Bodyguard Kiba 2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Bodyguard Kiba 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 29, 2024

Ryuichi Takamori's "Bodyguard Kiba 2" (1973) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by critics Mike Leeder and Arne Venema; new program with critics Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp; and vintage trailer. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

I like tough guys.

Even though the transition between the two is quite good, knowledge of the various events that are chronicled in Bodyguard Kiba is not necessary to enjoy Bodyguard Kiba 2. In fact, a few developments in the second film make more sense if one ignores previous developments. For example, in the first film, Naoto Kiba’s (Sonny Chiba) sister, Maki, is crucified by several shady characters and then promptly removed from it. Naturally, one is left with the impression that she has died. In the second film, Maki reemerges. (Interestingly, she is not played by Yayoi Watanabe, but Etsuko Shihomi).

After a deadly brawl involving several competitors from another influential karate school, Naoto Kiba (Sonny Chiba) is arrested and thrown in jail. While serving his sentence, Kiba saves the life of a charismatic troublemaker with a target on his back, Nanjo (Tsunehiko Watase), and the two, doing their best to protect each other, become good friends. Several years later, Kiba is released, but Nanjo remains behind bars. In the heart of a big city, Kiba is then picked up by a hardworking prostitute and dragged into a seedy nightclub, where he orders too much to drink and eat without having enough to pay for it. Another prostitute, Mari (Maki Mizuhara), instantly recognizes that Kiba is a tough but honest guy and loans him the money he needs to pay his bill and avoid a beating from the nightclub’s bouncers. The incident puts Kiba on the radar of the nightclub’s owner, who hires him as his personal bodyguard despite protests from his top security guy and partner. With the bonus he is handed, Kiba repays Mari, and the two begin spending time together. Not too long after that, Nanjo, fresh out of jail and unaware that Kiba is in the city, arrives at the nightclub too and demands from its owner to be paid his fair share from an old arrangement. This most unexpected development forces Kiba to choose between serving his boss or siding with his good friend Nanjo.

Even though the two Bodyguard Kiba films were directed by Ryuichi Takamori at approximately the same time, they are quite different, and in several notable ways, too. For example, the quality of the writing in the second film is vastly better, so not only is the narrative better structured, but the drama at the center of it is much more convincing. Also, in the second film, the character arcs, main relationships and progression are far more authentic, and as a result, it is a lot easier to profile it as an adult crime film.

However, the biggest and most consequential difference comes from Chiba’s performance. Indeed, in this film, Chiba becomes very comfortable emphasizing the strength of his martial arts skills in elaborate action sequences that will quickly become even bigger, more intense, and of course flashier. It is a very effective performance, with an undeniable positive effect on the rest of the cast, greatly enhancing the desired atmosphere. The first film, while often producing similarly impressive visuals, does not have such a unifying element, which is arguably the biggest reason different fragments of it frequently look like TV commercials.

Takamori chose different cinematographers for each film, Yoshio Nakajima and Yoshikazu Yamazawa, respectively, whose styles reveal some similarities but are quite different. For example, in the first film, there are many borderline chaotic zooms, cuts, slowed-down and still shots. Some of them are retained in the second film, but the camera movement and composition of entire sequences are managed differently. For example, there is an obvious intent to provide better panoramic shots and fit them into action material with a superior understanding of visual composition. Also, the camera routinely chooses better angles that expand the scope of the visual material, even though some of it is already quite busy. This particular intent is also recognizable in The Executioner and Violent Streets, which Yamazawa lensed immediately after Bodyguard Kiba 2.

Bodyguard Kiba 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Bodyguard Kiba 2 arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.

The overall quality of the presentation is virtually identical to that of the first film. All visuals have a solid, very attractive organic appearance, which I would expect a recent master struck from an interpositive to produce. There are a few areas where density levels can be slightly better, but when projected, the entire film looks great. There are no traces of problematic digital corrections. Color balance is very convincing. A few primaries and supporting nuances can be helped to appear even better saturated, but the temperature of the visuals is as good as it should be. There are no distracting surface imperfections to report. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Bodyguard Kiba 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Japanese LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

In my opinion, Bodyguard Kiba 2 has an even better soundtrack. It mixes jazzy and swinging 1960s/1970s tunes that sound terrific. There is a wild drum solo courtesy of a drugged up drummer that sounds outstanding as well. Some of the action footage features abrupt spikes in dynamic intensity, so balance is a bit uneven, but this is to be expected. All dialog is very clear, clean, and stable. The English translation is excellent.

Bodyguard Kiba 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Mike Leeder and Arne Venema. The commentators address the production history of Bodyguard Kiba 2, some of the more interesting cameos in the film, its style and how it is different and similar to that of the first film, the progression of Sonny Chiba's career, etc.

• Kiba or Chiba - in this exclusive new program, critics Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp discuss the two Bodyguard Chiba films and their placement in Sonny Chiba's cinematic oeuvre. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a remastered original Japanese trailer for Bodyguard Kiba. In Japanese, with English subtitles. (3 min).

• Booklet - a collector's booklet featuring new writing by Jasper Sharp as well as technical credits.

Bodyguard Kiba 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Better writing, better drama and action, and a different Sonny Chiba performance transform Bodyguard Kiba 2 into a much more satisfying film than its predecessor. If you have ignored it because of ancient reviews claiming that it is not worth seeing, you should reconsider and book a date with it. I also think that it is a very important film in Chiba's body of work because it is where he clearly became very comfortable emphasizing the strength of his martial arts skills. Eureka Entertainment's release presents a wonderful recent restoration of Bodyguard Kiba 2 with a couple of nice bonus features. If you decide to pick it up for your library, please keep in mind that it is Region-B "locked". HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.