6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In this sequel, Chiba is sent to prison after being betrayed by a yakuza underboss. Once out, he looks to get his revenge. Directed by Buichi Saito (Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart in Peril).
Starring: Shin'ichi Chiba, Reiko Ike, Tatsuya Fuji, Ryôhei Uchida, Takashi HioForeign | 100% |
Crime | 9% |
Action | 8% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Japanese: LPCM 2.0
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Buichi Saito's "Yakuza Wolf 2" (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental feature on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by critics Mike Leeder and Arne Venema and vintage trailer. In Japanese, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Yakuza Wolf 2 arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka Entertainment.
The release introduces a recent remaster of Yakuza Wolf 2 that was prepared on behalf of Toei in Japan. In case you are wondering, it is the same master that the folks at Shout Factory worked with to produce the American release of Yakuza Wolf 2, which is included in The Sonny Chiba Collection.
The overall quality of the presentation is almost identical to that of Yakuza Wolf. Yes, these films have different visual styles, but I refer to the manner in which native characteristics of their visuals are reproduced in 1080p. For example, despite some minor density fluctuations, grain exposure is identical, so delineation, clarity, and depth are very, very similar. Color balance is convincing. However, I do believe that in select areas some minor adjustments can be made to strengthen some of the darker supporting nuances. I did not encounter distracting black crush. Image stability is very good. I noticed a few white specks, but there are no large cuts, debris, stains, warped or torn frames to report.
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Japanese LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
While the soundtrack is not as impressive as the one from Yakuza Wolf, occasionally it produces some quite good contrasts. However, the most notable dynamic variety comes from the action footage, which can be pretty intense. The dialog is always very clear, clean, and stable. I did not encounter any age-related anomalies to report in our review.
Promoting Buichi Saito's film as a sequel to Ryuichi Takamori's classic film is some genuine Japanese magic. These two films have absolutely nothing in common -- they do not share a single character or have any elements of their stories overlapping. Sonny Chiba is in both? True, so what? Imagine if some brilliant mind in Hollywood had promoted Vanilla Sky as a sequel to Eyes Wide Shut because Tom Cruise plays emotionally troubled characters in both. The other, even bigger problem with Saito's film is that it is pretty badly scripted and shot, which is why it often looks very awkward. In some areas, its cast begins acting in an action parody, which I assure you the film was not conceived to be. To be honest, I do not dislike it because some of the bad in it is rather entertaining, but it is one of the most random sequels I have ever encountered. It is included in Eureka Entertainment's upcoming Yakuza Wolf 1 & 2 two-disc set, which is Region-B "locked".
(Still not reliable for this title)
狼やくざ 殺しは俺がやる / Ôkami yakuza: Koroshi wa ore ga yaru / I Perform Murder | Eureka Classics
1972
ボディガード牙 必殺三角飛び / Bodigâdo kiba: Hissatsu sankaku tobi / Karate Killer | Eureka Classics
1973
ボディガード牙 / Bodigâdo kiba / The Bodyguard | Eureka Classics
1973
赤穂城断絶 / Akō-jō danzetsu / Swords of Vengeance | Masters of Cinema
1978
皇家女將 / Huáng jiā nǚ jiāng / Lethal Lady | Eureka Classics
1990
至尊無上 / Zhì zūn wú shàng | Eureka Classics
1989
脅迫 | Odoshi | Limited Edition
1966
暗戰2 / Am zin 2 / Masters of Cinema
2001
省港旗兵 / Sang gong kei bing
1984
網走番外地 望郷篇 / Abashiri bangaichi: Bōkyō-hen | Masters of Cinema
1965
続・網走番外地 / Zoku Abashiri bangaichi | Masters of Cinema
1965
網走番外地 / Abashiri bangaichi | Masters of Cinema
1965
Mottomo kiken na yuugi / 最も危険な遊戯 / Games of Maximum Risk
1978
ドーベルマン刑事 / Doberuman deka
1977
仁義の墓場 / Jingi no hakaba
1975
現代やくざ 人斬り与太 / Gendai yakuza: hito-kiri yota
1972
東京騎士隊 / Tokyo naito
1961
密航0ライン / Mikkô zero rain
1960
仁義なき戦い 広島死闘篇 / Jingi naki tatakai: Hiroshima shitō-hen / Battles Without Honour and Humanity: Hiroshima Death Match
1973
探偵事務所23 くたばれ悪党ども / Kutabare akutô-domo - Tantei jimusho 23
1963