V-Cinema Essentials: Bullets and Betrayal (Limited Edition) Blu-ray (Arrow Video)

[Jajuka89]

Got my order in

[OlDirty]

Comes out to $46.24 if you get 2 other things for the 20% off. They've been shipping extra fast lately.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/306275996067

[supertwix_64]

Finally got my hands on this set, just in time for my week off work too! Got straight into Danger Point:Road to Hell as it has the pairing of two of my favourite japanese actors, Show Aikawa and Jo Shishido. Very cool film! It's quite a slow film and isn't too action heavy but it was enjoyable nevertheless. Gorgeous tranfer considering this was a straight-to-video film, and it's also shot beautifully. Theres a scene in an aquarium that looks absolutley fantastic. Only one special feature for this one but it was a very nice video essay that covers Jo Shishido and director Yasuharu Hasebe careers. Can't wait to get into the rest of these.

[MifuneFan]

I saw this mentioned on a Discord I follow, but Tom Mes more or less implied recently that we're getting more volumes in the future. i think this was expected, but glad to see something closer to an official confirmation:

https://x.com/midnightmes/status/1913883848385126884

[supertwix_64]

Praying we can get Lady Battle Cop in the next edition

[logboy]

the random selection in the set still looks of academic interest rather than more widely of interest.

sets are fine for runs of films in series, but if there's multiple volumes of these, i'd be looking at them on streaming and download outlets and picking them out for the better-looking ones like i was in a video shop browsing the shelves.

[Labor_Unit001]

Haven't seen this pointed out yet, but the specs have an error. Crime Hunter is in stereo. Neo Chinpira is the one in mono. Outside of this though, the films themselves have sounded excellent.

This was one of my most hyped releases for the year when this was first announced it's exceeded my high expectations so far. I've seen four films so far (Crime Hunter, Neo Chinpira, Carlos, Burning Dog), and all of them are excellent. I was especially caught off guard by the first disc, since Crime Hunter is the kind of ultra violent-shoot em' up I was expecting from most of the films in the set. Neo Chinpira is the exact opposite, as it's more of a slow comedy-drama about a young man navigating Tokyo.

I'll have to agree with Duke right now. Of the four, Carlos is my favorite so far. I noticed that Seizo Sengen shot the film, and he was the cinematographer on Yusaku Matsuda's films like The Beast to Die. Those films looked amazing, and Carlos is no different.

I've also been watching the Masaki Tanioka introductions before every film, and IMO they are essential as they give key context into the crew, actors, and setting with which these films were made. For example, he discusses the American and Brazilian backgrounds of two of the leads in Carlos, and how it plays into the film's portrayal of race relations underneath Japan's glamorous exterior. He's written a book on V-Cinema (untranslated unfortunately), and he speaks with familiarity and clarity on each film. I hope he comes back for the second volume.

Can't wait to finish the set! Here's hoping for Volumes 2, 3, and so on

[ZeTi]

Too bad they only used one orig. VHS artwork. Would loved to have them as a reversible option.

Watched the first five - and so far my favs are CRIME HUNTER (hope we'll get 2+3 on the next set) and STRANGER (Yūko Natori was mesmerizing)

[Yugo23]

This set is on sale at a great price on Amazon currently.

[Jajuka89]

Originally Posted by Labor_Unit001

I've also been watching the Masaki Tanioka introductions before every film, and IMO they are essential as they give key context into the crew, actors, and setting with which these films were made. For example, he discusses the American and Brazilian backgrounds of two of the leads in Carlos, and how it plays into the film's portrayal of race relations underneath Japan's glamorous exterior. He's written a book on V-Cinema (untranslated unfortunately), and he speaks with familiarity and clarity on each film. I hope he comes back for the second volume.

Can't wait to finish the set! Here's hoping for Volumes 2, 3, and so on

Do the Masaki Tanioka introductions spoil anything if it's your first time watching the films ?

[Labor_Unit001]

Originally Posted by Jajuka89

Do the Masaki Tanioka introductions spoil anything if it's your first time watching the films ?

The intros have clips from the films edited in, sometimes taking scenes from later in the films, but Tanioka himself doesn't directly spoil anything.

So, very mild spoilers. You can just save these for after the movie, if you'd rather not see anything.

[defile959]

Originally Posted by Jajuka89

Do the Masaki Tanioka introductions spoil anything if it's your first time watching the films ?

These were all brand new watches for me, and (though it’s been about three months back) I don’t remember feeling like any of the intros spoiled anything for me.

[Nielsb90]

I've seen four of the movies and really enjoying the set so far. Stranger, Carlos and Crime Hunter have all been winners.

However, I have a question. I was watching Neo Chinpira 2 last night and even though the movie was really simple plotwise compared to other yakuza films I must admit I didn't really catch the ending. Can someone explain to me what happened

[Show spoiler]from the point he got the last phone call onward?

[FlexMentallo]

Finally picked this up in the Arrow sale. Have a big backlog but really looking forward to watching these.

[FlexMentallo]

Watched Crime Hunter, man that was a whole lot of fun. Very OTT, the plot was simple but entertaining, channeling some heroic bloodshed and some Hollywood action all on what was obviously a small budget. Also something about the faux America setting grabbed me, since its obviously still very Japanese feeling.

Hope the rest of the set is just as entertaining!

[FlexMentallo]

Neo Chinpira is also a blast and totally different from Crime Hunter. Basically feels like a classic yakuza tale mashed up with a late 80s/early 90s quirky indie film. The characters really shine in this one. Joe Shishido plays a supporting role as the main character’s uncle. 2 for 2 on this set so far!

[Gotho(redux)]

I keep getting conflicting answers on this. Are these shot on video or film?

[defile959]

Originally Posted by Gotho(redux)

I keep getting conflicting answers on this. Are these shot on video or film?

IIRC all the movies in this set were shot on film, but made specifically for the home video market.

[TheRingshifter]

Originally Posted by Gotho(redux)

I keep getting conflicting answers on this. Are these shot on video or film?

Yeah they are all shot on film. They were more-or-less made for the straight-to-video market though (although, some in fact were originally premiered in short cinema runs, or later got some repertory play).

I kind of wonder if Arrow ever considered including "video versions" of the films, since you could make the argument that was their "intended look". Personally, I think though they were released on video, they were probably shot on film by people checking how they looked on film, with maybe the fact they would end up on video somewhere in the backs of their minds. So they look great in high-def and I love that they are getting releases like this.

[FlexMentallo]

Stranger is my favorite one so far. It a slow paced driving mood piece that evolves into a Road Games or Duel sort of vehicular thriller. Lead actress in this was excellent. Captures night time Tokyo really well. Something about this one really clicked for me.

Its great that Arrow got interviews for the extras on all of these.