Customer Reviews

The Yakuza Papers, Vol. 5 - Final Episode

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Yakuza Papers" consists of five sequential films made in the 1970s and only now making their U.S. debut, in this killer six-DVD set from Home Vision. Comparisons to the first two "Godfathers" seem inevitable, but "Yakuza" is a singular film experience -- deeply rewarding for those with the stomach for its kinetic violence; overwhelming in scope and complexity.

The set thoughtfully provides a printed chart that helps viewers track the Japanese crime families that do battle over the quarter-century covered in the series. They'll need it. "Yakuza" rarely pauses to allow for reflection -- this is a dizzying eight-hour hell-ride through a time and place as foreign as they come.

William Friedkin, whose talking-head interview kicks off the extras disc, calls director Kinji Fukasaku "a master," comparing "Yakuza Papers" to James Joyce's "Ulysses." No doubt a contemporary influence on the frantic hand-held camerawork was Friedkin's own "The French Connection," which the U.S. director says "very easy could have been done by Fukasaku."

Fukasaku looked past the stars of romanticized old-school yakuza films to find his lead, Bunta Sugawara, with whom he had just worked on "Street Mobster" (also out via Home Vision). No one in "Yakuza" gets off easy, but Sugawara's existential Hirono character comes closest to a traditional hero as he makes his way from the streets to the top of the underworld. More typical is weepy crime boss Yamamori (Nobuo Kaneko), a cross between Don Corleone and Floyd the barber.

Home Vision, which has busied itself importing gritty yakuza films, gives Fukasaku's epic first-class treatment, starting with a metal container and an artful fold-out for the discs. Video looks tremendous, coming from films of their era and budget, with almost no speckling or other overt wear. Aspect ratio is 2.35:1, enhanced for 16.9 TVs. There are a few scenes with flashes of polarization and occasional image stretching near the sides of the letterboxed frames. Mono audio is gun-metal solid.

One don't-miss extra is the interview with tough-talking translator Linda Hoaglund, who grew up in Japan as the daughter of missionaries. The films of "Fukasaku-san" were all about rage, she says. "He's ripping the lid off Japanese society: 'Take a look -- it's wild here.' "

Kinji Fukasaku's series of films known as The Yakuza Papers is largely seen as the veteran filmmaker's answer to The Godfather. Grouped together, these five films are a towering achievement of visceral B-moviemaking at its finest. The very first image over the opening credits of Battles Without Honor and Humanity is that of a mushroom cloud. The dropping of two atomic bombs would forever change and shape Japan's history. It is an event that shaped and changed Fukasaku's life. It also informed many of his movies.

In a nice touch, a booklet is included that maps out the various clans, their significant members and their relation to each other over the course of all five films. This is extremely helpful to neophytes who have trouble remembering who's who and what happened when.

The bonus disc starts off with "Friedkin on Fukasaku," an interview with the legendary director who talks about meeting Fukasaku. He recounts his impressions of the man and how his style of filmmaking differed from the masters of classic Japanese cinema (Ozu, Kurosawa, et al).

"Jitsuroku: Reinventing a Genre" examines this sub-genre of Yakuza films in which the events are based on true stories or historical record.

"Boryoku: Fukasaku and the Art of Violence" is an examination of how violence is depicted in his movies. There is interview footage with the man himself as he talks about expressing the violent and restless tendencies that came out of the postwar period.

"Kantoku: Remembering the Director" features Fukasaku's son and two of his collaborators talking about what it was like to work with him.

David Kaplan, co-author of Yakuza: Japan's Criminal Underworld, talks about the history and evolution of the Yakuza on the "Kaplan on the Yakuza" featurette.

Rounding out the extras is "Translating Fukasaku" with Linda Hoaglund talking about working on the subtitling into English of his movies.

For quite some time Home Vision has released some of the finest examples of Yakuza cinema. They've hit the mother load with this fantastic box set that features some of Fukasaku's best work. For people only familiar with his controversial swan song, Battle Royale, The Yakuza Papers is an exciting, crime epic influenced by the dropping of two atomic bombs that helped defeat Japan, bring about an end to World War II and shape the prevailing attitude of its people for years to come.

From the Director of Battle Royale Kinji Fukasaku comes his modern yakuza gangster epic. I have seen the first 3 of these films and all of them are fast-paced, ultra-violent, and very well directed. These films have been described as the japanese Godfather. These films have tons of intersting characters. Also one of the best things about these movies is that each scene is set up by a narrator; which really helps in following the faced paced storylines. Shocking at times, these films are very well made and very very entertaining. Any fans of HK action will love these movies. Much more violent than most American films.

Kinji Fukasaku rips apart the yakuza genre in this series of 5 films about the Hiroshima and Kansai underworld. They're brutal and realistic, with violence, treachery and such a labyrinthine plot that the DVD set comes with a fold-out chart detailing the relationships between the characters and the various crime syndicates.

One can say without fear of exaggeration that these films, together, form a masteriece of Japanese cinema. They have never before been released in America; the transfer and subtitles are excellent and the special features disk has some interesting documentaries.

Oh yeah and Toshiaki Tsushima's theme music is unforgettable.

This series is without a doubt the most important series of yakuza films ever to be made. Not only are the films socially important, but they are also masterpieces in filmmaking.
The series has an intriguing story which continues through all five films. Each film tells different parts of the same story, in chronological order, and for this reason I cannot help but consider the series to be one film, broken into five parts. The films were revolutionary because they were some of the first to depict the yakuza lifestyle as one without honor, as the title reveals. Films such as Pale Flower showed the emptiness of the yakuza lifestyle, but no film was as commanding as the Battles Without Honor series, which not only showed the emptiness, but also the brutality, destruction, and tragedy of the yakuza lifestyle. The message of the film is very in-your-face, because at the time almost every film glorified the gangster life and heroic bloodshed. In addition, the production quality of the series is very high and each film is very professionally made, with the filmmakers truly showing care and respect for their work. Each film provides a testament to the power of good storytelling and good filmmaking. This series is not just for yakuza fans, but for fans of all Japanese cinema, as well as fans of cinema in general. Though the series may portray a great gangster tale, they are also great films and the viewer need not be a fan of the genre.


This is yet again a wonderful presentation on the part of Home Vision Entertainment. The picture quality has really been cleaned up and the transfer is excellent. Another extremely important aspect of this release is that the subtitles have been newly translated, making the films much easier to understand than other versions. The box set also contains a bonus disc full of special features, which are not available with just the regular discs.

Overall, I highly recommend these films and this DVD series is the best way to see them.

First off, I am a Japanese film afficianado. I am an Akira Kurosawa nut, I own ALL of his films.......I own ALL of the Zatoichi films as well, and pretty much every decent Yakuza movie out there.

I was deseperately awaiting the Yakuza Papers on DVD, and I can say they do not disappoint! This entire set of films piece together extremely well, and give you great insight into how the Yakuza world functions.

The acting is superb, the plot twists unexpected and it always keeps you guessing. If you're not familiar with Japanese history/culture the reactions in certain situations may seem odd to you (for instance a Yakuza mob boss openly weeping in front of his soldiers), but this is about as authentic as it gets.

After watching all 5 films, I'm still in awe. The FIRST film is a bit intese in the first 15 minutes, as it is focusing on the revival of VIOLENT Yakuza culture in Japan immediately after Japan's surrender to the US after WW2. Get past that first 15 minutes, the films are not that bloody nor is the dialogue that grotesque. I think the filmmaker was merely attempting to portray the insanity which was running rampant amongst both Japanese and American troops after the surrender.

I count this set of films as a single "film", and rank it right after Red Beard and Seven Samurai as my favorite Japanese film ever......and that's coming from someone who owns over 50 pre 1985 Japanese films.

Director Kinji Fukasaku's five part film set of "The Yakuza Papers" is an important addition to anyones Asian film library. A little background on Kinji Fukasaku might help those to understand why he chose to portray the yakuza as men without honor or decency. Prior to these films, most viewers were most often given the portrayal of the yakuza as having some sort of honor: A sort of 'Bushido Code' similar to the ways of the ancient Samurai. And there were many films which portrayed the yakuza in such a light. However, Kinji Fukasaku knew better. His portrayal of the yakuza is not the loyal and honorable men that many often viewed. In his nihilistic yakuza film "Graveyard Of Honor" his primary goal was to show the audience what really lay behind the unseen world of these thugs: For he knew them well.

In "Graveyard Of Honor" his primary focus was on the yakuza thug Rikio Ishikawa, who was as much a debased human as the yakuza outfit he belonged to. And being that Kinji Fukasaku was from the same village as Rikio Ishikawa, he must have seen a world few of us are privy to. And this is further evident in his yakuza films, as he does not portray them in an honorable light. Prior to these portrayals, one might see the casual to not so casual Zatoichi episode of Katsu Shintaro's disgust with such men, and many times in a comical light. However, in the "Yakuza Papers" Kinji Fukasaku dispels all myths that the yakuza are or were men of honor. The latest box set is well worth the purchase. I remember buying these one at a time years ago on VHS, and this Box set has done the series justice.

The first of this five part film epic introduces the viewer to what will be a 30 year long struggle of gang warfare in Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima. These are violent films, and Fukasaku does not spare the viewer as to how, why and where these thugs were able to rise to power after Japan's defeat in WWII. We are witness to betrayals, deceit and the methods of how the yakuza become organized. Everything in the yakuza clans were modeled along business lines--and we witness the so-called yakuza myth being destroyed. These are vicious gangs who will go through anyone, and everyone to get what the feel belongs to them. As for loyalty, forget about it, there is none. Many of those who started out with the yakuza after the war were former soldiers. One of these is the films primary protagonist Shozo Hirono (Bunta Suguwara). Shozo Hirono is a former soldier who is initiated into the gang after an altercation with another yakuza. As Shozo rises through the ranks, we see his character going through the motions of honor and loyalty--even though his superiors are not entirely of the same mode.

These films are available separately, or in this Boxed Version. I would recommend viewers obtain the Boxed version for several reasons. First, it is less expensive, and also, with the Boxed Version there is also an additional 6th DVD. This additional DVD gives numerous interviews about Fukasaku and his films, and in particular his use of violence in his films. Also, there is included a pretty good booklet by Patrick Macias. The five films that make up this epic are: 1."Battles Without Honor & Humanity" 2. "Deadly Fight In Hiroshima" 3. "Proxy War" 4. "Police Tactics" 5. "Final Episode." The transfers in all the films are very good--excellent in fact. Also, I have seen these films available in many video rental stores, so if you are hesitant, then you might want to rent them first. However, I HIGHLY recommend the Boxed set if you go ahead and decide to purchase them. [Stars: 5+]

Opening with an image of the atomic bomb reducing Hiroshima to ashes, Fukasaku Kinji's Battles without Honor and Humanity begins a series of five movies depicting the chaotic life of Hirono Shozo a former soldier who is trying to survive in the chaotic world of the black markets in postwar Japan. A pretty even-tempered man, the viewer first witnesses Hirono lash out in violence when a group of American GIs try to rape a woman. Amidst the chaos of the black market with its prostitutes, underground rice kitchens, and violent bars, one of Hirono's friend's head is slashed by a yakuza. A rival yakuza was going to deal with the man, but in his stead Hoshino seeks revenge for his friend. Faced with a drunken, sword wielding yakuza Hirono empties his pistol into the man, and receives a twelve year sentence. However, while in prison, he meets another yakuza named Wakasugi who plans to slice open his stomach in order to get out of jail on bail. Promising to raise Hirono's bail money if he helps him in his plot, Wakasugi introduces Hirono into the world of the yakuza and the two men become blood brothers.

A short time afterward, Hirono is released from prison and meets the head of the Doi family, the clan of the yakuza he went to jail for, and Yamamori the man who will soon be his gang boss. After Yamamori establishes his own gang, Hirono and several other toughs pledge their allegiance to him. However, almost from the beginning there is internal fighting in the ranks. How can a man as straight laced an honorable as Hirono work for a man like Yamamori who continuously plays his men against each other?

During the late 1950s and the early 1960s a style of film called ninkyou eiga, or chivalry films became popular in Japan. For the most part these films portrayed yakuza as chivalrous beings who protected and preserved time honored traditions in Japan and expelled Western influences. Quite often in these films Westerners, Japanese heavily influenced by the West, and individuals of mixed blood were portrayed as villains while the sword wielding yakuza represented the purity of the Japanese spirit. It is not surprising that real yakuza were highly attracted to these films. However, Fukasaku Kinji viewed this portrayal of the yakuza as false and the ninkyou eiga films' portrayal of the yakuza, i.e. Japanese spirit, as being quite close to the wartime mentality. When Hirono draws his pistol and kills the sword-wielding yakuza it is a statement that the world of the yakuza is built on chaos and corruption not pure spirit. A highly recommended film and series for those who enjoy yakuza films and an important series for those who are interested in the evolution of the yakuza film.

If you like gritty gangster movies, buy this boxed set right now. It is a shame that Fukasaku-san is no longer with us, he had a lot of lessons that he could have taught the people who produce and direct todays gangster-pablum. I have recently recieved these episodes from an online movie rental service, my interest in Fukasaku-san's films being piqued by "Battle Royal", and I was not disappointed.

The films are all brilliantly written and brilliantly directed. When this is paired with the excellent job done by every actor/actress in the series, you are left with an extremely solid series. What more can a film fan ask for?

If you are interested in Japanese film and culture, and as obsessed with organized crime (especially the Yakuza, the smoothest of criminals) as I am, you will love this series. If you can't follow the fast paced storyline or the realistic violence: Stay home! This series is for the hardcore only.

Fans of mass-produced Hollywood/network T.V. garbage need not apply.

I loved these films. A classic set of Japanese yakuza movies for your own private viewing. It's so complex that it'll make the American Noir films look like Soap Operas. A little more violence than expected, The Yakuza Papers displays a cinematic dynamicity, that few movies had during the 70's. Clear portrayal of Japanese post-war, or should I say post-Nuclear era.A revolutionary masterpiece. Somebody said before that they "look like a Sonny Chiba movie", but it's quite the opposite. They look indeed very original and stylistically influencial.