Nikkatsu
Diamond Guys: Volume 2
(1960, 62, 65/MVD Visual/Arrow Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Set)
Picture:
B/B- Sound: B/B- Extras: B+ Films: C+/B/C+
New
from Arrow is Nikkatsu
Diamond Guys: Volume 2,
another solid set in what's becoming a series and a great new
Blu-ray/DVD collection of three bizarre 1960s Japanese films from the
oldest movie studio in the country, Nikkatsu. Mimicking Old
Hollywood, the studio assembled some of Japan's wildest genre stars
and the result are three wacky movies in this release that are sure
to entertain fans of Japanese and cult international cinema.
The
films include Tokyo
Mighty Guy
(1960), Danger
Pays
(1962), and Murder
Unincorporated
(1965). All of which feature stars (known in the industry as the
Diamond Guys) Akira Kobayashi (Retaliation),
Ko Nakahira and one of my personal favorites Jo Shishido (Branded
to Kill).
Directors include Buichi Saito (Lone
Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril),
Ko Nakahiri (Crazed
Fruit),
and Haruyasu Noguchi (Cat
Girls Gamblers).
In
Tokyo
Mighty Guy,
which was directed by Saito and starring Kobayashi, centers around
Jiro who has returned home from France and decides to open his own
French restaurant in the Ginza district of Tokyo. Things start to
turn south when a Yakuza gang threatens not only his business but his
girlfriend's as well. A little little hearted and well shot, this
semi-musical is highly entertaining.
Danger
Pays
is my favorite of the three, starring Nakahira in a crime caper about
a criminal named Joe the Ace who has a trademark purple suit, tiny
red car, and avid gun collector. Seeing a get rich opportunity over
a counterfeit money scandal, Joe the Ace kidnaps the famous
counterfeiter and ends up encountering two other similar minded
Gangsters with the same end game in mind. The highlight of the film
is an incredible shootout sequence during the climax that is sure to
please fans of Sam Peckinpah.
Lastly,
we have Murder
Incorporated,
that follows three colleagues of a powerful crime syndicate who all
end up getting playing cards that reveal their death in order at the
hands of the treacherous hitman named Joe of Spades (Shisido). To
fight against him, a team known as Murder Incorporated band together
to stop the killer.
The
set comes with two Blu-rays, one of which has all three feature films
and the other for supplements and of course a lesser standard
definition DVD version. Presented in 1080p high definition with a
widescreen scope aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and a restored uncompressed
Japanese mono audio track, there's no question that these films look
better here than ever before.
The
DVD features transfers of the films in standard definition with an
anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and a PCM 2.0 Mono track
that sounds comparable but not quite as clear as the Blu-ray. The
set also boasts newly translated and refined English subtitles.
Additional
special features include...
Specially
recorded video discussions with Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp
on Diamond Guys Jo Shishido and Akira Kobayashi
Original
trailers for all three films
Extensive
promotional image galleries for all films
Reversible
sleeve featuring brand new artwork by Graham Humphreys
Booklet
featuring new writing on all the films and director profiles by
Stuart Galbraith IV, Tom Mes and Mark Schilling
Limited
to 3,000 units, this is a great collectors item and a few hours of
nostalgic entertainment.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
