Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989) - Page 2 - Blu-ray Forum

kstebor · 07-19-2018, 05:00 AM

Well this is a surprise. When's the last time Media Blasters released something that wasn't an erotic anime? Hopefully it's good quality and doesn't get delayed.

*PREACHER* · 07-19-2018, 05:08 AM

Very nice...always surprised it wasn't included in the Criterion set...and one of my favorites!

DukeTogo84 · 07-19-2018, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kstebor

Well this is a surprise. When's the last time Media Blasters released something that wasn't an erotic anime? Hopefully it's good quality and doesn't get delayed.

I'm truly shocked they are still in business. Their blu-ray output is pretty much 50/50. It might be good, but it might be really bad.

Plus their delays. Towards the end nearly all of their titles never came out on release date. Some many months later.

It seemed like they were doing well enough in the distribution field, and then starting to produce actual films that didn't give them the returns they hoped. I honestly figured they were done.

darkness2918 · 07-19-2018, 06:41 AM

Ive only seen a few of the other films but the trailer to this looks interesting. I too thought Tokyo Shock was done for, hope they start releasing more stuff.

stepeanut · 07-19-2018, 06:51 AM

Good news. Hopefully, this will be an upgrade over the old Arrow DVD.

Zombie Kermit · 07-19-2018, 12:16 PM

A real shame that this is coming after shipping to Australia has become so much harder.
I have the Criterion set and the Kitano film steelbook, and have been wanting a release of this one for years. Hopefully some eBay sellers will have it.

stvn1974 · 07-19-2018, 04:27 PM

I watched the first two films from the Criterion set again last night. Been so long since I had seen them it was like the first time all over again.

DukeTogo84 · 07-23-2018, 03:51 PM

Now it's only showing up for DVD for pre-order. Not sure what's going on.

Blu Titan · 07-23-2018, 07:33 PM

Just waiting on the pre-order. Does anyone have contact info for Tokyo Shock?

DukeTogo84 · 07-23-2018, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Just waiting on the pre-order. Does anyone have contact info for Tokyo Shock?

http://media-blasters.com/customer-service/

There is a contact us form on the bottom of the page. I actually e-mailed them to make sure this is getting a blu-ray release. Still the more people that contact them the better and less likely they will be to cancel the blu.

StarDestroyer52 · 07-23-2018, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

http://media-blasters.com/customer-service/

There is a contact us form on the bottom of the page. I actually e-mailed them to make sure this is getting a blu-ray release. Still the more people that contact them the better and less likely they will be to cancel the blu.

I've contacted them using the form, hopefully, I get some kind of an answer. I plan on getting the Zatoichi set in November so I really want to get this one also.

Blu Titan · 07-25-2018, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

I've contacted them using the form, hopefully, I get some kind of an answer. I plan on getting the Zatoichi set in November so I really want to get this one also.

I also sent a message...this is one release I REALLY care about

.

Black Sun · 07-26-2018, 01:02 AM

Someone fill me in on this one. Is this truly "Part 26" of the original Zatoichi series? Why was this not included in the Criterion set?

DukeTogo84 · 07-26-2018, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Sun

Someone fill me in on this one. Is this truly "Part 26" of the original Zatoichi series? Why was this not included in the Criterion set?

It was made more than ten years from the previous films, but for all intent and purposes it's part of the original series.

The reason I'm guessing it wasn't included in the Criterion set was because Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock still had the rights to the film.

It's one of the best in the series and directed by Katsu himself.

Shingster · 07-26-2018, 02:15 AM

Yes it's truly the 26th entry, produced by Katsu Productions who had previously co-produced the series since the 16th film, so it has legit production ties to the rest. The big difference is that this was the first Zatoichi film distributed by Shochiku (the series goes as follows: Daiei > Toho > Shochiku, with Katsu Productions co-producing on the last 10 films) so I assume the rights to Darkness His Ally were under their auspice and hence it's always been a bit of a distribution outlier.

bruce holecheck · 07-26-2018, 04:33 PM

I verified with a friend at Media Blasters that the Blu is still good to go. He said it's just Amazon being Amazon and he expects the listing to be back up soon.

Blu Titan · 07-26-2018, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce holecheck

I verified with a friend at Media Blasters that the Blu is still good to go. He said it's just Amazon being Amazon and he expects the listing to be back up soon.

Great news. Thanks Bruce

.

DukeTogo84 · 07-26-2018, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce holecheck

I verified with a friend at Media Blasters that the Blu is still good to go. He said it's just Amazon being Amazon and he expects the listing to be back up soon.

Sweet. Great news. Really can't wait to upgrade this one.

Hoping Media Blasters/Tokyo Shock gives us more of previously released films on blu.

bruce holecheck · 07-30-2018, 08:46 PM

Back up and kickin', O ye of little faith.

milo bloom · 07-30-2018, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift1246

I wish Criterion left a blank slot in their collection for this disc.

I know, right? Could have been an unmarked slot we could pop open for this.

07-23-2018, 07:33 PM	#9
Blu Titan Super Moderator Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Edo, Land of the Samurai Home Theater Gallery:42 4K collection:41 Blu-ray collection:2864 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:92	Just waiting on the pre-order. Does anyone have contact info for Tokyo Shock? Last edited by Blu Titan; 07-23-2018 at 07:37 PM.

07-26-2018, 02:15 AM	#15
Shingster Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2009	Yes it's truly the 26th entry, produced by Katsu Productions who had previously co-produced the series since the 16th film, so it has legit production ties to the rest. The big difference is that this was the first Zatoichi film distributed by Shochiku (the series goes as follows: Daiei > Toho > Shochiku, with Katsu Productions co-producing on the last 10 films) so I assume the rights to Darkness His Ally were under their auspice and hence it's always been a bit of a distribution outlier. Last edited by Shingster; 07-26-2018 at 02:21 AM.

07-19-2018, 05:00 AM	#1
kstebor Active Member Member since:Jan 2011 Location:New Jersey, USA 4K collection:87 Blu-ray collection:1555 DVD collection:99	Well this is a surprise. When's the last time Media Blasters released something that wasn't an erotic anime? Hopefully it's good quality and doesn't get delayed.

07-19-2018, 05:08 AM	#2
PREACHER Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Apr 2012 Trading Score:5	Very nice...always surprised it wasn't included in the Criterion set...and one of my favorites!

07-19-2018, 06:41 AM	#4
darkness2918 Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Sep 2014 Home Theater Gallery:2 4K collection:231 Blu-ray collection:2046 DVD collection:493 Trading Score:157	Ive only seen a few of the other films but the trailer to this looks interesting. I too thought Tokyo Shock was done for, hope they start releasing more stuff.

07-19-2018, 06:51 AM	#5
stepeanut Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Apr 2015 4K collection:8 Blu-ray collection:1676 Trading Score:6	Good news. Hopefully, this will be an upgrade over the old Arrow DVD.

07-19-2018, 12:16 PM	#6
Zombie Kermit Active Member Member since:Feb 2013	A real shame that this is coming after shipping to Australia has become so much harder. I have the Criterion set and the Kitano film steelbook, and have been wanting a release of this one for years. Hopefully some eBay sellers will have it.

07-19-2018, 04:27 PM	#7
stvn1974 Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jan 2012 Location:Earth Trading Score:18	I watched the first two films from the Criterion set again last night. Been so long since I had seen them it was like the first time all over again.

07-23-2018, 03:51 PM	#8
DukeTogo84 Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Aug 2012 Location:California 4K collection:155 Blu-ray collection:4937 Blu-ray reviews: 62 Trading Score:139	Now it's only showing up for DVD for pre-order. Not sure what's going on.

07-26-2018, 01:02 AM	#13
Black Sun Banned Member since:Feb 2018	Someone fill me in on this one. Is this truly "Part 26" of the original Zatoichi series? Why was this not included in the Criterion set?

07-26-2018, 04:33 PM	#16
bruce holecheck Power Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2014 4K collection:773 Blu-ray collection:8809 DVD collection:321	I verified with a friend at Media Blasters that the Blu is still good to go. He said it's just Amazon being Amazon and he expects the listing to be back up soon.

07-30-2018, 08:46 PM	#19
bruce holecheck Power Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2014 4K collection:773 Blu-ray collection:8809 DVD collection:321	Back up and kickin', O ye of little faith.

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