NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Radiance Films Blu-ray (March 2024): Radiance Films have transferred the Japanese Bounty Hunter Trilogy to a double Blu-ray package. It is cited as "High-Definition digital transfer of each film presented on two discs, made available on Blu-ray (1080p) for the first time in the world". The image quality has that predictable thickness although there is occasional sharpness in close-ups and depth in day-lit outdoor sequences. Killer's Mission aka Shokin kasegi (1969) is on its own Blu-ray and the latter two films, The Fort of Death, and Eight Men to Kill, share a second dual-layered BD disc. Hopefully the below screen captures will give you an idea of the 2.35:1 1080P video. 

NOTE: We have added 136 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Radiance Films use linear PCM mono tracks (24-bit) in the original Japanese language. The Bounty Hunter Trilogy has plenty of aggression from samurai swords to machine gun fire. It is fairly hollow with a smidgeon of effective depth. The scores by Toshiaki Tsushima (Yakuza Wolf, Yakuza Graveyard, Big Time Gambling Boss, Street Mobster, The Green Slime, The War in Space, Three Outlaw Samurai, Sword of the Beast, Battles Without Honor and Humanity)   and on Eight Men to Kill by Hideaki Sakurai (Lone Wolf and Cub, Shogun Assassin and Hanzo the Razor: Who's Got the Gold? also to his credits) sounding supportive to the action via the lossless transfers. Radiance Films offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Radiance Films Blu-ray offers a new commentary on Killer’s Mission by Tom Mes (author of Father, Son, Sword: The Lone Wolf And Cub Saga.) He tells us that the film takes places during the reign of Shogun Tokugawa Ieshige (circa 1745.) He discusses the career of director Shigehiro Ozawa who directed in over 100 films between 1954 and 1976, his relationship with Toei studios, and this being at the end of the 'chivalrous samurai' cycle of films. There is also more on Ozawa in the booklet included with this boxset. Tom describes how the same actor may play different parts in trilogy; ex. Tomoko Mayama plays Akane in the first film, Killer's Mission, but is Kagero in the second film The Fort of Death where Yumiko Nogawa plays Kagero in the first film. So it can be confusing. It's a revealing commentary with a mass of details on the performers, their other work including TV, history and the silk trade plus much more. Radiance also include a 1/4 hour interview with film historian and Shigehiro Ozawa expert Akihito Ito about the filmmaker. Plus there is an excellent visual essay on Eiichi Kudo by Japanese cinema expert Robin Gatto (author books on Hideo Gosha) Kudo is a Japanese film director of 30 films between 1956 and 1998. Lastly on the discs are a series poster and press image gallery and trailers for each of the three films. The package includes six postcards of artwork from the films, has a reversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original posters and includes a limited edition booklet featuring new writing by samurai film expert Alain Silver (author of The Samurai Film,) an obituary of Eiichi Kudo by Kinji Fukasaku and an interview piece on Shigehiro Ozawa after his retirement from filmmaking.

The Bounty Hunter Trilogy has an effective, almost anti-hero, Bounty hunter (and occasional Doctor), female ninjas, betrayal / counter-betrayal, secret agents, poison blow-darts, gold lust, a mercenary femme-fatale, romance, an amusing inside joke with a Zatoichi impersonation plus bold, often tongue-in-cheek, eroticism (reminding me of Hanzo the Razor.) There are James Bond-like echoes... these are great! Often absurdly fun, a shade over-the-top, and plenty of baddies summarily dismissed / killed without batting an eye. The three films connect in less-obvious fashion - as if it takes a backseat to the action and mood of honorable but harsh justice. Those keen on Japanese 60's cinema should get a huge kick out of this series that certainly, after the fact, reminded me of Seijun Suzuki with amusing, pulpy, characterizations. I will definitely re-watch these above-average adventurous yarns that I had never seen before. A wonderful surprise. The Radiance Films Blu-ray trilogy is at their usual high standard of a/v - has an educational commentary, interviews, visual essay, booklet and more. What's not to love? Certainly recommended.

Gary Tooze