Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
#1
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Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
For those who know the movie: There was a lot of talk that Kitamura and the crew would all be back to do a bigger budget sequel in 2005. Obviously that never happened. Anyone know why?
For those who don't know: "Versus" is a superb, low-budget horror flick from Japan that launched the career of director Ryuhei Kitamura ("Midnight Meat Train," "Godzilla: Final Wars"). It was a mix of "Dead Alive" and "The Matrix" along with Japanese sensibilities. For $400,000 they made a crazy, fun and at times disgusting movie. They got a lot out of that meager investment.
For those who don't know: "Versus" is a superb, low-budget horror flick from Japan that launched the career of director Ryuhei Kitamura ("Midnight Meat Train," "Godzilla: Final Wars"). It was a mix of "Dead Alive" and "The Matrix" along with Japanese sensibilities. For $400,000 they made a crazy, fun and at times disgusting movie. They got a lot out of that meager investment.
#2
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Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
No idea, but I know that they went back and did a special edition years later with lots of new footage.
Oh, and thanks for reminding me that I don't have this movie in my collection. Now I have to go spend even more money on Blu-rays, even though lately I've already spent far too much already.
Oh, and thanks for reminding me that I don't have this movie in my collection. Now I have to go spend even more money on Blu-rays, even though lately I've already spent far too much already.
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Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
I'm sure you know but the film is never going to look amazing on BD cuz of the source. From what I can remember the BD of it here is pretty much the same as the SE DVD. We got of it.
Still need to get it. I loved it when I first saw it. Was really impress by what they did with what they had.
Still need to get it. I loved it when I first saw it. Was really impress by what they did with what they had.
#5
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Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
Loved it! It was The Matrix meets Evil Dead. At least the director made a horror splash here in the U.S. with Midnight Meat Train. I fucking love MMT. He also did No One Lives with Luke Evans but I haven't seen that one.
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Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
I don't mean the literal ending but like when Cooper got all prepared and shit to take on Vinnie jones. Came off weird to me. I like what ended up happening at the end but what led to it just didn't sit well with me. I need to see it again probably.
#11
Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
It might sound very unusual, but Versus was actually the first live-action Japanese movie I saw since a B&W Kurosawa film I thought, "Damn! Do all Japanese movies look like this now?"
#13
Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
Yeah, I should've re-phrased that.
I saw plenty of 'zilla movies as a kid. But in the 90's, I was mostly on an anime high and (Japanese) live-action films didn't appear to be on my radar. During that time, I discovered that the guy who made Seven Samurai also made some other very good movies that I should check out. So what I meant was I went from seeing Throne of Blood to Versus
I do remember first hearing about Versus on some article way back when. The plot sounded COMPLETELY badass and I knew I just had to see it. Granted, I wasn't aware that the movie was shot on video (That really threw me off big time) but by the time the film ended, there was no denying that I had a great deal of fun with it.
I saw plenty of 'zilla movies as a kid. But in the 90's, I was mostly on an anime high and (Japanese) live-action films didn't appear to be on my radar. During that time, I discovered that the guy who made Seven Samurai also made some other very good movies that I should check out. So what I meant was I went from seeing Throne of Blood to Versus
I do remember first hearing about Versus on some article way back when. The plot sounded COMPLETELY badass and I knew I just had to see it. Granted, I wasn't aware that the movie was shot on video (That really threw me off big time) but by the time the film ended, there was no denying that I had a great deal of fun with it.
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Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
I remember the way people tried to describe Versus to me. "It's like a two-hour fight scene." "It's like The Matrix meets Evil Dead." None of that really prepares you for the lunacy of Ryuhei Kitamura. This is the guy who made a Godzilla movie in which a SWAT team staffed with X-Men fight a giant lobster with laser bazookas. (And win.) It's been a while since I've seen Versus so I can't recall if it was quite that nuts, but it's certainly a "dafuq did I just watch" sort of thing. In a good way, not a Transformers way.
Can't wait for my Blu-ray to show up. I ordered a copy within minutes of seeing this topic.
Can't wait for my Blu-ray to show up. I ordered a copy within minutes of seeing this topic.
#16
Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
I tried watching this again recently...I got caught up in the hype when I bought it a couple of times and convinced myself it was great. It really is not a very good movie.
#19
Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
Old article from last year:
Kitamura Ryuhei Talks NO ONE LIVES, VERSUS 2 And Sakaguchi's 'Bullshit' Retirement
http://twitchfilm.com/2013/05/kitamu...etirement.html
Kitamura Ryuhei Talks NO ONE LIVES, VERSUS 2 And Sakaguchi's 'Bullshit' Retirement
http://twitchfilm.com/2013/05/kitamu...etirement.html
Spoiler:
Last edited by Match; 05-12-14 at 04:18 PM.
#20
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Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
I thought it was cool that after the initial success of the movie they went back and shot more scenes and spliced them in to the original flick. Of course, that made it a whole lot gorier, like
My favorite scene was when one guy pointed a 50 caliber at one of the big shot yakuza and he went on this diatribe about how fast his reflexes were, etc, and when the shooter pulled the trigger, the yakuza tried to do a Neo backbend (you know, the famous 'Matrix' rooftop scene where Neo bends backward at the knees and avoids almost all of the bullets but gets grazed in the leg) but he wasn't flexible enough, popped right back up, *BLAM*. Splatter everywhere. I could not stop laughing. Kitamura's a nut.
Spoiler:
My favorite scene was when one guy pointed a 50 caliber at one of the big shot yakuza and he went on this diatribe about how fast his reflexes were, etc, and when the shooter pulled the trigger, the yakuza tried to do a Neo backbend (you know, the famous 'Matrix' rooftop scene where Neo bends backward at the knees and avoids almost all of the bullets but gets grazed in the leg) but he wasn't flexible enough, popped right back up, *BLAM*. Splatter everywhere. I could not stop laughing. Kitamura's a nut.
#21
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
I'm sure you know but the film is never going to look amazing on BD cuz of the source. From what I can remember the BD of it here is pretty much the same as the SE DVD. We got of it.
Still need to get it. I loved it when I first saw it. Was really impress by what they did with what they had.
Still need to get it. I loved it when I first saw it. Was really impress by what they did with what they had.
Here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/Versus-Special.../dp/B000095J2Y
#22
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Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
I thought it was cool that after the initial success of the movie they went back and shot more scenes and spliced them in to the original flick. Of course, that made it a whole lot gorier, like
My favorite scene was when one guy pointed a 50 caliber at one of the big shot yakuza and he went on this diatribe about how fast his reflexes were, etc, and when the shooter pulled the trigger, the yakuza tried to do a Neo backbend (you know, the famous 'Matrix' rooftop scene where Neo bends backward at the knees and avoids almost all of the bullets but gets grazed in the leg) but he wasn't flexible enough, popped right back up, *BLAM*. Splatter everywhere. I could not stop laughing. Kitamura's a nut.
Spoiler:
My favorite scene was when one guy pointed a 50 caliber at one of the big shot yakuza and he went on this diatribe about how fast his reflexes were, etc, and when the shooter pulled the trigger, the yakuza tried to do a Neo backbend (you know, the famous 'Matrix' rooftop scene where Neo bends backward at the knees and avoids almost all of the bullets but gets grazed in the leg) but he wasn't flexible enough, popped right back up, *BLAM*. Splatter everywhere. I could not stop laughing. Kitamura's a nut.
That 50 Cal scene was fucking legit!
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Re: Why was 'Versus 2' never made?
Great movie. My favorite guy was the joker-like thug with the knives. He was fantastic... he ever do anything of note afterwards?