The Sonny Chiba Collection, Vol. 2 – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)
Theatrical Release Dates: Japan, 1975 (The Defensive Power of Aikido, 13 Steps of Maki), Japan, 1976 (Karate Warriors, The Great Okinawa Yakuza War), Japan, 1977 (Karate for Life, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon), Japan, 1978 (The Okinawa War of Ten Years)
Directors: Shigehiro Ozawa (The Defensive Power of Aikido), Makoto Naitô (13 Steps of Maki), Kazuhiko Yamaguchi (Karate Warriors, Karate for Life), Sadao Nakajima (The Great Okinawa Yakuza War), Yukio Noda (Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon), Akinori Matsuo (The Okinawa War of Ten Years)
Cast: Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (All films), Jirô Yabuki, Nobiko Sawa, Ryûnosuke Kaneda, Tsunehiko Watase, Etsuko Shihomi (The Defensive Power of Aikido), Etsuko Shihomi, Misa Ohara, Hiroshi Nawa, Tatsuya Nanjô, Hiroshi Kondô, Kôji Fujiyama (13 Steps of Maki), Isao Natsuyagi, Akiko Koyama, Akane Kawasaki, Hideo Murota, Eiji Gô, Yayoi Watanabe, Etsuko Shihomi (Karate Warriors), Hiroki Matsukata, Mikio Narita, Tatsuo Umemiya, Tsunehiko Watase, Hideo Murota, Isao Bitô, Takeo Chii (The Great Okinawa Yakuza War), Kôjirô Hongô, Hideo Murota, Masaru Shiga (Karate for Life), Callan Leung, Etsuko Shihomi, Jerry Ito, Alan Chui, Yao Lin Chen, Emi Shindo, Elaine Sung, Kōji Tsuruta (Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon), Hiroki Matsukata, Yumiko Nogawa, Makoto Satô, Makoto Fujita, Yayoi Watanabe (The Okinawa War of Ten Years)
Release Date: November 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Times: 81 Minutes 48 Seconds (The Defensive Power of Aikido), 78 Minutes 2 Seconds (13 Steps of Maki), 88 Minutes 54 Seconds (Karate Warriors), 95 Minutes 29 Seconds (The Great Okinawa Yakuza War), 90 Minutes 10 Seconds (Karate for Life), 101 Minutes 38 Seconds (Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon), 101 Minutes 38 Seconds (The Okinawa War of Ten Years)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese (All Films)
Subtitles: English (All Films)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $69.99
The Defensive Power of Aikido: "Jiro Chiba tackles the role of Morihei Ueshiba, born in Wakayama to a farming family and destined for martial arts greatness as he learns from the masters (including brother Sonny Chiba) and develops his own well-polished Aikido." - synopsis provided by the distributor
13 Steps of Maki: "Based on a comic book, 13 Steps Of Maki follows the leader of the all-female Stray Cats gang who use their fighting skills to help others. But when Maki crosses the daughter of a powerful man with connections to the yakuza, she winds up in prison on false charges." - synopsis provided by the distributor
Karate Warriors: "A street fighter (Sonny Chiba) arrives in a town ruled by two warring gangs headed by feuding yakuza brothers. He does everything he can to keep them feuding while tracking down a lucrative stash of drugs and befriending the son of a sword-wielding samurai …" - synopsis provided by the distributor
Great Okinawa Yakuza War: "Co-starring alongside Hiroki Matsukata, Sonny Chiba makes for a striking, animalistic gangster battling his way through the streets of Okinawa in this eye-popping martial arts powerhouse set one year before the return of power to the mainland." - synopsis provided by the distributor
Karate for Life: "The final film in the Masutatsu Oyama trilogy, Karate For Life follows our hero through US-occupied Okinawa, where he leaves a professional wrestling job … but must return to the ring in order to help a friend in desperate need of medical supplies." - synopsis provided by the distributor
Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon: "International spy Duke Togo has taken on a tricky assignment from an American drug syndicate: take out a Hong Kong kingpin who has been selling their drugs on his own. Duke faces danger at every turn … and competition from a detective who wants the kingpin for himself!" - synopsis provided by the distributor
The Okinawa War of Ten Years: "It’s brother against brother and friend against friend when Okinawa is returned to mainland Japan … and the local yakuza does not take kindly to being strong-armed by mainland gangs. The result is mayhem and the biggest yakuza war ever fought in Okinawa." - synopsis provided by the distributor
Video: 4/5 (The Defensive Power of Aikido, The Great Okinawa Yakuza War, Karate for Life), 4.25/5 (13 Steps of Maki, Karate Warriors, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, The Okinawa War of Ten Years)
The Defensive Power of Aikido and 13 Steps of Maki come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.
Disc Size: 43 GB
Feature: 21.4 GB (The Defensive Power of Aikido), 20.4 GB (13 Steps of Maki)
Karate Warriors and The Great Okinawa Yakuza War come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.
Disc Size: 46.3 GB
Feature: 22.2 GB (Karate Warriors), 23.2 GB (The Great Okinawa Yakuza War)
Karate for Life and Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.
Disc Size: 44.1 GB
Feature: 21.4 (Karate for Life), 22.4 GB (Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon)
The Okinawa War of Ten Years comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.
Disc Size: 27.5 GB
Feature: 26.5 GB
There is no information provided about the sources used for these transfers. All seven films are in great shape, and any source damage has been removed. Colors and flesh tones look correct, the image looks crisp, black levels fare well, and any compression issues are minor. That said, the sources used for 13 Steps of Maki, Karate Warriors, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, and The Okinawa War of Ten Years are stronger than the sources used for the other three films.
Audio: 4/5 (The Defensive Power of Aikido, 13 Steps of Maki, Karate Warriors, The Great Okinawa Yakuza War, Karate for Life, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, The Okinawa War of Ten Years)
All the films come with a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese. All of the audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, they are satisfactory. Each film comes with English subtitles. It should be noted that subtitles can only be disabled via the main menu and not during playback.
Extras:
The extras are spread over four Blu-ray discs. Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer for The Defensive Power of Akido (3 minutes 17 seconds, DTS-HD mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), a theatrical trailer for Karate Warriors (2 minutes 45 seconds, DTS-HD mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Chris Poggiali and Mark Walkow for Karate Warriors, an audio commentary with Brian Bankston for Karate for Life, an audio commentary with Brian Bankston for Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, and a theatrical trailer for The Okinawa War of Ten Years (3 minutes 17 seconds, DTS-HD mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles).
Other extras include a slipcase.
Summary:
Sadao Maeda, AKA Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba (he earned the nickname "Sonny" while working on an ad campaign for Toyota), was born on January 22nd, 1939, in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. In 1960, he would enter and win Toei Studios' "New Faces" contest. There was a big push on the part of Toei to exploit him as a star to the fullest by placing him in roles that would showcase his fourth-degree black belt in karate.
In 1967, the TV series Key Hunter (Toei’s fuel-injected variation on Mission Impossible) would give him the boost his career needed and make him a bankable action star. Key Hunter would remain on the air for 5 years, resulting in over 250 hour-long episodes. In 1969, he would form the Japan Action Club, which was created to provide able-bodied stuntmen and martial artists for any studio that was able to hire them.
The 1970s would see him reach his peak in popularity with the Street Fighter films. The Street Fighter would go on to become the first film in MPAA history to receive an "X" rating for violence. In 1979, he would return to television with the series Hanzo Hattori, AKA Shadow Warriors. Over the next twenty years, he would make films in Hollywood and Hong Kong, as well as continue to make films in Japan.
Part of his resurgence in America must also be credited to writer/director Quentin Tarantino’s screenplay, which features Christian Slater going to a Sonny Chiba festival. He has enjoyed a successful film career that has spanned over six decades. With his recent appearance in the box office smash Kill Bill: Volume 1, he is now more popular than ever.
Through all of his ups and downs, he will always be remembered for his signature role as Takuma "Terry" Tsurugi, a vicious assassin in the series of Street Fighter films, which has earned him a cult following around the world. On August 19th, 2021, he would pass away at the age of eighty-two.
The Defensive Power of Aikido: Directed by Shigehiro Ozawa, who is most known for directing the Street Fighter trilogy.
The narrative revolves around Morihei Ueshiba, a farmer who would go on to found the martial art of Aikido.
The Defensive Power of Aikido is a film that is cut from the same mold as the Mas Oyama trilogy: Karate Bullfighter, Karate Bearfighter, and Karate for Life. All of these films revolve around historical figures who played a significant role in the evolution of Kyokushin Karate and Aikido.
Though a film like The Defensive Power of Aikido does a great job when it comes to exposition moments, it is not a slouch when it comes to action sequences. That said, The Defensive Power of Aikido is a satisfying blend of melodrama and action.
For many, the main character in The Defensive Power of Aikido is Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba; it is actually his brother Jiro Chiba (Yakuza Graveyard) who is the star in the role of Morihei Ueshiba. In the case of the latter, he does a very good job in the role of the protagonist, and he also more than holds his own when it comes to fight scenes. This time around, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba gets to portray a bad guy, and he steals every scene he’s in.
Etsuko Shihomi (Sister Street Fighter) has a minor role that gives her a few moments to showcase her fighting prowess. Another performance of note is Go Otsuka in the role of Okada, a villain swordsman for hire. That said, the rest of the cast are very good at their roles.
Of the few standout moments in The Defensive Power of Aikido, none stands out more than the scene that introduces Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s character, Natori Shimbei. In this scene, Natori takes on a defiant Morihei Ueshiba, who is hiding someone that Natori and his men are looking for. This is a phenomenal fight scene, which also does an amazing job setting the tone and setting the stage for the events that follow.
Another staple of martial arts films is the training sequence. And The Defensive Power of Aikido’s protagonist, Morihei Ueshiba, takes on a series of challengers, which leads to him slowly but surely improving his skills. Of course, another staple is the finale, and The Defensive Power of Aikido has a lengthy bone-crunching, bloody fight sequence that brings its protagonist's journey to a perfect conclusion. Ultimately, The Defensive Power of Aikido is a well-made tale about revenge and redemption that is a must-see if you're a fan of 1970s martial arts films.
13 Steps of Maki: Based on the manga created by Ikki Kajiwara (Bodyguard Kiba) and Masaaki Satô (Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls).
The narrative revolves around Maki, the leader of an all-girl gang whose mistreatment of an influential man’s daughter puts her in the crosshairs of the yakuza.
13 Steps of Maki is a starring role for Etsuko Shihomi, who is most remembered for her numerous collaborations with Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba and the Sister Street Fighter films. And though her character in 13 Steps of Maki gets into a few fights, this role is different from what one has come to expect from her.
Instead of being a martial arts film like most of Etsuko Shihomi’s most celebrated films, 13 Steps of Maki is actually closer to Toei’s Pinky Violence films, which feature girls ganging, nudity, and an ample amount of violence, usually towards women. That said, just don’t go into 13 Steps of Maki expecting an extreme example of Pinky Violence cinema.
13 Steps of Maki’s opening sequence provides a fantastic introduction to the Maki character. In this opening sequence, there is a woman tied to a train track being assaulted by a girl gang. There is a ferocity to this sequence that sets the tone for what follows.
When it comes to the performances, everything begins and ends with Etsuko Shihomi in the role of Maki. She delivers a screen-dominating performance that overshadows everyone else. The rest of the cast are merely strategically placed pieces that further the story. Though Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (The Street Fighter) appears in 13 Steps of Maki, his appearance is a one-scene flashback cameo. Besides Maki, the only other character of note is Tetsuya Eto, a bad guy who turns on his employer, who betrays him.
From a production standpoint, 13 Steps of Maki is a film that maximizes its limited resources. And though the narrative starts off action-heavy, once it shifts focus to the backstory, that is not to say that the action sequences take a backseat. That said, clocking in at just under 80 minutes, the narrative moves along briskly towards a solid finale. Ultimately, 13 Steps of Maki is a good mix of action and exploitation that fans of Toei’s 1970s output should thoroughly enjoy.
Karate Warriors: Directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, whose other notable films are Wandering Ginza Butterfly, Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler, Sister Street Fighter, A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse, Wolf Guy, Karate Bullfighter, Karate Bearfighter, and Karate for Life.
The narrative revolves around Shuhei Sakata, a mysterious stranger who arrives in town and is caught up in gang violence in the streets. When Shuhei Sakata comes across a young thug lying face down in the gutter, he takes the man to the hospital to get him medical attention. One of the nurses at the hospital, Yumi, informs Shuhei Sakata that there is an on-going turf war between the Iga and Nishi mobs. Throughout the rest of Karate Warriors, Shuhei Sakata will befriend both the Iga and Nishi mobs as he plays them against each other.
Karate Warriors is an example of a film taking a familiar formula and putting its own twist on it. Case in point: Karate Warriors draws from a film like Yojimbo in the way both films feature a protagonist who pits two rival gangs against each other. Also, whether intentional or not, there is a character in Karate Warriors that bears a passing resemblance to Ogami Ittō, the protagonist of The Lone Wolf and Cub films.
Karate Warriors' opening sequence does a great job introducing Shuhei Sakata, a character that is superbly portrayed by Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (Bodyguard Kiba). This character has all the traits that one expects from a 1970s Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba performance. A confident character with superior fighting skills and the ability to land bone-crushing blows.
When it comes to the rest of the cast, they are very good in their roles, especially Kôichi Uenoyama (Youth of the Beast) in the role of Rensaku Mizuki, a wandering swordsman who travels with his son Osama. Other notable cast members are Hideo Murota (Graveyard of Honor) and Eiji Gô (The Executioner) in the familiar roles of villains.
When it comes to the action sequences, Karate Warriors does not disappoint. Besides physical hand-to-hand action, another area where the fight scenes and stunts excel is their use of slow motion. Some of the standout fight sequences are a terrific opening sequence that introduces Shuhei Sakata, who intervenes when the yakuza attack Rensaku Mizuki, and Osama, a scene where Shuhei Sakata is ambushed at a graveyard, and an excellent finale that is so good that Quentin Tarantino repurposed it for Kill Bill Volume 1.
Despite the familiarity of the story that unfolds, the result is a highly entertaining mix of action and exploitation. And in the case of the latter, there is an ample amount of sleaze, with most of the female characters being raped or killed. Also, though Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba made a career out of portraying antiheroes, Shuhei Sakata is not your typical cold-hearted anti-hero, and he shows compassion by helping those in need. That said, if there was one weakness of the Karate Warriors, it would be Kazuhiko Yamaguchi's inconsistent direction. Ultimately, underneath all this sleazy exploitation and bone-crushing action is a tender story about a loner learning to become a father figure to a young boy whose father was murdered.
In 1981, five years after its original theatrical release in Japan, Karate Warriors was released in the U.S. by Silverstein Films. Surprisingly, where most Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba releases in the U.S. were shortened, Karate Warriors was a film that went virtually unscathed, albeit given an English language dub that changes some of the tone.
Great Okinawa Yakuza War: Directed by Sadao Nakajima, whose other notable films are The Kyoto Connection, Girl Boss: Escape from Reform School, and Tokyo-Seoul-Bangkok.
The narrative revolves around a turf war that erupts in the year before Okinawa is returned to mainland Japan.
Though not as ambitious as Kinji Fukasaku’s Battles Without Honor and Humanity films, it is easy to see how Toei produced a film like The Great Okinawa Yakuza War to try to capitalize on the former's success. Notably, both films introduce characters and the documentary-like vibe of their stories.
At the heart of the Great Okinawa Yakuza War is another tale about a power struggle. Where most clans are satisfied with the current status quo, there are a few members whose thirst for power forces the clans to go to war. This leads to a series of backroom deals and double and triple crosses that leave a trail for corpses.
Performance-wise, the entire cast is great in the roles, and yet it is Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (Roaring Fire) in the role of Seigou Kunigami whose performance dominates every moment he is in. Seigou Kunigami has a short-tempered temper that does not end well for anyone who crosses him. Besides causing body harm by breaking limbs, his scar above his lip and shades add to this character's menacing aura.
From its opening moments, the Great Okinawa Yakuza War does a superb job of setting the foundation for the events that unfold. A well-executed narrative does a phenomenal job of building momentum towards an excellent finale. Another strength of the narrative is how effectively it balances the backstory with the present. Also, when it comes to moments of violence, they are best described as brutal, especially when it comes to characters being tortured. Ultimately, Great Okinawa Yakuza War is an in-your-face crime film that is on par with Toei’s best Yakuza films from the 1970s.
Karate for Life: Directed by Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, whose other notable films are Wandering Ginza Butterfly, Wandering Ginza Butterfly 2: She-Cat Gambler, Sister Street Fighter, A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse, Wolf Guy, Karate Bullfighter, Karate Bearfighter, and Karate Warriors.
The narrative revolves around Matutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin karate. He spends his time traveling to dojos to challenge their karate skills. Along the way, he gets involved in fixed wrestling and boxing matches, and when he does not throw a match, the yakuza come after him.
Karate for Life is the final installment of a trilogy of films based on the life of Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s mentor, Matutatsu Oyama. The other films in the series are Karate Bullfighter and Karate Bearfighter. Though all three films are linked by their protagonists, Karate for Life holds up well as a stand-alone film.
Matutatsu Oyama is someone who is always willing to help others, and because of his empathy, it is one area that is used against him by his enemies. There is a woman who he talked out of suicide who is used as a pawn by the yakuza, who use her as leverage against Matutatsu Oyama. The most brutal moments are a scene where a woman is raped by an American soldier and a scene where the yakuza torture a woman by beating and electrocuting her. This moment is especially sadistic in nature, as they laugh and have a good time while she spits up blood.
When it comes to the fight scenes, this is one area where Karate for Life delivers, and then some. Right off the bat, there is a scene where Matutatsu Oyama challenges a sensei and his hundred students. During this fight sequence, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba gets to show his fighting skills and agility, making it one of the greatest moments of his career. He uses his environment and his opponent’s eagerness to dominate them with precision blows, like when he and one of the students fly through the air, connecting as they kick each other. The acrobatics involved in this scene are amazing, like when they put oil on the floor to make him lose his balance and he stumbles a few times before he turns the table on his aggressors. That said, the action scenes that are not as strong are the ones that mix karate and wrestling. If anything, there is some unintentional humor that comes from watching Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba Chiba match up against these bloated monsters.
Though the narrative is more focused on action than exposition and character development, that is not to say that the narrative does not do a great job of building momentum. By the time Karate for Life reaches its finale, it has come full circle as Matutatsu Oyama squares off against the sensei from the opening sequence. Their fight takes place in a room full of mirrors that is reminiscent of Enter the Dragon’s Hall of Mirrors sequence. Ultimately, Karate for Life is a very satisfying conclusion to a solid trilogy of films in which Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba gives an outstanding performance that is arguably one of his best.
Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon: Directed by Yukio Noda, whose other notable films are Yakuza Deka, Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs, and Soul of Chiba.
The narrative revolves around a hitman named Duke Togo, who has been hired by a U.S. drug syndicate to assassinate a man who betrayed the syndicate. When things go awry and Duke Togo is set up for a murder he did not commit, he then seeks revenge against those who have double-crossed him as he tries to stay one step ahead of the law.
Before Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba starred as Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, there was a Golgo film that was made four years before that starred Ken Takakura in the role of Duke Togo. And yet, the result is two films that differ in many ways. Notably, when it comes to the seriousness of Ken Takakura’s Golgo 13, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon remains closer to its manga roots.
Content-wise, Golgo 13: Kowloon Assignment is an action-filled adventure that visits various exotic locals, an ample number of women willing to go to bed with Duke Togo, and many moments of peril where Duko Togo narrowly escapes death. Another area of note is how effectively Golgo 13: Kowloon Assignment uses humor, especially how it never takes what is happening on screen seriously.
The main attraction is, of course, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (Doberman Cop), who gives another hard-hitting performance in the role of Duke Togo, an assassin devoid of mercy and ready to put a bullet in his next target. Though his character does use guns as a means to dispose of enemies and his targets, that is not to say that he does not get to show off his fighting skills. Another thing that you can expect from the fight scenes is a brutality that can be found throughout much of Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s 1970s output.
Another performance of note is Japan action club regular Etsuko Shihomi (Message from Space), who has a brief cameo as undercover agent Lin-li. Though her character is not given much in regards to character development, her role is all about kicking butts and taking names later. When it comes to the rest of the cast, though none of them stand out, they are more than adequate in their roles.
From a production standpoint, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon is a film that maximizes its locations. Notably, when it comes to the use of multiple locations from around the world, the well-executed narrative does a great job balancing exposition and action, and a solid finale brings Duke Togo’s journey to a perfect conclusion. Another strength is Harumi Ibe’s (The Last True Yakuza) killer score, which does a phenomenal job reinforcing the mood. That said, one area where Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon is not as strong is Yukio Noda’s direction, which relies too much on zoom shots. Ultimately, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon is a solid action crime film that works as well as it does because of Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba’s scene-stealing performance.
The Okinawa War of Ten Years: Directed by Akinori Matsuo, whose other notable films are The Dragon and the Tiger and The Lady Professional.
The narrative revolves around a power struggle between yakuza clans from Okinawa and mainland Japan who all want control of Okinawa.
Though The Okinawa War of Ten Years has a similar premise and shares the same location as Great Okinawa Yakuza War, these two films are not directly connected. That said, these two films share a few actors, notably Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (The Bullet Train), who portrays two different characters who are polar opposites.
There is some pre-credits war footage, which does a great job setting the stage for the events that follow. And though this is yet another yakuza film about a power struggle that uses characters within one's inner circle and enemies, the story is all the more potent. Despite loyalty being a core trait, in The Okinawa War of Ten Years, it is more about self-preservation, as very few can be trusted.
As mentioned before by Chōyū Inami, the character that Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba portrays could not be more different than Seigō Kunigami, the character he portrayed in Great Okinawa Yakuza War. Chōyū Inami is a family man whose connection to the criminal underworld is tied to his past. And though his loyalty between his past and present is tested, his morality, which is stronger than that of the other characters, does not waiver. In the end, it is his past that ultimately costs him everything he cares about. That said, the entire cast is very good in their roles.
From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Okinawa War of Ten Years does not excel. The narrative does a phenomenal job of laying out who everyone is (there is an on-screen text introduction for key characters) and what their motivations are. Other strengths are the narratives brisk pacing and in-the-moment visuals, which have a documentary vibe to them. Also, though The Okinawa War of Ten Years is a dialog-driven film, that is not to say that there are not a few graphic moments of carnage. Ultimately, The Okinawa War of Ten Years is a solid example of 1970s yakuza cinema that is a must-see if you're a fan of this genre.
Though it is great that more Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba films are making their way to Blu-ray, this release and Shout! Factory's other Sonny Chiba collection are a letdown when it comes to extra content. Fortunately, there are companies like Arrow Video and Eureka Video that give the films of Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba the releases these films truly deserve. Shout! Factory’s The Sonny Chiba Collection Volume 2 brings together seven Shin’ichi "Sonny" Chiba films and gives them strong audio/video presentations, recommended.
Written by Michael Den Boer
