Radiance Films North America Thread

[DukeTogo84]

Man, Francesco wasn't kidding when he said 2024 would have a lot of Japanese cinema and I can't be more pleased. I've hoped for a label like this my whole life, and hopefully this trend doesn't end as he's getting a lot of the essentials.

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Man, Francesco wasn't kidding when he said 2024 would have a lot of Japanese cinema and I can't be more pleased. I've hoped for a label like this my whole life, and hopefully this trend doesn't end as he's getting a lot of the essentials.

More Japanese cinema is great news even though I'm not a fan of the Shinobi series!

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

More Japanese cinema is great news even though I'm not a fan of the Shinobi series!

Yeah, the more Japanese the better. You don't like Shinobi films? Any reasons why?

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Yeah, the more Japanese the better. You don't like Shinobi films? Any reasons why?

Not big of a ninja film fan. I haven't seen the Shinobi films since I was a teen, though so I might look for it online somewhere to see if I have a change of heart?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

Not big of a ninja film fan. I haven't seen the Shinobi films since I was a teen, though so I might look for it online somewhere to see if I have a change of heart?

I'd say give them another shot, especially because of Tomisaburo Wakayama who steals the show as Nobunaga Oda. All the films should be available to watch online somewhere.

[DukeTogo84]

Both Black Tight Killers and Allonsanfan are out for delivery and both I haven't watched in a really long time and Allonsanfan was with auto generated subtitles, so this will be a much nicer experience.

So far 2024 has been very strong for them, and I've literally bought every single one of their releases.

[DukeTogo84]

Finished watching Allonsanfan and honestly this is probably my favorite viewing experience in awhile. I had only seen the film in horrible quality before with auto generated subtitles, so it was a whole new experience watching it on the Radiance release.

I honestly think this is a film that doesn't have the audience it deserves. Marcello Mastroianni mostly known for 8 1/2 and La Dolce Vita is in fine form in this film as a man who has a change of heart and realizes that revolution isn't for him anymore and he'd rather live a more comfortable life with his son. However, despite his best attempts, his revolutionary "pals" keep finding him and preventing him from the life he now wants. It's comical in a way, but also tragic.

The score by Ennnio Morricone is one of his best, and it slowly builds throughout the film, until the very end where it reaches its crescendo and delivers a punch. The film does start off on the slower side, but once you spend some time with the characters, then it feels like it's going too fast.

Overall, I consider this a masterpiece of a film and really hope it finds an audience it deserves. I've been bugging Francesco every so often about this one for maybe 5 years, so it's nice to not have to mention it anymore. Now to bug him about 100 different films.

[Blu2u]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Now to bug him about 100 different JAPANESE films.

Fixed it.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Blu2u

Fixed it.

I'd say you're about 98% right.

[kenrik]

I bought Elegant Beasts from amazon as my first Radiance!

[Thoriancreeper2]

Just watched I, The Executioner and was blown away. I already have the other Tai Kato release on order but from hints they have two more this year(hopefully even more on the way) I wouldn’t say no to anything taking a glance at his filmography but I’m hoping for The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost and Warrior of the Wind as the next two. It’s been awhile since a first watch from a previously unknown (to me) filmmaker has gotten me so excited to see more.

[DukeTogo84]

Watched Black Tight Killer late last night and loved it. This was one of my first DVD's back in the olden days and it was a snapper case which I hated with a passion. It's nice to finally have it in a very nice edition.

First the PQ is leaps and bounds better than the DVD. Leaps. The film itself really holds up if you can deal with the 60's aesthetic. It's a very 60's type of film, think James Bond with a mix of Austin Powers. Still, very entertaining and the visuals are pretty nifty for a first time director. If you told me this was directed by Seijun Suzuki around the same time as Tokyo Drifter, I would have believed you.

Akira Kobayashi is great in the lead, and I also wished him a bigger future once he left Nikkatsu. Sure he did Violent Streets, and A Legend of Turmoil, but really wished he had done more big projects. Still, he really sells his role in the film.

This is a very fun film, with some violence thrown in for good measure. My wife also really enjoyed it, so I think it's suitable for a very diverse line up of audiences.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Radiance is killing it.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Thoriancreeper2

Just watched I, The Executioner and was blown away. I already have the other Tai Kato release on order but from hints they have two more this year(hopefully even more on the way) I wouldn’t say no to anything taking a glance at his filmography but I’m hoping for The Tale of Oiwa’s Ghost and Warrior of the Wind as the next two. It’s been awhile since a first watch from a previously unknown (to me) filmmaker has gotten me so excited to see more.

The Tale of Oiwa's Ghost is one I would really like to see. Good film with a good HD scan.

Also, the Miyamoto Musashi film is fantastic. It's a little short to include the entire tale, but it's brisk pace makes for a more straight to the point film.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Yeah, the more Japanese the better.

Does anyone think we'll ever see the Sleepy Eyes of Death: Ichikawa Raizō
Film series get released? Man, I saw those on VHS dupes years ago and loved them all! A fantastic series that should be better known! Come on with the Full Moon Cut already!

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Does anyone think we'll ever see the Sleepy Eyes of Death: Ichikawa Raizō
Film series get released? Man, I saw those on VHS dupes years ago and loved them all! A fantastic series that should be better known! Come on with the Full Moon Cut already!

I would love for those to happen and think they will eventually. Question is if it will be all the films, or if the series will be broken up?

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I would love for those to happen and think they will eventually. Question is if it will be all the films, or if the series will be broken up?

My guess is that they'll stop after Ichikawa's untimely death in 1969. Although there are only two Daiei features after that with his replacement, so who knows?

The series was broken up for the DVD releases in the US, which weren't so hot if I remember. I recall the subtitles being way off at times and extremely anachronistic.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

My guess is that they'll stop after Ichikawa's untimely death in 1969. Although there are only two Daiei features after that with his replacement, so who knows?

The series was broken up for the DVD releases in the US, which weren't so hot if I remember. I recall the subtitles being way off at times and extremely anachronistic.

I bought all those sets and didn't really have any issues with subtitles. AnimEigo had a good team when it came to subtitles, but I know a lot of people complained about the yellow color.

I'd take a set even with the later two films, but would have to be someone with a big budget. Radiance only picked up 3 of the Shinobi films out of 9, I guess to test the waters.

Either way, I've hoping we get the Sleepy Eyes of Death films. I actually thought Criterion might go after them due to the fact that they released a Zatoichi set from the same licensor.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I bought all those sets and didn't really have any issues with subtitles. AnimEigo had a good team when it came to subtitles, but I know a lot of people complained about the yellow color.

As I said in my first post, I think I saw the films on DVD-Rs from the VHS releases so I'm not sure why I contradicted myself in the second post regarding the US DVDs that came out. You are probably right about the subs and I was thinking of the old VHS copies. Now I'm kind of interested in picking up the DVDs, but I bet they are long OOP and have skyrocketed in price. Better to just wait for Blus with dying eternal hope.

[cloudnine]

Make no mistake about it, DukeTogo owns this thread!

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by cloudnine

Make no mistake about it, DukeTogo owns this thread!

Haha. No one owns anything here, but I do love Radiance as I feel like it's the label that releases the type of films I enjoy more than any other. Which is how I used to feel about Arrow a few years ago, which makes sense since it was Francesco going after a lot of the titles.

Eureka does great work too, but I don't import, so thankfully they are coming here now.

Either way, you should check out Allonsanfàn and Black Tight Killers as I think you would enjoy both.