"Actor: Tatsuya Naka"

• The Face Of Another | DVD | (21/03/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Facially scarred in a fire a businessman (Nakadai) receives psychotherapy and an amazingly lifelike mask. However he finds it difficult to re-integrate into society and discovers that his personal habits are changing. Is the mask controlling him or did he create the new personality of the mask? Director Hiroshi Teshigahara teamed up once more with screenwriter and novelist Kobo Abe and experimental composer Toru Takemitsu following their collaboration on the seminal 'Sunna No Onna'

• Yojimbo (DVD) | DVD | (12/06/2017) from £6.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  This semi-comic 1961 film by legendary director Akira Kurosawa (Rashomon, Ran) was inspired by the American Western genre. Kurosawa mainstay Toshirô Mifune (Seven Samurai) is cast as a drifting samurai for hire who plays both ends against the middle with two warring factions, surviving on his wits and his ability to outrun his own bad luck. Eventually the samurai seeks to eliminate both sides for his own gain and to define his own sense of honour. Yojimbo is striking for its unorthodox treatment of violence and morality, reserving judgment on the actions of its main character and instead presenting an entertaining tale with humour and much visual excitement. One of the inspirations for the "spaghetti westerns" of director Sergio Leone and later surfacing as a remake as Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis, this film offers insight into a director who influenced American films even as he was influenced by them. --Robert Lane, Amazon.com

• Kwaidan (Masters of Cinema) Limited Edition Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (27/04/2020) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Cannes, Kwaidan features four nightmarish tales adapted from Lafcadio Hearn's classic Japanese ghost stories about mortals caught up in forces beyond their comprehension when the supernatural world intervenes in their lives: The Black Hair, The Woman of the Snow, Hoichi the Earless, and In a Cup of Tea. Breathtakingly photographed entirely on hand-painted sets, the film is an abstract wash of luminescent colours from another world. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present the complete 183-minute original Japanese cut of Masaki Kobayashi's masterpiece on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. SPECIAL FEATURES Hardbound Slipcase 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from Criterion's 2K digital restoration of Kobayashi's original director's cut Original monaural Japanese soundtrack Optional English subtitles Kim Newman on Kwaidan a new interview with the film critic and writer Shadowings [35 mins] a new video essay by David Cairns and Fiona Watson Original trailers PLUS 100-PAGE Perfect Bound Illustrated Collector's book featuring reprints of Lafcadio Hearn's original ghost stories; a survey of the life and career of Masaki Kobayashi by Linda Hoaglund; and a wide ranging interview with the film maker the last he'd ever give

• High And Low | DVD | (28/03/2005) from £14.49   |  Saving you £5.50 (37.96%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Kurosawa drew on the thriller 'King's Ransom' by Ed McBain (aka Evan Hunter) for this contemporary study of the inequalities and hierarchical rigidity of modern Japan. In the first half of the film set in a single room an industrialist agonises on whether to pay the huge ransom demanded by kidnappers who have mistakenly snatched his chauffeur's son instead of his own. The second half of the film shot in a frenzied restless style on sleazy urban locations concentrates on the polic

• Return From The River Kwai | DVD | (04/06/2001) from £5.89   |  Saving you £-2.90 (N/A%)   |  RRP £2.99

  True story of British and Australian POW's held by the Japanese in Thailand. Near the end of the war the fittest of the POW's were moved by rail and ship to Japan and during the sea journey the convoy comes under attack from an American submarine at the same time as the Allied POW's were making a daring attempt to take over the ship.

• The Human Condition Trilogy Dual Format Blu-ray & DVD | Blu Ray | (19/09/2016) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £69.99

  Kobayashi's monumental film can clarify and enrich your understanding of what it is to be alive. (A.O. Scott, New York Times) One of the towering masterpieces of Japanese and world cinema, this three-part war epic has rarely been seen in the UK, at least partly because of its dauntingly gargantuan nine-hour length. Director Masaki Kobayashi (Harakiri) was attracted to Junpei Gomikawa's source novel because he recognised himself in the character of the protagonist Kaji, a pacifist and socialist who came of age during the aggressively militaristic 1930s and 40s. Following Kaji's career from factory worker to Japanese army private, Kobayashi unflinchingly examines the psychological toll of appallingly complex decisions made along the way, where being morally ˜right' risks an outcome ranging from ostracism to savage beating to death. As Kaji, Tatsuya Nakadai (Sanjuro) is in virtually every scene, providing a rock-solid emotional anchor and a necessary one in Japan, where the film was hugely controversial for being openly critical of the nation's conduct during WWII. But it's this willingness to confront national taboos head-on that makes it such a lastingly powerful experience.

• Rurouni Kenshin 3 - Steelbook | Blu Ray | (24/08/2015) from £36.43   |  Saving you £-9.44 (N/A%)   |  RRP £26.99

  To stop Makoto Shishio who aims to conquer Japan Kenshin arrives in Kyoto and tries to face off against Shishio’s troops. However his enemy has begun its course to start invading Tokyo with the steel-reinforced battleship. To save captured Kaoru who is thrown into the sea by Shishio’s men Kenshin also dives in after her but is washed ashore alone unconscious. Kenshin recovers with the help of Seijuro Hiko the master of Kenshin who happens to find him on the shore.  He realizes he is no match for Shishio unless he learns the ultimate technique of his sword style and begs the master to teach him. In the meantime Shishio finds that Kenshin is still alive and puts pressure on the government to find Kenshin and execute him in public for his sins during his days as the “Battosai the Killer”. As Kenshin faces his biggest challenge can Kenshin really defeat his fiercest enemy Shishio and be reunited with Kaoru?! Click Images to Enlarge

• Bullet Ballet | Blu Ray | (30/12/2013) from £17.76   |  Saving you £3.49 (21.15%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Goda (Shinya Tsukamoto) is a thirty-something documentary filmmaker. While his work may seem intriguing to some his life is absolutely average - long hours at the office drinks after work an equally busy girlfriend Kiriko that he's been with for a decade. No surprises. No detours. No shocks. That is until he returns home one night to find police cars and ambulances surrounding the entrance to his apartment building. When he gets upstairs he's told that Kiriko has committed suicide. If this wasn't devastating enough Goda also learns that she killed herself with a bullet to the head. With Japan having some of the strictest set of gun control laws on the books not only is Goda left with the yawning black why behind Kiriko's suicide but also a whole other set of mysterious hows wheres and whos. How did Kiriko get a handgun in the first place? From where? And most importantly from who? Goda goes on a quest into the gritty criminal underworld of Tokyo in order to answer these questions and maybe inhabit the last days of Kiriko's life.

• Ran | DVD | (20/11/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Akira Kurosawa's brilliantly conceived retelling of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' magically mixes Japanese history Shakespeare's plot and Kurosawa's own feelings about loyalty in this epic masterpiece. Set in 16th century Japan an aging ruler Lord Hidetora (Tatsuya Nakadai) announces his intention to divide his land equally among his three sons. This decision to step down unleashes a power struggle between the three when Hidetora falls prey to the false flattery bestowed upon him by the two older sons and banishes the youngest when he speaks the truth. The ruthless betrayal ultimately drives Hidetora insane destroying his entire family and kingdom. Deep human emotion and outstanding acting combine to create one of the most acclaimed foreign films of all time.

• Kagemusha | DVD | (18/02/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.

• Sanjuro | DVD | (06/10/2003) from £10.78   |  Saving you £9.21 (85.44%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Sequel to Kurosawa's own 'Yojimbo' in which the crafty samurai helps a young man and his fellow clansmen save his uncle who has been framed and imprisoned by a corrupt superintendent...

• In The Realm of The Senses - Double Play (Blu-ray + DVD) | Blu Ray | (17/10/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £22.99

  One of the most shocking true stories to hit Japanese society and one of the most controversial films ever made, world renowned director Nagisa Oshima's In The Realm Of The Senses is like no other film you have experienced. Immediately banned on its 1976 release in the United States, given a limited release in the U.K and still censored in its own country, In The Realm Of The Senses is a masterpiece notorious for its graphic sexual content, scandalous subject matter and its unforgettable climax.Set in Pre-War Tokyo, 1936, In The Realm Of The Senses tells the story of Sade Abe. Having found work as a maid in a popular hotel, Sade soon begins a torrid relationship with the infamous owner. Completely infatuated with each other, their increasingly experimental sexual encounters spiral into an all-consuming, obsessive and destructive love affair where even life is worth sacrificing.

• Black Belt | DVD | (08/08/2011) from £10.99   |  Saving you £5.00 (31.30%)   |  RRP £15.99

  In 2005, "ONG BAK" set the martial arts world on fire again, bringing REAL martial arts back to movies. Now "BLACK BELT" brings the real force of karate to the screen.

• Death Note 1 and 2 Special Edition Twin Set | DVD | (26/10/2009) from £14.83   |  Saving you £5.16 (34.79%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Death Note: Based on the hit supernatural action mystery manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.The live-action film directed by Shusuke Kaneko - already established as a director of note through his series of popular monster movies featuring 'Gamera' - was released in late 2006 and went straight to the number 1 slot in Japan. The film follows the Manga story of Light Yagami who is a brilliant but bored student with great prospects. Life changes dramatically when he finds the Death Note a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami (God of Death) named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies. Light sees an opportunity to rid the world of evil using the powers granted in the Death Note.The police authorities call in the help of the famous but unconventional detective L when criminals begin to mysteriously die. Both Light and L believe themselves to be serving justice and so begins the battle of wits to see who really is good or evil. Death Note 2: 'The last name to be written in the Death Note... Whose name will it be?' Light and L's psychological duel enters a new phase; whoever is careless for even a split second will lose! To complicate things further Rem another shinigami brings the second notebook and Misa Amane a Japanese pop star and Kira worshipper comes into possession of it. Now becoming a Kira herself she accepts an offer to have the Eyes of the Death. With the Eyes of the Death one can know the name of any person without being told. Misa and Light begin to work together to find the true name of L...

• Criterion Collection: Yojimbo & Sanjuro | Blu Ray | (23/03/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Pacific Battleship Yamato | DVD | (27/09/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Pacific Battleship Yamato

• Death Note | DVD | (09/02/2009) from £7.97   |  Saving you £7.02 (88.08%)   |  RRP £14.99

  With his memory recovered and Higuchi of the Yotsuba Group out of the way Light can put his master plan into motion and march humanity closer to his perfect world. Then a new investigative force steps forward to challenge Kira - the SPK headed by boy genius Near. Near's first plan of action: get his hands on a Death Note. And when Light's sister Sayu is kidnapped it just might get him closer to his goal!

• Criterion Collection: Yojimbo | Blu Ray | (23/03/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Death Note Vol.5 | DVD | (01/06/2009) from £13.48   |  Saving you £6.51 (48.29%)   |  RRP £19.99

  When Mello realizes that he may be Kira's next target he bursts into the SPK headquarters to retrieve a picture of himself--and gives Near a piece of information that may prove to be an invaluable advantage: some of the Death Note rules are fake. With this information in hand Near's suspicions of the task force and Light in particular become certainties. Now that he's in the spotlight once more Light decides it's time to recruit some new disciples...

• Death Note - Volume 1 (Episodes 1-8) | DVD | (28/04/2008) from £5.48   |  Saving you £14.51 (264.78%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Death Note is a Japanese manga series which centres around Light Yagami a student who decides to rid the world of evil with the help of a supernatural notebook which kills anyone whose name is written in it.