The Executioner

The Executioner

DVD released: April 2002
Approximate running time: 85 minutes
Aspect ratio: (2.35:1)
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Mono
DVD Release: Crash Cinema
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $14.95

Reviewed by:
Ian Jane on April 26, 2002

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The Film

Sonny Chiba (The Street Fighter, Storm Riders) stars with Yasuaki Kurata (Fist of Legend) in this classic Japanese action movie directed by Teruo Ishii (Street Fighter’s Last Revenge). The plot is pretty basic – the Japanese police just haven’t been able to take down an international drug smuggling ring causing trouble in Tokyo, so a former narcotics agent takes it upon himself to bring together a group of ex-cons to put a stop to their menacing ways. One by one, the group assassinates key members of the smuggling ring until it comes down to the final showdown, a 30 minute brawl that takes us from the bad guys’ secret hide out in the mountains and climaxes on the cliffs near the ocean and somehow manages to combine a car chase, a cliff climbing scene, and an out-and-out street brawl with some great martial arts scenes. Statues are thrown over heads, street signs are torn out of the ground and used as clubs, and grappling hooks are thrown into body parts as Chiba and what’s left of his crew punch, kick, and maim their way through evil.

Full of odd costumes, insanely violent fight scenes, car chases and pointless nudity, The Executioner is everything that you’d expect from a prime Chiba film. Not surprisingly, the plot really is secondary in this picture, and it’s pretty much an excuse for Chiba to beat his way across the screen for an hour and a half (and he does a phenomenal job at it).

Part of Chiba’s appeal lies in his fighting style. Most movie fans are accustomed to seeing various, more graceful, forms of Kung-Fu on the big screen thanks to the likes of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, but Chiba’s fighting style, a form of Karate, is much more savage and brutal, and it’s well demonstrated in this movie, where he’s ripping out pieces of rib cage and punching eyes out of sockets, while still managing to find time with a lady or two.

Granted, the movie is pretty dated in certain areas, especially the fashions and the soundtrack, but that’s part of its charm. Yet Chiba remains the composite bad ass, even when decked out in a white leisure suit with a mesh holster underneath. Not too many leading men can pull that off.

Video	1.5/5

The film is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2:35:1. The quality of the print used is all over the place, but for the most part, it’s grainy, spotty, and of generally poor quality throughout. There are scenes where there is so much degradation to the picture that it actually looks like it’s raining. It’s unfortunate that there was apparently no restoration done to the movie, because it sorely needs it. However, it is watch able and only really severe in about 10 minutes worth of the movie, and at least it’s original aspect ratio.

Audio	2/5

The sound is presented on the DVD in Dolby Mono. It’s marginally better than the video, as there are hisses and pops all through the film but at least it’s audible throughout and with a few exceptions, the dialogue is fairly clean. Again, it’s a shame that this wasn’t cleaned up, as it’s got a great 70s soundtrack, complete with porno movie guitar riffs and ‘wah-wah’ noises. Unfortunately, it’s dubbed in English and there is no option to watch it in its original language.

Extras	0/5

Nothing except chapter stops, a small animation on the menu, and an insert with the chapter stops listed on it. Crash Cinema should have at least put the trailer on here, and how hard would it have been to put a short text bio on Chiba on the disc, or maybe a filmography? Even Diamond put those on their Street Fighter double feature sets.

Overall	2.5/5

While I’m glad to see that Crash Cinema has released this and that it’s actually out on DVD, The Executioner is a classic action movie starring a literal living legend that deserves a lot more respect than it’s been given on this release. Still, even in rough shape, it’s a lot of fun, and required viewing for Chiba fans and martial arts movie fans alike.

Film Rating

DVD Rating

Director:

Teruo Ishii

Film: