Review of Japan Organised Crime Boss

Introduction

This is one of Kinji Fukasaku`s earlier films, made before his Cops vs Thugs and Street Mobster days. However, even though this was made in the 1960s, the theme that runs through his later films - honour - is still present in Japan Organised Crime Boss, as the following synopsis states:

The Yakuza is in turmoil when Osaka`s ruthless Danno Organisation has ambitions to take over and control the entire Japanese underworld. After staging a series of successful territorial battles, they make their way to Yokohama`s busy port district with the intention of ruling that too. An alliance is formed between the remaining Yakuza clans to take on the might of the Danno organization.

I have seen some of Fukasaku`s later films, and my previous comments have been how they blend good ideas with bad ideas: film-making that in ways seems accomplished and innovative, yet is let down by plot weaknesses and poor execution in certain areas. So will this be any different?

Video

1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen. The film stock looks old - lack of definition and artefacts are abundant, and unfortunately the DVD transfer has not remastered the source material in any way, leaving us viewers with a slight eyesore running throughout...hardly something that will add to the viewing experience. The odd sight of a compression sign and dust here and there relegates this to the `Please Remaster Me` pile.

This is a somewhat refrained take on Yakuza life considering the way the director usually handles such material. Perhaps it was before he decided society in the 70s wasn`t all it was cracked up to be, so violence isn`t as quantified nor as brutal, hence the lower certificate - and it also means that the material is easier to watch, what with less claret spilling onto every frame. Having said that, a fair few gansters do lose a few pints before the conclusion...

Audio

Dolby Digital Mono (Japanese). A lack of a surround sound mix is a bit of a pain come the gunfights/scenes of mêlée, but the main audio stream is fairly clear for lines of dialogue, although when indeed the action does hot up, the audio gets a bit muddled as defining a soundstage through a single channel is a tricky business.

The script is very basic really - gangster vs. gangster, where only the strongest will survive. The words on the page act as a mere springboard for bloodshed and antagonistic action. Subtle development and justification for brutality are amiss: although a striking message is almost painted across each frame, and that message is said quite bluntly, achieved through antisocial activities, so the easily offended better avoid this.

The English subtitles are clear and well timed.

Features

All that is on offer is a profile of the director (static pages of course) and about a dozen stills from the film. The former is interesting, but the second is very basic. Where is the commentary track and making-of feature? Obviously on a well put together disc...

The menus are static with music playing in the background. They are easy to navigate.

Conclusion

Fukasaku is definitely a man on a mission, a man whom wants to tell the world, whether Japanese or otherwise, about the events that plague the lives of a certain group of people. Japan Organised Crime Boss is a look at how humans can degrade into a race that is a far cry from what we can be, but the way this message is painted is somewhat poorly done.

As a film, it is weak. As a testament to Yakuza life, it is good. A successful and enjoyable film is made up of many different layers - layers that are both deep and shallow - yet the layers of Japan Organised Crime Boss are very small and easy to pick holes in.

For instance, each gangster has a short life span, that is certain. Another inevitable factor is that blood and death will occur, in equal measure, although the film-makers tend to like as graphic a death as possible. Spontaneity and tension are out the window: it is a case of when, not if, meaning that the viewer can feel like just watching the first five minutes for an introduction, and then the last five to see just who survives. And it isn`t even as if the survivors are deservedly alive...there is no deep meaning or development so the viewer will not care who makes it through to the end credits.

The disc itself is fairly weak - poor visuals (by today`s standards), average audio and very weak extras mean the selling point of this DVD will not be the strength of Eureka Video in putting together a comprehensive package to support the feature.

For fans of the Japanese helmer, this might just be worth a rent, especially as they would be used to his style by now. But, for novices entering into Fukasaku`s films, my advice is to start with the slightly superior Cops vs Thugs and then work your way around his work if you like what you see - be warned however that this is pretty lacklustre viewing, on all fronts.