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Bodyguard Kiba 1 and 2 – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Japan, 1973 (Bodyguard Kiba, Bodyguard Kiba 2)
Director: Ryûichi Takamori (Both Films)
Cast: Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Etsuko Shihomi, Jirô Chiba, Mari Atsumi, Kinji Takinami, Yayoi Watanabe, Eiji Gô, Ryôhei Uchida (Bodyguard Kiba), Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Tsunehiko Watase, Maki Mizuhara, Akiyoshi Fukae, Hideo Murota, Rokkô Toura, Eiji Gô, Etsuko Shihomi (Bodyguard Kiba 2)

Release Date: March 18th, 2024
Approximate running times: 87 Minutes 36 Seconds (Bodyguard Kiba), 88 Minutes 33 Seconds (Bodyguard Kiba 2)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £25.99 (UK)

"Based upon the manga by celebrated writer Ikki Kajiwara, Bodyguard Kiba follows the eponymous karate master and professional bodyguard (Chiba) as he is hired to protect the mysterious Reiko (Mari Atsumi), a woman embroiled in the world of organized crime. Kiba’s involvement with Reiko brings him into conflict with the yakuza, leading to a final bloody showdown. Then, in Bodyguard Kiba 2, Kiba is released from prison after taking revenge on the rival martial artists who blinded his sister Maki (Etsuko Shihomi). Back on the streets, he takes a job working for shady nightclub owner Akamatsu (Shoki Fukae), once again forcing him to take on Japan’s criminal underworld." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (Bodyguard Kiba, Bodyguard Kiba 2)

Here’s the information given about the transfers, "from new restorations of the original film elements by Toei".

Bodyguard Kiba comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.7 GB

Feature: 20.7 GB (Bodyguard Kiba), 20.1 GB (The Bodyguard)

Bodyguard Kiba 2 comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.1 GB

Feature: 25.8 GB

The sources used are in great shape and, in most ways, look comparable to Shout Factory’s Region A Blu-ray releases. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity is strong, black levels fare well, and compression is very good. Also, when compared to Shout Factory’s Blu-ray releases, this release's encodes are stronger.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Bodyguard Kiba, Bodyguard Kiba 2)

Both films come with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese, and both films come with removable English subtitles. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should.

Extras:

Extras for Bodyguard Kiba include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 43 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with action choreographer and director Kenji Tanigaki titled Talking Chiba (27 minutes 51 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema for Bodyguard Kiba, and an alternate U.S. version of Bodyguard Kiba titled The Bodyguard (87 minutes 54 seconds, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono English, no subtitles).

The source used for the U.S. version is in very good shape, and source debris is minimal. That said, the moments that are exclusive to the U.S. version do not look as strong as the rest of the transfer, which is comparable to the source used for Bodyguard Kiba. Also, the audio has some minor, albeit persistent, hiss, and it lacks the depth that the two Bodyguard Kiba audio tracks have. That said, the dialog comes across as clear enough to follow.

Extras for Bodyguard Kiba 2 include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 39 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp titled Kiba or Chiba (35 minutes 18 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

Other extras include reversible cover art, an O-card slipcase (limited to 2,000 copies), and a 20-page booklet (limited to 2,000 copies) with cast & crew information for both films, an essay titled Fast Fists and Fast Lives The Rise and Fall of Ikki Kajiwari written by Jasper Sharp, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Bodyguard Kiba (The Bodyguard): Despite appearing in over one hundred films, a large number of Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba’s were never released theatrically in America. That said, Bodyguard Kiba was released in America under the title The Bodyguard.

The main difference between the U.S. and Japanese versions is the U.S. version's inclusion of fight scenes with Aaron Banks, Bill Louie, and Judy Lee. These scenes make up less than ten minutes of the film, and they do not further the narrative. You could remove them, and the narrative would not suffer from their loss. Also, the U.S. opening credits feature Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba’s mentor Masutatsu Oyama and other martial artists performing while they chant "Viva Chiba!"

Also, the U.S. version of The Bodyguard opens with the narration, "The path of the righteous man and defender is beset on all sides by the iniquity of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper, and the father of lost children. And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious anger, who poison and destroy my brothers; and they shall know that I am Chiba the Bodyguard when I shall lay my vengeance upon them!" - Ezekiel 25:17 This same text would be later used in Pulp Fiction when one of its characters, Jules Winnfield, a hitman, recites it before killing a man.

Having the opportunity to see the Japanese version of Bodyguard Kiba elevates the stature of this film. From its opening moments, Bodyguard Kiba establishes a relentless tone that is reinforced by memorable set pieces. Notably, a woman lies naked and the only thing covering her is the shadow of a cross, and there is a scene where Kiba breaks a coke bottle with his bare hands. Also, bad guys enter the room in the most unusual ways as they hide themselves in furniture, and during one fight scene, Kiba rips an arm off his opponent and uses it as a weapon. That said, the fight scenes are brutal and just as memorable as the ones in Street Fighter, which came out a year after Bodyguard Kiba.

During this era of Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba’s career, there's no denying that he was the main attraction and everyone else's performances were overshadowed. Despite some gruesome fight scenes, the overall tone of Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba’s performance is one of his more subdued ones from this same time period. That said, the supporting cast more than fulfilled their roles. Jirô Chiba (Karate Bullfighter) and Etsuko Shihomi (Sister Streetfighter), both members of the Japan action club and Shin'ichi "Sonny" Chiba film regulars, have brief cameos in Bodyguard Kiba.

Toshiaki Tsushima, who also composed the scores for the three Streetfighter films, composed the score for Bodyguard Kiba. Though some may prefer the American version of The Bodyguard, it pales in comparison to the Japanese version, Bodyguard Kiba. Ultimately, Bodyguard Kiba is a solid mix of bone-crunching action and exploitation that ranks right up there with Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba’s best films, like the Street Fighter series.

Bodyguard Kiba 2 (Karate Killer): Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba reprises his role for this sequel to Bodyguard Kiba. And though Bodyguard Kiba 2 carries over all the elements from its predecessor, it has one significant difference: this time around, Kiba is not a hero; he has fallen from grace. That said, Bodyguard Kiba 2 is a tale about redemption.

From its opening moments, Bodyguard Kiba 2 quickly grips you with a dual sequence between Kiba and a character named Kazuki Samejima, who is portrayed by Masashi Ishibashi, who is most remembered for portraying Tateki Shikenbaru aka Junjo from the first two Streetfighter films. Their duel is over whose fighting style is better. And during the duel, Kiba’s opponent blinds her sister by impaling her eyes with his fingers.

The cast is solid, and they all deliver strong performances, especially Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba in the role of Kiba. He further expands on the character he previously portrayed in Bodyguard Kiba. Though this character lacks depth, he more than makes up for it with his psychic performance in the fight scenes. Another performance of note is Eiji Go (The Executioner) in the role of Ryuzuka, a psychopath yakuza henchman who, in one scene, kills a dog for no reason.

From a production standpoint, Bodyguard Kiba 2 maximizes its resources. The narrative does a great job building momentum by giving key moments an ample amount of time to resonate and a sensational ending where an outnumbered Kiba gets his redemption. Also, though the fight scenes are not memorable, they are well executed and get the job done. Ultimately, Bodyguard Kiba 2 is a good film that brings nothing new to the table.

Eureka Video gives Bodyguard Kiba 1 and 2 their best home video releases to date, highly recommended.