Versus (2000) coming from Arrow

[DR Herbert West]

A relentless one-of-a-kind sensory assault chock-full of hyper-kinetic fight scenes, gangster shootouts, sword-slashing violence and gory zombie horror, Versus was a key title amongst the barrage of innovative horror and action movies that appeared as if from nowhere from Japan at the turn of the millennium, leading to a new wave of appreciation for Asian extreme cinema.

A mysterious face-off in a wooded clearing between two escaped convicts and a carload of sharply dressed yakuza holding a beautiful woman captive ends in hails of bullets and showers of blood. The location for this violent encounter is the mythic Forest of Resurrection, the site of the 444th portal of the 666 hidden gates that link this earthly domain to the netherworld – and it didn’t get this name for nothing. As one of the surviving prisoners escapes with the girl into the darkness of the forest, disgruntled gangsters soon become the least of their worries as an earlier battle between a lone warrior against hordes of zombie samurai is carried over from a millennium ago into the present day…

Versus caused a sensation both in Japan and internationally upon its release, launching the careers of director Ryûhei Kitamura (Godzilla Final Wars, Midnight Meat Train) and action star and fight choreographer Tak Sakaguchi (Battlefield Baseball, Yakuza Weapon). Arrow Video is proud to present this mythic cult title in both its original 2000 and expanded 2004 Ultimate Versus iterations, in a brand new, director-approved restoration.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

Brand new 2K restoration from original film elements by Arrow Films, approved by director Ryûhei Kitamura
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentations of both versions of the film: the original 2000 cut and 2004’s Ultimate Versus, featuring over 10 minutes of new and revised footage
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon
DISC 1: VERSUS

Original lossless Japanese 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio and English 2.0 stereo audio
Optional English subtitles
Audio commentary by Audio commentary by Kitamura, cast and crew
Audio commentary by Kitamura and the cast and crew
New visual essay on the career of Kitamura by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp
Behind Versus, a two-part behind-the-scenes documentary exploring the film’s production
First Contact: Versus Evolution, a featurette exploring the film’s origins
Tak Sakaguchi’s One-Man Journey, an archival featurette on the actor’s visit to the 2001 Japan Film Festival in Hamburg
Film festival screening footage
Team Versus, a brief look inside the Napalm Films office
Deep in the Woods, an archival featurette featuring interviews with Kitamura, cast and crew
The Encounter, an archival interview with editor Shûichi Kakesu
Deleted scenes with audio commentary by Kitamura, cast and crew
Nervous and Nervous 2, two “side story” mini-movies featuring characters from the main feature
Featurette on the making of Nervous 2
Versus FF Version, a condensed, 20-minute recut of the film
Multiple trailers
Image gallery
DISC 2: ULTIMATE VERSUS

Original lossless Japanese 6.1 and 2.0 stereo audio and English 6.1 and 2.0 stereo audio
Optional English subtitles
Audio commentary by Kitamura, cast and crew
Sakigake! Otoko versus Juku, a featurette on the newly shot material for Ultimate Versus
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film and a reprinted interview with Kitamura by Tom Mes, and notes on the making of the film by Kitamura

[RodChester]

Nice. Missed out on the first blu and never wanted to pay the higher price. Glad this is gonna be back in print.

[DukeTogo84]

Great news. Never got the Tokyo Shock release and when I wanted it, it was too high priced. Hopefully Azumi isn't too far behind.

[Talyn]

This was one of the first Japanese horror flicks I tried out when I was insanely big into anime back in the day. I have the dvd, but excited for this bluray and the cover art is stunning! Ordering, on Diabolik, once I decided on which Tremors edition to buy.

[Socko]

One of the best posts of this year! I have been waiting for this movie for ages!
Thank you Arrow!

[flansered]

I'm very excited for this release. I had and sold the old Media Blasters blu-ray when I needed some quick cash, so it will be nice to have it back in my collection again.

[waxHead]

Awesome! I have the Tokyo Shock / Media Blasters Blu-ray, very excited to see what Arrow can do with a new 2K restoration.

[GODHOOD]

I really enjoyed this movie, dealers were always selling bootleg copies at the conventions. Pre-ordered right away.

[sumo8675309]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

never thought i'd see this a non media blasters version come out

[DR Herbert West]

Pre-order is up.

[BorisKarloffice]

$60??

[sandman slim]

Originally Posted by BorisKarloffice

$60??

Really weird. I pre-ordered Sept. 30, and it was 39.95.

[hariseldon]

Or $34 at Deep Discount with one of the 10% off codes

Not entirely sure why it's called a Canada import since it appears to be the same UPC as the US item and I don't think Arrow releases a separate item in Canada. It's also been a single North American release


EDIT: Even better price at Diabolik (below), but $5 shipping pretty much makes puts it in the same ballpark unless you are ordering several items

[starsteam]

Something really screwy with that Amazon price at the moment. Surely it'll be price matched at $27.99 by release.

[BorisKarloffice]

Okay glad I'm not alone in thinking that price was out there

[professorwho]

It's $27.99 at DiabolikDVD (where I ordered it)

[HipsterTrash]

So wikipedia says this had a budget of $10,000 while IMDB says it was $400,000. Anyone know what is the case?

[Kakihara]

I know Amazon will eventually lower the price before release date but $60 for the upcoming Arrow release is INSANE. WTF, happened there?!

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

I know Amazon will eventually lower the price before release date but $60 for the upcoming Arrow release is INSANE. WTF, happened there?!

Nothing happened. They do this all the time. There is no harm in pre-ordering from them because their pre-order price guarantee automatically adjusts the price of your order to whatever the item's lowest happened to be between you placing the order and them shipping it out. So even if you put it in at $60, if it drops to the usual $27.99 (which it will) you'll get it for that. If I absolutely can't avoid it and have to pre-order something from Amazon I simply set an alarm that'll remind me to check the price 2-3 days before the release. If it didn't drop to an acceptable price I just cancel it.

Why not just go with DiabolikDVD or Grindhouse Video, though?

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by A Tortured Duckling

Nothing happened. They do this all the time. There is no harm in pre-ordering from them because their pre-order price guarantee automatically adjusts the price of your order to whatever the item's lowest happened to be between you placing the order and them shipping it out. So even if you put it in at $60, if it drops to the usual $27.99 (which it will) you'll get it for that. If I absolutely can't avoid it and have to pre-order something from Amazon I simply set an alarm that'll remind me to check the price 2-3 days before the release. If it didn't drop to an acceptable price I just cancel it.

Why not just go with DiabolikDVD or Grindhouse Video, though?

I know, I've experienced this pattern for several years. My question is more of a reference to how this has been marked up higher than usual. Arrow has released box sets with multiple films included that started off at a lower price point on Amazon than this release so I just thought it was more unusual of them. I'm sure it will lower substantially upon release date. I'd go with the other retailers but I'm a Prime member so I try to stick with Amazon first for these releases.