Product Details

• Actors: Yoshio Harada, Ryuhei Matsuda, Genta Dairaku, Eita, Yû Fujiki
• Directors: Toshiaki Toyoda
• Writers: Toshiaki Toyoda
• Producers: Chiapang Sun, Keisuke Konishi, Miyoshi Kikuchi
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: Japanese
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Arts Magic
• DVD Release Date: January 25, 2005
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0006Q9478
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #102,752 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "9 Souls" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Travis Crawford, Philadelphia International Film Festival

"Nine Souls" pulses with an energy that makes it one of the best Japanese films of recent years.

Product Description

When a bomber, a patricide, a pornographer, and a mad biker, together with various other forms of social detritus, break free from jail, it is not surprising that mayhem follows in their wake. What is surprising is the degree of sympathy that brilliant young director Toshiaki Toyoda ("Blue Spring") elicits with elegant ease from the spectator, as the gang of misfits roams the land in a despair that is crueler for being comic. This is humanity on the run to nowhere. Although originally inspired by "The Great Escape", the film has more of a feel of Les Miserables mixed with a hallucinogenic, cut with speed. A truly original addition to the jailbreak genre!

SPECIAL DVD FEATURES:
2 Interviews with Director Toshiaki Toyoda
Trailers
Biographies
Filmographies
Promotional Material
Full-Length Commentary with Tom Mes
Anamorphic Widescreen presentation
5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Toshiaki Toyoda does it again, February 20, 2005

By	ZombieTongue (Bay Area) - See all my reviews

9 Souls is truly a beautiful film. The film is reminiscent of the director's previous Blue Spring, yet is much larger scale and is a much more mature and personal piece of art. This is what makes the film so touching and captivating. It blends humor and drama skillfully, weaving emotions of happiness, nostalgia, regret and sorrow throughout. This is done in a very effective manner and makes the film stronger because this makes its emotions truer to life. For this reason, it is easy for the audience to relate to the film and its characters. Overall, this is a truly wonderful and mesmerizing film. Artsmagic DVD has done an excellent job with the transfer and sound quality, so this is also a high quality DVD which does the film justice.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 9 souls 9 holes., February 24, 2005

By	Shoegazinglover (Spring Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This is one of the greatest films I have ever seen. If you are a lover of modern Japanese films, you will love 9 Souls. I was very impressed by Toyoda's film Blue Spring, but 9 Souls blows Blue Spring out of the water. The characters are cool, the soundtrack kicks ass, the chicks are hot. What more could you want. The movie is so good, just on a stylistic level, that the fact that the story is good is just a plus. If you don't like surrealism, vagueness, and ambiguity, then this film is not for you, but those of you who are familiar with modern Japanese cinema will love this. Almost all Modern Japanese films fit these standards and this is no different.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Kind Of Spiritual Journey!, January 3, 2007

By	Ernest Jagger (Culver City, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

There are many different MODERN types of films coming out of Japan today. Many viewers find these to be uninteresting, or maybe even a little bit pretentious. However, I like a lot of what I see in modern Japanese films. Some, in fact many, are not for everyone; but there are certain qualities that I like in much of modern Japanese cinema that I find lacking in most American films. Take for instance this film in question. I lent it to 10 friends, who like myself, love Japanese cinema. 5 liked the film, the other 5 did not. We basically all have the same tastes in common concerning are likes and dislikes in Japanese films. Therefore, while I found this film to be outstanding, as a word of caution, rent it first.

Quite frankly, I was not sure what to expect when I purchased this film when it was first released. I happen to buy a lot of Japanese films this way. Some are a hit, while others are a miss. This one was a 'grand-slam' to me. The film centers on 9 prisoners who have just escaped from prison. They are determined to find a stash of money hidden away by one of the inmates known as the 'counterfeit king.' Due to his unruly behavior, prior to the prison escape, he is left behind, as he has been taken away to solitary confinement. They are determined to find the stash of money that they believe will set them on their new path in life: Just one more chance, so the saying goes. But can they escape their own past deeds? Is there hope for redemption? Maybe, and maybe not. One views the run down neighborhoods and poverty in Japan that we in the west rarely see, or hear about.

As the films narrative proceeds in the begining, the viewer is given a little bit of slapstick comedy. Not too outlandish, just a bit of goofing off, and joy of these 9 escaped prisoners new-found freedom. But this is not meant to be a film without some retribution: as director Toshiaki Toyoda has driven a sharp divide right down the films center. What begins as a new life for these escaped prisoners, will eventually spiral into a dark abyss. The film gives the viewer great character development in the first half of the film. You get to know each of the characters: and they all give superb acting performances in their respective roles. Setting out together in their stolen red van, each of these characters meet up with their destiny: A destiny I might add that they themselves have chosen, for life is about choices. Right or wrong. As a warning, there is some violence and disturbing scenes in the film. However, I highly recommend the film.