Sister Street Fighter Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Sister Street Fighter Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 12, 2019

As if “proof” were needed that female superheroes are a phenomenon to be reckoned with, simply witness the incredible box office returns of 2017’s Wonder Woman and the current (as this review is being published) explosion of Captain Marvel. While it’s arguable as to whether she really fits into the standard mold of a “superhero”, the character who sports the name of Li Koryu in the first three Sister Street Fighter films was literally kicking butt long enough ago that Cathy Lee Crosby had just made her debut in a television movie version of Wonder Woman, one which would soon kinda sorta go on to series with Lynda Carter in the title role, and any lingering memories of Captain Marvel were of a, well, male. As Sonny Chiba gets into in an enjoyable interview included as a supplement with this set, star Etsuko Shihomi was felt by some “experts” not to be “curvy” or “feminine” enough looking to become a star, but Chiba had been immediately struck by Shihomi’s ability to execute virtually any stunt presented to her — instantly. And it is Shihomi’s physicality that helps to energize at least the first three films in this set (Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist is a “sequel” in name only, despite also starring Shihomi). The first two films were released some years ago at the dawn of the Blu- ray age in a double feature that my colleague Ken Brown wasn’t particularly impressed by in the technical department. Arrow is now offering those same two films, to my eyes looking much better than on the BCI disc, along with the two later follow-ups.

For reviews of the four films included in this set, please click on the following links:

Sister Street Fighter Blu-ray review

Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread Blu-ray review

Return of the Sister Street Fighter Blu-ray review

Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist Blu- ray review

Sister Street Fighter Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of each release is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Sister Street Fighter Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of each release is assessed in the above linked reviews.

Sister Street Fighter Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Arrow has packaged this release with the first film on one disc and the other three on a second disc, and so there will probably be some more "generalist" supplements on the first disc in particular which contain content linked to some of the films on the second disc.

Disc One

• Sonny Chiba: A Life in Action, Vol. 3 (1080p; 10:10) is an enjoyable 2016 interview with the legend, where he discusses his "action academy" and how he discovered and fostered Etsuko Shihomi.


• Kazuhiko Yamaguchi: Kick Ass Sisters (1080p; 10:06) is another 2016 interview with the director, who discusses some of his films which prominently feature women.


• Masahiro Kaketuda: Subversive Action (1080p; 10:51) is the third 2016 interview of the set, with the co-screenwriter of the first three Sister Street Fighter films.


• Isolated Score Highlights (1080p; 11:43) are presented in LPCM Mono.


• Original Trailer (1080p; 2:47)


• Still and Poster Gallery (1080p; 22:41)


• International Releases

  R Rated Version (1080p; 1:21:13) is a censored English language version which it's stated was the only version available in English speaking territories for 30 years. This comes with a text card warning that film elements could not be located for this version, and so a number of standard definition inserts, typically in moments where English text is utilized (as in the credits) are utilized which are noticeably more ragged looking than the bulk of the presentation.

  
  

  U.S. Trailer (1080p; 2:35)

  
  

  German Opening Titles (1080p; 2:11)

  
  

  German Trailer (1080p; 2:35)

Disc Two

• Isolated Score Highlights are offered in LPCM Mono:

  Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread (1080p; 19:26)

  
  

  Return of the Sister Street Fighter (1080p; 10:15)

• Trailers

  Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread (1080p; 2:44)

  
  

  Return of the Sister Street Fighter (1080p; 2:57)

  
  

  Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist (1080p; 2:57)

Sister Street Fighter Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As much as whatever the film comparison version of a non sequitur this admittedly might be, another "superhero" sprang to mind intermittently as I watched all the Sister Street Fighter films, and that was the camptastic 1960s television version of Batman. I know that sounds weird, but like the old television series, at least the first three films in this set feature over the top cartoonish villains, weird off kilter framings of action (including lots of "tilted" cameras), and even occasional onscreen verbiage which admittedly may not be "Boff!" or "Pow!" but which kind of echoes those terms by sometimes providing information about various weapons. None of these films is probably even a genre classic, but the first three at least are highly enjoyable, if undeniably goofy a lot of the time. While not completely optimal, the technical merits on this set certainly improve on the old BCI release of the first two films and continue with generally good marks for the second two films. As usual, Arrow has assembled some nice supplements and has handsomely packaged the release. Recommended.