Yokai Monsters Collection from Arrow

[Akijama]

“From the makers of Daimajin comes a trilogy of terror ripped from the pages of Japanese folklore, with ghosts and monsters from ancient myths and legends brought to life through stunning special effects, alongside an epic, big-budget reboot of the series from a modern-day master of the macabre, now available together on Blu-ray for the first time.

In the first film in the trilogy, 100 Monsters, a greedy slumlord’s attempts to forcefully evict his tenants invite the wrath of the titular spirits when a cleansing ritual is botched, with terrifying results. The second film, Spook Warfare, tells the tale of an evil Babylonian vampire inadvertently awoken by treasure hunters, and a brave samurai that teams with the yokai to defeat the bloodthirsty demon. In the final film, Along with Ghosts (released only 12 months after 100 Monsters), the yokai are roused to defend a young girl on the run from deadly yakuza.

Decades later, none other than Takashi Miike (Audition) helmed The Great Yokai War, a loose remake of Spook Warfare that used cutting-edge digital effects to renew the franchise for a new generation. In it, a young boy is given a grave responsibility: to band together with a group of yokai to defend humanity against a vengeful and powerful demon that has sworn retribution against modern-day Japan.

LIMITED EDITION BOXSET CONTENTS

– High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all four films

– Optional English subtitles on all four films

– Illustrated 60-page collectors’ book featuring new writing on the series by Stuart Galbraith IV, Raffael Coronelli and Jolyon Yates

– Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jolyon Yates

– Postcards featuring newly commissioned artwork for each film by Jolyon Yates

– Foldout ‘yokai guide’ poster illustrated by Jolyon Yates

DISC ONE – 100 MONSTERS

– Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio

– Hiding in Plain Sight, a brand new documentary giving a primer on yokai for Western audiences, featuring interviews with experts Matt Alt, Zack Davisson, Kim Newman, Lynda E. Rucker and Hiroko Yoda

– Theatrical trailer

– US re-release trailer

– Image gallery

DISC TWO – SPOOK WARFARE / ALONG WITH GHOSTS

– Brand new 4K restoration of Spook Warfare by Kadokawa Pictures

– Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio for both films

– Theatrical trailers for both films

– US re-release trailers for both films

– Image galleries for both films

DISC THREE – THE GREAT YOKAI WAR

– DTS-HD MA 5.1 original Japanese and dubbed English audio

– Brand new audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes

– Archive interviews with the cast and crew, including Takashi Miike

– Short Drama of Yokai, two shorts detailing the further adventures of the yokai

– Another Story of Kawataro, two shorts featuring the continuing story of the kappa character in the film

– World Yokai Conference, a publicity event where Miike speaks about the film

– Promotional Events, video of the press conference to announce the start and completion of filming, as well as the premiere in Tokyo

– Documentary on the film’s young star, Ryunosuki Kamiki, and his experience making the film

– Theatrical trailer

– Image gallery”

THIS IS A PREORDER DISC THAT IS DUE TO BE RELEASED ON OR ABOUT 10/19/21

[Show spoiler]US announcement coming soon.

[fred25_Ca]

Looks beautiful but i'm disappointed they are including the Miike movie. I was really hoping this would be like the Daimajin set, just the original trilogy. They should have waited to pair that one next year with the latest movie that just came out for those who care.

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

Looks beautiful but i'm disappointed they are including the Miike movie. I was really hoping this would be like the Daimajin set, just the original trilogy. They should have waited to pair that one next year with the latest movie that just came out for those who care.

Agreed. I love much of Miike's work but this one looks rather awful due to the incredibly shitty CGI. I doubt I'll ever watch it, but it is what it is.

I was hoping for better box art as well, to compliment the Daimajin set. Not that this is bad, by any means.

[KIDplus]

Never seen these except for The Great Yokai War. Don’t remember liking it much, but I’m interested in seeing the rest.

[themp3000]

I’m pretty pumped for this one. The only reason I see for including the Miike is that they didn’t snatch up the rights to the sequel coming out and so they’ve decided to just throw that in there. It does seem bizarre all things considered. I’m not particularly bothered by it’s inclusion. Miike is Miike and I’ll take what I can get.

[MifuneFan]

Box art looks kind of ugly, and amateurish to me. Like fan art. I'm sure it's meant to the tone of the films though

[jmilo61]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Box art looks kind of ugly, and amateurish to me. Like fan art. I'm sure it's meant to the tone of the films though

I like it quite a bit myself. Always interesting how art strikes different people in different ways.

[ticktock60]

Jesus, the complaints! Complaining about bad CGI? Are we new to Miike’s output? Are we new to early 00s films, in general? Thrilled it completes the set. Love the monochromatic box art. Great contrast with the Daimajin set!

[MifuneFan]

I think it's partly the overly yellow color they went with. think it would look better if it had a little more range in its colors.

[A Tortured Duckling]

Originally Posted by ticktock60

Jesus, the complaints! Complaining about bad CGI? Are we new to Miike’s output? Are we new to early 00s films, in general? Thrilled it completes the set. Love the monochromatic box art. Great contrast with the Daimajin set!

It's called expressing one's opinions, and that happens on a discussion forum.

I don't like CGI, and bad CGI even less, regardless of when it was made or who directed the film. This film is not something I want to pay for, either. But I'm going to have to, and I will, in order to obtain the original trilogy.

This also doesn't "complete the set" considering Miike's 2021 version isn't out yet. In my opinion, they should have stuck to the originals for this box, and released a Miike Yokai War double pack later on.

[starsteam]

Cool that it's the first 4 films, even if it's not complete now. Little underwhelmed with the artwork but excited nonetheless.

[fred25_Ca]

I personally like the artwork, it looks like a Shigeru Mizuki drawing, who is the granddaddy of the modern Yokai. Arrow definitely did their research here. If you guys don't know Mizuki, you should try reading his Kitaro manga, it's wonderful 60's children manga that are incredibly creepy and full of weird stuff. He also made an encyclopedia of Yokai, full of his beautiful renderings of Yokai. Well worth it.

The original Yokai trilogy is very much in this spirit, kid friendly but creepy to the max. The Miike movies are more like Tim Burton's awful Alice in Wonderland remake, epic and full of bad cgi fights. Nothing like Mizuki's stuff or the original trilogy. Which is why most of us could care less about it lol.

Here's a samples of Mizuki's Yokai artwork. You guys should google it to see more.
MizukiPreview.jpg

i0U1SdY.jpg

8d1e29420a4612c613dbc094bb7df59b_0.jpg

[DaveyJoe]

The Miike film should be included. The Boxset doesn't say it's "complete."

[starsteam]

Dang, was hoping each movie would be its own case. At least two have their own disc. This does make me suspect the standard version will just be the trilogy case and Miike film separated.

[starsteam]

[Akijama]

DVD Dabolik PO for the US release:

https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/...-ray-preorder/

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

Looks beautiful but i'm disappointed they are including the Miike movie. I was really hoping this would be like the Daimajin set, just the original trilogy. They should have waited to pair that one next year with the latest movie that just came out for those who care.

That’s even assuming that Arrow releases the new film here. They are often outbid with newer films in the US.

Either way, I’m happy for all the films, but especially the Miike version as I think that’s easily the best film out of the four.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by starsteam

Dang, was hoping each movie would be its own case. At least two have their own disc. This does make me suspect the standard version will just be the trilogy case and Miike film separated.

It's looking beautiful but yeah, I am really bummed about the Miike film being included and now the 3 original movies aren't getting a case each? Ugh! They deserve it a lot more than Miike's movie!
I mean, this is still awesome, no doubt about it, I just figured they'd get the same treatment Daimajin did. A bit of a bummer.

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

It's looking beautiful but yeah, I am really bummed about the Miike film being included and now the 3 original movies aren't getting a case each? Ugh! They deserve it a lot more than Miike's movie!
I mean, this is still awesome, no doubt about it, I just figured they'd get the same treatment Daimajin did. A bit of a bummer.

I'm betting the standard reissue will just be the trilogy by itself, and the Miike film as a standalone. You'll just be missing the box and booklet.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by starsteam

I'm betting the standard reissue will just be the trilogy by itself, and the Miike film as a standalone. You'll just be missing the box and booklet.

Oh there's no way i'm missing this collection lol, I love booklets and I think the box is quite beautiful. I'm still super excited, just a bit nitpicky hehe.