Ferocious Fukasaku: Two Films By Kinji Fukasaku

Film Movement Classics

Ferocious Fukasaku: Two Films By Kinji Fukasaku

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This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Tony Stella) was limited to 2,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.

Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, Film Movement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, Film Movement launched the reissue label Film Movement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.

This thrilling two-disc set features a double dose of hyperbolic heist movie mayhem directed by the great Kinji Fukasaku (Battles Without Honor and Humanity, Battle Royale), restored to HD, and, for the first time ever, available on Blu Ray in North America.

Fukasaku's 1964 breakthrough Wolves, Pigs and Men finds three brothers pitted against each other as rivals in the Yakuza underworld. Jiro, alongside his girlfriend Mizuhara, devises a scheme to rob his younger brother Sabu's gang. However, when the eldest brother Kuroki learns of this, he seeks to conspire against them to take it all for himself in a treacherous nightmare of unbridled violence.

While lesser known, 1976’s Violent Panic: The Big Crash wreaks havoc across the streets of Japan with stylishly nihilistic aplomb. After expert bank-robber Takashi's big job is foiled, he goes on the lam. Trailed by the police, his lover, his partner-in-crime’s brother, and countless others, Takashi becomes the target of a manhunt filled with twists, double-crosses, and explosive action that gives the 70’s car chase genre a run for its money.

directed by: Kinji Fukasaku
starring: Tsunehiko Watase, Miki Sugimoto, Yayoi Watanabe, Ken Takakura, Rentarô Mikuni, Kin'ya Kitaôji
1964, 1976 / 174 min (combined) / 2.39:1 / Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0

Additional info:

Region A 2-disc Blu-ray
16 page booklet with New essay by film critic Kenji Fujishima
Wolves, Pigs and Men:
- Audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp
- Interview with Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane
- Interview with co-screenwriter Junya Sato
- Interview with Producer Tatsu Yoshida
Violent Panic: The Big Crash:
- Audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp
- Fast, Furious, Fukasaku video essay by Tokyoscope author Patrick Macias
English subtitles

Overall rating: 4.875 / 5 from 152 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

This Blu-ray set features two restored films by Kinji Fukasaku, praised for their excellent quality and stylish direction. Customers appreciate the fantastic release, beautiful packaging, and high-quality transfer. The double feature is highly regarded, though opinions on the films themselves vary.

Summary topics

Double Feature Quality: 6%
Physical Media Release: 12%
Director Reputation: 11%
Video Quality: 12%
Packaging Quality: 11%

Review topics: ["quality","shipping","looks","picture","style","value","packaging","service","sound","buy","set","price","film","features","panic","crash","release","transfer","bill","fukasaku","director","slipcover","movie","art","extras","flick","restoration","cinema","energy","acting"].

Review highlights

"Both films are great, high octane gangster/crime films, with wonderful restorations and awesome bonus features." — Matthew L.
"Great edition, I love the look of the package and also happy to see more films by this filmmaker getting good transfers." — Alexander B.
"Great transfers from FilmMovement with a nice booklet and special features." — Sam R.

Reviews

Great Japanese Double Feature

"Excellent Japanese crime films. Great video and audio quality."

— Peter D. (5/5)

"Lovely label on packaging. As described. Excellent price. Fast shipping."

— Oscar (5/5)

Fukasaku classics!

"Amazing to own these after years of bad dvd bootlegs. IYKYK KF is an all time force and these films don’t disappoint"

— Shane M. (5/5)

Kinji Fukasaku double feature

"Loved this double feature from the legendary Kinji Fukasaku. Both movies are up to his high standard of filmmaking. Highly recommended. Have to mention the amazing Tony Stella artwork as well!"

— Jon B. (5/5)

Great pair of Japanese films

"Both of these thrillers I was not familiar with until I blind bought this set. Very happy with my decision to do that. If you are a fan of flicks from this era or Japanese cinema, you already know you want this. Underseen gems that now have wonderful transfers. Also a great supplemental booklet."

— Reeves M. (5/5)

Terrific Japanese Crime Films

"Each flick in this set has a solid restoration. The included extras are good, although just a bit skimpy."

— Rick M. (4/5)

Varied, exciting double-feature

"Two very different films here. Wolves, Pigs and Men, the earlier film, is black and white, speaks to class issues and disaffected youth, and features some pretty grim stuff I won't spoil along its tense way to a final showdown. Violent Panic: The Big Crash. . . well, lets just say the title is accurate. I had a sort of visceral dislike to parts of the W/P/M viewing experience, but I've been thinking about it here and there since, and can see myself returning to it. It's hard to say VP:TBC is necessarily lighter, but it's probably an easier return watch? I enjoyed the interviews on the first disc and essay on the second, and booklet essay. And I gotta say the slipcover is a big get on this, as the standard's case art is just OK, the design a little simple."

— Joe V. (4/5)

Ferocious Fukusaku

"Amazing Packaging"

— Ian C. (5/5)

Fukasaku films are always a blast

"Kinji Fukasaku is one of my favourite directors. I hadn't seen these films before and they're fantastic. Highly recommended."

— Ronaldo A. (5/5)

Kinji

"Had to pick this up from Kinji. Both stories are mesmerizing and to the point. The feel of old Japanese violent noir is unbeatable. Packaging is on point as usual. Excited o dive into the rest of the line of films from this company. Special features are always and plus. Highly recommend looking up Kinji filmography and style from his other films."

— John S. (5/5)