2025 HAUL - MARCH v3.2
This post covers the items that arrived yesterday, continuing where we left off.
#7: Assault! Jack the Ripper, Center Stage, Pinocchio 964 & Yumeno Kyusaku’s Girl Hell
#8: The Eel, New Religion/Neu Mirrors, Play It Cool & Yojimbo & Sanjuro
This post covers the items that arrived yesterday, continuing where we left off.
#7: Assault! Jack the Ripper, Center Stage, Pinocchio 964 & Yumeno Kyusaku’s Girl Hell
Next we have even more 88 Films titles.
Once again this is a two-part order due to an incorrect date listed for Masaru Konuma's 1977 film Yumeno Kyusaku’s Girl Hell (夢野久作の少女地獄) which led me to believe it was to be released in April, and given how the system works if the date was true the whole order would have been delayed to April. Turns out the date was incorrect and it was part of March so I had to figure out a way to get it whilst also not spending too much on shipping, so I ordered the film alongside the three Shaw Brothers titles mentioned earlier.
Also part of the pre-order haul are a bit of everything from 88's line-up. Starting off with Yasuharu Hasebe's 1976 film Assault! Jack The Ripper (暴行切り裂きジャック). Both this film and Yumeno Kyusaku’s Girl Hell are part of the Nikkatsu Corporation Roman Porno series that 88 Films have been releasing over the past few months. This was the batch that convinced me to pick up these films entirely as they stood out. Yasuharu Hasebe is also a well-known Japanese director so that was another factor too.
Next we have Stanley Kwan's 1991 film Center Stage (阮玲玉), which is an interesting pick for the distributor. This release not only uses the 4K restoration master but is also the 155 minute extended version. It doesn't have the other versions (theatrical & edited) but this one is considered the preferred viewing method by many from what I have read.
And last but not least is the latest release for the Japanarchy line-up with Shozin Fukui's 1991 film Pinocchio 964 (ピノキオ√964). Now for starters the artwork is really nice on this release and I love it. Secondly this is an interesting choice in terms of format and license pick because over in North America it's distributed by Media Blasters who are also releasing the film on 4K Ultra HD. Now it's possible that 88 Films did review the masters and felt it wasn't worth the upgrade but sometimes that happens.
Once again this is a two-part order due to an incorrect date listed for Masaru Konuma's 1977 film Yumeno Kyusaku’s Girl Hell (夢野久作の少女地獄) which led me to believe it was to be released in April, and given how the system works if the date was true the whole order would have been delayed to April. Turns out the date was incorrect and it was part of March so I had to figure out a way to get it whilst also not spending too much on shipping, so I ordered the film alongside the three Shaw Brothers titles mentioned earlier.
Also part of the pre-order haul are a bit of everything from 88's line-up. Starting off with Yasuharu Hasebe's 1976 film Assault! Jack The Ripper (暴行切り裂きジャック). Both this film and Yumeno Kyusaku’s Girl Hell are part of the Nikkatsu Corporation Roman Porno series that 88 Films have been releasing over the past few months. This was the batch that convinced me to pick up these films entirely as they stood out. Yasuharu Hasebe is also a well-known Japanese director so that was another factor too.
Next we have Stanley Kwan's 1991 film Center Stage (阮玲玉), which is an interesting pick for the distributor. This release not only uses the 4K restoration master but is also the 155 minute extended version. It doesn't have the other versions (theatrical & edited) but this one is considered the preferred viewing method by many from what I have read.
And last but not least is the latest release for the Japanarchy line-up with Shozin Fukui's 1991 film Pinocchio 964 (ピノキオ√964). Now for starters the artwork is really nice on this release and I love it. Secondly this is an interesting choice in terms of format and license pick because over in North America it's distributed by Media Blasters who are also releasing the film on 4K Ultra HD. Now it's possible that 88 Films did review the masters and felt it wasn't worth the upgrade but sometimes that happens.
#8: The Eel, New Religion/Neu Mirrors, Play It Cool & Yojimbo & Sanjuro
They just keep coming. Another batch of pre-orders also arrived and they focused on various distributors outside of 88 Films and Eureka Entertainment.
From Arrow Video we have Yasuzō Masumura's 1970 film Play it Cool (でんきくらげ) with a striking cover art design and receiving the limited edition treatment with a slipcase and booklet to go with it. This is my first film from the director and I know Arrow have released a lot from his catalogue over the years so I will look into those whenever possible (sadly I would have missed out on the booklets but it ain't easy trying to get them all though).
From the British Film Institute we have a double dip and upgrade with Akira Kurosawa's 1961-62 films Yojimbo & Sanjuro (用心棒 & 椿三十郎) on the 4K Ultra HD format. This is the second 4K Kurosawa release by BFI after their Seven Samurai title a few months back but presented in a regular first print package than the sturdy type the former had. On the plus side both films are together considering they feature the same main lead. Unlike Seven Samurai I actually haven't seen the other samurai films in the Blu-ray collection that I picked up back in 2020 so this will be my first time watching them.
From Radiance Films we have another highly anticipated release with Shohei Imamura's 1997 film The Eel (うなぎ) starring Kōji Yakusho (Cure). Shohei Imamura is also another iconic and well-known Japanese director that I've not had the chance to watch any of his films over the years and if I manage to track down that Arrow box set I definitely would. The director's catalogue works very well with Radiance's line-up also.
And from Third Window Films comes an interesting J-Horror title that was released a few years ago and also includes a short film as well - Keishi Kondo's 2022 film New Religion/Neu Mirrors (ニューレリジョン/ノイミラーズ). New Religion is the main feature here while Neu Mirrors is a companion that helps support the former with the story and context. Hadn't heard of these films prior but they were shown in festivals and Third Window likes to support modern Japanese films whenever possible so this is a cool pick for home video.
From Arrow Video we have Yasuzō Masumura's 1970 film Play it Cool (でんきくらげ) with a striking cover art design and receiving the limited edition treatment with a slipcase and booklet to go with it. This is my first film from the director and I know Arrow have released a lot from his catalogue over the years so I will look into those whenever possible (sadly I would have missed out on the booklets but it ain't easy trying to get them all though).
From the British Film Institute we have a double dip and upgrade with Akira Kurosawa's 1961-62 films Yojimbo & Sanjuro (用心棒 & 椿三十郎) on the 4K Ultra HD format. This is the second 4K Kurosawa release by BFI after their Seven Samurai title a few months back but presented in a regular first print package than the sturdy type the former had. On the plus side both films are together considering they feature the same main lead. Unlike Seven Samurai I actually haven't seen the other samurai films in the Blu-ray collection that I picked up back in 2020 so this will be my first time watching them.
From Radiance Films we have another highly anticipated release with Shohei Imamura's 1997 film The Eel (うなぎ) starring Kōji Yakusho (Cure). Shohei Imamura is also another iconic and well-known Japanese director that I've not had the chance to watch any of his films over the years and if I manage to track down that Arrow box set I definitely would. The director's catalogue works very well with Radiance's line-up also.
And from Third Window Films comes an interesting J-Horror title that was released a few years ago and also includes a short film as well - Keishi Kondo's 2022 film New Religion/Neu Mirrors (ニューレリジョン/ノイミラーズ). New Religion is the main feature here while Neu Mirrors is a companion that helps support the former with the story and context. Hadn't heard of these films prior but they were shown in festivals and Third Window likes to support modern Japanese films whenever possible so this is a cool pick for home video.
The velvet top is lovely though a bit of a crop-top on me but I don't mind showing off a bit of my tummy! The pink shorts with deeper pink bows are indeed made of denim, so a bit different than the other velvet and polycotton/similar fabrics I usually get, but they are super cute anyway and a comfortable fit, so I have no complaints 
