Violent Streets Blu-ray Review
暴力街 B�ryoku gai
Score: 69
from 3 reviewers
Review Date:
Violent Streets' Blu-ray combines Gosha's quintessential Yakuza storytelling with a solid 2K restoration, though some technical aspects could be improved.
Disc Release Date
Video: 72
Violent Streets on Blu-ray, presented in 1080p with a 2.33:1 aspect ratio and MPEG-4 AVC encoding, showcases a solid 2K restoration by Film Movement. Despite commendable image stability, clarity, and natural grain retention, inconsistencies in gamma levels and softer contrast impact the experience.
Audio: 65
The Blu-ray of 'Violent Streets' features a Japanese LPCM 2.0 audio track that, despite its clarity and intelligibility, exhibits thinness and minor hiss with a slightly dated soundstage. The dynamic intensity and catchy score add modest depth, though action scenes are somewhat harsh and flat.
Extra: 57
Film Movement's Blu-ray of 'Violent Streets' offers the full uncut experience, enriched with exclusive features like Tomoe Gosha's candid insights into Hideo Gosha's life and legacy, a detailed video essay by Patrick Macias, and a well-crafted booklet by Mark Schilling, making it a comprehensive tribute to Gosha's cinematic prowess.
Movie: 93
Hideo Gosha's 'Violent Streets' is an unflinchingly raw yakuza masterpiece, expertly restored to its 96-minute uncut form. With vivid depictions of brutal gang conflicts and a labyrinth of double-crossings led by the authentic Noboru Ando, this Blu-ray is a must-have for aficionados of gritty crime cinema.
Video: 72
The Blu-ray presentation of "Violent Streets" features a commendable 2K restoration, offering viewers a richly detailed visual experience that adheres closely to the original cinematic intent. Encoded with MPEG-4 AVC, the transfer upholds a native aspect ratio of 2.33:1, ensuring consistency with its theatrical release. Although the restoration succeeds in capturing excellent delineation and depth, a minor misstep in gamma levels affects darker scenes, where gray tones occasionally overwhelm subtler nuances. This issue, seemingly rooted in either an unfinished master or encoding error, can disrupt the viewing experience without adjustments from the viewer's home setup. Positive attributes include a well-managed color balance and impressive image stability, free from digital corrections.
The video presentation effectively harnesses the strengths of the solid film elements used for this remaster. Despite the softer cinematography characteristic of 1970s Japanese genre films, the reproduction of grain is handled exceptionally well, maintaining a film-like quality throughout. The transfer avoids any noticeable ringing or filtering, preserving the native grain structure and providing a naturalistic portrayal of flesh tones and muted colors. While there are sporadic instances of inherent softness and underwhelming close-ups, these elements are typical of the genre and period, contributing to an authentic representation of "Violent Streets". With tight clarity and convincing definition, this release appears to represent the best yet for this classic film.
Audio: 65
The Blu-ray release of "Violent Streets" presents a singular audio track, offering Japanese LPCM 2.0 with optional English subtitles confined within the image frame. Despite embracing its monaural roots, the audio experience is marked by inherited limitations due to the aging source materials. At specific junctures, listeners may perceive a slight thinness and an audible yet subtle buzz in the upper register, indicative of a mildly dated soundstage that impacts the overall depth. Nonetheless, clarity and sharpness remain commendable, contributing to a generally satisfactory auditory performance. The dynamic intensity, while not exceptional, meets expectations for this genre.
Dialogue emerges as clean and intelligible amidst the pronounced spectrum. Meanwhile, the score stands out, delivering modest dynamics with a fidelity that shadows the theatrical originality of the soundtrack. However, action sequences tend to be slightly harsh in the higher frequencies, lacking the robust power typically anticipated from a gangster film's audio. These moments sometimes appear flat and dull, detracting from the intense atmosphere. A minor observation indicates an untranslated Spanish song during the opening credits, with optional English subtitles in a white font, reliably within the 2.39:1 presentation. Despite these nuances, the English translation is notably well-executed.
Extras: 57
The Blu-ray release of "Violent Streets" by Film Movement is an essential acquisition for aficionados of Japanese cinema, offering a robust selection of extras that enhance appreciation of Hideo Gosha’s directorial prowess. Exclusive features such as the insightful featurette "Tattooed Director: Hideo Gosha" provide an engaging glimpse into the life and work of the renowned director, including intimate details revealed by his daughter, Tomoe Gosha. The supplementary video essay "A Street That Can't Be Beat" by critic Patrick Macias adds further value, exploring Gosha’s distinct style and the contributions of the film’s primary actors. Additionally, the inclusion of a meticulously curated 16-page booklet with a new essay by Mark Schilling underscores the film's historical significance. The exclusive North American release maintains an uncut version, distinguishing it from its Region B counterpart.
Extras included in this disc:
- Tattooed Director: Hideo Gosha: Detailed interview with Tomoe Gosha on her father's eclectic life and body art.
- A Street That Can't Be Beat: Video essay by Patrick Macias exploring the film's style and stars.
- Booklet: Illustrated 16-page booklet featuring an essay by Mark Schilling.
- Trailer: Newly restored original trailer for "Violent Streets".
Movie: 93
Hideo Gosha's "Violent Streets" (1974) emerges as an unparalleled masterpiece in the yakuza film genre. Leveraging his experience from directing samurai films, Gosha delivers a whirlwind of violence, loyalty, and betrayal. The narrative unfolds with Egawa, a retired yakuza nightclub owner, masterfully portrayed by ex-yakuza turned actor Noboru Ando. The plot kicks off with Minami, a key singer tied to the Togiku Group—now a legitimate business entity—whose kidnapping triggers a brutal gang war between rival factions. As Egawa becomes inadvertently embroiled in the conflict, viewers are drawn into a dense web of double-dealing and deception.
The film's authenticity is propelled by Gosha’s collaboration with real-life yakuza figures, infusing "Violent Streets" with a gritty, uncompromising edge. The exceptional casting of Noboru Ando adds a layer of realism; without uttering a word, his mere presence on screen commands an aura of genuine machismo. Gosha’s adeptness at genre conventions transforms stereotypical elements into a sophisticated narrative tapestry, punctuated by unexpected twists and chaotic spurts of violence that keep audiences enthralled.
A key highlight is the restored 96-minute uncut version on Blu-ray by Film Movement, offering audiences the full scope of its visceral and compelling storytelling. Known for intertwining real criminal influences and cinematic flair, Gosha achieves an intense, sensational style that distances "Violent Streets" from its contemporaries. The film vibrates with raw energy and dynamic pacing, seamlessly integrating over-the-top violence and stylized drama to deliver what some critics have dubbed the Japanese counterpart of "Goodfellas." For enthusiasts of gangster films, "Violent Streets" is an indispensable addition—its compelling narrative and potent action render it a quintessential cornerstone of the genre, a testament to its resounding impact decades later.
Total: 69
"Violent Streets" emerges as a hallmark of yakuza cinema, a masterpiece by acclaimed director Hideo Gosha. This release triumphantly showcases the film with a pristine 2K restoration, providing the most striking visuals to date. The film is presented in its full 96-minute glory, uncut unlike previous versions, delivering an authentic and immersive experience to classic gangster film aficionados. The narrative is tightly woven with the contributions of talents like Noboru Ando, a former yakuza boss-turned-actor, amplifying the authenticity of the storytelling and lending credence to its revered status as the Japanese "Goodfellas".
The technical specifications reflect an AVC 2.39:1 aspect ratio and a Japanese LPCM 2.0 Mono audio track, underlining a sharp and faithful reproduction of its original sound design. Subtitles are available in English, ensuring the film's impact transcends linguistic barriers. This Blu-ray release includes additional content such as a compelling new program featuring insights from Tomoe Gosha, daughter of Hideo Gosha, further enriching the viewing experience and offering poignant reflections on the filmmaker's legacy.
In conclusion, "Violent Streets" is a definitive acquisition for both genre enthusiasts and cinephiles, bolstered by its superior visual restoration and unique bonus content. While the technical execution could have been slightly enhanced, the overall presentation succeeds in capturing the film’s gritty elegance and multifaceted narrative depth. This release is both a testament to Hideo Gosha's directorial prowess and a significant addition to any serious film collection. Highly recommended for those seeking to explore the grandeur of classic Japanese gangster cinema.
AV Nirvana review by Michael ScottRead review here
Video: 80
• NEW 2K RESTORATION OF THE FILM • Tattooed Director : Hideo Gosha featurette with Tomoe Gosha • A Street That Can't Be Beat - video essay by TokyoScope author Patrick Macias • 16-page booklet with a new...
Audio: 60
Extras: 40
Movie: 90
It all starts with the kidnapping of Minami, a Yakuza backed night club singer with ties to the Togiku Group (a Yakuza group that has since gone “straight” in the business world), only for things to get...
Total: 80
All in all, this is a great cult classic film and even better considering that this is the 96 minute uncut version (the Eureka version was cut sadly), making this a must own for classic gangster film lovers....
Blu-ray.com review by Dr. Svet AtanasovRead review here
Video: 70
The release introduces a recent 2K restoration of the film, which I think is quite nice, but either the master that was supplied to Film Movement was not properly finalized or the label's encoder made...
Audio: 90
I assume that the existing materials for Violent Streets have not aged particularly well and these are inherited limitations because elsewhere clarity, sharpness, and stability are very good....
Extras: 80
Tattooed Director: Hideo Gosha - in this exclusive new program, Tomoe Gosha, daughter of director Hideo Gosha, discusses her father's most unusual life -- highlighting some fascinating details about his...
Movie: 100
Giovanni, who was a convicted criminal, knew all kinds of different shady characters, which is why for a while he was an invaluable source of information for anyone who wanted to make a legit crime film...
Total: 80
For my money, Gosha and Noboru Ando, a former yakuza boss-turned-actor, are an unbeatable team, so I consider Violent Streets to be a minor masterpiece....
DoBlu review by Christopher ZabelRead review here
Video: 80
The film-like transfer avoids ringing and filtering, accurately capturing the native grain structure....
Audio: 60
There isn’t the power one expects from a gangster film’s audio, occasionally flat and dull....
Extras: 60
Film Movement issues Violent Streets on Blu-ray in North America for the first time, including exclusive special features and a well-done booklet in their usual style....
Movie: 100
Considered by many the essential yakuza film of its decade, the movie pulsates with a seedy heart and slick visuals far beyond its exploitation roots....
Total: 75
Hideo Gosha’s acclaimed yakuza masterpiece is the Japanese Goodfellas, a heady plunge into gang war violence and the men who wage it...
Director: Hideo Gosha
Actors: Noboru Andô, Akira Kobayashi, Isao Natsuyagi
PlotIn a gritty, urban landscape, former yakuza boss Egawa has left behind his life of crime to run a nightclub, hoping to distance himself from the violent underworld. However, peace is elusive as competing yakuza factions vie for control, leaving Egawa entangled in the conflict. When a younger, ruthless gang attempts to take over his territory, Egawa is reluctantly forced back into the life he tried to escape. His past resurfaces in the form of an old rival, and tensions mount as both sides prepare for a brutal confrontation.
Amid simmering tensions, Egawa navigates treacherous alliances and moral dilemmas. His loyalty is tested when friends and foes alike push him towards decisions with dire consequences. As deception and betrayal permeate the organization, Egawa struggles to protect those he cares about while maintaining a grip on his own ambitions. The story delves deeper into power dynamics and personal conflicts within the yakuza world, portraying a relentless cycle of violence that threatens to consume him once again. The ensuing chaos puts Egawa at a crossroads, demanding he choose between the remnants of his old code and the harsh realities dictated by the criminal empire he's part of.
Writers: Hideo Gosha, Masahiro Kakefuda, Nobuaki Nakajima
Release Date: 13 Apr 1974
Runtime: 96 min
Rating: N/A
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese, Spanish