Lone Wolf and Cub star Tomisaburo Wakayama stars in this existentially thrilling trilogy of bloody Samurai action films The Bounty Hunter Trilogy. New to Blu-ray from Radiance Films.
The Film(s)
Killer’s Mission
Oftentimes you hear a logline or read marketing material about a film and it’s all, as the English say, a load of bullocks. Killer’s Mission is one of the rare films where marketing wasn’t lying. The film starring Tomisaburo Wakayama is a Samurai version of James Bond with the style and flavor of a Spaghetti Western.
Ichibei (Wakayama) is a doctor and merc for hire. After the Shogun denies the Dutch the ability to sell their guns, others see this as a power grab, the Shogun hires Ichibei to incept not just those rogue political elements but the greedy Dutch as well. Ichibei armed with a utility belt Batman would be jealous of and a series of helpers that range from the coerced to Ronin to other spies/mercs, to female ninjas! With dogged determination, Ichibei finds that this isn’t just a single man but a network of villains aimed to take down the Shogunate.
Director Shigehiro Ozawa is an expert in lean-mean action films that cut to the very soul of action filmmaking. Much like his Street Fighter series, Killer’s Mission is the kind of hard-hitting action filmmaking that still shocks and delights viewers. There isn’t a set piece that Ozawa doesn’t use for maximum effect or arterial sprays of blood. However, the director’s real secret weapon is his innate ability to take dense complex plots and make them as clear and concise as his action geography. Though filled with double-triple-quadruple crosses at any given time, Killer’s Mission always remains easy to follow.
At its core, the film shines because of its star Tomisaburo Wakayama who is part Toshiro Mifune (at his most disheveled), part Clint Eastwood, and all badass. Wakayama’s Ichibei is a resolute man of action but is peppered with enough humanity and good humor to make him interesting. The way that Ichibei helps and allows to be helped in his journey is one of the many joys of the performance. Wakayama’s ability to be both a killing machine and a humane soul is one of the most arresting aspects of the series and this film.
The Fort of Death
Director Eiichi Kudo of 13 Assassins fame takes over for The Fort of Death. Wakayama returns as Ichibei in one of the most existential siege movies put to film.
Ichibei is dispatched to a local town where the villagers are being raped, murdered, and starved to death by their Lord. The bounty hunter knowing he will surely be outmatched recruits various fellow likeminded ronin, lady ninjas, and criminals to aid in the impossible task. Ichibei armed with his wits and a very large weapon valiantly faces off against superior numbers. As the days turn from revelry to nightmares Ichibei and his fearless warriors never lose sight of their goal of protecting the villagers no matter the cost.
The Fort of Death is the type of film that is as vicious as it is humane. That balance is what gives the film its power. The Fort of Death is the type of film that will have a sweet courtship of lovers that culminates in a wedding only to see that ruined by artillery fire. What humanity it has is sacrificed no matter the deeds and actions of its heroes. Director Eiichi never pushes into exploitation but rather allows the moments to hit hard enough for you to feel.
Eight Men to Kill
Director Ozawa returns for the final in the series Eight Men to Kill. The film has Wakayama’s Ichibei searching for a lost cache of Government Gold and catching the thieves who will do anything to keep it.
Not as existential as The Fort of Death, Eight Men to Kill has no less of a cynical view of humanity. The film takes its thematic cues from films like The Treasure of the Sierra Madre which deal with the greed and lust that comes with gold or any treasure. The film is more of a character piece with dips into action rather than the other way around. No matter the lack of action on the level of Fort of Death the setup and script make for truly riveting viewing.
This third, and final, film gives Wakayama more to do dramatically than in previous films. There’s a renewed sense of excitement in the actor as he plays the various characters against one another. Ichibei’s constant moral compass is here but here it’s not just tested but it’s dragged in the mud and mire. There is something magnetic in the way that Wakayama slowly begins to get angrier and angrier at the situation that would have men sell their children for this wealth.
Eight Men to Kill is interested in what greed does to men and women and what they’re willing to do for it. The places that Ozawa is able to take the film with its pitch-black view of humanity are brilliantly unique within the genre. Though no one will be prepared for how truly decimating an ending Eight Men to Kill pulls off. One as cold and sharp as a Japanese folded steel, one that no audience member will soon forget.
The Transfer
The High-Definition digital transfer of each film presented on two discs, made available on Blu-ray for the first time in the world are truly wonderful presentations of the films. The images on all three are verbosely saturated and colorfully dense with a beautiful patina of film grain. The transfers are sharp nearly free of any specks, dirt, or scratches. Each film’s transfer are beautiful and will delight fans of the film series.
The Extras
They include the following;
Audio commentary on Killer’s Mission by Tom Mes
Interview with film historian and Shigehiro Ozawa expert Akihito Ito about the filmmaker
Visual essay on Eiichi Kudo by Japanese cinema expert Robin Gatto
Series poster and press image gallery
Trailers
Six postcards of artwork from the films
Reversible sleeves featuring artwork based on original posters
Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by samurai film expert Alain Silver, an obituary of Eiichi Kudo by Kinji Fukasaku, and an interview piece on Shigehiro Ozawa after his retirement from filmmaking
DISC 1: Killer’s Mission
The Audio commentary by Tom Mes opens with his topics including the fact he will be speaking about the second and third in the Bounty Hunter Series. Some of the other details include the Shogun era that the film takes place; the work and personal history of director Shigehiro Ozawa; a larger discussion of the various genres that were waning in the late 1960s into the early 1970s and how the mixing of genres produced The Bounty Hunter trilogy; Wakayama’s Zaotoichi impersonation – and including a great reveal (if you’re not Japanese Cinema nerd) about Wakayama’s connection to Zatoichi’s star Shintarô Katsu; a discussion of Toei as a studio. And where they were at the time of making this film; the realities of Japanese and Dutch relations during this period; a discussion of James Clavell’s Shogun and its relation to the film; a discussion/critique of the exploitative violence towards women – which leads to a larger discussion of Toei’s dictum conscious choice with all their genre-based film to appeal to a specific audience; a discussion of both directors of this series Ozawa and Eiichi Kudo – how they were similar and how they differed and what they brought to their entries into the series, discussion of their work as a whole beyond these films; a larger discussion of the various actors and characters that appear throughout the trilogy not just this film; the facts vs fiction of the era that the films take place in – including great historical context to the era; and much more. Mes delivers a great commentary track that’s a deep dive into this trilogy of films.
Interview with film historian and Shigehiro Ozawa expert Akihito Ito about the filmmaker (15:43) – in this all-new interview Ito discusses The Bounty Hunter trilogy. Specifically, Ito discusses only the first and third films as they were directed by Ozawa. Ito discusses the director’s specific work and his history in film; what gave him success, his move to Toeil; the work he did with genre film; what led him to The Bounty Hunter’s first film Killer’s Mission; how he helped bring Toei’s new sensibilities they wanted in the 1970s to the screen with this film; and much more. This interview is as much a visual essay as it is a discussion as Radiance has beautifully intercut production stills, photos, and even scenes from the film and the era.
Trailer (3:13) – in Japanese with English Subtitles
DISC 2: The Fort of Death / Eight Men to Kill
Visual essay on Eiichi Kudo by Japanese cinema expert Robin Gatto (18:00) – this beautifully produced visual essay by Gatto is similar to the featurette on disc one, this one discussing the second film’s director Eiichi Kudo. The essay discusses Kudo’s directing career; his place within the Toei studio system; Toei’s change and collapse; Kudo’s place during this change over – including a discussion of his brilliant 13 Assassins and 11 Samurai; Kudo’s work with Wakayama – includingBig Time Gambling Boss; a discussion of Wakayama and his love of stunts and chambara movies – how Kudo related to this; how Kudo took on Akira Kurosawa legacy within the genre; the critique in this film of sexual exploitation of the women in the genre; the use of the gatling gun in the film and its connection to Spaghetti Westerns and maybe another Japanese production; the ending of the film and its darkness; and much more.
Series poster and press image gallery – consists of 17 images that can be navigated using your remote’s next and back chapter stop buttons.
Fort of Death Trailer (3:20) – in Japanese with English Subtitles
Eight Men to Kill Trailer (3:07) – in Japanese with English Subtitles
The Final Thought
Radiance continues its amazing curation of world cinema; The Bounty Hunter Trilogy is no exception its beautiful content-filled box set. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS!!!
Lone Wolf and Cub star Tomisaburo Wakayama stars in this existentially thrilling trilogy of bloody Samurai action films The Bounty Hunter Trilogy. New to Blu-ray from Radiance Films.
The Film(s)
Killer’s Mission
Oftentimes you hear a logline or read marketing material about a film and it’s all, as the English say, a load of bullocks. Killer’s Mission is one of the rare films where marketing wasn’t lying. The film starring Tomisaburo Wakayama is a Samurai version of James Bond with the style and flavor of a Spaghetti Western.
Ichibei (Wakayama) is a doctor and merc for hire. After the Shogun denies the Dutch the ability to sell their guns, others see this as a power grab, the Shogun hires Ichibei to incept not just those rogue political elements but the greedy Dutch as well. Ichibei armed with a utility belt Batman would be jealous of and a series of helpers that range from the coerced to Ronin to other spies/mercs, to female ninjas! With dogged determination, Ichibei finds that this isn’t just a single man but a network of villains aimed to take down the Shogunate.
Director Shigehiro Ozawa is an expert in lean-mean action films that cut to the very soul of action filmmaking. Much like his Street Fighter series, Killer’s Mission is the kind of hard-hitting action filmmaking that still shocks and delights viewers. There isn’t a set piece that Ozawa doesn’t use for maximum effect or arterial sprays of blood. However, the director’s real secret weapon is his innate ability to take dense complex plots and make them as clear and concise as his action geography. Though filled with double-triple-quadruple crosses at any given time, Killer’s Mission always remains easy to follow.
At its core, the film shines because of its star Tomisaburo Wakayama who is part Toshiro Mifune (at his most disheveled), part Clint Eastwood, and all badass. Wakayama’s Ichibei is a resolute man of action but is peppered with enough humanity and good humor to make him interesting. The way that Ichibei helps and allows to be helped in his journey is one of the many joys of the performance. Wakayama’s ability to be both a killing machine and a humane soul is one of the most arresting aspects of the series and this film.
The Fort of Death
Director Eiichi Kudo of 13 Assassins fame takes over for The Fort of Death. Wakayama returns as Ichibei in one of the most existential siege movies put to film.
Ichibei is dispatched to a local town where the villagers are being raped, murdered, and starved to death by their Lord. The bounty hunter knowing he will surely be outmatched recruits various fellow likeminded ronin, lady ninjas, and criminals to aid in the impossible task. Ichibei armed with his wits and a very large weapon valiantly faces off against superior numbers. As the days turn from revelry to nightmares Ichibei and his fearless warriors never lose sight of their goal of protecting the villagers no matter the cost.
The Fort of Death is the type of film that is as vicious as it is humane. That balance is what gives the film its power. The Fort of Death is the type of film that will have a sweet courtship of lovers that culminates in a wedding only to see that ruined by artillery fire. What humanity it has is sacrificed no matter the deeds and actions of its heroes. Director Eiichi never pushes into exploitation but rather allows the moments to hit hard enough for you to feel.
Eight Men to Kill
Director Ozawa returns for the final in the series Eight Men to Kill. The film has Wakayama’s Ichibei searching for a lost cache of Government Gold and catching the thieves who will do anything to keep it.
Not as existential as The Fort of Death, Eight Men to Kill has no less of a cynical view of humanity. The film takes its thematic cues from films like The Treasure of the Sierra Madre which deal with the greed and lust that comes with gold or any treasure. The film is more of a character piece with dips into action rather than the other way around. No matter the lack of action on the level of Fort of Death the setup and script make for truly riveting viewing.
This third, and final, film gives Wakayama more to do dramatically than in previous films. There’s a renewed sense of excitement in the actor as he plays the various characters against one another. Ichibei’s constant moral compass is here but here it’s not just tested but it’s dragged in the mud and mire. There is something magnetic in the way that Wakayama slowly begins to get angrier and angrier at the situation that would have men sell their children for this wealth.
Eight Men to Kill is interested in what greed does to men and women and what they’re willing to do for it. The places that Ozawa is able to take the film with its pitch-black view of humanity are brilliantly unique within the genre. Though no one will be prepared for how truly decimating an ending Eight Men to Kill pulls off. One as cold and sharp as a Japanese folded steel, one that no audience member will soon forget.
The Transfer
The High-Definition digital transfer of each film presented on two discs, made available on Blu-ray for the first time in the world are truly wonderful presentations of the films. The images on all three are verbosely saturated and colorfully dense with a beautiful patina of film grain. The transfers are sharp nearly free of any specks, dirt, or scratches. Each film’s transfer are beautiful and will delight fans of the film series.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1: Killer’s Mission
The Audio commentary by Tom Mes opens with his topics including the fact he will be speaking about the second and third in the Bounty Hunter Series. Some of the other details include the Shogun era that the film takes place; the work and personal history of director Shigehiro Ozawa; a larger discussion of the various genres that were waning in the late 1960s into the early 1970s and how the mixing of genres produced The Bounty Hunter trilogy; Wakayama’s Zaotoichi impersonation – and including a great reveal (if you’re not Japanese Cinema nerd) about Wakayama’s connection to Zatoichi’s star Shintarô Katsu; a discussion of Toei as a studio. And where they were at the time of making this film; the realities of Japanese and Dutch relations during this period; a discussion of James Clavell’s Shogun and its relation to the film; a discussion/critique of the exploitative violence towards women – which leads to a larger discussion of Toei’s dictum conscious choice with all their genre-based film to appeal to a specific audience; a discussion of both directors of this series Ozawa and Eiichi Kudo – how they were similar and how they differed and what they brought to their entries into the series, discussion of their work as a whole beyond these films; a larger discussion of the various actors and characters that appear throughout the trilogy not just this film; the facts vs fiction of the era that the films take place in – including great historical context to the era; and much more. Mes delivers a great commentary track that’s a deep dive into this trilogy of films.
Interview with film historian and Shigehiro Ozawa expert Akihito Ito about the filmmaker (15:43) – in this all-new interview Ito discusses The Bounty Hunter trilogy. Specifically, Ito discusses only the first and third films as they were directed by Ozawa. Ito discusses the director’s specific work and his history in film; what gave him success, his move to Toeil; the work he did with genre film; what led him to The Bounty Hunter’s first film Killer’s Mission; how he helped bring Toei’s new sensibilities they wanted in the 1970s to the screen with this film; and much more. This interview is as much a visual essay as it is a discussion as Radiance has beautifully intercut production stills, photos, and even scenes from the film and the era.
Trailer (3:13) – in Japanese with English Subtitles
DISC 2: The Fort of Death / Eight Men to Kill
Visual essay on Eiichi Kudo by Japanese cinema expert Robin Gatto (18:00) – this beautifully produced visual essay by Gatto is similar to the featurette on disc one, this one discussing the second film’s director Eiichi Kudo. The essay discusses Kudo’s directing career; his place within the Toei studio system; Toei’s change and collapse; Kudo’s place during this change over – including a discussion of his brilliant 13 Assassins and 11 Samurai; Kudo’s work with Wakayama – including Big Time Gambling Boss; a discussion of Wakayama and his love of stunts and chambara movies – how Kudo related to this; how Kudo took on Akira Kurosawa legacy within the genre; the critique in this film of sexual exploitation of the women in the genre; the use of the gatling gun in the film and its connection to Spaghetti Westerns and maybe another Japanese production; the ending of the film and its darkness; and much more.
Series poster and press image gallery – consists of 17 images that can be navigated using your remote’s next and back chapter stop buttons.
Fort of Death Trailer (3:20) – in Japanese with English Subtitles
Eight Men to Kill Trailer (3:07) – in Japanese with English Subtitles
The Final Thought
Radiance continues its amazing curation of world cinema; The Bounty Hunter Trilogy is no exception its beautiful content-filled box set. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS!!!
Radiance Films’ Blu-Ray edition of The Bounty Hunter Trilogy is out March 26th
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