5
The 3rd Yakuza Deka film is yet another enjoyable time waster, as good as the previous film. This time much of the action is set in a snowy ski resort, allowing Chiba to orchestrate all kinds of action scenarios with skis, snowmobiles and other winter machinery. There's also a relatively decent amount of martial arts included considering the early production year. Chiba first needs to prove his skills in a brief fight against a tonfu-fighter, stick-fighter, dagger-man and karate fighter, and later fight for his life against two ninjas. Unfortunately some of the action seems a little hastily put together and the official tagline of "grand action where Chiba risks his life every 5 minutes" oversells the film a bit. It's still a good bit of fun and the storyline is probably the best so far, with some genuine dramatic tension and yet another fine supporting performance Ryuhei Uchida. Oh, and Chiba doesn't show his ass this time.

Yakuza Deka: No Epitaphs for Us (Japan, 1971) [VoD] - 3.5/5
The 4th and final film in the Yakuza Deka series. It's another programmer picture, but this one does its job admirably, packing action, fights and great stunt sequences every 15 minutes and filling the gaps with Chiba riding a horse topless, robbing a jewellery store while dressed as Buddhist monk, and walking around in white suit while waving a Tommy Gun. Some of the stunts include Chiba hanging from a cable car 50m above the sea/ground, and jumping out from a car while it's flying through the air. There are many amusing comedy bits as well, especially with co-star Ryohei Uchida, and Chiba sings again. It was exactly this kind of movies that made Jackie Chan a fan of Chiba's work; indeed, the mix of action, stunts and humour often resembles the films Jackie would do in the 1980s. Easily the best film in the Yakuza Deka series.

[HungFist]

Wild Cop Returns (Japan, 1973) - 3/5
A slightly superior sequel. There's a great scene early on where cop Watari handcuffs a gangster to his patrol car window, throws the poor man on the roof and then rides back to the station as if there was nothing odd going on. It's scenes like this that make both Wild Cop quite fun to watch, but they also suffer from the lack of characterization and action scenes that aren't quite as stylish as you'd wish (although they are entertaining). The film contains a best insult in recent memory: "cockroach bitch".

+ Sonny Chiba Special: Part 22

Yakuza Wolf: I Perform Murder (Japan, 1972) [TV] - 3.5/5
Sonny Chiba is a silent, unshaven avenger in Ryuichi Takamori's violent yakuza western. There is an instantly obvious Django influence that goes all the way to the fantastic finale where Chiba, with both of his arms broken by the villains, uses a custom shotgun attached to a severed steering wheel which he can he operate without hands. The film also sports a colourful, even surreal visual look that predates the Female Prisoner Scorpion films that unleashed similar images later the same year. The obvious connection is screenwriter Fumio Konami, who also wrote the Female Prisoner Scorpion films. Director Takamori is the weakest link as usual, managing the highlights quite well but sometimes failing to pump the kind of energy into the film that it really deserves. It's still a very cool film, though, and marked the beginning of a new, darker era for Chiba.



Yakuza Wolf: Extend My Condolences (Japan, 1972) [TV] - 3/5
A strange follow-up for having almost nothing to do with the original film. This one is more in line with the Yakuza Deka action comedies, albeit with a little less humour and action. Chiba is a clean shaven, suit wearing small time goon betrayed by a big shot yakuza. After his release from prison, he and pal Tatsuya Fuji start planning a heist/revenge plot against the yakuza. Former Nikkatsu director Buichi Saito (who also directed the 4th Lone Wolf & Cub film) keeps the film in constant move, but he doesn't have a the kind of unique script the first film had to work with. Hence, no spaghetti western imagery or surreal visuals here. There is still plenty of fun to be had, though, including some nice stunt work and a catchy theme song by Chiba. Reiko Ike, finally 18 for real (she had been lying about her age when she appeared in her first movies), plays Chiba's ex-girlfriend. She doesn't have much else to do than sing and show her breasts, but it's nice to have her in the film.

[Killer Meteor]

Dragon, The Young Master (1981)

South Korea, directed by Kim Si-Hyeon (and Godfrey Ho?)

Ultra lame Dragon Lee nonsense, with the usual problems - bad fights, stupid sound effects, weak acting, tiresome plotting, wince-induing Vaughan Savidge dubbing (with Shaw regular Rick Thomas helping out this time) - redeemed only by the usual saving grace - lovely scenery. HK import Yuen Qiu (billed as Pheonix Kim) is a pleasant diversion, though this film makes Police Woman look like Police Story!

3/10

[Markgway]

Haven't seen DRAGON, but unless there's newly added footage, Godfrey Ho didn't direct anything on it. The HKMDB list a few Chinese actors, so I suppose it may depend if their scenes are reshoots or part of the Korean original, in which case it could be a co-production.

[Killer Meteor]

It's hard to say. Yuen Qiu is the heroine of the movie and appears with all the Korean actors.

The two Godfrey Ho directed Chinese/Korean co-productions I've seen, The Magnificent and The Dragon, The Hero are far superior to his various pickups.

[Markgway]

I don't doubt Yuan Qiu (Kan Chia-Fang) appeared in the Korean version; she filmed a couple of movies there that I know of.

Some of the other guys less likely...

Lu Chun-Ku did a few co-productions, but no pure Korean movies... Han Ying-Chieh spent most of that era in Taiwan... and Chiang Tao was heavily involved in IFD's fakes, which is what makes me wonder if Dragon, Young Master isn't a re-edit with new footage?

But like I said, I haven't seen it... and don't intend to... :p

[Killer Meteor]

Looks to me like the same movie all the way through, nothing sticks out as from a different shoot. One regular actor in these Dragon Lee flicks is Gam Kei-Chu, a Korean who started at Shaw Brothers, so maybe he was an intermediary of sorts? Chiang Tao is one of the main villians in Golden Dragon, Silver Snake. Even if the Godfrey Ho credit for director is bogus, I do wonder if he was involved with these films as a producer, and getting the odd HK name to work on them.

[Markgway]

Looks to me like the same movie all the way through, nothing sticks out as from a different shoot.

Yeah, it's easier to spot when it's white guys playing ninjas!

It may very well be a pure Korean production (with imported actors) or a genuine co-production then. I honestly don't know. It was only certain members of the Chinese cast (and of course Godfrey Ho) that made wonder about it be a fake. Given that you've seen it, your opinion here is more valid than mine.

[One regular actor in these Dragon Lee flicks is Gam Kei-Chu, a Korean who started at Shaw Brothers, so maybe he was an intermediary of sorts?

Kim Ki-Ju (I know him better under his Korean name) has done pure HK films, pure Korean films, and co-productions, so his appearance doesn't really point to any one of those in particular. Given his extensive genre filmography and popularity with Chinese filmmakers it's safe to say he had good contacts.

Chiang Tao is one of the main villians in Golden Dragon, Silver Snake. Even if the Godfrey Ho credit for director is bogus, I do wonder if he was involved with these films as a producer, and getting the odd HK name to work on them.

It's possible Chiang did stick around in Korea to make pure Korean films; anything's possible, really. The only other Chinese name I see for Silver Snake is Nick Cheung Lik.

[Killer Meteor]

The Cheung Lik scene in Golden Dragon is, as far as I can recall, from another film. For some reason, quite a few of the Dragon Lee flicks (Godfrey Ho or otherwise) have a clip from an earlier movie randomly spliced in. In the case of BIG BOSS 2 (Dragon Lee Fights Again), there's a quick scene of Dragon training to the Rocky theme which was taken, both audio and visuals, from CLONES OF BRUCE LEE.

Funnily enough, I was watching the Bruce Le movie BRUCE'S DEADLY FINGERS the other night, and that used a clip from BRUCE & SHAOLIN KUNG FU for its training scene.

[Markgway]

Yeah, these films are mostly dodgy...

I took a look at DRAGON, YOUNG MASTER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj2p89qcYbY

Where are the Chinese actors!?!

Apart from Kan Chia-Fang, I could see anyone non-Korean!
Did I blink...?

It looks on the surface like a pure Korean film to me.

[Killer Meteor]

Just Yuen Qiu in that one. There's usually one HK actor per movie. Poor sods must have needed the work!

[Markgway]

Just Yuen Qiu in that one. There's usually one HK actor per movie. Poor sods must have needed the work!

The HKMDB lists the Chinese actors I mentioned in a previous post as being in this movie, suggesting that there's a re-edit out there with additional (new or recycled) scenes NOT filmed in Korea. I don't blame fans for being confused... I've been doing research for years and still haven't a bloody clue half the time! But if you have any more questions, I'll try to help.

[Killer Meteor]

thanks Mark!

[Markgway]

The Raid 2 (2013-Indonesia) **
Nauseatingly violent sequel ramps the carnage up to eleven, without providing an original plot or fully developed characters to support it's gargantuan length. Basically, it's an excuse for an endless parade of numbingly brutal fights, and explicitly bloody ways to execute people. Stylish, and technically well-made, but this left a nasty taste in my mouth.

[Masterofoneinchpunch]

The Raid 2 (2013-Indonesia) **
Nauseatingly violent sequel ramps the carnage up to eleven, without providing an original plot or fully developed characters to support it's gargantuan length. Basically, it's an excuse for an endless parade of numbingly brutal fights, and explicitly bloody ways to execute people. Stylish, and technically well-made, but this left a nasty taste in my mouth.

I had argued this point before as it seemed to take a more sadistic approach than the first including with the protagonist. But the overarching plot which several really liked on KFF I had found cliché, especially to anyone who has seen a decent amount of triad films (or any gangster film really.) At some point I will revisit this, though I'm more likely to rewatch the first sooner than this one.

[Markgway]

I saw The Raid twice: First at the flicks, where I gave it **, then again on TV, when I added a half star (my expectations of 'greatest actioner ever' had been lowered) for the intense, skilled choreography. That's enough for me... and I won't be watching The Raid 2 again in any form.

[HungFist]

Honour Among Brothers (Japan, 1966) [TV] - 3.5/5
Solid ninkyo yakuza film by one of the genre's best directors, Kosaku Yamashita. Unlike some others, Yamashita could usually be relied on to deliver films with good characters. This one stars Saburo Kitajima as swindler who is caught cheating by yakuza movie villain Toru Abe. Owners of the gambling den, honourable yakuzas Hiroki Matsukata and his boss Hideo Murata, put their honour at stake when they decide let him free for three days so that he could meet his mother, whom he has been searching for all his life, while Abe does everything in his power to profit from the situation. A good film with some very powerful moments, and great supporting performance by Koji Tsuruta, although some of the plot twists have since become a bit of a cliché.

The Bride of Rip Van Winkle (Japan, 2016) [DCP] - 2.5/5
Well, this was frustrating. Iwai, the director of such incredibly good films as Swallowtail Butterfly and All About Lily Chou Chou, has gone all Japanese and delivered a melodramatic tear fest. Without going into spoilers, it has us follow a naive girl putting her trust in the wrong people. All for the sake of tears, and then some more tears. The film also deals with family rental, something Sion Sono did much better in Noriko's Dinner Table a decade ago, and cyberspace, something Iwai did much better more than a decade ago in All About Lily Chou Chou. It's all the more disappointing because it's not a bad film. It looks and feels Iwai; not Iwai at his best but Iwai nonetheless, and it's very, very well acted by lead star Haru Kuroki. The three hour running time isn't a problem at all either. The shorter 2 hour cut would probably be best avoided as I can only imagine it emphasizing the weaknesses and cutting out much what is good about the film. As a director Iwai still seems worthwhile, but as a writer, what happened?

+ Sonny Chiba Special: Part 23

A Narcotics Agent's Ballad (Japan, 1972) [TV] - 4/5
Terrific neo noir follows two detectives trying to bring down a drug/prostitution cartel. Young Tamura (Hiroshi Miyauchi) is an idealistic policeman; Kikuchi (Sonny Chiba) an older narcotics detective so deep undercover that it's no longer clear on which side of the law he is operating. The film is very well written, with strong focus on characters and how their work affects everyone around them. The bets keep getting bigger as the film goes on until the tension reaches a hair-rising level towards the end. Action scenes are few, but very well executed. An atmospheric score by Toshiaki Tsushima (Battles without Honor and Humanity; The Street Fighter) completes the package. Great example of gritty and borderline sleazy 70s crime cinema with no happy ending, comparable to many of Kinji Fukasaku's films in content and quality.



Narcotics/Prostitution G-Men: Terrifying Flesh Hell (Japan, 1972) [TV] - 3/5
An entertaining, but slightly underwhelming sequel to A Narcotics Agent's Ballad dispatches undercover cop Chiba to Okinawa. The poster and title suggests of sexploitation, but that is in fact just advertising promises. In reality the film tones down the sex and nudity from the first film and focuses more on narcotics than prostitution. Unfortunately the film also lacks the tension and superb characterization of the first film. This one is more of a basic cops vs. thugs flick, with Chiba teaming up with local cop Tsunehiko Watase and befriending dark skinned, half-Japanese small time goon (Ken Sanders). The Okinawa location brings some colour to the production, including a lot of foreign faces (amusingly always presented as criminals!) but is not as well used as you'd wish. That's not saying it's a bad film, though, quite the contrary. While unable to live up to its predecessor, it's a fast paced crime film with solid tech credits, occasional sex and violence, and Chiba smoking three lung cancers' worth of tobacco.

[HungFist]

Master Night Manipulator: 1000 Women Killer (Japan, 1971) [TV] - 1.5/5
Playboy Tatsuo Umemiya is a pimp who tricks and blackmails girls into prostitution, and sleeps with all of them, including one blonde gaijin. It's a rather good looking film, but it's a bit difficult to find a reason to care. It's not a comedy, it's not much of a crime film, and it's so mild that it can barely be balled exploitation. It's just a movie about playboy Umemiya. Colourful visuals are the films biggest - and perhaps only - appeal. Original title: Yoru no teihashi: suke chi hitokiri.

The Magic Blade (Hong Kong, 1976) [DVD] - 4/5
Two swordsmen try to protect a mysterious dart while legions of weir assassins are sent after them. There's a bit of spaghetti western as well as Lone Wolf & Cub vibe to this atmospheric swordsmen-on-the-road film. Despite the title, it is a relatively down to earth affair and doesn't feature the kind of cheesy special effects extravaganza some other Hong Kong fantasy wuxia films do. It's actually a bit too fast paced in some parts; the ending however is truly fantastic. I couldn't help but to think this would've been even more impressive in a theatre in 35mm.

+ Sonny Chiba Special: Part 24

Tokyo Seoul Bangkok Drug Triangle (Japan/Korea/Thailand/Hong Kong, 1973) – 3/5
This was a loose follow up to the two Narcotics / Prostitution G-Men films (1972). Sonny Chiba stars as an ordinary man who discovers his sister's death had something to with an international drug smuggling cartel. His attempt to discover the truth takes him to Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, and eventually back in Japan. An interesting, atmospheric and well written, yet slightly underwhelming crime drama with epic proportions. The problem is that the film doesn't quite manage to strike the balance between realism and action, feeling a bit too wild to convince as a drama, yet a bit too restrained considering the action talent involved. Local stars Choi Bong, Kim Chang-Suk, Chaiya Suliyun and Nora Miao add to the interest, but the real stand out is Hiroki Matsukata as a runway gangster trying to escape a cartel with his new Korean lover.



Battles without Honour and Humanity: Hiroshima Death Match (Japan, 1973) [DVD] - 4/5
The best film in the series strays from the main storyline and gangster politics to focus on lone assassin Yamanaka (Kinya Kitaoji). The role was actually intended for Sonny Chiba, but he switched roles at the last moment with Kitaoji, ending up playing the psychotic villain Omoto instead. The rest is history: the character would serve as seminal inspiration for The Street Fighter (1974) and lead Chiba to play various other bad guys and antiheroes as well. Chiba isn't the only memorable thing about the film, though. While more straight forward than the other films in the series, it has perhaps the most interesting characters and is a very good manifestation of one of Fukasaku's seminal themes: disposable young men blindly taking orders from their no-good superiors. Fukasaku creates a very powerful vision of a city taken over by violence, greatly assisted by composer Toshiaki Tsushima's score.