Beast Fighter: Karate Bullfighter & Karate Bearfighter – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Japan, 1975 (Karate Bullfighter, Karate Bearfighter)
Director: Kazuhiko Yamaguchi (Both Films)
Cast: Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Masashi Ishibashi, Hideo Murota, Mikio Narita, Mas Oyama, Yumi Takigawa, Katsumasa Uchida (Karate Bullfighter), Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Masashi Ishibashi, Narumi Kayashima, Hiroshi Kondô, Hideo Murota, Yutaka Nakajima, Mas Oyama, Etsuko Shihomi, Yumi Takigawa, Tôru Yuri (Karate Bearfighter)

Release Date: March 18th, 2024
Approximate running times: 88 Minutes 1 Second (Karate Bullfighter), 87 Minutes 10 Seconds (Karate Bearfighter)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese (Both Films)
Subtitles: English (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.95

"In Karate Bullfighter (or Champion of Death), a karate tournament is crashed by an enigmatic martial artist calling himself Ōyama (Chiba), who arrives in tattered rags and beats all who dare challenge him. But Ōyama's entrance into the world of karate has unforeseen consequences, and soon he is fighting for far more than sporting victory. Then, in Karate Bearfighter, Ōyama is expelled from the karate community for refusing to pull his punches. With no where else to turn, he takes a job with the yakuza after running into Kimura (Hideo Murota), who Ōyama once knew as a fellow member of the Imperial Japanese Air Service before he turned to a life of crime. Ultimately, though, Ōyama has no more respect for his superiors on the streets than he did in the dojo..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (Karate Bullfighter, Karate Bearfighter)

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

Karate Bullfighter comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.3 GB

Feature: 27.2 GB

Karate Bearfighter comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 26.1 GB

Feature: 25.3 GB

The sources look great; they are among the best-looking I have seen of Toei’s Sonny Chiba films. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and compression are solid, and black levels are consistently strong.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Karate Bullfighter, Karate Bearfighter)

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 Karate Bullfighter include a Champion of Death TV spot (1 minute, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 54 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), alternate opening credits from Champion of Death (2 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a video essay by Jonathan Clements titled In Search of the Ultimate Truth (20 minutes 34 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), and an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

Extras for Karate Bearfighter include  a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 2 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Mike Leeder and Arne Venema.

Other extras include reversible cover art, an O-card slipcase (limited to the first pressing), and a 20-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information for both films, an essay titled From Street Fighter to Beast Master: Sonny Chiba in Karate Bullfighter & Karate Bearfighter written by Eddie Falvey, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Both films were directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, who also directed the third film in this trilogy, Karate for Life. Other notable films he directed include Wandering Ginza Butterfly, Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler, Sister Street Fighter, A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse, Wolf Guy, and Karate Warriors.

“Every man has a weakness. He has to fight the coward in himself all of his life." - Matutatsu Oyama

Karate Bullfighter: Oyama shows up at the karate tournament disheveled and dressed in rags. The tournament's promoter offers him a job with the intention of making Oyama into a more respectable person. Drunk one night, Oyama gets into a fight with some thugs, and when he kills their leader, he renounces karate. To make amends for the man he has just killed, he moves out to the country with the man who killed his family, helping them farm. There are those determined not to let Oyama disappear into obscurity; they send assassins after him, forcing his hand. Now with nowhere to go, Oyama returns to settle things once and for all.

Following the success of The Street Fighters, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba would embark on a trilogy of films based around his mentor, Matutatsu Oyama. The three films are Karate Bullfighter, followed by Karate Bearfighter, and Karate for Life. Matutatsu Oyama worked as a technical advisor on Karate Bullfighter, and he appears briefly in Karate Bullfighter and Karate Bearfighter.

Though based on a real-life person, the protagonist shares many attributes that are in common with Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s most celebrated characters. Known for portraying larger-than-life characters, it's no surprise that Sonny Chiba, one of Japan’s foremost action film stars, portrays Matutatsu Oyama. Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s on-screen connection to Matutatsu Oyama does not end with this trilogy of films; he portrayed Doshin So, Matutatsu Oyama’s greatest rival, in The Killing Machine.

Though Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba is not as graceful as Bruce Lee or as dynamic as Chia-Hui Liu (Gordon Liu), he more than makes up for these things with his brute force fight scenes that are often over the top when it comes to carnage. That said, his fighting style and on-screen persona perfectly capture the essence of Matutatsu Oyama.

Karate Bullfighter gives Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba a lot to do as an actor; his character spends most of the first half of the narrative mourning the loss of a student, while the latter half is wall-to-wall action where he takes on all challengers. Though action is first and foremost, there is an ample amount devoted to showing his characters' emotional side.

Karate Bullfighter has a few exemplary action set pieces. Notably, there is the scene where Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba takes on a runaway bull, and after he crushes its skull, he rips one of its horns off. In another scene he breaks Coca-Cola bottles with his bare hands, something he had previously done as an actor in Bodyguard Kiba. That said, with quick cuts and expertly choreographed fight scenes, the action sequences are top-notch.

From a production standpoint, there is no area in which Karate Bullfighter does not excel. And though Kazuhiko Yamaguchi's direction is not overly stylish, he lets the protagonist take center stage. It is nevertheless very effective, especially the use of hand-held cameras during fight scenes. The most stylish moments are flashbacks shot in sepia tone. Ultimately, Karate Bullfighter is a vivid retelling of Matutatsu Oyama's story that never fails to entertain.

Karate Bearfighter: After winning a karate tournament, Oyama’s reputation has grown, leading to countless attacks from other karate schools. Down on his luck, his fortune changes when he runs into an old Air Force buddy who offers him a job in the criminal underworld. Oyama encounters and befriends two street hustlers, Kozuro and Sumiko. When Ryudoji, the notorious leader of a karate school, murders Oyama's two companions, Oyama sets out for revenge.

Even though Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba never achieved the international success that Bruce Lee did, he still established himself apart from the rest of the Bruce Lee clones with his brutal fighting style. Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba and Bruce Lee were supposed to make a movie together, but unfortunately, Bruce Lee died before they could start production. The 1990s saw a renewed interest in Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba when filmmaker Quentin Tarantino referenced him in True Romance and Pulp Fiction. Jules Winnfield, a character from Pulp Fiction, quoted the opening monologue from The Bodyguard word for word.

Following the success of Karate Bullfighter, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba would return for its sequel, Karate Bearfighter. This time around, it focuses more on action than its predecessor, which was more serious in tone. Also, the bad guys have taken things up a notch as they use guns and samurai swords vs. Oyama’s karate. Once again, the fight sequences are exemplary. And just when you thought Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba couldn’t top himself after taking on a bull, he takes on a bear.

Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s intense screen persona is what makes his films enjoyable; he is a man of few words who kicks ass and takes names. He delivers an exceptional performance that builds upon his performance as a karate bullfighter. Masashi Ishibashi frequently played the role of a villain. He has worked with Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba on multiple films, notably his portrayal of Tateki Shikenbaru, aka Junjun, in Street Fighter. That said, he has a distinct look, and he always makes for a fantastic villain.

Early on, when Oyama goes along with the deception that a man half his size is the real Oyama, this is one of Karate Bearfighter’s most lighthearted moments. And the scene that follows, where Oyama tells a waitress that he’s a student of the fraud, is another example of humor in Karate Bearfighter. Despite early moments like these, the humor dries up, and things shift more towards a darker tale rooted in revenge. Also, there is a poignant moment when a young boy who Oyama befriended chases the train he’s on and screams ‘Uncle’.

From a production standpoint, Karate Bearfighter is a film that is clicking on all cylinders. The narrative is well-executed, pacing is never an issue, and there is a perfect balance between exposition and action. Also, Kazuhiko Yamaguchi’s solid direction is never flashy; it lets its protagonist be the center of attention. Ultimately, Karate Bearfighter is an excellent successor to Karate Bullfighter.

Beast Fighter: Karate Bullfighter and Karate Bearfighter are exceptional releases from Eureka Video; both films get solid audio/video presentations and informative extras, making them highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Sex Apocalypse – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain, 1982
Director: Carlos Aured
Writer: Carlos Aured
Cast: Ajita Wilson, Ricardo Díaz, Kati Ballari, Lina Romay, Hemy Basalo, José Ferro

Release Date: July 9th, 2024
Approximate running time: 77 Minutes 45 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"A kinky gang of free-loving criminals, three women and two men, come into possession of the keys to a large and luxurious villa belonging to a man travelling abroad for an extended period of time. Taking advantage of the extra space and security of their new home, they decide to try a shot at the big-time and kidnap a rich man’s daughter, intending to hold her for a million-dollar ransom. Discovering that the girl has enjoyed a privileged and sheltered upbringing and is also a virgin, two of the female members of the gang decide to induct the hostage into their own sexually liberated ways. But they find out that she may be a lot wiser than they thought. And soon a dangerous power struggle is set in motion, a struggle that ends in a deadly and shocking “apocalypse” of sex and violence." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2K restoration of the ‘S’ rated version of the film from the original negative".

Sex Apocalypse comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.7 GB

Feature: 19.4 GB

The source looks excellent; the flesh tone looks healthy, the colors are nicely saturated, the image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, this track sounds very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a Mondo Macabro preview reel, an interview with Carlos Aured biographer Miguel Angel Plana titled Carlos Aured: Cinema as Survival (30 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), an interview with Spanish writer and director Ricard Reguant on the history of ‘S’ films (45 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary by Eurocult experts Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson.

Summary:

Directed by Carlos Aured, whose other notable films are Horror Rises From The Tomb, The Mummy’s Revenge, Curse of the Devil, and Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll.

The narrative revolves around a gang of deviants who kidnapped a millionaire's daughter.

Content-wise, Sex Apocalypse is a film that, in many ways, resembles the type of erotic films Jess Franco made in the 1970s and early 1980s. The narrative has bare bones, just enough to move things forward. In between moments of exposition, there is an abundance of nudity, female and male, with the bulk of the narrative being a series of erotic moments. That said, there are three main set pieces: the kidnapping, an elaborate pick-up of the ransom money, and a bloodbath finale.

Ajita Wilson (Sadomanía, Macumba Sexual) and Lina Romay are the two most recognizable faces, and they both have ties to the cinema of Jess Franco. Lina Romay, his creative muse and collaborator on over 100 films, is the actress most intimately connected with Jess Franco. Hemy Basalo also worked with Jess Franco on six films. Kati Ballari’s portrayal of the millionaire’s daughter is Sex Apocalypse’s most memorable performance. That said, the performance suits the story that unfolds, with the actress more than fulfilling the physical attributes required.

For as much flesh that is on display, there are few moments in the Sex Apocalypse that are truly erotic. Notable moments include fellatio with a coke bottle, orgies, and underwater sexcapades. Also, despite setting itself up as based on a true story, it is reportedly a cross between heiress Patty Hearst’s kidnapping and the Manson family. What unfolds in Sex Apocalypse bears little connection to Patty Hearst or the Manson family. That said, at 78 minutes in, there is never a dull moment, as the narrative does a great job moving things forward. Ultimately, Sex Apocalypse is a text-book example of Spain’s ‘S’ films.

Mondo Macabro gives Sex Apocalypse an excellent release that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Inspector Wears Skirts IV – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1992
Director: Wellson Chin
Writer: Abe Kwong, Lawrence Lau
Cast: Cynthia Khan, Moon Lee, Sandra Ng, Kara Hui, Billy Lau, Yip San, James Tien

Release Date: June 22nd, 2024 (UK), July 9th, 2024 (USA)
Approximate running time: 93 Minutes 33 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"To save the Hong Kong Police Force's Banshee Squad from becoming defunct, the struggling new squad members seek the help of former officers Amy (Sandra Ng Kwan Yue), now a divorced mom with a young kid, and May (Kara Hui), now partially mentally-unstable, to help them with their training regiment, lead by Madame Yang (Cynthia Khan). Their police skills are put to the test when they are ordered to nab a band of brutal thugs in the city." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "2K Remaster from the Original Negatives".

The Inspector Wears Skirts IV comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.7 GB

Feature: 27.9 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, black levels are strong, and there does not appear to be any digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese), 3.5/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and a LPCM mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. That said, the Cantonese language track sounds noticeably more robust than the English language track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese-language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery (20 images), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 39 seconds, LPCM mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster (limited to the first pressing) and a double walled O-ring (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Directed by Wellson Chin, who directed four The Inspector Wears Skirts films.

New Skirts recruits reach out to former members who have retired in the hope of getting them to rejoin and save the program from becoming defunct.

After three films that did not diverge away from each other, The Inspector Wears Skirts IV puts a fresh spin on this film's series. And nowhere is this clearer than its action-heavy opening sequence. Where the first three The Inspector Wears Skirts saved their main action set piece for their finale, The Inspector Wears Skirts IV is filled with action sequences. In fact, the narrative is a good balance of action and humor, with the former taking center stage this time around.

Though the cast features Sandra Ng, Kara Hui, and Billy Lau, who all appeared in the first three The Inspector Wears Skirts films. Cynthia Khan (In the Line of Duty III) and Moon Lee (Fatal Termination), two new leads introduced in this fourth entry, give it a rebooted feel. In The Inspector Wears Skirts IV, the tone shifts from light-hearted comedies in the first three films to a more serious and darker approach, with humor used sparingly. Also, despite there being a training sequence in The Inspector Wears Skirts IV, it is brief compared to the similar sequences in the first three films.

When it comes to humor, though it does not play as large of a role, when it is employed, it is extremely effective. Notable in the scenes is Kara Hui’s character, who is in an insane asylum. Most of the other humor revolves around Sandra Ng and Billy Lau’s characters, who used to be romantically involved.

The well-executed narrative does a fantastic job building momentum; pacing is never an issue. The action sequences are excellent, and the stunt work is superb, though there are a few obvious moments where men are doubling women. And though there is an ample amount of action, it is not hand-to-hand; it is more gun battles and explosions. Ultimately, The Inspector Wears Skirts IV is a solid return to form, making it the second-best film in the series behind The Inspector Wears Skirts.

The Inspector Wears Skirts IV gets a solid audio/video presentation from 88 Films and an informative audio commentary, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer