Shinji Somai on BD - Blu-ray Forum

Takuma · 05-28-2021, 10:42 AM

Shinji Somai is finding more love on BD

Arguably the greatest Japanese director of the 80s, an undisputed master of youth film and tracking shots, Somai is finally finding some more love on BD.

Toho will be releasing Lost Chapter of Snow: Passion (雪の断章-情熱-) (1985) on BD and DVD on August 18, 2021! This film was never available on DVD before, despite being a seminal Somai film and starring the original Sukeban Deka Yuki Saito! This is the film that opens with a 10 minute tracking shot. On a side note, parts of the film were shot just next door from where I used to in Sapporo, and others near the university I attended.

BD specks list original mono track, Japanese HoH subs, and some very nice extras: Saito interview, 1985 making of, trailer and photo gallery.
- https://www.allcinema.net/soft/1069920

Also coming to Japanese BD via Bandai Namco Art on August 27, 2021 is Somai's Tokyo Heaven (東京上空いらっしゃいませ) (1990). A most welcome release considering the old Pioneer DVD has been OOP for at least 15 years, and impossible to obtain unless you were willing to pay 250-400 dollars for it. That being said, the film is not among my favourites. Feels like a standard domestic 90s drama with a low key fantasy touch akin to Nobuhiko Obayashi, save for one great one-take scene that sparks the old Somal magic.
- https://www.allcinema.net/soft/1069953

No BD art available yet, so here's LD

Arrow has also confirmed (via post card) that they will be releasing Sailor Suit and Machine Gun on BD. I already have the Japanese BD which contains both the 1981 Theatrical Version and the 1982 Theatrical Extended Version. I also have the Hiroko Yakushimaru Premium DVD Box with the extended version + mini-size sailor suit (no kidding)! And I have the theatrical pamphlets for both theatrical releases...

Now what we need is BDs of the brilliant P.P. Rider (1983) (which was co-written by Leonard Schrader btw) and Somai's divine masterpiece Taifu Club (1985). Unfortunately both seem unlikely on BD since P.P. Rider came out on HD mastered DVD a few years ago, and Taifu Club got the same DVD treatment earlier this month.

I still have my ancient Pioneer DVD of Taifu (and the theatrical pamphlet. Yeah, got those for P.P. and Lost Chapter as well, in case you didn't guess already).

You can never have too many Somai pamphlets

05-28-2021, 10:42 AM	#1
Takuma Senior Member Member since:Dec 2011 Location:Japan	Shinji Somai on BD Shinji Somai is finding more love on BD Arguably the greatest Japanese director of the 80s, an undisputed master of youth film and tracking shots, Somai is finally finding some more love on BD. Toho will be releasing Lost Chapter of Snow: Passion (雪の断章-情熱-) (1985) on BD and DVD on August 18, 2021! This film was never available on DVD before, despite being a seminal Somai film and starring the original Sukeban Deka Yuki Saito! This is the film that opens with a 10 minute tracking shot. On a side note, parts of the film were shot just next door from where I used to in Sapporo, and others near the university I attended. BD specks list original mono track, Japanese HoH subs, and some very nice extras: Saito interview, 1985 making of, trailer and photo gallery. - https://www.allcinema.net/soft/1069920 Also coming to Japanese BD via Bandai Namco Art on August 27, 2021 is Somai's Tokyo Heaven (東京上空いらっしゃいませ) (1990). A most welcome release considering the old Pioneer DVD has been OOP for at least 15 years, and impossible to obtain unless you were willing to pay 250-400 dollars for it. That being said, the film is not among my favourites. Feels like a standard domestic 90s drama with a low key fantasy touch akin to Nobuhiko Obayashi, save for one great one-take scene that sparks the old Somal magic. - https://www.allcinema.net/soft/1069953 No BD art available yet, so here's LD Arrow has also confirmed (via post card) that they will be releasing Sailor Suit and Machine Gun on BD. I already have the Japanese BD which contains both the 1981 Theatrical Version and the 1982 Theatrical Extended Version. I also have the Hiroko Yakushimaru Premium DVD Box with the extended version + mini-size sailor suit (no kidding)! And I have the theatrical pamphlets for both theatrical releases... Now what we need is BDs of the brilliant P.P. Rider (1983) (which was co-written by Leonard Schrader btw) and Somai's divine masterpiece Taifu Club (1985). Unfortunately both seem unlikely on BD since P.P. Rider came out on HD mastered DVD a few years ago, and Taifu Club got the same DVD treatment earlier this month. I still have my ancient Pioneer DVD of Taifu (and the theatrical pamphlet. Yeah, got those for P.P. and Lost Chapter as well, in case you didn't guess already). You can never have too many Somai pamphlets

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