The Executioner Collecton (Sonny Chiba) coming from Arrow!

[MifuneFan]

Arrow will be releasing The Executioner Collection starring Sonny Chiba on January 10th!

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...lu-ray/326544/

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• - High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• - Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio for both films
• - Original uncompressed English mono audio track for The Executioner
• - Optional English subtitles
• - Brand new audio commentary by Chris Poggiali and Marc Walkow
• - Sonny Chiba, Karate King, a 30-minute featurette on the legendary Sonny Chiba, featuring Grady Hendrix, Tom Mes, Chris Poggiali, Marco Joachim and Seiji Anno, from the band Guitar Wolf
• - Original trailers
• - Image galleries for The Executioner and The Executioner II: Karate Inferno
• - Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Lucas Peverill

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the films by by Mark Schilling

Fists flurry and blood flows as legendary cult director Teruo Ishii (Shogun’s Joy of Torture, Horrors of Malformed Men) joins forces with martial arts legend Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba in this bone-crunching double whammy of classic karate exploitation from Toei.

Ryuichi Koga (Chiba) is a descendent of the Koga Ninja school, now earning his living through more nefarious means as a gun for hire. When he is enlisted to take down a drug cartel alongside Hayabusa (Makoto Sato), a disgraced former narcotics detective now operating within the criminal underworld, and renegade Aikido master Sakura (Eiji Gō), tensions grow among this three-man team of ne'er-do-wells as each come to question each other’s motives. Koga returns in the even more gung-ho follow up, Karate Inferno, as the ringmaster of a gang of thieves plotting to steal a priceless jewel from a master criminal.

Making its High Definition home-video debut, The Executioner is presented in both its original Japanese-language version and with the English dub track from the 1970s North American release. Fans of the Street Fighter star will delight as Chiba pitches himself into a succession of freewheeling action and feisty fight scenes in this double dish of martial arts mayhem, all served up in director Ishii’s characteristically lurid style.

[DukeTogo84]

These are great fun films. They have a ton of comedy, but the first one is actually pretty violent overall. One of the coolest visual deaths in all of Japanese cinema for sure. The first film even has one of my favorite Japanese actors Masahiko Tsugawa in a villain role.

[Kaiju23]

Happy to upgrade from the Crash Cinema and BCI DVDs.

[Takuma]

These are pretty awesome films both. The first film is famous for its ultra violence and crudeness, which also works like medicine for depression (I once asked a cute Japanese girl to go out with me, and she turned me down. I was feeling so down. Then I watched The Executioner, and I wasn't feeling down anymore!).

I like the sequel even more. It's more comedic, but it's even cruder than the original if possible. This film is actually the more popular of the two in Japan, and always a riot with an audience (I've seen in theatrically twice). It's also got tons of film reference gags, some of which will likely be lost by many Western viewers like Chiba greeting

[Show spoiler]his fellow Abashiri Prison inmate Onitora (Kanjuro Arashi) (Chiba was in the 4th and 6th film) at the northern gates

at the end.

Oh and the poster is awesome! Got the original B2 on my wall.

[MifuneFan]

Now live at Zavvi, with full package shot, and reverse art

https://www.zavvi.com/blu-ray/the-ex.../14017605.html

[finishominis]

Originally Posted by Takuma

These are pretty awesome films both. The first film is famous for its ultra violence and crudeness, which also works like medicine for depression (I once asked a cute Japanese girl to go out with me, and she turned me down. I was feeling so down. Then I watched The Executioner, and I wasn't feeling down anymore!).

I like the sequel even more. It's more comedic, but it's even cruder than the original if possible. This film is actually the more popular of the two in Japan, and always a riot with an audience (I've seen in theatrically twice). It's also got tons of film reference gags, some of which will likely be lost by many Western viewers like Chiba greeting

[Show spoiler]his fellow Abashiri Prison inmate Onitora (Kanjuro Arashi) (Chiba was in the 4th and 6th film) at the northern gates

at the end.

Oh and the poster is awesome! Got the original B2 on my wall.

I love part 2 as well - isn't that the one where

[Show spoiler]Chiba rips a guy's cock off?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by finishominis

I love part 2 as well - isn't that the one where

[Show spoiler]Chiba rips a guy's cock off?

I don't remember that happening in part 2, but that does happen in the first Street Fighter film.

[Takuma]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I don't remember that happening in part 2, but that does happen in the first Street Fighter film.

And in Killing Machine!

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Takuma

And in Killing Machine!

Haha. Completely forgot about that scene, and poor Rikiya Yasuoka. That scene might be even more graphic and in the end a dog eats it too.

[finishominis]

Oh, I'm getting my Chiba's mixed up - I remember it being pretty crazy though!

[DukeTogo84]

Review is up

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-E...lu-ray/326544/

Has anyone's order for Diabolik shipped yet?

[DukeTogo84]

Not sure why this is so pricey at Amazon, but it's a bit cheaper at Diabolik.

https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/...-ray-preorder/

Just got mine in today and will be giving it a watch tonight.

[DukeTogo84]

I watched these last night for the first time since they came out on DVD like nearly 20 years ago? I always remembered liking the first film more, but I think I enjoyed the second more this time around. It takes the comedy element to the forefront, but I think I actually enjoyed it. The first one feels more like a Chiba film with some comedic bits, but is a lot more violent with more action. Still, a great release and the commentary on the Executioner is actually very informative on the history of Toei and a lot of the actors involved. Interesting to see Marc Walkow work with Arrow again.

[dex14]

$24.99 at Hamilton: https://www.hamiltonbook.com/the-exe...ection-blu-ray
$22.63 blowitoutahere: https://www.ebay.com/itm/39441453444...mis&media=COPY

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I watched these last night for the first time since they came out on DVD like nearly 20 years ago? I always remembered liking the first film more, but I think I enjoyed the second more this time around. It takes the comedy element to the forefront, but I think I actually enjoyed it. The first one feels more like a Chiba film with some comedic bits, but is a lot more violent with more action. Still, a great release and the commentary on the Executioner is actually very informative on the history of Toei and a lot of the actors involved. Interesting to see Marc Walkow work with Arrow again.

I picked up the 2 dvd set early last year, haven’t watched them yet. I have the Arrow BD on the way & after reading your thoughts on them I’m looking forward to checking them out.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

I picked up the 2 dvd set early last year, haven’t watched them yet. I have the Arrow BD on the way & after reading your thoughts on them I’m looking forward to checking them out.

Hope you enjoy them. They are a bit different from the usual Chiba fare, but entertaining. Lots of regular Toei actors show up too.

[russweiss1]

My Executioner Collection arrived today and I watched the first film for the first time. There are many really ridiculous things but I had a good time watching this. It was played very tongue in cheek including several risque moments. If you're a fan of martial arts or 70's films this is highly recommended. I'm looking forward to the second film.

[Muyfa666]

Are there any difference at all between the US and the UK release?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

Are there any difference at all between the US and the UK release?

no

[Muyfa666]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

no

Thanks!