5 comments about Patlabor - The Mobile Police The TV Series (Vol.1).

1. From Manga comes the TV series version of Patlabor:Mobile Police. This series shows the life of Noa Izumi, who is the main character, as well as one heck of a labor pilot in the year 1999. In this world, all the mechs are called "labors"(weird isn't it?) and these are used in many everyday roles such as construction vehicles, military weapons, and they are even in the police to stop "labor" crimes in cities. The first volume in the series is an introduction for the characters, and the funny introduction of Noa with her future labor, the Ingram. All in all, Patlabor is full of funny antics by the different characters, and is packed with enough action to make any anime fan proud. I also like it in the fact that you don't have to be a hardcore anime fan to understand the story. After just the first episode you'll get a very good idea of what is going on in the world of Patlabor.



2. If you have had a chance to see the Patlabor theatrical features, you should definitely check out the series in order to better understand what the fuss is all about. Patlabor didn't get the recognition it deserved in North American over other worthy series, because it was not very well promoted and badly represented as a "mecha-action" show. This couldn't be further from the truth of what this program had to offer. The movies, while technically brilliant, were more about the ideas and less about what made the show so popluar overseas, namely storytelling and character development. Shows such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Dominion, even Love Hina can trace many of their thematic and character development roots back to this wonderful show where mecha takes a back seat to the world which Headgear (the creative group responsible for the show) creates. In a sense, it's real success was in part due to the believability which they lent to the whole giant robot genre by popluating it with regular people who happen to use large machines in everyday life. The basic premise is at the end of the 20th century, newer more efficient construction methods needed to be developed, and robots were employed to fulfill this role. As a result, the number of crimes committed using these robots, or "labors", resulted in the need to create a special detatchment of the police force to deal with labor related crime. This is the premise in which we are introduced to Tokyo's newest section of the Special Vehicles Department and their crew: a crazy mix of personalities. Once you watch the show, there is bound to be at least one character you recognize from your own life, or maybe even yourself. From the regular folks who inhabit the Patlabor environment, to the cops, the construction workers, the media and their pets, everything is included and as the show comes to a close, it forms a wonderful symmetry which is rare on television. The show is the perfect set-up for the more political and philosophical approach of the movies which has been criticized for being boring; but try the series, and you won't be dissapointed. As far as I'm concerned, Patlabor was the last show that had anything interesting to offer with giant robots, and was the final word in the genre.



3. If you have had a chance to see the Patlabor theatrical features, you should definitely check out the series in order to better understand what the fuss is all about. Patlabor didn't get the recognition it deserved in North American over other worthy series, because it was not very well promoted and badly represented as a "mecha-action" show. This couldn't be further from the truth of what this program had to offer. The movies, while technically brilliant, were more about the ideas and less about what made the show so popluar overseas, namely storytelling and character development. Shows such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Dominion, even Love Hina can trace many of their thematic and character development roots back to this wonderful show where mecha takes a back seat to the world which Headgear (the creative group responsible for the show) creates. In a sense, it's real success was in part due to the believability which they lent to the whole giant robot genre by popluating it with regular people who happen to use large machines in everyday life. The basic premise is at the end of the 20th century, newer more efficient construction methods needed to be developed, and robots were employed to fulfill this role. As a result, the number of crimes committed using these robots, or "labors", resulted in the need to create a special detatchment of the police force to deal with labor related crime. This is the premise in which we are introduced to Tokyo's newest section of the Special Vehicles Department and their crew: a crazy mix of personalities. Once you watch the show, there is bound to be at least one character you recognize from your own life, or maybe even yourself. From the regular folks who inhabit the Patlabor environment, to the cops, the construction workers, the media and their pets, everything is included and as the show comes to a close, it forms a wonderful symmetry which is rare on television. The show is the perfect set-up for the more political and philosophical approach of the movies which has been criticized for being boring; but try the series, and you won't be dissapointed. As far as I'm concerned, Patlabor was the last show that had anything interesting to offer with giant robots, and was the final word in the genre.



4. It's difficult to say exactly why I rate this so high. I highly recommend Patlabor to anyone who likes giant robot movies, but even more so I recommend it to those who don't, those who think that all giant robot movies have to be the same. It's not true here. The labors take a back seat to the characters really giving them time to develop and grow on you. I can hardly wait for volume 2. Well worth it.



5. This is a series with an extremely good plot fair animations,and good sound. It is the perfect example of a good series that never caught on in the states.
   It centers around a police force that uses robots or mobile suits (for you gundam folk)to upholod the law. The plot revolves around the funding of the station relations and of course the fights between villians.

No comments about Dragon Princess.

No comments about Sonny Chiba: Killing Machine.

No comments about The Bodyguard.

3 comments about Soul of Chiba (Dub).

1. The greatest movie in the history of film.
   Makes Citizen Kane look like a bad 70's martial arts movie.
   Sonny Chiba is god like.
   p.s.
   I am not insane.



2. I borrowed this from a friend and I only watched Soul of Chiba. He warned me that Fighting Fist is a horrible movie, so I passed on it.
   
   Soul of Chiba is a very strange movie. The info on hkmdb says it's from 1973, but that's really hard to believe. I would guess 76. The action is jaw dropping. Sonny Chiba is in his physical prime and has a few great fight scenes. The story is really bad. Chiba is looking for the man who killed his master. The villain is played by Luk Chuen, who is probably more famous for his fight choreography on movies like Killer Constable. Chiba uses this weird electric shock device seen on the cover of the DVD to enhance his fighting skills. He is also a drug addict and stuffs the white stuff in his mouth the whole movie. Bronson Lee, Bolo and Shiomi Etsuko round out the rest of the cast. Bronson and Bolo have a really awesome fight at the end of the movie. I wasn't expecting that. Bronson Lee seems like he could tear people up in real life, but on screen he just doesn't look that good. His movie fighting style reminds me of Dragon Lee. And I don't know for sure, but I think his name is a cross between Charles Bronson and Bruce Lee. Anyways, he has an amazing fight with Bolo, and along with a few other really good fights, that's the only reason why this movie is worth watching. I know a certain someone who enjoyed Sun Dragon, and I liked the fights in Soul of Chiba even more. So get it!
   
   3/5
   
   There is a Japanese and an English version included. The Japanese version is about 5 minutes longer, but the English version has way better picture quality. And in the English version Bolo sounds like he's puking the whole time in his fight scene. Hilarious.



3. Shinichi (Sonny) Chiba fans certainly ought to be singing BCI's praises, as they have released a great many of his films in the last couple of years. The two films in this set are particularly uncommon, and, compared to some others, are mediocre at best. SOUL OF BRUCE LEE is a real Frankenstein job, as it is a German print with a soundtrack that jumps back and forth. The English dialogue track sounds a bit muddy and switches at times to a sharper-sounding track for some of the fight scenes. The film itself is no great shakes, but features some pretty lively fights with Chiba and others. A Japanese-language print is also included. FIGHTING FIST is a Japanese-language print (with no onscreen title) which has some videotape artifacts, but is otherwise OK. This cops-vs-gangsters outing was directed by Chiba, who also plays a small role; most fans will be disappointed that he's not in the film to speak of, but FIGHTING FIST is not too bad. It does contain some graphic violence, and is a better production than SOUL, which generally seems like a typical cheesy kung-fu title with Chiba thrown into the mix. All things considered, I don't regret buying this, but don't expect Chiba classics here. I hope BCI releases a nice box set of the STREET FIGHTER films; although they are very common on budget DVDs, BCI would do it up right.

5 comments about Street Fighter (Unrated).

1. Sonny Chiba really stretches it across the screen. The faces he makes! The story is that simple/complex gangster/spaghetti western fare, but this film is beautiful to look at. Great closeups, interiors and settings from Tokyo streets to woodsy sun-dappled river banks to oil tankers. Some creepy and outrageous side character/yakuza keep you on your toes as well. All that with a lotta red splatter and a killer soundtrack make this a classic. The DVD has a quiz at the end that is pretty dumb.



2. this movie stars sonny chiba. it is an old movie. not the jean claude van damme version.



3. 'The Street Fighter' isn't one of the classier or more elegant martial arts films, but it's a lotta fun. The fight choreography obviously isn't as complicated or polished as you'd see in more modern films, or even some of the better films of the time, but it's still pretty cool. That, and Chiba's gots real charisma and presence, and is a very solid (...)hero. That's about all you need as far as character is concerned, in this sorta film. This film was infamously violent at it's release, and while this is gonna fade a lot over 30 years, some of the violence here is pretty amusing and impressive. I can imagine people falling out of there chairs while watching the (...) scene 30 years ago. In fact, I could imagine that happening to me now, if I hadn't known about it before hand. The vomit-punch is pretty nasty, too. That, and it just generally has a level of intensity and brutality lacking from most kung-fu films. (Note the scene where Terry breaks one dude's arm three times, right in a row. Painful stuff) The film does take a while to get going, as there is relatively little fighting in the first half of the film, but whaddya expect. It can't all be fighting. (And, some movies try to have too much fighting, which occasionally becomes more tedious and repetitious than just having everyone sit around.) And if avoids the common pitfall of having the neverending 1 on 1 duel. If two characters fight for more than 4 minutes, it's almost guaranteed to get boring. Fortunately, Terrry usually has to fight groups of opponents, which is the real way to go.
   
   Yeah, I'm done. Very entertaining movie.
   
   Grade: B-



4. I agree with the previous reviewer. Terry Tsurugi is one of the most memorable and enjoyable martial arts characters ever. He's an anti-hero, not a smiling do-gooder. He helps break a guy out of jail, and when the man's brother and sister can't pay up, he throws the brother out the window and sells the sister into Hong Kong prostitution! Chiba's fighting style is unique. Whereas Bruce Lee fought with his trademark high pitched battle cry, Chiba does a strange deep breathing as a prelude to the painful punishment he's about unleash. Chiba uses a strange karate technique with some kung fu influences. It's not nearly as fluid and elegant and Bruce's, in fact a lot of his hand motions are kinda weird and awkward, but he gets the job done. And how! Oh, the plot? The Yakuza and the Chinese Mafia have teamed up with Western gangster's in order to force a deceased millionaire magnate's daughter to sign operations over to them. Terry switches sides and there is plenty of pain to be felt. Arm-breakings, eyeball-pokings, sword-snappings, throat-rippings and vomit-inducing punches, etc. The sequel, Street Fighter's Last Revenge, is also recommened. Fans seem to like it less than this one, but I found the action scenes to be superior.



5. If you like Kung Fu movies with the whacky sound effects and over the top facial expressions, this is definately up your alley.
   
   The star of this flick is a "Ninja for Hire" of sorts. In the beginning of the movie he is hired to save a dude from the hangman's noose. He does an ancient technique to slow the heart and and stop the breathing of the inmate. So when the criminal is about to be hung, he appears to have a heart attack. Now get this. The yare about to HANG this guy, but since they think he has a heart attack, they send him to the HOSPITAL!!! To cover this buffonnery, the warden simply says 'It is the code."
   
   Well the brother and sister that hired him to save their brother from the gallows, cannot pay him, so of course a fight breaks out. The sister is pretty hot and I only wish she did more high kicks. Unfortunatly the brother has bad timing. He attempts a leaping cobra front kick, but instead of hitting his target (his opponent's chest), he strikes the window and goes right through. Too bad they were at least 20 stories up.
   
   This movie has a few scenes of people falling to their deaths with a nice, rich, red colored paint oozing from their heads.
   
   This ninja man is bad to the bone and kills about 200 people in this movie. The only person he cannot beat is an overweight Karate teacher. The Ninja decides then that he wants to help a deceased billionaire's daughter. He decides to do this 'because I hate punks'.
   
   So the rest of the movie is fighting, fighting, and a little more fighting. This movie follows the old school rules. If you are the hero and you are surrounded by 30 bad guys, they will only attack one at a time. It is best that way anyway. If you fought everybody at once, the camera could not concentrate on each victim. Who would want to miss a dude getting punched in the stomach so hard that a pint of creamed corn comes out of his mouth?? I thought it was a nice touch.
   
   The ninja man has a sidekick, but he meets his doom on a motorcycle atthe hands of a bling swordsman.
   
   The evil chick who masterminds the kidnapping plot is really hot, and likes to play Russian roulette on other people. She get's killed, but unfortunatly, she dies at the hands of the ninja behind an overturned couch, so we do not get to see her 'Death Howl'.
   
   What I liked best about this flick is the dude's facial expressions. Half the movie is close-ups of his deep breathing and opened mouth scowls. There are also plenty of grunts, howls, and 'aaaauugghhhhssss'. His face is pretty talented and can twist and turn many different ways.

5 comments about Champion of Death.

1. Not a very good movie. I've seen a lot of martial arts movies, so I'm used to the crazy story lines, but this one was pretty bad. The action was okay, but I got a headache watching the scene where Sonny fights the bull. They tried to make it so you were right there in the action, but the result is just a long segment of very jerky shots, which got annoying after awhile. The transfer was pretty poor, so the picture isn't really that good. If you really want to see Sonny Chiba in action, doing what he does best, get the Streetfighter series. With a title like Champions of Death, I expected to see more action.



2. Sonny Chiba is both an accomplished actor and martial artist. He holds dan rank in both Kyokushin karate and Nippon Shorinji Kempo.

   Back in the 70's Chiba made two biographical films about the life of the founder's of each of those arts. The film about So Doshin, founder of Shorinji Kempo, was released in the U.S. with the idiotic title "The Killing Machine." A terrible misnomer about the life of a truly great man who was anything but a killer or a machine.

   Chiba's film about Sosai Mas Oyama, founder of Kyokushin karate, is equally mistitled here as "Champion of Death." I believe I read somewhere that the film was also released in English under a different, and equally silly, title called "The God Hand."

   Of the two films, the one about Master So Doshin is the better of the lot, but fans of Karate generally and of Oyama karate in particular will not want to be without "Champion of Death."
   There is actual footage at the beginning of the film of a Japanese Kyokushin training class on a beach, and there is even a 10-15 second close up of Sosai himself executing Seiken tsuki!

   Chiba does a reasonably good job with portraying Oyama's life, though I suspect some of this is embellished (the rape scene, I hope!) for cinematic purposes.

   My one complaint is that although the DVD is dubbed into English, there are several places where Japanese signs or texts are shown that are crucial to scenes in the film but they are left untranslated and unspoken in English.




3. Champion of Death is one of the best action films you will ever see.It's true.Period.Story is based not only on life of Oyama Masutatsu,few episodes taken from tales about Miyamoto Musashi.
   Cinematography is good.Stylish and expressive.Fights not to modern taste,but great!You can't go wrong with this movie.Watch it.It's has real kyokushinkai masters after all,do you need something more??!!



4. But I made it through it. It starts off with Masutatsu Oyama coming to compete in the first martial arts tournament after World war II. Though a fictional account, the movie is overall very dark and tries to hit on some key points in Oyama's life. KArate Bullfighter is the other name of this movie and if you know about the life of Masutatsu Oyama, then you will be familiar with that name. Though very cheesy and a bit boring, their is a badly done, but good story in here. The very end is short and sweet but overall the final fight is pretty dam good.
   
   DVD quality offered by Good times Entertainment is acceptable and sound quality is fine and dubbing is pretty funny.



5. I really am surprised to see so many four/five stars reviews. The movie isn't really that good. Normally, if I like a movie, but know it is not really a good movie (normally what one labels a guilty pleasure), I give it three stars. That way, I have indicated I liked it but know that the film suffers and is objectively not very good. That is this film.
   
   Even for its date (1977) the direction is poor and the script is poor. For example, with regard to the directing, we get, as one viewer noted, an overly long, I mean really long, and poor camera work with regard to the title character, Oyama (Chiba) fighting a bull. This incident is loosely based on the real Oyama who fought bulls to display his karate supremacy. Also there is the rape scene, which demonstrates a poor script. As far as I have ever read, Mas Oyama didn't rape anyone, little a lone, if he had, it is doubtful the woman would then fall in love with him after such a horrible act.
   
   Chiba's karate personality fits well with the Street Fighter series, but it is awkward here. The movie is trying to be a reflection of Oyama's life and therefore, one would hope not only would the script be more faithful, but so would the fighting style. Chiba was a student of Oyama's, but his fighting movements are not reflected of Kyokushin. Of, course, the script is faithful in only small vignettes (like Oyama helping the widow and her son after he killed her husband in a bar fight), but fails on so many other levels.
   
   With all the negatives, why three stars, `cause at certain parts, the movie is fun. The opening tournament scenes are a blast to watch. Chiba does a great job in showing remorse for his sins and the sins of his top student. Lastly, the final fight scenes are also terrific and I love that mid 70s soundtrack - it is simple and the score fits the movie well. So, all in all, a guilty pleasure and I only recommend people who love 70s Japanese karate flicks.

2 comments about Sonny Chiba: Street Fighter Series.

1. though i havent seen the sequals YET the original street fighter staring sonny chiba{kill bill v.1} is a awesome and i mean awesome movie that you dont even need to hear to enjoy
   the reason i said that is i got a bootleg dvd copy and the sound sucked but the movie still kicked arse
   if i had to describe this movie id say its a mix between bruce lee and steven seagal
   all of the kills are unique and bloody only the blood is a lil to orange to gross people out
   
   in conclusion BYE THIS IT RULES



2. Sonny Chiba's "The Street Fighter" was once notorious for being the first movie to get a (now defunct) "X" rating for violence, and "Street Fighter" is indeed a violent film. A bright red blood gushes everywhere, heads are cracked open, throats ripped out, and, in an incredible instance, a reproductive organ is ripped off. Add this hideous violence to a macho performance by Chiba and some decent fight choreography and you get a very fun 70s karate movie.
   "Street Fighter's Last Revenge" sees Chiba's character becoming more of a James Bond type. There's even a romantic sub plot! This entry, however, isn't as enjoyable as the first one. "Sister Street Fighter" is a downright abomination, and Chiba doesn't even play the same Terry Tsuguri character!
   The triple feature DVD from Vintage (which ignores the first sequel, "Return of the Streetfighter") has all three movies in 2.35:1 widescreen. They are all quite watcheable, with the first one looking the best. A biography of Sonny Chiba is included. I've seen a version of the same disc with an extra cardboard package with film and Sonny Chiba facts.

No comments about Shogun's Ninja [Widescreen].

No comments about Death of a Ninja + Legend of 8 Samurai.