Discotek Media announced a new slate of licenses and releases during their "It's a Very Big Discotek New Years! Livestream" ( Part 1 and Part 2 ) today, including the 1997 TV anime adaptation of Berserk , the final season of Medabots , the Urusei Yatsura Ova series and much more. Announcements made during the livestream are in alphabetical order. Berserk (1997 TV series): Blu-ray release of the original Berserk anime series in Japanese with English subtitles, the original Nyav Post dub, and extras from previous releases and outtakes. Scheduled for March 2024. Futakoi Alternative : Blu-ray release in Japanese with revised English subtitles of the 2005 spin-off anime from the Futakoi series. Scheduled for 2024. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple: The Attack of Darkness : Blu-ray release of the 11-episode Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Ova series released in Japanese with subtitles and a new English dub for the first time. Lightspeed Electroid Albegas : Sd-bd release in Japanese with...
- 1/9/2024
- by Kyle Cardine
- Crunchyroll
First entry in the Girl Boss series, “Queen Bee's Counterattack” seems to embody all the elements of both the series, and of the Japsploitation of the 70s, with fanservice being the key word here.
The story takes place in the 1970s, where Reiko is the head of Athena, an all-girls gang, trying to survive among the yakuza, motorcycle gangs, and essentially the world, following a set of simple rules, with the most important being not falling in love with a particular man. Reiko, as much as the rest of the girls, frequently have sex with men, but they keep the rule intact, while their leader's ways and particularly her will to help any of the group in trouble have inspired unwavering loyalty by the rest of the members. The appearance of a newcomer, Mayumi, however, as much as of a previous boss that has just been released from prison, Jun,...
The story takes place in the 1970s, where Reiko is the head of Athena, an all-girls gang, trying to survive among the yakuza, motorcycle gangs, and essentially the world, following a set of simple rules, with the most important being not falling in love with a particular man. Reiko, as much as the rest of the girls, frequently have sex with men, but they keep the rule intact, while their leader's ways and particularly her will to help any of the group in trouble have inspired unwavering loyalty by the rest of the members. The appearance of a newcomer, Mayumi, however, as much as of a previous boss that has just been released from prison, Jun,...
- 1/5/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
“Always: Sunset on Third Street” is based on the manga series “Sunset on Third Street,” written and illustrated by Ryohei Saigan, which follows the lives of various characters in post-war Japan. Upon release, “Always: Sunset on Third Street” would be a box-office hit, receive an overwhelmingly positive reception, and be picked as the Picture of the Year at the 2006 Japanese Academy Awards. The success of the movie would spawn two sequels.
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Set in 1958 Japan, during the post-war economic recovery, technology is evolving, with the rising advent of television and the building of the Tokyo Tower. The primary location is a lower-income neighborhood in the Yuhi district. Rural schoolgirl Mutsuko Hoshino arrives in the metropolitan city excited to work as an apprentice at Suzuki Auto. Yet, she's perplexed when she learns that her workplace is a rundown auto repair shop...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Set in 1958 Japan, during the post-war economic recovery, technology is evolving, with the rising advent of television and the building of the Tokyo Tower. The primary location is a lower-income neighborhood in the Yuhi district. Rural schoolgirl Mutsuko Hoshino arrives in the metropolitan city excited to work as an apprentice at Suzuki Auto. Yet, she's perplexed when she learns that her workplace is a rundown auto repair shop...
- 11/4/2023
- by Sean Barry
- AsianMoviePulse
Sadao Nakajima passed away from pneumonia on 11th June, 2023. He was 88 years old. Active as a director until just four years before his passing, Nakajima left behind legacy of work that most directors would dream of. Alongside Kinji Fukasaku and Junya Sato, he is credited as being one of the main names to define the Yakuza genre, with some of his greatest works coming within that genre for Toei Studios, showcasing a range of styles and narrative complexities while at it. Outside of the yakuza genre as well though, Nakajima made a number of terrific features, mixing a range of genres and filmmaking styles effectively over an illustrious career that lasted a little under 60 years, starting from his debut in 1964 all the way until his swansong in 2019.
Without further ado, we list 12 essential films by Sadao Nakajima that are not in the Yakuza genre, in chronological order.
1. Female Ninja Magic...
Without further ado, we list 12 essential films by Sadao Nakajima that are not in the Yakuza genre, in chronological order.
1. Female Ninja Magic...
- 7/11/2023
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
After the positive reception of the first “Samurai Wolf”, fans of the “Furious Wolf” did not have to wait long for the sequel, which was released just one year after the first feature, again starring Isao Natsuyagi as the titular hero and with Hideo Gosha as director. While the two movies about the wandering ronin may not be the director’s most commercially successful works at the time, perhaps due to the over-saturation of the market at that point in the 1960s, but there are most certainly in the same league as the “Zatoichi”-series or the tales of “Lone Wolf and Cub”. However, as with many sequels within the chanbara genre, Gosha not only built this new feature on the qualities of its predecessor, but also aimed to tell a new story including such themes as corruption, greed and betrayal, which is much more complex and contains some quite interesting characters.
- 12/23/2022
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
From Ken Russell’s erotic classic The Devils to Guillaume Nicloux’s The Nun, Norifumi Suzuki’s animé take School Of The Holy Beast and Elizabeth E Shuch’s genre-subverting The Book Of Birdie, nuns and lesbianism go together like blockbusters and merchandising in the cinematic imagination. It seems only natural that the subgenre would appeal to Paul Verhoeven, and still more so that he would choose a Renaisance era story, bringing several of his interests together. Benedetta is much more than just an exploitation movie, though – and not just because of the beauty and technical finesse that the Dutch director brings to it. Gerard Soeteman, who contributed to the script, may have left the film (and had his name taken off it) because he felt it was too sexual in its focus, but it is ultimately far more interested in power, society and the sacred.
As Benedetta (Virginie Efira) explains,...
As Benedetta (Virginie Efira) explains,...
- 12/7/2021
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Due to the strong impression left on the first film, the same creative crew returned for this brazen and highly-enjoyable follow-up that carries on the sensational adventures of detective Li Koryu. Rushed to theaters three months after the original, this wild and utterly frenzied sequel is now part of the complete Sister Street Fighter Collection released by Arrow Films on March 5 in a 2-disc Blu-Ray set.
After a detective is killed, detective Li Koryu is assigned to look into the case involving the diamond smuggler Kazushige Osone who lives in Japan. After arriving in Yokohama and meeting her sister Li Ban-lan (Tamayo Mitsukawa), Koryu immediately finds herself in the bosses’ crosshairs, as he carries out a scheme involving the smuggling of diamonds from Hong Kong to Japan inside the bodies of prostitutes and then being removed, of which her friend Birei (Hisako Tanaka) is included in. Forced...
After a detective is killed, detective Li Koryu is assigned to look into the case involving the diamond smuggler Kazushige Osone who lives in Japan. After arriving in Yokohama and meeting her sister Li Ban-lan (Tamayo Mitsukawa), Koryu immediately finds herself in the bosses’ crosshairs, as he carries out a scheme involving the smuggling of diamonds from Hong Kong to Japan inside the bodies of prostitutes and then being removed, of which her friend Birei (Hisako Tanaka) is included in. Forced...
- 3/11/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
After the success of the original ‘Street Fighter,’ a new series was commissioned involving female martial arts actress Etsuko Shihomi to provide a counterbalance to Sonny Chiba’s wild main films. Containing the same kinetic action, wild exploitation elements and crazed villains as well as letting the prowess of Shihomi shine through, this stellar example of Japanese kung-fu and martial arts is now released in a complete collection set with the rest of the franchise on March 5th from Arrow Video.
After her brother’s disappearance, inspector Li Koryu is assigned to look into the same case that caused him to disappear, and begins to look into the drug-smuggling ring of Yokohama. After her initial exploits in trying to get into the group fail, she attracts the attention of Hibiki who’s also been sent to look into the disappearance, and puts her in contact with a...
After her brother’s disappearance, inspector Li Koryu is assigned to look into the same case that caused him to disappear, and begins to look into the drug-smuggling ring of Yokohama. After her initial exploits in trying to get into the group fail, she attracts the attention of Hibiki who’s also been sent to look into the disappearance, and puts her in contact with a...
- 3/7/2019
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Horrors of Malformed Men
Blu ray – Region Code: B
Arrow Films
1969/ 2.35:1 / 99 Min. / Street Date September 17, 2018
Starring Teruo Yoshida, Yukie Kagawa
Cinematography by Shigeru Akatsuka
Directed by Teruo Ishii
The Toei Company made their mark in the 50s with a series of atmospheric horror films like Kinnosuke Fukada‘s Ghost Cat of Karakuri Tenjo and Tai Katô‘s The Ghost Story of Oiwa’s Spirit – esoteric shockers rooted in folklore and Kabuki theater that were rarely seen beyond Japanese cinemas. American audiences wouldn’t become familiar with the peculiar pleasures of Toei product until matinee-friendly fare like the animated charmer Alakazam the Great and the rubber-monster freak-out of The Green Slime invaded stateside theaters in the 60s.
Across town at Shintoho Studios – Toei’s closet competitors – director Teruo Ishii was busy shuttling between children’s fare (1957’s Super Giant) and tawdry exposes like 1961’s Sexy Chitai until the studio went...
Blu ray – Region Code: B
Arrow Films
1969/ 2.35:1 / 99 Min. / Street Date September 17, 2018
Starring Teruo Yoshida, Yukie Kagawa
Cinematography by Shigeru Akatsuka
Directed by Teruo Ishii
The Toei Company made their mark in the 50s with a series of atmospheric horror films like Kinnosuke Fukada‘s Ghost Cat of Karakuri Tenjo and Tai Katô‘s The Ghost Story of Oiwa’s Spirit – esoteric shockers rooted in folklore and Kabuki theater that were rarely seen beyond Japanese cinemas. American audiences wouldn’t become familiar with the peculiar pleasures of Toei product until matinee-friendly fare like the animated charmer Alakazam the Great and the rubber-monster freak-out of The Green Slime invaded stateside theaters in the 60s.
Across town at Shintoho Studios – Toei’s closet competitors – director Teruo Ishii was busy shuttling between children’s fare (1957’s Super Giant) and tawdry exposes like 1961’s Sexy Chitai until the studio went...
- 10/9/2018
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
The 16th annual Boston Underground Film Festival will once again terrorize all of New England with a wide selection of international atrocities that span the globe from Japan to Belgium to the fest’s own backyard. The fest will run March 26-30 at the Brattle Theater.
The fest will open with the supernatural teen comedy All Cheerleaders Die by the dynamic directing team of Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson, which will then be followed by the cult 1974 Japanese nunsploitation flick School of the Holy Beast by Norifumi Suzuki.
Other feature films screening at the fest include: The American warrior documentary My Name Is Jonah by Phil Healy and Jb Sapienza; the pre-apocolyptic party of Doomsdays by Eddie Mullins; The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears by Belgian extreme filmmakers Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani; the collegiate conspiracy of Jerzy Rose’s Crimes Against Humanity; Jeremy Saulnier’s twist on the revenge thriller,...
The fest will open with the supernatural teen comedy All Cheerleaders Die by the dynamic directing team of Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson, which will then be followed by the cult 1974 Japanese nunsploitation flick School of the Holy Beast by Norifumi Suzuki.
Other feature films screening at the fest include: The American warrior documentary My Name Is Jonah by Phil Healy and Jb Sapienza; the pre-apocolyptic party of Doomsdays by Eddie Mullins; The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears by Belgian extreme filmmakers Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani; the collegiate conspiracy of Jerzy Rose’s Crimes Against Humanity; Jeremy Saulnier’s twist on the revenge thriller,...
- 3/20/2014
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
This week’s Must Read is actually a series from Melanie Wilmink’s new blog. One of her posts totally won Bad Lit over with the introductory sentence: “Short films regularly draw the short stick when it comes to being written about.” Ain’t that the truth! So, Melanie rights this wrong with an amazingly well-thought out article/review of the “Crime Wave” shorts at the Calgary International Film Festival that digs deep into issues of cinematic authenticity. Then, she has more in-depth reviews of the “End of Days” shorts program at the fest. Finally, at least for now that I know of, she tackles the anthology film V/H/S, which has been getting lots of press, and hammers it for its overt misogyny.Wanna hear Jonas Mekas talk lovingly about his five Bolexes?The Manitoba Scene got filmmaker Deco Dawson to write an essay about his award-winning short film Keep a Modest Head,...
- 9/30/2012
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
Sucker Punch is a crazy movie, but it’s my kind of crazy. I think Zack Snyder just thought of the craziest things he wanted to see in a movie, so he did it. That’s what artists should do. Now it turns out to be some metaphorical fantasy and that’s cool too. It makes the film beautiful in addition to being awesome.
Baby Doll (Emily Browning) faces an evil stepfather in a haunting slo-mo, dialogue free opening. He commits her to the Lennox House institution after she fights him and accidentally kills her own sister. He’s also paid the Lennox House orderly off to have Baby lobotomized so she can’t tell her side of the story…read more [ScreenJunkies]
This movie is career suicide. Zack Snyder is still one of the most visually arresting filmmakers out there, but no one in a million years is ever going...
Baby Doll (Emily Browning) faces an evil stepfather in a haunting slo-mo, dialogue free opening. He commits her to the Lennox House institution after she fights him and accidentally kills her own sister. He’s also paid the Lennox House orderly off to have Baby lobotomized so she can’t tell her side of the story…read more [ScreenJunkies]
This movie is career suicide. Zack Snyder is still one of the most visually arresting filmmakers out there, but no one in a million years is ever going...
- 3/25/2011
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
My familiarity with the nunsploitation genre has mainly been with the Italian and Spanish films. This makes sense to me because of the influence Catholicism has had on the population. However, upon viewing Norifumi Suzuki’s School of the Holy Beast, it seems that I have some uncharted territory to explore in Japan. Nunsploitation had its peak in the 70’s and explored the conflicted lives of sexy nuns, who were either tormented by their vows of celibacy or happy to rebel against it–naked. While directors like Joe D’Amato and Jess Franco were taking their audiences inside the repressive exploits of young women [...]
Post from: Screamstress...
Post from: Screamstress...
- 1/29/2010
- by Alison
- Screamstress.com
Norifumi Suzuki directed some of the more infamous Toei Pinky Violence including Sex and Fury (1973) and School of the Holy Beast (1974). Suzuki eventually hopped over to Nikkatsu while the company was still knee deep in roman poruno. This, in 1979, Nikkatsu released Suzuki’s Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls (Dabide no hoshi: Bishôjo-gari). Star of David, which was written by Jiku Yamatoya based on Maasaki Sato’s manga, coats the usual Nikkatsu mix of sex and violence with thick layers of De Sadean philosophy, haphazard religious symbolism, and black humor. The result is a nihilistic bloodbath that is equal parts absurd, clever, and offensive.
- 6/22/2009
- by Rodney Perkins
- Screen Anarchy
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