Rage of Honor (1987) - Blu-ray Review - Arrow Video

Sho Kosugi Returns for More Hi-Def Action in "Rage of Honor"

Released by: Arrow Video
Release Date: March 15, 2016 (US) 
Production Year: 1987
Region Code: A
Running Time: 1:31:47
Audio: English LPCM Mono
Video: 1080p (1.85:1 Aspect Ratio)
Subtitles: English SDH

 THE FILM - [ 2.5 / 5 ]:


Following his star turns in '80s actioners Enter the Ninja and Revenge of the Ninja, Sho Kosugi continued his domination of the US martial arts movie with 1987's "Rage of Honor," helmed once again by "Pray for Death" director Gordon Hessler (The Golden Voyage of Sinbad). Federal agent Shiro Tanaka (Kosugi) used to live for his job - now, he lives only for revenge. When his partner is killed during a bungled drug bust, Shiro throws away his badge and the rule book with it: arming himself with an array of deadly weaponry - including nunchucks, blades and ninja stars - he sets out to Buenos Aires to settle the score with the bad guys. Packing explosions, flying kicks and somersaults aplenty (as well as some truly logic-bending stunt sequences), "Rage of Honor" sees Kosugi at the top of his game as he battles his way from the streets of the urban jungle to the very literal jungles of South America.

As a matter of personal opinion, I did not enjoy this film as much as "Pray for Death." Maybe the "Miami Vice" type of outfits was a bit of a turn off. However, it is not due to lack of action as this film features a number of fight sequences and exciting moments. Sho Kosugi is once again a mostly one man wrecking ball barreling his way through the bad guys. Okay, not quite like that since he uses a great deal of finesse and tactics, but you get the point. It's hardly fair for the villainous henchmen when they have to face Shrio (Kosugi). He is not invincible though as you will see in the film. Although often times his greatest weakness is those he cares about.

Yes some of the acting is not particularly good in the film and there are also some silly fight scenes where Shiro is seemingly able to hit any target with a throwing star but for me, that makes some fight scenes more entertaining.  

AUDIO - [ 4 / 5 ]:

The Blu-ray comes with one audio option being an English LPCM 2.0 track. English SDH subtitles are also included. Overall the audio sounded very good. There was only one instance where it sounded a little tinny for a couple seconds. Other than that I thought the audio was well balanced and maintained good, even levels throughout the film.  

VIDEO - [ 3.5 / 5 ]:

"Rage of Honor" comes to U.S. Blu-ray thanks to Arrow Video via MVD Entertainment Group. The film is presented in 1080p with a 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio. I thought the video quality was above average for the most part and in brighter scenes it looked very good but it did not fare as well in darker scenes. So it's a bit of a mixed bag in regards to the picture. Colors generally looked bold and vibrant. Skin tones looked fine. As can be expected, in brighter scenes there is a pleasing amount of detail present. In the darker scenes there can be a serious lack of detail. I do feel that the good outweighs the bad though. You can judge for yourself via the included screen captures. There are white specks that sparingly appear during the film as well as the occasional scratch. 

Appearing a couple times including around 1:22:45 is a short bluish-purple vertical line which you can see in the screen capture directly below. You can click on the picture for a larger version. 

SPECIAL FEATURES - [ 2 / 5 ]:

Sho and Tell Part 2 (17:48) - Sho Kogushi talks about his career from "Rage of Honor" onward in this interview recorded October 2015 in Japan. Mr. Kosugi speaks on a variety of subjects including his family, turning down work in films, a book he's writing, and martial arts.

Stelvio Cipriani Interview (2:47) - Composer Stelvio Cipriani talks about meeting director Gordon Hessler as well as some of the films he previously worked on. 

American Ninjas (7:34) - Writer Chris Poggiali talks about the rise in popularity of the Ninja film in the U.S. during the 80's. Mr. Poggiali speaks about films, tv shows, books and even toys which helped the ninja films become more popular. He talks about how after the death of Bruce Lee, people were on the lookout for the next martial arts movie star. 

Sho Kosugi Trailer Gallery:

• Enter the Ninja (2:53)
• Revenge of the Ninja (1:41)
• Pray for Death (2:11)
• Rage of Honor (1:35)

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin.

IN CONCLUSION:

Above average audio and video, the Blu-ray from Arrow Video also includes a few extras. If you own other Sho Kosugi films on Blu-ray you'll probably want to add this to your collection as well. Unless a new master of the film is created, this will most likely be the best that this film will look. 

OVERALL RATING - [ 3 / 5 ]

Read More »

Pray for Death (1985) - Blu-ray Review - Arrow Video

Never come between a man and his american dream. 
Definitely don't do it when that man is a ninja.

Released by: Arrow Video
Release Date: February 16, 2016
Production Year: 1985
Region Code: A
Running Time: 1:38:27 (Unrated) / 1:34:31 (R-Rated)
Audio: English LPCM Stereo
Video: 1080p (2.35:1 Aspect Ratio)
Subtitles: English SDH

THE FILM - [ 3.5 / 5 ]:

In "Pray for Death," martial arts legend Sho Kosugi ("Enter the Ninja," "Ninja 3: The Domination," "Rage of Honor") stars as a family man driven to exact vigilante justice - ninja style! Japanese Restauranteur Akira (Kosugi) has taken his wife and two boys to the United States in search of a better life. But their slice of the American Dream is quickly soured when they fall foul of a group of vicious jewellery thieves. Unfortunately for the bad guys, they didn't count on Akira being a secret black ninja. The samurai sword of vengeance falls swift and hard in this classic slice of 80's ninja action from director Gordon Hessler ("Scream and Scream Again," "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad"), culminating in an action-packed showdown with a body count worthy of "Commando."

I had never seen "Pray for Death" prior to watching this Blu-ray. So let me say thank you Arrow Video for releasing this on Blu-ray and thank you MVD Entertainment Group for distributing it here in the U.S. because this was a fun treat to watch. No dull moments here. We have Akira (Sho Kosugi) who just wants to make his family happy and fulfill his wife's dream of coming to America, making a new life for themselves. Sadly that dream is short-lived as he and his family get mixed up with some bad people and those bad guys will come to find out that they messed with the wrong man. 

What begins as a nice, pleasant story of hope and happiness turns to sadness and eventually revenge. Oh yeah, did I not mention the revenge aspect? I do love revenge films and when the moment comes for it to rear its head in "Pray for Death," I was fully psyched for it and I sure wasn't disappointed. Be sure to watch the Unrated version of the film for some extra bits of grue. 

Not all of the acting is particularly good. But the acting isn't why you're going to watch this movie, it's for the entertaining fight scenes and thanks to the added bits in the Unrated version, there's more blood and even more entertaining fight scenes. There are some good actors in the film though like Michael Constantine, who happens to be from a city not too far from where I live and he's fairly well known here. Plus there is Parley Baer who some might remember him for playing a mayor on "The Andy Griffith Show." Some of the fight scenes are a bit humorous, which was probably not intentional. But that is okay and it is an 80's film. An 80's martial arts film at that, where things were sometimes a bit... silly. However, Akira is all about business in this film and once they cross him, look out cause there is nowhere for you to hide. Heck, you can hop in a truck and drive off and he can still catch you on foot. Yep. He is one hardcore ninja.  

AUDIO - [ 4 / 5 ]:

"Pray for Death" features an English LPCM Stereo track. The audio for this film sounded great. Dialogue was clean and easy to understand. The soundtrack and sound effects both sounded fine as well. I did not notice any real problems at all such as drop outs or hissing. Optional English SDH subtitles are also included although they only seemed to be for the Unrated version which will most likely be the only version most people watch anyhow. But I felt it was worth noting. 

VIDEO - [ 4 / 5 ]:

"Pray for Death" comes to Blu-ray thanks to Arrow Video. The film is presented in 1080p with a 2:35.1 Aspect Ratio. The film looks excellent overall. I do want to mention right away that in the Unrated version you will notice a drop in video quality for the bits that were added back in to make this version. Some will most likely complain about the change in quality but most will perfectly fine with it, which I was. 

Below, you will be able to see two pictures, the first showing how the film looks for the majority of the run time and the second picture showing the quality of footage added in to that particular scene. That will give you an idea of what you can expect. As usual, screen shots don't quite do the film justice as it tends to look better in motion. 

Colors are represented well, looking strong, Skin tones look natural and spot on. Black levels looked fine as well. There are some noticeable white specks and spots here and there during the film. The film generally looks sharp with close-ups displaying a great amount of fine detail. Film grain looked minimal in a good portion of the brighter scenes of the film while becoming a bit heavier is darker scenes and increasing so in the lower quality footage.   SPECIAL FEATURES - [ 3 / 5 ]:

Unrated and R-Rated Versions of the film included

Sho and Tell Part 1: Birth of a Ninja (19:05) - In this interview which was filmed in Japan in October 2015, Kosugi discusses the early stages of his career, leading up to his starring role in "Pray for Death." Mr. Kosugi also talks about how he played baseball in Tokyo and was even scouted. He also speaks about borrowing money to come to the United States and how he earned enough money to open a martial arts studio and started entering tournaments and how he won over 600 trophies.  

Sho Kosugii on Martial Art Forms (18:57) - An interview with Kosugi on the program Martial Art Forms, including footage of his ninja demonstration from the 1985 New York premiere of "Pray for Death." Mr. Kosugi talks about his career, martial arts and various shuriken. Several clips from "Pray for Death" are shown during the interview. It was interesting to hear him mention how for filming he had to slow down at times which reminded me of Jet Li when he was filming "Lethal Weapon 4" because he was told he had to slow down because he was just too fast. 

Sho Kosugi Trailer Gallery

• Enter the Ninja (1981)
• Revenge of the Ninja (1983)
• Pray for Death (1985)
• Rage of Honor (1987)

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin

IN CONCLUSION:

I'll keep this short and sweet. If you like martial art and/or ninja type films, I think you'd be pleased with this film and it's high quality presentation. Arrow Video put together a nice Blu-ray for this film and included a few good extras to boot. 


OVERALL RATING - [ 3.5 / 5 ]

Read More »

Arrow Video's March UK/US Blu-ray Announcements

It's that time again. Time for announcements on upcoming titles that will be released by Arrow Video in March 2016.

Arrow Video's March Announcements range from single titles, another limited edition box set and even a book! Read on for all the news and details available at this time.

Death Walks Twice - Blu-ray & DVD: Two Films by Luciano Ercoli (Arrow Video) Dual Format Limited Edition Boxset

Emerging at the peak of the giallo boom of the early ‘70s, Luciano Ercoli’s Death Walks films are two superlative examples of the genre linked by their shared casting of the stunning Nieves Navarro (billed under her adopted stage name of Susan Scott) as the lead woman in peril.

In Death Walks on High Heels (1971), exotic dancer Nicole (Navarro), the daughter of a murdered jewel thief, finds herself terrorized by a black-clad assailant determined on procuring her father’s stolen gems. Fleeing Paris and her knife-wielding pursuer, Nicole arrives in London only to discover that death stalks her at every corner.

Returning in Death Walks at Midnight (1972), Navarro stars as Valentina – a model who, in the midst of a drug-fueled photo shoot, witnesses a brutal murder in the apartment opposite hers. But when it becomes clear that the savage slaying she describes relates to a crime that took place six months earlier, the police are at a loss - forcing Valentina to solve the mystery alone.

Offering up all the glamour, perversity and narrative twists and turns that are typical of the giallo genre at its best, Luciano Ercoli’s Death Walks on High Heels and Death Walks at Midnight anticipate the super-stylized trappings of Brian De Palma’s early psycho thrillers (most notably, Dressed to Kill).

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Limited Edition boxed-set (3000 copies) containing Death Walks on High Heels and Death Walks at Midnight
• Brand new 2K restorations of the films from the original camera negatives
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
• Original Italian and English soundtracks in mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-rays)
• Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtracks
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtracks
• Limited Edition 60-page booklet containing new writing from authors Danny Shipka (Perverse Titillation: The Exploitation Cinema of Italy, Spain and France), Troy Howarth (So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films) and writer Leonard Jacobs, illustrated with original archive stills and posters

DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS

• Audio commentary by film critic Tim Lucas
• Introduction to the film by screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi
• Newly-edited archive interview with director Luciano Ercoli and actress Nieves Navarro
• Master of Giallo – brand new interview in which Gastaldi discusses Death Walks on High Heels and offers up his thoughts as to what constitutes a good giallo
• An interview with composer Stelvio Cipriani
• Original Italian trailer
• Original English trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx

DEATH WALKS AT MIDNIGHT

• Audio commentary by film critic Tim Lucas
• Introduction to the film by screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi
• Extended TV version of the feature [105 mins]
• Crime Does Pay – brand new interview in which Gastaldi discusses Death Walks at Midnight and a career script-writing crime films
• Desperately Seeking Susan – a visual essay by Michael Mackenzie exploring the distinctive giallo collaborations between director Luciano Ercoli and star Nieves Navarro
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx

Release Date: 28/03/16 (UK) Release date: 03/29/16 (US)
Rating: 18 (TBC)
Duration: 208 mins
Language: English/Italian
Subtitles: English SDH/English
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audio: Mono
Colour
Discs: 4
UK RRP £44.99
US SRP $69.95
Directed by: Luciano Ercoli
Starring: Frank Wolff, Nieves Navarro, Simón Andreu


 

Cult Cinema: An Arrow Video Companion (Limited Edition) Hardback Book - An intriguing trip down the less well-trodden paths of filmdom.

A first for us, a bona fide book!
Arrow Video is one of the foremost distributors of cult cinema on DVD and Blu-ray. From the classic to the obscure, the Arrow Video collection encompasses all styles and genres: horror films and Westerns, science fiction and sex comedies, yakuza epics and neo-noirs, the subversive, the transgressive and the unclassifiable.

This hardback volume brings together 25 of the world’s leading genre experts and critics to guide you through the multi-faceted beast that is cult cinema. Exploring the stars, the filmmakers and the trends, Cult Cinema: An Arrow Video Companion provides an intriguing trip down the less well-trodden paths of filmdom.

Featuring the writing of: Robin Bougie, Michael Brooke, Paul Corupe, David Del Valle, David Flint, Kevin Gilvear, Joel Harley, David Hayles, Pasquale Iannone, Alan Jones, Tim Lucas, Michael Mackenzie, Maitland McDonagh, Tom Mes, John Kenneth Muir, Kim Newman, James Oliver, Vic Pratt, Jasper Sharp, Yvonne D. Sims, Kenneth J. Souza, Mike Sutton, Stephen Thrower, Caelum Vatnsdal, Doug Weir.

With an introduction by filmmaker Ben Wheatley (Kill List, High Rise, Free Fire)

Cover Illustration: Graham Humphreys (revealed soon!)

Release date: 28/03/16 (UK) Release date: 03/29/16 (US)
Author: Ben Wheatley (Introduction), Anthony Nield (Editor)
Release Date: 28/03/16
Binding: Hardback
Pages: 246 pages
Dimension: 22 x 2.8 x 28cm
ISBN-10: 0993306013
ISBN-13: 978-0993306013
UK RRP: £64.99
US SRP: $99.95

You can pre-order the book now from the Arrow Video store.

 

NEW US RELEASE: BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA BLU-RAY & DVD

Pam Grier and Margaret Markov are Defiant Ones in this WIP flick from AIP

CHICKS IN CHAINS ON THE LAM FROM A PRISON HELL!

Before her iconic turn in Coffy, Pam Grier starred alongside Margaret Markov in a grindhouse spin on Stanley Kramer’s The Defiant Ones, fusing the Women in Prison film with the emerging Blaxploitation movement for a riotous romp of bullets, babes and blood!

Lee (Grier), a tough prostitute and Karen (Markov), a revolutionary, are admitted to a tough women’s prison where almost immediately (after some playful showering that prefigures Porky’s) they clash. Packed off to a maximum security prison, their transport is ambushed by Karen’s guerrilla friends and the two escape into the Filipino jungle. Chained together and with differing escape plans their clash intensifies as Lee wants to retrieve a stash of stolen cash to get her off the island and Karen wants to re-join her revolutionary group. Escape isn’t easy as they come up against a series of obstacles including a corrupt cop, a bounty hunter, a sadistic Drug Lord and guerrillas who threaten to turn everything upside down.

Chock full of girl fights, gun battles, nudity and humour, Black Mama White Mama, which was also known as Women in Chains and Hot, Hard and Mean, lives up to all its titles as well as featuring a brilliant Sid Haig (Spider Baby, House of 1000 Corpses) as a cowboy bounty hunter and Lynn Borden (Frogs, Dirty Mary Crazy Larry) as a lesbian guard from a script co-written by Jonathan Demme (Caged Heat) and a score sampled by Quentin Tarantino for Kill Bill.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
• Original mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Commentary by filmmaker Andrew Leavold, director of The Search for Weng Weng
• White Mama - An interview with star Margaret Markov 
• Sid’s Filipino Adventure - An interview with star Sid Haig
• The Mad Director of Blood Island - A previously unseen archive interview with director Eddie Romero
• Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips

The first pressing also includes a booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by Temple of Schlock’s Chris Poggiali and extracts from the original press book, illustrated with archive stills and posters

Release date: 03/22/16
Region: A/1
Duration: 91 mins
Language: English
Subtitles: English SDH
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: Mono
Discs: 2
SRP: $29.95
Directed by: Eddie Romero
Starring: Pam Grier, Margaret Markov, Sid Haig

 

NEW US ONLY TITLE ANNOUNCEMENT: RAGE OF HONOR

Sho Kosugi's ninja domination continues!

Pre-order yours at all major retailers soon!

Rage of Honor (Arrow Video) Blu-ray

Following his star turns in ‘80s actioners Enter the Ninja and Revenge of the Ninja, Sho Kosugi continued his domination of the US martial arts movie with 1987’s Rage of Honor – helmed once again by Pray for Death director Gordon Hessler (The Golden Voyage of Sinbad).

Federal agent Shiro Tanaka (Kosugi) used to live for his job – now, he lives only for revenge. When his partner is killed during a bungled drug bust, Shiro throws away his badge and the rule book with it: arming himself with an array of deadly weaponry – including nunchucks, blades and ninja stars – he sets out to Buenos Aires to settle the score with the bad guys.

Packing explosions, flying kicks and somersaults aplenty (as well as some truly logic-bending stunt sequences), Rage of Honor sees Kosugi at the top of his game as he battles his way from the streets of the urban jungle to the very literal jungles of South America.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation from a transfer of original elements by MGM
• Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Sho and Tell Part 2: The Domination – brand new interview with star Sho Kosugi on Rage of Honor and the later stages of his film career
• Sho Kosugi Trailer Gallery: Enter the Ninja (1981), Revenge of the Ninja (1983), Pray for Death (1985) and Rage of Honor (1987)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin

The first pressing includes a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film and an extract from Kosugi’s upcoming book

Release date: 03/15/16 (US only)
Region: A
Duration: 98 mins
Language: English
Subtitles: English SDH
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: 5.1
Discs: 1
SRP: $29.95
Directed by: Gordon Hessler
Starring: Sho Kosugi, Lewis Van Bergen, Robin Evans

 

Read More »