V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets and Betrayal (Limited Edition) Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

[asacmurr]

V-CINEMA ESSENTIALS: BULLETS AND BETRAYAL (LIMITED EDITION) BLU-RAY

CRIME HUNTER: BULLETS OF RAGE / NEO CHINPIRA: ZOOM GOES THE BULLET
STRANGER / CARLOS
BURNING DOG / FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: DEATH THREAT
THE HITMAN: BLOOD SMELLS LIKE ROSES / DANGER POINT: THE ROAD TO HELL
XX: BEAUTIFUL HUNTER

Street Date 4/29/25





FEATURES:
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all films
Original lossless Japanese mono audio on Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage and original lossless Japanese stereo audio for all other films
Optional newly translated English subtitles for all films
Nine postcard-sized artcards
Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeves featuring newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Earl Jackson, Daisuke Miyao, and Hayley Scanlon

DISC 1 – CRIME HUNTER: BULLETS OF RAGE / NEO CHINPIRA: ZOOM GOES THE BULLET
Newly filmed introductions to both films by Japanese film critic Masaki Tanioka
Loose Cannon, a newly filmed interview with Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage director Shundo Okawa
Zooming Out, a newly filmed interview with Neo Chinpira: Zoom Goes the Bullet writer-director Banmei Takahashi
Crime Hunter and the Dawn of V-Cinema, a brand new video essay on Crime Hunter: Bullets of Rage by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes
Original trailers for both films

DISC 2 – STRANGER / CARLOS
Newly filmed introductions to both films by Japanese film critic Masaki Tanioka
Stranger than Fiction, a newly filmed interview with Stranger writer-director Shunichi Nagasaki
From Manga to Movies, a newly filmed interview with Carlos writer-director Kazuhiro Kiuchi
An Extra Round in the Chamber, a brand new video essay on Carlos by critic and Japanese cinema expert Jonathan Clements

DISC 3 – BURNING DOG / FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: DEATH THREAT
Newly filmed introductions to both films by Japanese film critic Masaki Tanioka
Fire and Ice, a brand new video essay on Burning Dog by critic and Japanese cinema expert Mark Schilling
Toshiharu Ikeda’s Beautiful Monster of Vengeance, a brand new video essay on Female Prisoner Scorpion: Death Threat by film historian Samm Deighan
Original trailers for both films

DISC 4 – THE HITMAN: BLOOD SMELLS LIKE ROSES / DANGER POINT: THE ROAD TO HELL
Newly filmed introductions to both films by Japanese film critic Masaki Tanioka
The Versatility of Teruo Ishii, a brand new video essay on The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses and its director Teruo Ishii by Japanese cinema expert Frankie Balboa
The Road to V-Cinema, a brand new video essay on Danger Point: The Road to Hell by critic and Japanese cinema expert James Balmont
Original trailer for The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses

DISC 5 – XX: BEAUTIFUL HUNTER
Newly filmed introduction by Japanese film critic Masaki Tanioka
The Sacred and the Profane, a newly filmed interview with screenwriter Hiroshi Takahashi
They Brought Back the Sleaze, a brand new video essay on XX: Beautiful Hunter by critic and Japanese cinema expert Patrick Macias
Original trailer

[DukeTogo84]

Damn amazing news.

[logboy]

crime hunter - bullets of rage (1989) by toshimichi ohkawa > https://letterboxd.com/film/crime-hu...llets-of-rage/
neo chinpira - zoom goes the bullet (1990) by banmei takahashi> https://letterboxd.com/film/neo-chin...es-the-bullet/
stranger (1991) by shunichi nagasaki > https://letterboxd.com/film/stranger-1991/
carlos (1991) by kazuhiro kiuchi > https://letterboxd.com/film/carlos-1991/
burning dog (1990) by yoichi sai > https://letterboxd.com/film/burning-dog-1991/
female prisoner scorpion - death threat (1991) by toshiharu ikeda > https://letterboxd.com/film/scorpion...-death-threat/
the hitman - blood smells like roses (1991) by teruo ishii > https://letterboxd.com/film/the-hitm...ls-like-roses/
danger point - the road to hell (1991) by yasuharu hasebe > https://letterboxd.com/film/danger-p...-road-to-hell/
XX - beautiful hunter (1994) by masaru konuma > https://letterboxd.com/film/xx-beautiful-hunter/

[Kakihara]

I’m in! I hope this does well so they can do a second volume that includes some Riki Takeuchi films along with early Miike that hasn’t been released yet.

[ZeTi]

Very nice - would have loved to get the whole Crime Hunter trilogy in one set but i'll take it.

[GenPion]

We are getting so spoiled lately with all these incredible releases of Asian cinema. I am so thrilled by this release. Great news!

[Shogun MacArthur]

I never thought we'd get a big V-Cinema box set on blu-ray, this is insane.

[DukeTogo84]

So I started skimming through these online and noticed that NEO CHINPIRA: ZOOM GOES THE BULLET is actually kind of half a movie and the second part is the conclusion. Like a Kill Bill scenario. I really hope there is second set which includes the second part.

[MifuneFan]

This is great news. I haven't seen any of the films, but it's the kind of release that gets me excited to blind-buy.

Also, I could be wrong, but I feel the way the set is being titled with the "Bullets and Betrayal" theme that there will very likely be more V-Cinema Essentials sets coming with other themes.

[DukeTogo84]

I personally hope this is a line that continues for awhile as there is so much untapped in this zone of Japanese cinema. The ones I've seen have always been pretty fun and crazy, so this is very welcomed news.

[dex14]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

So I started skimming through these online and noticed that NEO CHINPIRA: ZOOM GOES THE BULLET is actually kind of half a movie and the second part is the conclusion. Like a Kill Bill scenario. I really hope there is second set which includes the second part.

This is basically a "Volume 1" apparently.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by logboy

crime hunter - bullets of rage (1989) by toshimichi ohkawa > https://letterboxd.com/film/crime-hu...llets-of-rage/
neo chinpira - zoom goes the bullet (1990) by banmei takahashi> https://letterboxd.com/film/neo-chin...es-the-bullet/
stranger (1991) by shunichi nagasaki > https://letterboxd.com/film/stranger-1991/
carlos (1991) by kazuhiro kiuchi > https://letterboxd.com/film/carlos-1991/
burning dog (1990) by yoichi sai > https://letterboxd.com/film/burning-dog-1991/
female prisoner scorpion - death threat (1991) by toshiharu ikeda > https://letterboxd.com/film/scorpion...-death-threat/
the hitman - blood smells like roses (1991) by teruo ishii > https://letterboxd.com/film/the-hitm...ls-like-roses/
danger point - the road to hell (1991) by yasuharu hasebe > https://letterboxd.com/film/danger-p...-road-to-hell/
XX - beautiful hunter (1994) by masaru konuma > https://letterboxd.com/film/xx-beautiful-hunter/

Odd Arrow have included the 2nd XX: Utsukushiki. Would've been better off in a boxset containing ALL 6 XX: Utsukushiki films.

[Member-922335]

Holy! I mean I've been excited for some releases this year but this one is absolutely amazing, no questions asked... DAY 1!

[White Dang]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

Odd Arrow have included the 2nd XX: Utsukushiki. Would've been better off in a boxset containing ALL 6 XX: Utsukushiki films.

Definitely letdown in that regard. Same with crime hunter. But at least we're getting a partial.

I have xx beautiful beast on DVD. A Blu-ray set would have been release of the year for me.

[logboy]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

This is great news. I haven't seen any of the films, but it's the kind of release that gets me excited to blind-buy.

Also, I could be wrong, but I feel the way the set is being titled with the "Bullets and Betrayal" theme that there will very likely be more V-Cinema Essentials sets coming with other themes.

i don't know how wild or clever v-cinema gets outside of miike - i've only seen a few, like 'heartbreak yakuza', which i love - but these trailers make me think of his cheapest, most flat output right now. hoping they're better in decent quality trailers and with more explanation from someone. a few look too cheap too, so afraid of filler over killer.

[MifuneFan]

Pre-order now up at Arrow

https://www.arrowvideo.com/blu-ray/v.../16034469.html

[logboy]

Burning Dog | Original Trailer | Yoichi Sai, 1991 - YouTube

[Ben_C]

Ordered the UK release from HMV with 20% off code. Works out around a fiver for each film, which is pretty decent.

[tsetse27]

Anyone know if this will be true HD remastered, or just upscale of SD master? the spec does not state clearly.

[Kakihara]

I really want this but I’m going to wait, maybe till it’s on sale. Been spending alot on stuff these past few weeks.