| Retaliation |
  | Starring: Akira Kobayashi, Joe Shishido, Hideaki Nitani, Meiko Kaji Directed: Yasuharu Hasebe Release Date: May 12, 2015 Run Time: 94 Minutes Format: Blu-Ray Audio: Japanese Subtitles: English Distributor: Arrow Video / MVDvisual | |
In 1969 future sexploitation specialist Yasuharu Hasebe (Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter) teamed up with the inimitable Jô Shishido (Branded to Kill, Youth of the Beast) for a follow up to their yakuza hit Massacre Gun.
A tale of gang warfare that features a raft of the period’s most iconic stars, Akira Kobayashi (Battles Without Honor and Humanity, The Flowers and the Angry Waves) is a yakuza lieutenant who emerges from jail to find his gang dispersed and his aging boss in his sickbed. Shishido is the rival waiting to kill him and a young Meiko Kaji (Lady Snowblood) is the girl caught in the crossfire.
Gritty and cynical, Retaliation is a hardboiled precursor to Kinji Fukasaku’s revisionist yakuza pictures of the 1970s. – ArrowFilms
| Audio/Video |
Audio Audio Language: Japanese The Sound quality Is good In its only soundtrack original language. No pops or other sounds that shouldn’t be in the film exists, dialogue is in the deeper end.
Rating: |
Picture Quality Disc Format: Blu-Ray Overall the PQ looks pretty good, sharp with natural colors. Black levels also look good and arrow has left its original grain so no over processing here. Rating: |
Note: Equipment used to watch the film can be found below
| Theatrical release Date: October 5, 1968 (Japan) |
| Blu-Ray Disc release Date: May 12, 2015 (USA) |
| Extras |
- Limited Edition Blu-ray (3000 copies only)
- Restored High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation, on Blu-ray for the first time in the world!
- Original uncompressed mono PCM audio
- Newly translated English subtitles
- Brand new interview with star Jô Shishido
- Interview with renowned critic and historian Tony Rayns
- Original theatrical trailer
- Gallery featuring rare promotional images
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan
- Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp, newly illustrated by Ian MacEwan and featuring original archive stills
| My Thoughts |
Retaliation Is a Japanese gangster film that showcases a good story with knife fights and some nudity. The movie plays to a few gangs after some farmers land with my girl Meiko Kaji playing the farmer’s daughter. Now she isn’t a big part of the movie but it’s nice to see her in a different role.
As the movie plays we get a few gang fights, murders, rape, and torture. Some back stabbing also plays put but mainly we get a gang member playing real estate agent who earned the trusts of the farmers to gain their land. The movie runs slow with breaks of action thrown in with a few scenes of planing. Things get bloody, gang fights are hectic and sloppy like you would expect in real life so it’s pretty realistic.
The film could use some back-story/character build up, but Overall the film was a good view. If your into Japanese cinema, gangster, Arrow Film collector or a fan of Meiko Kaji, I would say pick it up.
With that said I give Retaliation a 4 out of 5.
P.S. A character you may like may or may not be killed. Get em Jiro
| Rating – 5 Star System |
Film: PQ: Sound: |
|
| Trailer |
| Buy Film |
 | Blu-Ray $25.29 | |
| Prices are posted at time of review and most likely before release. Prices will or could have changed after this review. |
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
This Film was Played on the listed Equipment below |
[…] Review […]