Street Mobster (1972)

In the tradition of Takeshi Kitano, Sergio Leone, and George Romero, Japanese action director Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale I and II, The Yakuza Papers) brings to life Street Mobster, the story of a violent killer who will stop at nothing to satisfy his lust for blood. Released from prison, gangster Isamu Okita plans to start his own gang and begins a reign of terror using beatings, prostitution, stabbings, and murders to fight his way to the top of the gangland world. Street Mobster is a look into the dark realm of Japan's criminal underworld, where anything can be had for a price.

Fukasaku's Street Mobster

This presentation of Street Mobster from Home Vision Entertainment is really spectacular. The picture looks great for a Japanese film from 1972, and the subtitles have been translated quite nicely. It stars Bunta Sagawara and Noboru Ando, who is a former real-life yakuza - when he disbanded his gang, he started acting in yakuza movies. This yakuza film is one of Fukasaku's earlier yakuza films - meaning it came before Battles without Honor, Graveyard of Honor, Yakuza Graveyard, and Cops vs. Thugs. However, this one is very similar in style and narrative, though much less confusing than the beautiful chaos of Battles without Honor. Overall, I liked it less than Battles without Honor and Graveyard of Honor, the other films released by HVE, but it really does compare. Definitely see this if you like yakuza films. Also, it includes a trailer gallery for the Fukasaku films released by HVE as well as the Zatoichi series, and has a very interesting interview feature with former yakuza. Highly Recommended.




October 2, 2004

Yakuza Classic

Kinji Fukasaku's gritty 1972 Yakuza classic is finally on DVD and it was worth the wait. This HVE package is a delight, with a fine widescreen transfer and enthusiastic liner notes from Toyko film buff, Patrick Macias. But in the final analysis, it is the film which matters, and Street Mobster is a winner all the way. With Street Mobster on DVD, can Fukasaku's masterpiece, The Yakuza Papers, be far behind? September 20, 2004

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