"Actor: Takeshi"

• Battle Royale | DVD | (10/04/2017) from £6.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence it’s only fitting that Kenta Fukasaku’s Battle Royale is being touted as A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a series of fleeting images of unruly Japanese schoolkids, whose bad behaviour provides a justification for the "punishments" which will ensue. To be honest, anyone who has grown up with Grange Hill will view these aggressive teenagers’ acts as pretty moderate, but in the context of Japanese culture, their lack of respect is a challenge to the traditional values of respecting your elders. Once the prequel has been dispensed with the classmates are drugged and awaken on an island where they find they have been fitted with dog collars that monitor their every move. Instructed by their old teacher ("Beat" Takeshi) with the aid of an upbeat MTV-style video, they are told of their fate: after an impartial Lottery they have been chosen to fight each other in a three-day, no-rules contest, the "Battle Royale". Their only chance of survival in the "Battle" is through the death of all their classmates. Some pupils embrace their mission with zeal, while others simply give up or try to become peacemakers and revolutionaries. However, the ultimate drive for survival comes from the desire to protect the one you love. The film looks like a war-flick on occasions, with intense Apocalypse Now-style imagery (check out the classical score blasted over the tannoys with sweeping shots of helicopters). Yet, Battle Royale works on many different levels, highlighting the authorities’ desperation to enforce law and order and the alienation caused by the generation gap. But whether you view the film as an important social commentary or simply enjoy the adrenalin-fuelled violence, this is set to become cult viewing for the computer game generation and beyond. On the DVD: Battle Royale has been re-released in this new and improved version. Now offered in progressive scan, utilising NTSC technology which has enhanced the picture quality. Please be aware though that not all DVD players are compatible, if unsure your best to opt for the first release.--Nikki Disney

• Outrage | DVD | (14/11/2011) from £6.39   |  Saving you £13.60 (212.83%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The king of yakuza epics Takeshi Kitano (Brother, Zatoichi, Hana-Bi, Sonatine) returns with his most violent gangster film yet. Mr. Chairman, the head of the ruling Sannokai yakuza clan, suspects that his henchman Ikemoto has struck a forbidden alliance with rival gangster Murase. Ikemoto tries to quell his boss' distrust by making a move against Murase, marking the start of a ruthless series of conflicts and betrayals. Before long, several yakuza clans are out for blood in their constant battle for power and money. The rival bosses fight to rise through the ranks by scheming and making short-lived allegiances. In this corrupt world where there are no heroes, it's a bad guy vs. bad guy in a spiralling outrage of gang warfare.

• Dragon | DVD | (26/08/2013) from £5.16   |  Saving you £12.59 (370.29%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Peter Chan directs this Hong Kong martial arts drama that sees an incredibly scrupulous detective on the trail of a former criminal who has attempted to start a new life. Set in 1917, the film finds Liu Jinxi (Donnie Yen) and his wife Ayu (Wei Tang) living quietly in a small village. Their sense of tranquillity is disrupted when a pair of robbers descend on the local store and Liu's intervention results in their death. Detective Xu Baijiu (Takeshi Kaneshiro), a man so faithfully attached to t...

• Dragon Ball Super Part 7 (Episodes 79-91) | DVD | (23/09/2019) from £11.45   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  In an effort to teach Future Zeno about martial arts, Zeno calls for an exhibition match between the 7th and 9th Universes. Afterwards, Goku searches for the 7th Universe's ten best fighters. With only 48 hours until the Tournament of Power officially begins, will he put together a strong enough team in time, or will the Z Fighters be at a major disadvantage from the get-go?!

• Death Note 2 | DVD | (14/09/2009) from £18.99   |  Saving you £-3.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  The last name to be written in the Death Note... Whose name will it be?' Light and L's psychological duel enters a new phase; whoever is careless for even a split second will lose! To complicate things further Rem another shinigami brings the second notebook and Misa Amane a Japanese pop star and Kira worshipper comes into possession of it. Now becoming a Kira herself she accepts an offer to have the Eyes of the Death. With the Eyes of the Death one can know the name of any person without being told. Misa and Light begin to work together to find the true name of L...

• Battle Royale (Director's Cut) | Blu Ray | (10/07/2017) from £15.75   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  With the Japanese currently leading the way in thought-provoking cinematic violence it’s only fitting that Kenta Fukasaku’s Battle Royale is being touted as A Clockwork Orange for the 21st century. Based on the novel by Koshun Takami, the film opens with a series of fleeting images of unruly Japanese schoolkids, whose bad behaviour provides a justification for the "punishments" which will ensue. To be honest, anyone who has grown up with Grange Hill will view these aggressive teenagers’ acts as pretty moderate, but in the context of Japanese culture, their lack of respect is a challenge to the traditional values of respecting your elders. Once the prequel has been dispensed with the classmates are drugged and awaken on an island where they find they have been fitted with dog collars that monitor their every move. Instructed by their old teacher ("Beat" Takeshi) with the aid of an upbeat MTV-style video, they are told of their fate: after an impartial Lottery they have been chosen to fight each other in a three-day, no-rules contest, the "Battle Royale". Their only chance of survival in the "Battle" is through the death of all their classmates. Some pupils embrace their mission with zeal, while others simply give up or try to become peacemakers and revolutionaries. However, the ultimate drive for survival comes from the desire to protect the one you love. The film looks like a war-flick on occasions, with intense Apocalypse Now-style imagery (check out the classical score blasted over the tannoys with sweeping shots of helicopters). Yet, Battle Royale works on many different levels, highlighting the authorities’ desperation to enforce law and order and the alienation caused by the generation gap. But whether you view the film as an important social commentary or simply enjoy the adrenalin-fuelled violence, this is set to become cult viewing for the computer game generation and beyond. On the DVD: Battle Royale has been re-released in this new and improved version. Now offered in progressive scan, utilising NTSC technology which has enhanced the picture quality. Please be aware though that not all DVD players are compatible, if unsure your best to opt for the first release.--Nikki Disney

• Dragon Ball Super Season 1 - Part 1 (Episodes 1-13) | DVD | (30/10/2017) from £14.26   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  After defeating Majin Buu, life is peaceful once again. Goku has taken a completely new role as a radish farmer?! With Earth at peace, our heroes have settled into normal lives. But they can't get too comfortable. Far away, a powerful god awakens to a prophecy revealing his demise at the hands of a formidable being. Can Goku and his friends take on their strongest foe yet?

• Sonatine | DVD | (22/04/2002) from £14.93   |  Saving you £-1.95 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Takeshi is Murakawa an established and ruthless Yakuza sent outside his usual turf to intervene in a gang war on the tropical island of Okinawa. Things go badly wrong and he and his gang get caught in the crossfire. Forced to retreat to a seaside hideaway they kill time and fool around on the beach but then their enemies start picking them off one by one. Murakawa decides to go on the offensive for a final and breathtaking showdown... Contrasting lyrical scenes with shocking burs

• Battle Royale Limited Edition | Blu Ray | (26/04/2021) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The kids of Third Year Class-B Shiroiwa Junior High School are back, in a brand new UHD restoration of the classic cult shocker adapted from the controversial novel by Koushun Takami. Presenting an alternate dystopian vision of turn-of-the-millennium Japan, Battle Royale follows the 42 junior high school students selected to take part in the government's annual Battle Royale programme, established as an extreme method of addressing concerns about juvenile delinquency. Dispatched to a remote island, they are each given individual weapons (ranging from Uzis and machetes to pan lids and binoculars), food and water, and the order to go out and kill one other. Every player is fitted with an explosive collar around their neck, imposing a strict three-day time limit on the deadly games in which there can only be one survivor. Overseeing the carnage is ˜Beat' Takeshi Kitano (Sonatine, Hana-bi, Zatoichi) as the teacher pushed to the edge by his unruly charges. Playing like a turbo-charged hybrid of Lord of the Flies and The Most Dangerous Game, the final completed work by veteran yakuza film director Kinji Fukasaku (Battles without Honor and Humanity, Graveyard of Honor) helped launch a new wave of appreciation for Asian cinema in the 21st century. Also included in the set is the incendiary sequel Battle Royale II, the directing debut of Kenta Fukasaku (after his father passed away during production), in which a new class of delinquents are recruited by the government to hunt down the survivor of the deadly games of the first film. 4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS Brand new 4K restoration of the Original Theatrical Version and Special Edition Director's Cut of Battle Royale from the original camera negative by Arrow Films, approved by Kenta Fukasaku 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation of both versions of Battle Royale in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the Battle Royale II: Requiem theatrical cut and the Battle Royale II: Revenge extended cut Original 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 stereo audio Optional English subtitles Original soundtrack CD for Battle Royale [Limited Edition Exclusive] Kinji Fukasaku: Man of Rage, an exclusive 120-page monograph on the director by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes [Limited Edition Exclusive] Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new essays by Matt Alt and Anne Billson and archival articles Exclusive Battle Royale collectors' Trump Card set [Limited Edition Exclusive] Reversible poster with new artwork [Limited Edition Exclusive] DISC ONE BATTLE ROYALE: ORIGINAL THEATRICAL VERSION (4K UHD BLU-RAY) Brand new audio commentary by critics Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp Battle Royale at 20: Back to School, an exclusive new 42-minute documentary about the legacy of Battle Royale Bloody Education: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale, a brand new exclusive interview with the film's producer and screenwriter The Making of Battle Royale: The Experience of 42 High School Students, documentary featuring footage from the shooting of the film and cast and crew discussions The Slaughter of 42 High School Students, a look behind the scenes of the shoot Behind the scenes footage with comments from the cast and crew Filming on Set, a look at the shooting of key scenes from the film Conducting Battle Royale with the Warsaw National Philharmonic, archive footage of Masamichi Amano conducting the soundtrack rehearsal DISC TWO BATTLE ROYALE: SPECIAL EDITION DIRECTOR'S CUT (4K UHD BLU-RAY) Shooting the Special Edition, on-location featurette with footage of the cast and crew reuniting for the shoot of the Special Edition Royale Rehearsals, featurette on Kinji Fukasaku directing the film's young cast Masamichi Amano Conducts Battle Royale, archive featurette Takeshi Kitano Interview, filmed on location with the Japanese star The Correct Way to Fight in Battle Royale, instructional video explaining the rules of the game The Correct Way to Make 'Battle Royale': Birthday Version, a new version of the original instructional video made to celebrate Kinji Fukasaku's birthday Premiere Press Conference, preceding the film's first public screening Tokyo International Film Festival Presentation, with footage from the gala screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival Opening Day at the Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre, archive footage of the Japanese opening Special Effects Comparison showing how the film's violent killings were created Original Trailers and TV spots Kinji Fukasaku trailer reel, a collection of original trailers for Fukasaku's classic yakuza films from the 70s Image Gallery DISC THREE BATTLE ROYALE II: REQUIEM (BLU-RAY) Bloody Graduation: Kenta Fukasaku on Battle Royale II, an exclusive brand new interview with the director and screenwriter of Battle Royale II Behind the Scenes of Battle Royale II, on-location featurette during the film's shoot Rehearsals footage of the auditions and pre-production rehearsals War and Struggle, featurette of the cast discussing their thoughts on war Alternate Piano Scene The Recording of the Music Score, archive footage of Masamichi Amano and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra Opening Gala with The Orchestra, featuring a public introduction by the director and main cast Battle Royale II Premiere, a featurette on the film's first screening at the Marunouchi Toei Movie Theatre Trailers and TV spots Image gallery DISC FOUR BATTLE ROYALE II: REVENGE (BLU-RAY) A Tribute to Kinji Fukasaku, featuring scenes of Kinji Fukasaku on the location of Battle Royale II Kinji Fukasaku's 73rd Birthday: A Speech by Kenta Fukasaku, paying public tribute to his father DISC FIVE BATTLE ROYALE (SOUNDTRACK CD) CD featuring the complete score to Battle Royale by Masamichi Amano and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra

• Red Cliff | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £6.75   |  Saving you £17.24 (255.41%)   |  RRP £23.99

  Directed by John Woo, "Red Cliff" charts the remarkable events leading up to the most famous battle in Chinese history

• Wicked City and Demon City Shinjuku - Double Feature | DVD | (07/12/2020) from £8.90   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  FROM THE DIRECTOR OF NINJA SCROLL AND MADHOUSE STUDIO (DEATH NOTE, ONE PUNCH MAN) The anime cult classic, Wicked City and its notorious sequel, Demon City Shinjuku contained in one epic double feature, remastered in HD for the very first time! It's not unusual for lady-killer Renzaburo Taki to share a night with a woman. When that woman can turn into a demonic spider, however, it's just a little worrying. The demons are on the move, and as a member of the Black Guard, Taki's job, his real job, is to protect the human world from the demon world. And his work is just beginning! A fragile peace exists between the two worlds, brokered by a treaty. In order for the renewal of that treaty to go smoothly, Taki has to protect Giuseppi Mayart, a two hundred year old man with immense spiritual power, from an extremist faction of demons seeking to bring chaos to the two worlds. Worst of all, Taki's assigned a partner for the mission: the unnaturally beautiful Makie, a fellow Black Guard member... and herself a demon! The two will have to go all out to protect the old man, as not only are the demons going to extreme lengths to kill him, but Mayart seems oddly unconcerned for his own safety. Is there more going on than Taki and Makie realise? Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll) blends stylish eroticism, graphic horror and pulse-pounding action as these two race to consummate the peace treaty in time.

• Dragon Ball Super Part 9 (Episodes 105-117) | DVD | (09/12/2019) from £14.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The Tournament of Power rages on. The 2nd Universe's warriors of love are out for blood, Frieza makes his move, and Goku's attention turns to Jiren. Unflinching resolve faces immeasurable power, as Saiyan and Pride Trooper test each other's capabilities. But when Goku's stamina starts to dwindle, can Instinct save him? Time is winding down, fighters are falling out,and the battles are heating up!

• Dragon Ball Gt: Season 2 | DVD | (17/03/2014) from £12.05   |  Saving you £22.94 (190.37%)   |  RRP £34.99

  Goku's final tale! Dragon Ball GT Season 2 includes the Super 17 and Shadow Dragon Sagas - and as a bonus - A Hero's Legacy movie! The destiny of a legendary warrior his long path wrought with peril reaches its apex. The fate of Goku is now tied to that of the world and the most epic toil ever rested on the shoulders of one man has come to be? As one apocalypse is thwarted another looms! Goku's heroic friends fall around him and the warrior must steel his nerve for two evil scientists have created the perfect killing machine: Android 17. As the abomination deals out terror with mechanical precision horrible villains from battles past rise again. Yet even more chaos awaits! The most dangerous power of all time is stirring. The people of Earth have relied upon the power of the Dragon Balls to maintain peace and order but the mystical relics are cracking and from their creeping chasms seven Shadow Dragons are unleashed? Each more deadly than the last! Also includes the epic season finale movie.

• Takeshis' | DVD | (08/03/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Japanese cult anti hero Zatoichi is back in a sword-fighting adventure written, directed and starring Takeshi Kitano.

• Violent Cop | DVD | (27/12/2001) from £9.94   |  Saving you £0.05 (0.50%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Violent Cop ("Sono otoko kyobo ni tsuki") is the first film directed by Takeshi "Beat" Kitano, the Japanese star who began as a stand-up comedian on television. It's a Dirty Harry-type tale of a cop whose overly muscular methods are disapproved of by his superiors. When his partner is killed by the local Mr Big, Azuma (Kitano) goes into action, along with a new sidekick he initiates into the ways of the world. Dismissed from the force, Azuma carries on his one-man campaign, despite his sister's being forcibly drugged and raped by the gang. The violence is graphic, but what's most engaging about the film is Kitano's acting. He's an unlikely hero with his bow-legged walk and the face of a punch-drunk boxer, but his low-key style, a counterpart to the explosive violence, is always cool and it's easy to see why he's such a cult figure.--Ed Buscombe

• Battle Royale - Two Disc Special Edition | DVD | (23/02/2004) from £6.63   |  Saving you £13.36 (201.51%)   |  RRP £19.99

  This ultra violent satire from Japan tells of 42 teenagers taken to a remote island where they are told that if they wish to survive they must kill all of the others!

• Battle Royale | DVD | (03/10/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  This ultra violent satire from Japan tells of 42 teenagers taken to a remote island where they are told that if they wish to survive they must kill all of the others!

• Dragon Ball Super Part 3 (Episodes 27-39) Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (04/06/2018) from £16.09   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  After a startling meeting with Beerus brother Champa goes sideways, the godly brothers decide to settle their differences in the best way possible: by putting their best fighters to the test. It's a battle of universes as Universe 7 the home of Goku and the Z Fighters faces Universe 6 in a brand-new Martial Arts Tournament! And the ultimate prize is one worth fighting for the Super Dragon Balls from Universe 6. Can Goku gather the best fighters for a chance at true glory? And who is the mysterious Monaka that Beerus boasts as his strongest warrior? Get ready for an out-of-this-world competition!

• Dragon Ball Super Part 4 Blu-ray (Episodes 40-52) Blu-ray | Blu Ray | (06/08/2018) from £21.85   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The universe versus universe tournament finally has it winner with it, a chance to wish on the Super Dragon Balls! But are they really going to wish something like that?! Then, after an unexpected visit to a bizarre planet, a sudden SOS from the future arrives in the form of Future Trunks! What horror plagues his timeline, and can the Z Fighters face a foe that looks exactly like Goku?

• Ozu Collection - The Gangster Films (2-DVD) | DVD | (18/03/2013) from £21.99   |  Saving you £8.00 (36.38%)   |  RRP £29.99

  The latest volume in the BFI's ongoing releases of the works of Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu focuses on his crime films. These rare, silent works mix the thrills of western filmmaking with compositions that served as a forerunner to his renowned, mature, post-war style. All films are here presented with newly commissioned scores by Ed Hughes. Episode Comprise: Walk Cheerfully That Night's Wife Dragnet Girl Special Features: The only surviving fragment of A Straightforward Boy