Female Prisioner Scorpion Complete Series

Nami Matsushima (Meiko Kaji) is a naive and simple sort of a person at the start of her life. Then reality comes in and kicks her in the head and forces her to see that life is hard and cruel. Sent to a sadistic prison by a scumbag lover, now she has to seek revenege. Revenge that will cover her whole life and four very clever, violent and fun movies.

Modern Japanese cinema is often a meeting of crude sexuality, rebellious social dynamics and violent anger. This amazing box set for the series really underlines the social upheavel aspect of the time and the series. I will say in my opinion the series highlights are the tense, violent and sexual first film (#701 Scropion) and the clever genre bending third film. Which is for me a favourite for a friday unwinding (Beast Stable). These films are sandwiched into the 2nd film that is a simple kill thrill film and the final film (#701 Grudge Song) which was absent from another release. It is another kill by numbers but with some stark visual form to compensate. It is an ok addition but for a single viewing in truth… Keji is the standout, stunning leading lady that we have to take notice of and give her great respect. Directo Ito makes the films look good but she is the centre and the heart. She is beautiful and mean, sexy and sadisitic. If i was asked I would still say to start with her career masterpiece Lady Snowblood but this is a worthy film to see. Now the shift in female roles, gender dynamics and a Japan that was in a post war wake up for its youth is also needed to be in the back of the mind. The 2nd war had left a lot of anger and hurt and the older, male persons were seen as the reason and the destruction of a good in Japanese society. They sold Japan to Fascism and then to America in equal measure.

You can see below all that is on offer and i can say much about it. Jasper Sharp, Kat Ellinger and Tom Mes all support amazing insight into this and the genre at large but the improved transfer is the reason to upgrade. The look of the Blu is grand compared to its previous release. The booklet and extras are good as suggested but the real delight is the pieces by the three named above.


LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS



Limited Edition Blu-ray collection (4000 copies)
Brand new 2K restorations of all four films in the series presented on High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD
Original mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-rays) for all films
Optional English subtitles for all films
Double-sided fold out poster of two original artworks
Reversible sleeves for all films featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan
Booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Chuck Stephens, a brand new interview with Toru Shinohara, creator of the original Scorpion manga and an archive interview with Meiko Kaji by Chris D. illustrated with original stills



FEMALE PRISONER #701: SCORPION

Newly filmed appreciation by filmmaker Gareth Evans (The Raid)
Shunya Ito: Birth of an Outlaw, an archive interview with the director
Scorpion Old and New, a new interview with assistant director Yutaka Kohira
Theatrical Trailers for all four films in the series



FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: JAILHOUSE 41

Newly filmed appreciation by critic Kier-La Janisse
Japanese cinema critic Jasper Sharp looks over the career of Shunya Ito
Designing Scorpion, a new interview with production designer Tadayuki Kuwana
Original Theatrical Trailer and Teaser



FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: BEAST STABLE

Newly filmed appreciation by critic Kat Ellinger
Shunya Ito: Directing Meiko Kaji, an archive interview with the director
Unchained Melody, a new visual essay by Tom Mes on the career of Meiko Kaji
Original Theatrical Trailer and Teaser



FEMALE PRISONER SCORPION: #701’s GRUDGE SONG

Newly filmed appreciation by filmmaker Kazuyoshi Kumakiri (Kichiku: Banquet of the Beasts)
Yasuharu Hasebe: Finishing the Series, an archive interview with the director
Japanese cinema critic Jasper Sharp looks over the career of Yasuharu Hasebe
They Call Her Scorpion, a new visual essay by Tom Mes on the film series
Original Theatrical Trailer