After several years spent working almost exclusively in the direct-to-video world of V-cinema in Japan, Takashi Miike announced himself as a world-class filmmaking talent with this trio of thematically-connected, character-centric crime stories about violence, the underworld of Japanese society, families both real and surrogate, and the possibly hopeless task of finding one's place in the world. His first films made specifically for theatrical release, and his first for a major studio, the Black Society Trilogy was the beginning of Miike's mature career as a filmmaker... and they remain among the prolific director's finest works. Set in the bustling Kabuki-cho nightlife neighborhood of Tokyo, Shinjuku Triad Society follows a mixed-race cop (Kippei Shiina, Outrage) struggling with private issues while hunting a psychotic criminal (Tomorowo Taguchi, Tetsuo the Iron Man) who traffics in children's organs. Rainy Dog, shot entirely in Taiwan, is about an exiled yakuza (Dead or Alive's Show Aikawa) who finds himself saddled with a son he never knew he had and a price on his head after the Chinese gang he works for decides to turn on him. Ley Lines moves from the countryside to the city and back, as three Japanese youths of Chinese descent (including The Raid 2's Kazuki Kitamura) seek their fortune in Tokyo, only to run afoul of a violent gang boss (Naoto Takenaka, The Happiness of the Katakuris). Three of the most dramatically moving films created by the director, the Black Society Trilogy offers clear proof that Miike's frequent pigeonholing as a specialist in bloody spectacle is only one aspect of his filmmaking career, and taken as a whole, the films are among the finest works ever to deal with the way violence and brutality can unexpectedly destroy even the most innocent of lives. SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: High Definition digital transfers of all three films Original uncompressed stereo audio Optional English subtitles for all three films New interview with director Takashi Miike New interview with actor Show Aikawa (Rainy Dog, Ley Lines) New audio commentaries for all three films by Miike biographer Tom Mes Original theatrical trailers for all three films Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector s booklet featuring new writing on the films [show more]
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Triple bill of Japanese crime dramas directed by Takashi Miike. In 'Shinjuku Triad Society' (1995), when the Dragon's Claw gang from Taiwan attempts a take-over of the dope, extortion and prostitution rackets run by the ruling Japanese Yakuza, a lone cop predicts carnage. In a crusade against the gangs, the cop single-handedly attempts to stem the growing tide of violence. But, when he discovers that the cop's younger brother is in fact the lover of one of the gang leaders, chaos ensues. 'Rainy Dog' (1997) follows Yuuji (Shô Aikawa), a Japanese mobster holed up in Taipei working as a hitman for a Triad boss. Added to this complicated existence is the fact that his ex-wife has just dumped a young boy on his doorstep. As Yuuji continues to do business as usual, only a final, brutal shoot-out will bring him and the boy closer together. Finally, in 'Ley Lines' (1999), three boys attracted by the excitement of Tokyo city find themselves caught up in the notorious Shinjuku district and a gangster lifestyle they can't escape. Before long they find themselves on the wrong side of the local crime lord and start fearing for their lives.
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