6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
The daughter of a kimono shop owner who is more interested in martial arts than traditional feminine pursuits helps her friend's brother disentangle himself from a drug ring that is using a movie studio as a front.
Starring: Etsuko Shihomi, Akira Shioji, Tsunehiko Watase, Masataka Iwao, Hiroshi TanakaForeign | 100% |
Martial arts | 29% |
Action | 1% |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Japanese: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Note: This film is available as part of
Sister Street Fighter Collection.
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.
All four films in the Sister Street Fighter collection are presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with AVC encoded 1080p transfers in 2.35:1. Arrow's insert booklet offers the following brief and pretty generic information on the transfers:
The four films in the Sister Street Fighter series are presented in their original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and with their original mono sound. All four films were remastered in high definition for this release by Toei Company, Ltd.Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist has to my eyes the most consistent clarity and detail levels of all four films in the Sister Street Fighter set, but it also has surprising (if still small) amounts of age related wear and tear, at least considering the fact that this is the "newest" film in the set. While my hunch is nothing in this presentation is going to be a deal breaker for diehard fans, there are quite a few white flecks, specks, dirt and the like that crop up and will most likely be spotted by the eagle eyed. The palette generally looks good here, but once again reds can stray slightly into orange or brown territory. (Fading toward brown can be spotted throughout the presentation.) Grain can also look rather coarse in any number of interior scenes. Detail levels tend to vary fairly widely depending on light intensity, but close-ups often offer very good fine detail levels. Some black and white flashback material offers really good contrast and nicely deep blacks.
Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level Fist features an LPCM Mono track in the original Japanese. This is another perfectly fine sounding track which nevertheless has an undeniably boxy, shallow sound some of the time, especially with regard to some of the sound effects. Scoring sounds energetic and full bodied, and dialogue is always presented cleanly and clearly. This is the rare Arrow release (in my experience, anyway) that doesn't allow "on the fly" access to audio and/or subtitle options — you need to access them via the Pop Up Menu and make any changes that way.
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. Therefore, the score
above reflects the total package, rather than extras limited in scope to any given particular film.
Disc One
- 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)
- Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread (1080p; 19:26)
- Return of the Sister Street Fighter (1080p; 10:15)
- 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)
When a film has the audacity to rip a page out of the playbook of the venerable The Perils of Pauline for its climax, you know it's not taking itself seriously, which gives this film at least a little comedic edge. That said, this is a major dropoff in the action adventure element, and it's just downright odd that they decided to keep the title but change everything else. Technical merits are generally decent if not optimal for those considering a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
女必殺拳 危機一発
1974
帰って来た女必殺拳
1975
女必殺拳
1974
五虎屠龍 / Wu hu tu long
1970
악녀
2017
Satsujin ken 2 / 殺人拳2
1974
Deep Thrust / Tie zhang xuan feng tui / 鐵掌旋風腿
1972
Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms
1978
The Executioners of Death / Hong Xi Guan
1977
Five Fingers of Death / Tian xia di yi quan
1972
Fists of the White Lotus / Hong Wen Ding san po Bai Lian Jiao / Hung Man Ding sam por Bak Lin Gau / 洪文定三破白蓮教
1980
Tom Yum Goong 2
2013
Tang shan wu hu / 唐山五虎
1979
1984
龍門客棧 / Long men kezhan
1967
Gyakushû! Satsujin ken / 逆襲!殺人拳 / Street Fighter Counterattacks! / Revenge! The Killing Fist
1974
Tai Ji 2: Ying Xiong Jue Qi
2012
Gekitotsu! Satsujin ken / 激突!殺人拳
1974
The Five Venoms / 五毒 / Wu du
1978
警察故事3超級警察 / Gíng chaat gu sih sāam: Chīu kāp gíng chaat | Standard Edition
1992