Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Great Okinawa Yakuza War Blu-ray Movie Review

The Great Okinawa Yakuza War is an epic production and one that will find an appreciative audience with action fans looking for an entertaining spectacle. Sonny Chiba stars in the central role. The Great Okinawa Yakuza War features a noteworthy supporting cast that includes Tatsuo Umemiya, Tsunehiko Watase, Hideo Murota, Isao Bitô, Hiroki Matsukata, Mikio Narita, and Takeo Chii.

Seigou Kunigami (Sonny Chiba) is a ruthless and powerful gangster fighting in the streets of Okinawa circa 1971. The tale unfolds with events prior to mainland Okinawa regaining its power. As events unfold in The Great Okinawa Yakuza War, Seigou takes on one dangerous foe after another as the epic battles of the Yakuza War take place in the streets.

The yakuza must face off against the commoners from the mainland. In these dangerous times, the bloody war unfolds. Can Seigou survive to see another day alive or will his own blood spill onto the mainland before the final death toll?  

Sonny Chiba delivers a superb performance as Seigou Kunigami. A solid role for the actor. The part is a great showcase for his acting chops and the actor has a good time with the role.

The score composed by Kenjirô Hirose (A Savage Beast Goes Mad, Doberman Cop) is well-done and adds a lot of energy to the filmmaking. Hirose is a gifted composer and someone who has a knack as an artist. The score is a nice component of the filmmaking.

The cinematography by Shigeru Akatsuka (Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, The Shogun Assassins) is well-done and an important artistic component of the production. The cinematography shines and highlights the action spectacle. Akatsuka is a gifted cinematographer with a good grasp on visuals and how the cinematography enhances the storytelling.

Edited by Kôzô Horiike (Samurai Wolf, The Street Fighter), The Great Okinawa Yakuza War is well-paced. The action is well-cut. The editing balances the character moments and the spectacle.

Written by Fumio Kônami (Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs, New Battles Without Honor and Humanity) and Kôji Takada (The Fall of Ako Castle, Hokuriku Proxy War), The Great Okinawa Yakuza War is a well-done tale. The script is fun and entertaining. A solid script and a nice showcase for star Chiba.

Directed by Sadao Nakajima (A Savage Beast Goes Mad, Girl Boss: Escape from Reform School), The Great Okinawa Yakuza War is a well-worthwhile Chiba film. Director Nakajima has plenty of fun exploring the tale of the Yakuza War. The Great Okinawa Yakuza War delivers spectacle and scale. Nakajima helps to bring out a worthwhile performance by Chiba.

The Great Okinawa Yakuza War Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Shout Factory, The Great Okinawa Yakuza War is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The print is engaging and worthwhile overall. The scan does exhibit some occasional specks on the transfer. An imperfect but good transfer overall. There are some occasional thin lines on the scan, too – notably around the 1 hr. 27 min. mark (and it is a bit of a visual distraction for a few moments). Not a dealbreaker but worth noting for the scene. Shout Factory provides a worthwhile encode of the film.

The Great Okinawa Yakuza War Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (with English subtitles). The lossless audio encoding is well-done. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The score is well highlighted on the release. An effective audio presentation of the mono soundstage. The English subtitles are well-done and are free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

The Great Okinawa Yakuza War Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The feature-film does not include on-disc supplements.

The Great Okinawa Yakuza War Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Great Okinawa Yakuza War is an entertaining and exciting spectacle. The production values are impressive. Director Sadao Nakajima (A Savage Beast Goes Mad) brings together impressive scale and scope for the filmmaking. Star Sonny Chiba is impressive in the central role. A good showcase for Chiba.

Fans of the action-star won't want to miss the film. The Blu-ray release provides a solid video and audio presentation. Unfortunately, the release does not provide on-disc supplements. A worthwhile entry in The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 2. Recommended.