Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 11, 2019

Note: This version of 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.

While overly complicated plots aren't exactly a staple of any of the Sister Street Fighter films, my colleague Ken Brown gives a bit of an overview of the stories of the first two films in his Sister Street Fighter / Sister Street Fighter II Blu-ray review. That review also provides a good source to compare screenshots between the two Blu-ray releases of the first two films.

Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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: Hanging by a Thread exhibits many of the same variances I mentioned in our Sister Street Fighter Blu-ray review, though in this case it's arguable that on the plus side the palette is more consistently saturated, while on the minus side there's at least a bit more (and still pretty minor) damage noticeable in the form of minor flecks and specks. Once again primaries, especially reds and blues, pop rather well throughout the presentation, though some portions look slightly faded so that reds have more of an orange or auburn tint. There are occasional brief moments where fade is more noticeable, as at circa 57:29, where the same kind of grayish undertone I mentioned with regard to select moments in the first film also shows up here. Grain is generally a bit better resolved and "tighter" looking throughout this presentation than with regard to the first film.

Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While perfectly listenable, Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread's LPCM Mono Japanese track does exhibit some of the most noticeable distortion and crackling in the Sister Street Fighter Collection. It's immediately apparent from the Toei masthead through the first "scream" (a Sister Street Fighter staple) and the high whistling sound effects of her nanchaku, but it recurs throughout in some higher amplitude moments. Dialogue makes it through the gauntlet without any major problems. The track has the same kind of shallow, slightly tinny, sound that the first film also featured.

Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread 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. Therefore, the score above reflects the total package, rather than extras limited in scope to any given particular film.

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)

As tends to be standard operating procedure with this label, Arrow has also provided a nicely appointed insert booklet.

Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sister Street Fighter: Hanging by a Thread doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, and in fact just kind of keeps the first film's "wheel" spinning as quickly as it can, offering the same kind of manic energy and fairly simplistic plot mechanics that the first film featured. Video is once again improved from the first Blu-ray release, but audio has a few passing issues. Recommended.