Detective Bureau 2-3 Go To Hell Bastards Blu-ray

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

(aka "Tantei jimusho 23: Kutabare akuto-domo" or "Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards")

Japan 1963

Assigned a standard Yakuza film in the hardboiled vein pioneered at Japan s famed Nikkatsu Studios, director Seijun Suzuki (Branded to Kill) and his frequent leading man Jo Shishido used 1963's Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! to flip the Japanese gangster film genre on its ear. A rapid fire gun heist, credits with an infectious jazz pop score, and a wide-screen close-up of a burning car announce Detective Bureau 2-3 as the film that would both lampoon and redefine Asian crime films for an irreverent new decade of garish panache and ultra-violent cool. The story follows police detective Tajima (Shishido), who, tasked with tracking down stolen firearms, turns an underworld grudge into a bloodbath -- while Suzuki transforms a colorful potboiler into an on-target send-up of cultural colonialism and post-war greed. (This isn't an American TV series,) one of Tajima s doubting subordinates tells the sharkskin-suited, super suave sleuth. Anarchic, breakneck paced, darkly comic, and stylish to the extreme, Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards! was a movie unlike anything audiences had ever seen. It would cement Suzuki s fervent popularity at home and heralded his imminent cult status worldwide.

Poster

Theatrical Release: 27 January 1963 (Japan)

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Comparison:

Kino - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the DVD Review!

Kino- Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT

Box Covers
Distribution	Kino Region 0 - NTSC	Arrow Video Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:28:19	1:28:07.949
Video	2.41:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.97 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 33,380,831,578 bytes Feature Size: 25,751,312,448 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.87 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Videos
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Bitrate Blu-ray
Audio	Dolby Digital 2.0 (Japanese)	LPCM Audio Japanese 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.41:1 Edition Details: • Cops Vs Thugs trailer • Yakuza Graveyard trailer • Stills Gallery DVD Release Date: May 19th, 2009 Keep Case Chapters 12	Release Information: Studio: Arrow Video Disc Size: 33,380,831,578 bytes Feature Size: 25,751,312,448 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.87 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Videos Edition Details: • Interview with historian and Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns (28:57) • Gallery of original production stills • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin Blu-ray Release Date: July 9th-10th, 2018 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters: 13

Comments

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

ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE- Blu-ray - July 18': "Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards!" is simultaneously released on Blu-ray in the UK and North America by Arrow. The UK and US discs are absolutely identical which means that no matter which package you buy, the discs will play in any Region A or B setup. The booklets are also identical, but there are minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos. The 1080p film is housed on dual-layered Blu-ray with a maxed out bitrate. Although the aspect ratio is stated as 2.35:1, the image clocks in at around 2.45:1. The image has a fair amount of detail and grain levels are decent. This is an obvious bump in quality over the previous SD DVD image. Colors are stronger, with reds and yellows coming through stronger on this Blu-ray.

The original Japanese Mono track is provided here in linear PCM (24-bit). The various effects of guns firing and tires squealing come through as intended. Though only mono, the track can be very busy during party or club scenes. The score is provided by frequent gangster/yakuza flick composer, Harumi Ibe. There are optional newly translated English subtitles on this Region Free Blu-ray Disc.

Arrow provide a half-hour interview with historian and Japanese cinema expert Tony Rayns. As is to be expected, Rayns' provides a wealth of information and is always a great interviewee. A stills gallery is also included. There is a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matthew Griffin.

This cult hit from director Seijun Suzuki is a fun pastiche and borderline parody of the Japanese gangster film, and thankfully Arrow have given us a notable upgrade in audio/visual quality. Though perhaps a little light on extras, the included Tony Rayns interview is quite packed with contextual information regarding the film. This Blu-ray is certainly recommended to fans of gangster cinema.

Colin Zavitz

***

ON THE DVD: A very nice anamorphic transfer from Kino for this very fun Suzuki action comedy which unfortunately wasn't flagged for progressive playback. It tends to look fairly thick and a bit hazy. The colors are bold and the visually there is minimal damage . The Japanese mono soundtrack is unremarkable but adequate.

The only extras is a couple of trailers for other Kino releases and a short photo gallery. A recommended film but the Kino price seems unreasonably high although the only other DVD edition of this film, at present, seems to be a French one with no English subtitles.

- Gregory Meshman

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