JAKOMAN AND TETSU / JAKOMAN TO TETSU (1964) - Blu-ray Release of Kinji Fukasaku's Action Masterpiece

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Product Description: Jakoman and Tetsu is an early action masterpiece from Kinji Fukasaku (Battles Without Honor and Humanity, Battle Royale), adapted from a script written by the legendary Akira Kurosawa. Set in 1947 in a small coastal village among the majestic snowy landscapes of Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, Ken Takakura (the Abashiri Prison series, Ridley Scott's Black Rain) is Tetsu, the prodigal son who returns from the war to help out his father Kyubei with the family herring fishing business. His arrival coincides with that of a one-eyed miscreant named Jakoman, played by Tetsuro Tamba (Harakiri, You Only Live Twice), who bears a long-standing grudge against Kyubei and is intent on causing as much mayhem among the hordes of seasonal fishermen as possible.

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New on Blu-ray: RED PEONY GAMBLER I-III (1968-1969) - 3-Movie Collection

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Product Description: The illustrious Junko Fuji stars as the beautiful and badass Oryu, the eponymous and benevolent female gambler who uses her incredible might for right. In the series' premiere she rambles into town searching for her father's killer with a wallet left at the crime scene as her only clue. At a card game she meets a kindred spirit, the noble and handsome yakuza Katagiri (Ken Takakura) and soon they are a force to be reckoned with. Part 2 finds Oryu under the arm of the kind gang boss of a silk farming town. When ruthless loan sharks encroach and their treachery leads to murder, it is Oryu's sworn duty to exact justice. Maestro of Japanese cinema Tai Kato simultaneously satiates and transcends genre tropes in his masterful direction of the celebrated third film in the series. From it's classically melodramatic opening set piece involving an oncoming train, the stage is set for a visually rich tale of good versus evil.

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New on Blu-ray: PRISON WALLS - ABASHIRI PRISON I-III (1965)

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Product Description: Constructed in the late nineteenth century to house political prisoners, Japan's infamous Abashiri Prison served as the inspiration for a popular and prolific run of yakuza movies released between 1965 and 1972. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the first three entries in this landmark series, directed by the "King of Cult" Teruo Ishii (Shogun's Joy of Torture) and starring a titan of Japanese genre cinema, Ken Takakura (The Bullet Train).

In Abashiri Prison, Takakura stars as Shinichi Tachibana, a yakuza sent to Abashiri as punishment for an attack on a rival gangster. He intends to serve his time as a model prisoner until he is shackled to the bullish Gonzo Gonda (Kōji Nanbara), unwittingly roped into an escape attempt orchestrated by Heizo Yoda (Tōru Abe) and forced to face the frozen wilderness of Hokkaidō. In Another Abashiri Prison Story, Tachibana has just been released when he stumbles across a stash of diamonds recently stolen in a bank heist - and attracts unwanted attention from criminals and cops alike. Finally, in Abashiri Prison: Saga of Homesickness, Tachibana reunites with his former yakuza associates, who are trying to go straight. That is, at least, until old rivals come looking for trouble...

Ken Takakura would reprise the role of Tachibana in another seven films under the Abashiri Prison banner - all of them helmed by Teruo Ishii - before the series was rebooted as New Abashiri Prison in 1968, leading to a further eight instalments with Takakura in the lead. It all began with these early entries, presented here for the first time ever on Blu-ray from brand new restorations of the original film elements by Toei.

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New on Blu-ray: THE BULLET TRAIN (1975)

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Product Description: English dub, Japanese language, 1080p high definition, Region A disc. Ken Takakura stars as a mad bomber who plants a device on a high-speed Japanese train, programmed to detonate if the train's speed drops below 80 kilometres per hour. The trains conductor (Sonny Chiba) must keep the train moving whilst the police track the madman down. Most well-known for inspiring the 1994 Hollywood blockbuster Speed, The Bullet Train is a remarkably tense thriller from director Junya Satō. This remastered version includes the original Japanese version with English subtitles, and the US English dubbed version!

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New on Blu-ray: MR BASEBALL (1992) Starring Tom Selleck

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Product Description: Tom Selleck stars in this hilarious comedy about a veteran major leaguer who attempts to revive his fading career by signing to play in Japan.Aging superstar Jack Elliot (Selleck) just isn't hitting them like he used to. In fact, the only pro ball club willing to sign him is the Chunichi Dragons… in Nagoya, Japan. Cultures clash immediately when Jack hits town and proceeds to alienate everyone with his arrogance. But through the friendship of teammate Max Hammer Dubois (Dennis Haysbert, Far From Heaven) and the love of the team's beautiful translator, Jack finds a way to fit in and win in this heartwarming, action-packed comedy from director Fred Schepisi.

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