Black Society Trilogy (1995-1999)

[Oscar Rothman]

UK Release Date: 16th January 2017
US Release Date: 17th January 2017
After several years spent working almost exclusively in the direct-to-video world of "V-cinema" in Japan, Takashi Miike announced himself as a world-class filmmaking talent with this trio of thematically-connected, character-centric crime stories about violence, the underworld of Japanese society, families both real and surrogate, and the possibly hopeless task of finding one's place in the world. His first films made specifically for theatrical release, and his first for a major studio, the "Black Society Trilogy" was the beginning of Miike's mature career as a filmmaker and they remain among the prolific director's finest works.
Set in the bustling Kabuki-cho nightlife neighborhood of Tokyo, Shinjuku Triad Society follows a mixed-race cop (Kippei Shiina, Outrage) struggling with private issues while hunting a psychotic criminal (Tomorowo Taguchi, Tetsuo the Iron Man) who traffics in children's organs. Rainy Dog, shot entirely in Taiwan, is about an exiled yakuza (Dead or Alive's Show Aikawa) who finds himself saddled with a son he never knew he had and a price on his head after the Chinese gang he works for decides to turn on him. Ley Lines moves from the countryside to the city and back, as three Japanese youths of Chinese descent (including The Raid 2's Kazuki Kitamura) seek their fortune in Tokyo, only to run afoul of a violent gang boss (Naoto Takenaka, The Happiness of the Katakuris).
Three of the most dramatically moving films created by the director, the "Black Society Trilogy" offers clear proof that Miike's frequent pigeonholing as a specialist in bloody spectacle is only one aspect of his filmmaking career, and taken as a whole, the films are among the finest works ever to deal with the way violence and brutality can unexpectedly destroy even the most innocent of lives.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
•High Definition digital transfers of all three films
•Original uncompressed stereo audio
•Optional English subtitles for all three films
•New interview with director Takashi Miike
•New interview with actor Show Aikawa (Rainy Dog, Ley Lines)
•New audio commentaries for all three films by Miike biographer Tom Mes
•Original theatrical trailers for all three films
•Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the films

[KyleW]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

UK Release Date: 16th January 2017
US Release Date: 17th January 2017
After several years spent working almost exclusively in the direct-to-video world of "V-cinema" in Japan, Takashi Miike announced himself as a world-class filmmaking talent with this trio of thematically-connected, character-centric crime stories about violence, the underworld of Japanese society, families both real and surrogate, and the possibly hopeless task of finding one's place in the world. His first films made specifically for theatrical release, and his first for a major studio, the "Black Society Trilogy" was the beginning of Miike's mature career as a filmmaker and they remain among the prolific director's finest works.
Set in the bustling Kabuki-cho nightlife neighborhood of Tokyo, Shinjuku Triad Society follows a mixed-race cop (Kippei Shiina, Outrage) struggling with private issues while hunting a psychotic criminal (Tomorowo Taguchi, Tetsuo the Iron Man) who traffics in children's organs. Rainy Dog, shot entirely in Taiwan, is about an exiled yakuza (Dead or Alive's Show Aikawa) who finds himself saddled with a son he never knew he had and a price on his head after the Chinese gang he works for decides to turn on him. Ley Lines moves from the countryside to the city and back, as three Japanese youths of Chinese descent (including The Raid 2's Kazuki Kitamura) seek their fortune in Tokyo, only to run afoul of a violent gang boss (Naoto Takenaka, The Happiness of the Katakuris).
Three of the most dramatically moving films created by the director, the "Black Society Trilogy" offers clear proof that Miike's frequent pigeonholing as a specialist in bloody spectacle is only one aspect of his filmmaking career, and taken as a whole, the films are among the finest works ever to deal with the way violence and brutality can unexpectedly destroy even the most innocent of lives.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
•High Definition digital transfers of all three films
•Original uncompressed stereo audio
•Optional English subtitles for all three films
•New interview with director Takashi Miike
•New interview with actor Show Aikawa (Rainy Dog, Ley Lines)
•New audio commentaries for all three films by Miike biographer Tom Mes
•Original theatrical trailers for all three films
•Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the films

Is this the only arrow US release for January ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[FiendCameron]

Originally Posted by KyleW

Is this the only arrow US release for January ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Blood Rage reg. edition.

[DukeTogo84]

Meh.

I'm going to be the voice of discontent here. These films have never really looked great and I can't imagine them looking much better here. If people were *****ing about how Dark Water looked on blu-ray, I can't wait to see what they are going to say about these.

I'm a huge Miike fan and while Rainy Dog is a pretty good movie, I wish Arrow would have spent their time and energy in releasing some films that Miike has done that are much better and have never had a DVD or blu-ray release. Like Agitator and Man in White. Movies with similar themes, but oh so much better.

I'm cool with Arrow releasing some classic Japanese films that have had DVD releases, but never had blu-ray releases, but if you're going to do that, lets get some of the best. What I would enjoy even more is for them to release great films that have not been represented in any format.

Wasn't impressed with Dark Water, and I'm less than impressed with this choice. So many Miike films to chose from and they pick a few that are at the bottom of the barrel. However, again I will say Rainy Dog is a good film, and maybe even great at times, but so many better choices to pick from.

[MifuneFan]

They're going to be releasing a lot of Miike stuff, do just be patient.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

They're going to be releasing a lot of Miike stuff, do just be patient.

Has this been stated anywhere? I'm pretty sure that the Dead or Alive films will be coming soon, but I haven't heard that Arrow is planning on releasing a lot of Miike films for certain.

[GasmaskAvenger]

The one i'm really hoping for is Ichi The Killer.

At least a release with picture quality on par with their UK only Audition blu-ray would be great.

[javi92]

Sounds like a pretty solid package. Looking forward to it.

[mca213]

Wish they would release Audition in the US.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by mca213

Wish they would release Audition in the US.

Audition has already had 2 US releases, first a DVD then on BD, both were quite good. It's not the kind of film that's for everyone so I don't see a whole lot of people picking it up yet again.

[Moj]

Originally Posted by duketogo84

Meh.

I'm going to be the voice of discontent here. These films have never really looked great and I can't imagine them looking much better here. If people were *****ing about how Dark Water looked on blu-ray, I can't wait to see what they are going to say about these.

I'm a huge Miike fan and while Rainy Dog is a pretty good movie, I wish Arrow would have spent their time and energy in releasing some films that Miike has done that are much better and have never had a DVD or blu-ray release. Like Agitator and Man in White. Movies with similar themes, but oh so much better.

I'm cool with Arrow releasing some classic Japanese films that have had DVD releases, but never had blu-ray releases, but if you're going to do that, lets get some of the best. What I would enjoy even more is for them to release great films that have not been represented in any format.

Wasn't impressed with Dark Water, and I'm less than impressed with this choice. So many Miike films to chose from and they pick a few that are at the bottom of the barrel. However, again I will say Rainy Dog is a good film, and maybe even great at times, but so many better choices to pick from.

I completely understand your frustration, especially when it comes to the MAN IN WHITE films. Those are fantastic, and have never seen any type of US release. In that respect, I wish people would stop clamoring for films with at least solid DVD releases, like Ichi.

I'll still be purchasing this though, because I like these films and want to support future Miike releases, but ARROW should try looking into Miike's catalog. MAN IN WHITE people!

[jacobb1313]

Arrow's upcoming wave of Japanese cinema is going to hurt my wallet. I'm looking forward to these releases - a lot.

[rickah88]

I've never seen these, but I'm a fan of everything else I've seen from Miike.
The trilogy sounds good, so this might be a good blind buy for me.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by rickah88

I've never seen these, but I'm a fan of everything else I've seen from Miike.
The trilogy sounds good, so this might be a good blind buy for me.

Same here.

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

The one i'm really hoping for is Ichi The Killer.

At least a release with picture quality on par with their UK only Audition blu-ray would be great.

Hope so too but this movie will never look that great so expectations would have to be lowered for it. I also would love a Gozu release but that wouldn't look that good, either.

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by Moj

I completely understand your frustration, especially when it comes to the MAN IN WHITE films. Those are fantastic, and have never seen any type of US release. In that respect, I wish people would stop clamoring for films with at least solid DVD releases, like Ichi.

I'll still be purchasing this though, because I like these films and want to support future Miike releases, but ARROW should try looking into Miike's catalog. MAN IN WHITE people!

I'd say Gozu people!

[DaveyJoe]

Originally Posted by duketogo84

Meh.

I'm going to be the voice of discontent here. These films have never really looked great and I can't imagine them looking much better here. If people were *****ing about how Dark Water looked on blu-ray, I can't wait to see what they are going to say about these.

I'm a huge Miike fan and while Rainy Dog is a pretty good movie, I wish Arrow would have spent their time and energy in releasing some films that Miike has done that are much better and have never had a DVD or blu-ray release. Like Agitator and Man in White. Movies with similar themes, but oh so much better.

I'm cool with Arrow releasing some classic Japanese films that have had DVD releases, but never had blu-ray releases, but if you're going to do that, lets get some of the best. What I would enjoy even more is for them to release great films that have not been represented in any format.

Wasn't impressed with Dark Water, and I'm less than impressed with this choice. So many Miike films to chose from and they pick a few that are at the bottom of the barrel. However, again I will say Rainy Dog is a good film, and maybe even great at times, but so many better choices to pick from.

There are a lot of things that would go into Arrow's decision on what to release. It depends on what they can get rights to, what might have good materials, and what might sell well. It makes sense that Arrow would start with high profile titles like Audition and The Happiness of the Katakuris. They know those titles will sell better than Miike films Region 1 viewers have never had the opportunity to watch. I am personally more willing to spend $27.99 on a Miike film I know I love, and a lot of people probably feel that way. Something like Agitator would be a much more risky release for Arrow to invest in, and I'd hate to see poor sales discourage them from other Miike titles.

If you want to see more obscure Miike films released by Arrow, I suggest you buy this set to encourage them, and eventually they might get to them.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Moj

I completely understand your frustration, especially when it comes to the MAN IN WHITE films. Those are fantastic, and have never seen any type of US release. In that respect, I wish people would stop clamoring for films with at least solid DVD releases, like Ichi.

I'll still be purchasing this though, because I like these films and want to support future Miike releases, but ARROW should try looking into Miike's catalog. MAN IN WHITE people!

The Man In White films are easily in my top five Miike films. It's a Yakuza action film with one of the best Japanese casts ever put together. So many great stars of Japanese cinema of the 60's and 70's as well as many of the big staples of Japanese cinema's of the 2000's. Great freaking films.

[Reno Fan]

The Man In White is pretty good.

I am thinking that the reason that it never was properly released outside of Japan (as far as I know) is likely because of the company that owns the rights.

I don't think the main company that owns the rights has had any non-Japan releases of what they own.

They may not even exist as a company now.

Conversely, the company that owns the rights to the Black Society Trilogy has had many of their titles released outside of Japan.

As far as I know, they also own The Dead or Alive Trilogy, Ichi the Killer, Izo and even Bird People in China (a favourite of mine).

All of those were released outside of Japan in the past. I have no idea if Dead or Alive is coming ... but based on the fact that the company that owns the rights has had titles to be released outside of Japan in the past and the fact that this (Black Society Trilogy) is owned by them; I would be inclined to think that Dead or Alive is more likely than The Man in White.

[Telstar]

I have the old ArtsMagic dvd set and remember really enjoying the Tom Mes commentaries. I'm wondering if there's any reason for the "new" commentaries on the Arrow set other than the strong possibility of having lost the rights to the originals.