Kwaidan (Masters of Cinema) Standard Edition Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (14/09/2020)
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| RRP 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. Special Features: 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: A collector's booklet 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 filmmaker, the last he'd ever give
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The Human Condition | Blu Ray | (23/07/2018)
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| RRP 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, an ardent pacifist who came of age during the aggressively militaristic 1930s and 40s. In part one, No Greater Love, Kaji is relocated to a mine-supervising job in Manchuria, where he is horrified by the use of forced labour. Part two, Road to Eternity, sees him conscripted into the Japanese army and forced to fight in the name of an aggressively imperialist cause. Part three, A Soldier s Prayer, deals with the consequences of Japan s defeat, not least for Kaji himself. Throughout, Kobayashi unflinchingly examines the psychological toll of appallingly complex decisions, where being morally right risks outcomes 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. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Original Japanese mono soundtrack Optional English subtitles Introduction to the film by critic Philip Kemp Selected-scene commentary by Philip Kemp Theatrical trailers Reversible sleeve featuring two choices of artwork by maarko phntm
Kwaidan (Masters of Cinema) Limited Edition Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (27/04/2020)
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| RRP 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 [1963]](/pictures/1011276.jpg)
High And Low | DVD | (28/03/2005)
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| RRP 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
![Bullet Ballet [Blu-ray]](/pictures/1124663.jpg)
Bullet Ballet | Blu Ray | (30/12/2013)
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| RRP 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.
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Death Note 1 and 2 Special Edition Twin Set | DVD | (26/10/2009)
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| RRP 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...
Death Note | DVD | (09/02/2009)
from £7.97
| Saving you £7.02 (88.08%)
| RRP 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!
Death Note Vol.5 | DVD | (01/06/2009)
from £13.48
| Saving you £6.51 (48.29%)
| RRP 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
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| RRP 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.
![Bullet Ballet [DVD]](/pictures/1124662.jpg)
Bullet Ballet | DVD | (30/12/2013)
from £5.89
| Saving you £9.10 (60.70%)
| RRP 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.
Death Note Vol.2 | DVD | (28/07/2008)
from £11.45
| Saving you £8.54 (42.70%)
| RRP Episodes 9 - 16! A new Kira arrives! Genius detective L goes undercover as a university student in order to get closer to the enigmatic Light Yagami. The murders continue but with a difference - there appears to be a second Kira at work! Light agrees to help L in luring out the copycat and by doing so hoping to divert suspicion from himself. But Light is surprised to discover that this new Kira has an ability even he lacks...
![Portrait Of Hell [1969]](/pictures/1003345.jpg)
Portrait Of Hell | DVD | (13/05/2002)
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| RRP Created by premier Japanese novelist Ryunosuke Akutagawa (creator of Rashomon) 'Portrait of Hell' is a mesmerising look into humans creating hell on earth in thier own unique ways. Must be seen to be believed.
Death Note Vol.3 | DVD | (13/10/2008)
from £6.98
| Saving you £13.01 (186.39%)
| RRP After fifty days of confinement the killings continue and Light and Misa are released only to face the ride of their lives with a seemingly crazed Soichiro. Then Light rejoins L in the investigation and notices a strange connection between the recent Kira murders and a business outfit called the Yotsuba Group. Misa agrees to pose as the Yotsuba Group's spokesperson with the eager Matsuda playing her manager. But Matsuda may be getting himself in too deep when he decides to do a little snooping at the Yotsuba Group's Tokyo headquarters!
Japanese Classics Of Horror And Fantasy | DVD | (30/08/2004)
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| RRP A box set containing some of the best horror and fantasy films ever produced in Japan! Portrait Of Hell Created by premier Japanese novelist Ryunosuke Akutagawa (creator of Roshomon) 'Portrait of Hell' is a mesmerising look into humans creating hell on earth in their own unique ways. Must be seen to be believed! Illusion Of Blood From Shiro Toyoda director of the nightmarish 'Portrait Of Hell' comes a chilling story of love betrayal and vengeance. Tatsuya Nakadai stars as the selfish samurai Iyemon who after the loss of his lord has been left impoverished. He become outraged that his father-in-law intends to sell his two daughter's into prostitution. It is not love but respectability that Iyemon desires... Tokyo The Last Megalopolis When Masakado was executed for crimes against humanity over a thousand years ago his malevolent spirit refused to die with him merely becoming dormant and waiting for the chance to rise again. To disturb it is to awaken a terrible vengeance on the city of Tokyo. The demonic psychic Kato attempts to revive the slumbering evil and use its energy to plunge the city into a hell on Earth. It is up to a lone spiritual warrior Keiko a descendant of Masakado to stop the maniacal Kato before the spirit is released and the ancient curse is unleashed upon the world. Princess From The Moon Toshiro Mifune stars in this enchanting film based on the traditional Japanese fairytale 'Kaguya' as the male half of a country couple who find a baby girl in the bamboo and raise her as their own until the truth is revealed when she is taken back...
Bullet Ballet | DVD | (27/02/2005)
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| RRP Goda's wife has just commited suidide. While the police question him Goda learns that she killed herself using a .38 Police Special. Confused and angry at her death he begins to investigate how she obtained the gun in the first place. Soon his search becomes an obsession as each attempt to get a real gun meets in failure. When fate drops the object of his desire right in his lap he can't wait to use it. He heads out to find the street punks who mugged him and give them some righ
![What's Up Tiger Lily [1966]](/pictures/1078478.jpg)
What's Up Tiger Lily | DVD | (07/01/2008)
from £10.80
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| RRP In describing What's Up Tiger Lily? we thought it best left to Woody himself: 'We took a Japanese film made in Japan by Japanese actors and actresses and I took out all the soundtrack and knocked out all the voices and I wrote a comedy. The result is a movie where people are running around doing all those James Bondian things but what's coming out of their mouths is something wholly other. It was done before actually in Gone With The Wind but not many people know that. Those were Japanese people actually and we dubbed in American voices Southern voices. But that was years ago'. Woody Allen.
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