The Killing Machine - Sonny Chiba

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Killing Machine" or "Shôrinji kenpô" )

directed by Norifumi Suzuki
Japan 1975

Sonny Chiba stars as Doshin So, a martial arts master who returns from the second world war after serving as an undercover spy. He wanders the streets helping the homeless and righting wrong that took place while he was away including riding the town of black marketers. He opens a Shaolin marts arts school which angers the existing men in power. In typical Chiba fashion it's time to make someone pay!

For Chiba fans this is one of the mainstays. loaded with the genre charm. Action, vengeance and a hero.

Gary Tooze

Poster

Theatrical Release: February 1975

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DVD Comparison:

Ventura (The Sonny China Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Optimum (The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Gary Tooze and Henrik Sylow for the Screen Caps!

(Ventura (The Sonny China Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Optimum (The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Ventura Region 1 - NTSC	Optimum Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	1:26:48	1:23:18 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	2.34:1 Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 6.00 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	2.47:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.86 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Ventura (The Sonny China Collection)
Bitrate: Optimum (The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1)
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital Japanese, 5.1 Dolby Digital Japanese (simulated)	2.0 Dolby Digital Japanese
Subtitles	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Ventura Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.34:1 Edition Details: • Widescreen 16X9 Trailers for 8 other Sonny China / Ventura DVD releases • Karate Bearfighter (3:04 / 16x9) • Killing Machine (3:02 / 16x9) • Karate Bullfighter (2:51 / 16x9) • Karate For Life (2:52 / 16x9) • Shogun's Samurai (3:06 / 16x9) • G.I. Samurai (3:19 / 16x9) • Ninja Wars (1:52 / 16x9) • Legend of the Eight Samurai (2:13 / 16x9) DVD Release Date: October 26th, 2004 Transparent Keep Case Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Optimum Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.47:1 Edition Details: • Poster Gallery and trailers for following Optimum Chiba releases • The Killing Machine (2:53 / 16x9) • Street Fighter (2:52 / 16x9) • Return of Street Fighter (3:01 / 16x9) • Street Fighter's Last Revenge (2:55 / 16x9) • Yakuza Deka (2:41 / 16x9) • Yakuza Deka The Assassin (2:41 / 16x9) • Bullet Train (1:29 / 16x9) • G.I. Samurai (3:20 / 16x9) • Golgo 13 (3:04 / 16x9) • Biography (text) DVD Release Date: August 29, 2005 Digipack Box Chapters 16

Comments

There are three striking differences between Optimum and Ventura: Ventura is severely cropped (ranging from 2% to 8% left and right, and 2% to 6% top and bottom). The second is the color, where Ventura has been "westernized" and gotten the reddish skin color, while Optimum, based on a new re-mastering of the original 35mm negatives, is true to the original Japanese color scheme. The last is Aspect Ratio, where Optimum is 2.47:1 vs. Ventura 2.34:1.

Of minor differences is the compression, where Ventura is more compressed than Optimum, and due to that displays a higher degree of colour binding and edge enhancements.

Part of the 3-disc "Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1", along with "Yakuza Deka" and "Yakuza Deka: The Assassin".

- Henrik Sylow

DVD Menus
(Ventura (The Sonny China Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Optimum (The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(Ventura (The Sonny China Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Optimum (The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
Subtitle sample (English only)
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px
Not exact frame match

(Ventura (The Sonny China Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Optimum (The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)

(Ventura (The Sonny China Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Optimum (The Sonny Chiba Collection Vol. 1) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
Ghosting and cropping Issue on Ventura

Recommended Reading for Martial Arts/Samurai Genre Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


Asian Cult Cinema by Thomas Weisser	The Midnight Eye Guide to New Japanese Film by Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp	Great Martial Arts Movies: From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan and More (Citadel Film) by Richard Meyers, Ric Meyers	VideoHound's Dragon: Asian Action & Cult Flicks by Brian Thomas	Silver Screen Samurai: The Best of Japan's Samurai Movie Posters by Na	The Films of Akira Kurosawa by Donald Ritchie	The Yakuza Movie Book : A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films by Mark Schilling	Japanese Movie Posters: Yakuza, Monster, Pink, and Horror by Chuck Stephens, Tetsuya Masuda, Kairakutei Black	A Hundred Years of Japanese Film by Donald Richie