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6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In Los Angeles, naïve and lonely burger waitress Carol Heath finds an advertisement in the newspaper that promotes a job opportunity in Tokyo. After meeting with the agents representing the prospective employer, she travels to Japan to work at the White Orchid nightclub, but soon discovers that a forced prostitution ring is run through the club by the Yakuza.
Starring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Thomas Byrd, Mako, Carolyn Seymour, Richard NaritaDrama | 100% |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1, 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.33:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
After suffering through a strong of box office disappointments, director Jonathan Kaplan took refuge in television movies, spending the early 1980s managing a handful of network offerings for mass audiences. 1983’s “Death Ride to Osaka” (a.k.a. “Girls of the White Orchid”) is perhaps the most aggressive of the bunch, with Kaplan in charge of providing exploitation fare for NBC, creating a cautionary tale about human trafficking that’s careful to linger on violence and uneasy sexuality. “Death Ride to Osaka” isn’t hard-hitting stuff, but Kaplan finds a certain level of potency with the rougher edges of the teleplay (credited to Carole and Michael Raschella), also exploring cultural confusion during the run time, aiming to deliver something unsettling while still remaining an accessible night of T.V. for adult audiences.
The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratio options) presentation offers a clear look at production achievements, offering excellent detail with club interiors, which survey a community of businessmen and high decorated women of the night. Exteriors are dimensional, capturing walking tours of Tokyo and Los Angeles. Facial surfaces are defined. Costuming is nicely varied and textured. Colors are boosted by club lighting, which provide a warmer party atmosphere, and colder concrete adventures in the city are preserved. Skintones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in great condition.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA secures dialogue exchanges, which retain a quieter level of panic with Carol, while yakuza dealings are more authoritative. Soundtrack selections and stage performances are louder, with distinct instrumentation and vocal power. Atmospherics are appreciable, with street and club bustle present.
"Death Ride to Osaka" doesn't reach its dramatic potential, but moments of horror remain, as Kaplan fights to preserve an authentic feeling of hopelessness before NBC formula returns to land the production with a somewhat ridiculous conclusion. It's not as sharp as it could be, but "Death Ride to Osaka" is unusually hostile for television entertainment, offering audiences a darker look at the corruption of innocence.
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