vorticez

Inspired by his performance as JIJII in Ichi the Killer I have decided I must get some more Tsukamoto's films (as director). I already have a couple on VHS but no DVD yet. What are the best versions to get and any more on the way?

Thor

Of what I've seen, I'd recommend TETSUO: THE IRON MAN and TOKYO FIST, both of which I loved. TETSUO II is sort of an EVIL DEAD II-type sequel, closer to big-budget remake than actual sequel (also in color instead of b&w), but didn't do as much for me. GEMINI is interesting, but a little more classy than Tsukamoto should be IMO.

As far as versions, I only know the R1 DVDs. Unfortunately, I believe TETSUO is out of print in R1, but TOKYO FIST is in print from Palm Pictures (as is TETSUO II). The import disc of GEMINI was very satisfactory as well. It's been too long since I watched them to remember much about picture quality, although none of them were completely unwatchable (though I vaguely remember TETSUO II seeming a bit washed out or too dark or something).

fnordboy

Tetsuo is a great movie, I saw this years ago as a rental and got the DVD about a year ago, still see them around every now and then in Tower Records, but I dont know if it still is that easy to find.

A slightly off topic question, on the North American VHS of Tetsuo it had another short film on it as well, called Drum Struck (or something similar to that) does anyone know if this is available on DVD somewhere?

Thanks

Tony Block

The Korean NTSC Region 0 of Gemini has a very nice anamorphic transfer.

The R1 releases of Tetsuo &Tetsuo II are both full frame, as they were shot, and are not bad transfers.

Tokyo Fist is nonanamorphic letterboxed, with a serviceable transfer. Watch it back-to-back with Fight Club!

Another film to check out is Synapse's Reg 1 DVD of Organ directed by Kei Fujiwara who was "the woman" in Tetsuo.

cheers, Tony Block

iskandam

Also check out BULLET BALLET for another dose of Tsukamoto mayhem

vorticez

Thanks for all the info. I have both TETSUO movies on VHS and love them both but didn't get the DVD as I wasn't sure of the aspect ratio. I read somewhere that they were 1.37:1, does this mean the DVD are just open matte versions? Definitely try to be getting GEMINI. TOKYO FIST, BULET BALLET and ORGAN (never heard of this before-thanks!).

Tony Block

I could be wrong, but I believe that the reason that both Tetsuos are 1.37:1 is that they were shot on Video, or a mixture of film & video, not that they couldn't matt a video transfer. But 1.37:1 IS, as far as I know, the correct aspect ratio.

cheers, Tony Block

snowchasse

They are the best versions available. But unsubtitled. The scripts are readily available, but require PC-DVD.

Tokyo Fist / Bullet Ballet - Édition Collector 2 DVD
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005YTPN
Tetsuo / Tetsuo II - Édition Collector 2 DVD
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005YTPM
Gemini / Hiruko The Gobelin - Édition Collector 2 DVD
http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000-5YTPO

vorticez

Thanks to you both. I would like those french discs, especially the hiruko one as I have never seen this, don't actually own a PC though, just post at work so I need subs!