Battles Without Honor and Humanity: The Complete Collection (1973-1974)

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Because not all online items are 40% off. The All 40% Off sale applies to most instore items but only about 2/3 of the online. I've noticed that most of the last 6-8 weeks of released items aren't 40% online.

I see, I thought it was all.

[Blu Titan]

Just finished #3 and it is only getting better . I will admit that it is hard to keep up with all the bosses, captains, and underbosses .

[Dr. Humbert]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Just finished #3 and it is only getting better . I will admit that it is hard to keep up with all the bosses, captains, and underbosses .

Yeah and the included charts in the booklet are even more complicated than the movies.

[DaveyJoe]

This weekend I watched Battles Without Honor and Humanity the legendary 1973 Yakuza film directed by Kinji Fukasaku. Hugely influential, the film spawned a series of sequels that are often compared to The Godfather. It's more like The Godfather if it had started when Michael Corleone killed Sollozzo and Captain McClusky in the restaurant. At 90 minutes, it's tight, exciting, funny and frenetic. In just the first five minutes a dozen characters are introduced, a future criminal stops a couple of American GIs from raping a Japanese villager, and a local crime lord punishes an encroaching thug by chopping off his arm. It's full of 70s flair, the title bursts onto the scream with wailing trumpets, gangsters are framed in dutch angles, and iconic moments are savored with freeze frames.

The opening credits play over shots of Hiroshima torn apart by the bomb that America dropped. The city is left as a lawless hellhole, waiting to be taken over by the corrupt. Yet the world of Yakuza is a contradiction, as honor is very important to Japanese culture. As is pride. The film follows ex-soldier Shozo, who is thrust into the world of Yakuza after helping his friend whose honor was insulted. He finds himself in prison where he pledges brotherhood to a local Yakuza who needs Shozo's help with a bold escape plan. They don't have sake to share which is customary with a Yakuza pact, so they cut each other's arms and drink blood. And it's just one of the first instances of bloodshed to be found in Battles Without Honor and Humanity.

Shozo finds himself embroiled in the world of Yakuza, he's offered work and money, but at the cost of loyalty in the gang war that inevitably erupts. Can honor really exists in the realm of crooks? Will his own loyalty be returned by the boss he's pledged his life to? The film is filled with a myriad of colorful characters with questionable loyalties and motivations. In fact, it can be quite difficult to keep track of everybody and what they're up to, even with the fact that the film lists the name of each character as they are killed in the turf disputes. Of course there's no time for sentimentality, the movie plunges forward to the next thrilling conflict. Despite being a fan of the genre, I'm amazed that I've gone this far without seeing this movie, it lives up to the hype. While it may not have the depth of The Godfather, it was a riveting glimpse into the seedy underworld of Japanese crime, and I can't wait to watch the next movie in the series.

[Herry Dunston]

While I can't say I'm a fan of the series overall, I do appreciate how it's grounded in reality in how the clan system generally works. The violence may be stylized, but the politics within the clans are anything but, and that should be respected given we're living in the times where it's commonplace in cable dramas.

Hiroshima Death Match is my favorite of the five films, even if it's largely a side-story.

[Sy-Klone]

I blind bought this on Amazon today.

It's my first Arrow release.

I had $30 in Amazon credit that I was looking to spend on something different and new (to me). I've had this collection in my Amazon cart for the last week, because I stumbled across some really encouraging reviews. Problem is that it was priced at $95 before tax, then as I was finally making my decision, it jumped up to $135 (way more than I was willing to spend) and the next day dropping to $110 and eventually, back down to $95 this morning. I decided I'd just take the plunge at $95. But something told me to hold off.

I caught it when it briefly dropped to $88 this afternoon. That was my sign to stop jerking around and hit place order. Bought. Final cost after Amazon credit: $63. I'm happy with that price. It's now gone back up to $95. Must have got mine in under the wire.

Really hope this isn't one of my blind buy regrets.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Sy-Klone

Really hope this isn't one of my blind buy regrets.

I hope it's not either, but to be perfectly honest, these are some of the best films I have EVER seen and I've seen a lot of films. I would be quite shocked if you regretted this purchase.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by duketogo84

I hope it's not either, but to be perfectly honest, these are some of the best films I have EVER seen and I've seen a lot of films. I would be quite shocked if you regretted this purchase.

This set is the most fun I had watching movies at home all year. Getting ready to view #4 in a few minutes. Powering up my HT system and kindly asking my wife to watch her Spanish novelas in the bedroom. Battles Without Honor and Humanity > Celia (I am Cuban but this series is the worst), Bajo El Mismo Cielo, La Mujer De Acero.

[CMoney]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

While I can say I'm a fan of the series overall, I do appreciate how it's grounded in reality in how the clan system generally works.

Did you mean to write "can," or "can't?"

[Herry Dunston]

Originally Posted by CMoney

Did you mean to write "can," or "can't?"

Do you know what I love about sites like this? I can fix mistakes from my posts days, months, even years ago. I don't have that luxury on a certain site.

[CMoney]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

Do you know what I love about sites like this? I can fix mistakes from my posts days, months, even years ago. I don't have that luxury on a certain site.

Yeah, I figured you meant "can't."

I take it this was you're the first time seeing any of the films.

[Herry Dunston]

Originally Posted by CMoney

Yeah, I figured you meant "can't."

I take it this was the first time (you're) seeing any of the films.

Who's making the mistake?

Anyway, do you mean my first to see a Fukasaku film, or my first to see films of this particular genre? The answer's the same for both: no. I watched a couple of Takeshi Kitano's Yakuza films prior to The Yakuza Papers series.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

This set is the most fun I had watching movies at home all year. Getting ready to view #4 in a few minutes. Powering up my HT system and kindly asking my wife to watch her Spanish novelas in the bedroom. Battles Without Honor and Humanity > Celia (I am Cuban but this series is the worst), Bajo El Mismo Cielo, La Mujer De Acero.

Its funny, when I was watching the set I thought my wife was busy on the computer but she was paying attention to the films when she could lol. She ended up getting cought up in them fully on the 3rd film then went to watch 1 & 2 on her own since she missed a bit.

[vdmello]

Originally Posted by Sy-Klone

I blind bought this on Amazon today.

It's my first Arrow release.

I had $30 in Amazon credit that I was looking to spend on something different and new (to me). I've had this collection in my Amazon cart for the last week, because I stumbled across some really encouraging reviews. Problem is that it was priced at $95 before tax, then as I was finally making my decision, it jumped up to $135 (way more than I was willing to spend) and the next day dropping to $110 and eventually, back down to $95 this morning. I decided I'd just take the plunge at $95. But something told me to hold off.

I caught it when it briefly dropped to $88 this afternoon. That was my sign to stop jerking around and hit place order. Bought. Final cost after Amazon credit: $63. I'm happy with that price. It's now gone back up to $95. Must have got mine in under the wire.

Really hope this isn't one of my blind buy regrets.

You won't regret this purchase...

[CMoney]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

Anyway, do you mean my first to see a Fukasaku film, or my first to see films of this particular genre? The answer's the same for both: no. I watched a couple of Takeshi Kitano's Yakuza films prior to The Yakuza Papers series.

The films in this series.

[Herry Dunston]

Originally Posted by CMoney

The films in this series.

It was a blind buy, so yes, they were.

[MTRodaba2468]

Finally received my copy from Amazon today. Wasn't as lengthy a wait as it was for the Black Cat set, at least...

[CMoney]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

It was a blind buy, so yes, they were.

Ok, thanks. Your initial post confused me a bit, hence why I asked. All clear now.

[BuckNaked2k]

Went to B&N with a 25% off coupon expecting to use it on a ship-to-home order. The online price showed $105, but I was informed the in-store price was $90! I didn't think Battles was carried in-store, but I suppose some of the larger, urban locations may have it.

So after 10% member discount and the 25% coupon, I was able to order Battles for $60 plus tax.

[Petey Parker]

Originally Posted by BuckNaked2k

Went to B&N with a 25% off coupon expecting to use it on a ship-to-home order. The online price showed $105, but I was informed the in-store price was $90! I didn't think Battles was carried in-store, but I suppose some of the larger, urban locations may have it.

So after 10% member discount and the 25% coupon, I was able to order Battles for $60 plus tax.

Did you go today? There's a 30% off coupon that came out today.