Review for Battles Without Honour and Humanity - The Complete Collection

This luxurious set looks to be the definitive release for this genre defining series of Yakuza films, arguably Japan’s answer to Coppolla’s ‘The Godfather’. Although that film may have inspired the backers of the series, there is no doubt that this is way more than mere homage; highly original on release and using a pseudo-documentary, loose and often hand-held camera to add to their gritty realism, despite their vintage, they certainly pack a punch today.



Comprising five films, the ‘Battles’ series was all shot and released within a two year period, unprecedented for such major movies. Even the original ‘Planet of the Apes’ series, released at around the same time, took four years to complete the five films of the series. Perhaps it was the film’s overwhelming commercial success in Japan that drove the series on so quickly.

Kinji Fukasaku (who completed ‘Battle Royale’ and its follow up before passing away in 2003) was already a successful Director who had, for the most part, specialised in gangster/yakuza films to this point (‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’ being the only notable exception). But ‘Battles’ was the first to adopt an all new, hyper-gritty style, perhaps influenced by the emergence of low-budget Blaxploitation films from the US. The films avoided the usual casting of handsome idols in favour of more realistic gangsters. The storylines were less ‘good versus evil’ too, showing the heroes to be less than perfect and reflecting the cold reality of gang crime of the day. The film’s vast cast of characters and narrative strings, whilst potentially confusing, showed a revitalised and more sophisticated approach to film-making that moved away from the very singular gangster films of the past.



The first of the series, which broke the mould and paved the way for its sequels, is a highly violent and complex work that, over the course of the saga, ends up pulling together a large number of interconnecting narrative strands. For my part, watching the films for the first time, it took me a while to really lock into the story and, like one of those magic pictures, patience pays off and it really comes together. So much so that, like the best box-sets, you’ll find yourself wanting to get on with the next film before the end-credits have fully run on the previous one.

Now affectionately known collectively as ‘The Yakuza Papers’, the films collectively cover thirty years of gang history in a single, Godfather like saga. Starting during the chaos and lawlessness of the immediate post-war period in Japan, gangs are drawing up the lines of ownership, often requiring their respective members to follow highly formalised rituals and perform gruesome tasks to show their utter dedication to the gangs they are a part of.

Apparently, the tales were based to a large degree on true stories and it’s easy to believe, despite their extreme violence.

Apparently the 13 disc box set is only available in limited quantities so it may be that, by the time I post this review, that they’ll be long gone but I believe you can (or will be able to) purchase each of the films on Blu-Ray separately. For the record, this review is not for the set as a whole as I only had access to the five films (and respective extras) on five Blu-Rays, but these are without doubt the key ingredients.

BATTLES WITHOUT HONOR AND HUMANITY (DISCS 1 & 2)

Shozo Hirono (Bunta Sugawara) is an ex-soldier who, keen to find gainful employment and purpose after his war years, volunteers to kill someone that other cowardly gang members are nervous to do.

Following a period in jail, he meets a Yakuza boss who he helps escape. Recognising him as an honourable and worthy man, the boss seeks him out on release and offers him a ‘job’ among his gang, which Shozo gladly accepts. However, it soon transpires that his presence is not welcomed by all and before long rivals within the gang poison his credibility with the boss, throwing his loyalty into question. Which is when the arguing and violence starts. Shozo’s parole means he has to stay in Hiroshima which really limits his opportunity within the gang, which operates all over Japan. But he is a man determined to do whatever it takes and respect for the law doesn’t rate highly.

The disc comes with a brand new audio commentary by critic and author Stuart Galbraith IV which is actually excellent. His observations are really useful and help highlight some of the things I missed first time through; like just how many violent crimes are committed in the first 120 seconds of the film.

There is also a new with Takashi Miike about Kinji Fukasaku and the yakuza film genre; he’s always great value and clearly was heavily influenced by the series. Finally, you’ll find trailers for all five films here as well.

HIROSHIMA DEATH MATCH (DISCS 3 & 4)

The second instalment is actually the only one of the five films which doesn’t focus on Bunta Sugawara's character Shozo Hirono. Instead it traces the rise and fall of Shoji Yamanaka played by Kinya Kitaoji. It’s now 1950 and Shoji Yamanaka, who has a fight at a card game and stabs several men, is sentenced to two years in jail. It’s there that he meets Shozo briefly (hence the connect).
Once released, he gets involved in another fight before being invited to join the local yakuza which he gladly does. After being caught with one of the gang’s widows, he is chased out of Hiroshima but returns after he performs an assassination for the yakuza family he was staying with. As a result he is welcomed back into the fold. But it’s not long until gang rivalries rear their head and the families are soon at war; with each other and between their own ranks.

From there it gets bloody and very complex – this being the most complex narrative by far. You’ll really have to stay alert to follow this one, or maybe even give it a second watch before moving on!
Extras on the disc comprise a trailer and a new interview with the series fight choreographer, Ryuzo Ueno.


PROXY WAR (DISCS 5 & 6)

It’s now 1960 and, due to improved policing, the Yakuza clans allow more junior ‘staff’ to settle conflicts at a lower level. In other words, ‘Proxies’ do the fighting while the masters remain scot-free.

When Shozo realizes that he’s being set up as a pawn in a proxy war, he makes alternate plans of his own. After all, he’s no one’s puppet. There follows much switching of allegiances, back-biting, in-fighting and outright skull-duggery.

Extra features include:

• Secrets of the Piranha Army – a new documentary about the troupe of supporting actors who appeared throughout the series, featuring interviews with original Piranha members Masaru Shiga and Takashi Noguchi, plus second-generation Piranha, Takashi Nishina and Akira Murota

• Tales of a Bit Player – a new interview with supporting actor and stuntman Seizo Fukumoto

• Original Trailer

POLICE TACTICS (DISCS 7 & 8)



It’s now 1963 and the police crackdown on yakuza activities nationwide due to public outcry and in preparation for the upcoming 1964 Summer Olympics. But the war between the Yamamori family and Shinwa Group versus the Uchimoto, Hirono, and Akashi families wages on. The police come under more pressure when an innocent ‘civilian’ is caught in the cross-fire and the press start to photograph and report various yakuza brawls.

Despite their best efforts, the gang fighting continues unabated with a myriad of double-crossings and gang killings. Finally the police manage to arrest a number of the yakuza including Hirono himself.

Extra disc features include:

• Remembering Kinji – a new featurette about director Kinji Fukasaku and his work, featuring interviews with Kenta Fukasaku and film critic and Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane

• Fukasaku Family – a new interview with Proxy War and Police Tactics assistant director Toru Dobashi

• Original Trailer

FINAL EPISODE (DISCS 9 & 10)



Following the previous film, Shozo Hirono is serving seven years in prison and Akira Takeda was released from prison on a technicality, leaving to re-invent the Hiroshima yakuza gang into a so-called ‘political party’ where Takeda is leader. What follows is a bloody battle, Yakuza style, for leadership with Hirono, once released, determined not to retire just to please Takeda. Much violence ensues before, at the end of the film, we learn that both accept it’s time to give up and let the next generation run things.

Special features include:

• Last Days of the Boss – a new interview with Final Episode screenwriter Koji Takada

• Original poster gallery for the series

• Original Trailer
Although I haven’t seen the following, they are included in the box-set so I have listed them here without further comment.

THE COMPLETE SAGA (DISCS 11, 12 & 13) [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]• English-subtitled premiere of the 224-minute compilation edition of the first four films, previously screened only as part of a limited Japanese theatrical release in 1980 and on the Toei cable channel
• Introduction by Complete Saga editorial supervisor Toru Dobashi

THE YAKUZA PAPERS [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]

• 152-page hardback book featuring writing on the history of the yakuza film genre, including a newly-reprinted and fully annotated edition of Paul Schrader’s classic 1974 Film Comment essay Yakuza-Eiga: A Primer, a new, exclusive English translation of screenwriter Kazuo Kasahara’s 1974 Scenario magazine essay on his writing process for the first four films, as well as new essays and interviews from Chris D., Grady Hendrix, Patrick Macias, Tom Mes, Mark Schilling, and Jasper Sharp

Blu-Ray image quality is good, if unspectacular, throughout, probably reflecting the reality of the grittily shot source material, replete with a natural grain so prevalent as a grading style in the early 1970’s. Audio is fine and subtitles clear.

‘Battles without Honor and Humanity’ will appeal, not only to fans of seventies Japanese yakuza movies, but anyone prepared to immerse themselves fully into a long, violent but ultimately fantastic saga which arguably sits in pride of place aside Coppola’s ‘Godfather’ trilogy. Being an Arrow release, it comes packed with brilliant contextual features and extras which make it an attractive and aesthetically pleasing package which many will want to add to their collections.
Whilst complex and multi-layered (tough to summarise here) it rewards an attentive viewing and I’m sure will get better with consequent watches. I’ll certainly be giving it another spin soon.