Doberman Cop

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Banasa
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:35 am

Doberman Cop

#1 Post by Banasa » Fri Mar 17, 2017 11:57 am

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Released just as the popularity of yakuza movies was waning in Japan, and as the country's film industry was undergoing some fundamental shifts, Doberman Cop is a unique entry in the career of director Kinji Fukasaku (Battles Without Honor and Humanity, Cops vs Thugs), and reunited him with star Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba (The Street Fighter, Wolf Guy) in an American-style crime movie that mixes gunplay and pulp fiction with martial arts and lowbrow comedy to create one of their most entertaining films.

Based on a popular manga by "Buronson" (creator of Fist of the North Star), Doberman Cop follows the fish-out-of-water adventures of Joji Kano (Chiba), a tough-as-nails police officer from Okinawa who arrives in Tokyo's Kabuki-cho nightlife district to investigate the savage murder and mutilation of an island girl who had been working as a prostitute. Initially dismissed as a country bumpkin (complete with straw hat and live pig in tow!), Kano soon proves himself a more savvy detective than the local cops, and a tougher customer than anyone expected. As he probes deeper into the sleazy world of flesh-peddling, talent agency corruption and mob influence, Kano uncovers the shocking truth about the girl, her connection to a yakuza-turned-music manager (Hiroki Matsukata), and a savage serial killer who is burning women alive.

Made to appeal both to the youth market with its biker gangs and popular music, as well as to old-time yakuza movie fans, Doberman Cop is an surprising oddity in Fukasaku's career, his sole film adapted directly from a manga and never before released on video outside of Japan. Featuring Chiba at his charismatic best — channeling a Japanese Dirty Harry while doing all his own stunts — and Fukasaku at his most fun, deftly showcasing the combined talents of his "Piranha Army" stock company of actors and other regular players — Doberman Cop is a classic action comedy and a missing link in 1970's Japanese cinema deserving of rediscovery.

High Definition digital transfer
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
Original uncompressed mono audio
Optional English subtitles
Beyond the Film: Doberman Cop, a new video appreciation by Fukasaku biographer Sadao Yamane
New video interview with actor Shinichi "Sonny" Chiba
New video interview with screenwriter Koji Takada
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s book featuring new writing on the films by Patrick Macias

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The Elegant Dandy Fop
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 3:25 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Doberman Cop

#2 Post by The Elegant Dandy Fop » Fri Mar 17, 2017 5:02 pm

I saw a bootleg of this years ago when I was going through the Kinji Fukasaku catalog. This ended up being one of my favorites and found it to be a tremendous amount of fun. Its constantly high energy and frenetic with whip pans, handheld photography, screaming voices, graphic violence and those beautiful 70s zooms that make this feel like a manga come to life. Also, the opening theme song is an incredible bit of Japanese funk cut to Sonny Chiba walking around Tokyo with a pig in his arms. Great stuff and will be an exciting release.

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Banasa
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:35 am

Re: Doberman Cop

#3 Post by Banasa » Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:14 am


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zedz
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm

Re: Doberman Cop

#4 Post by zedz » Sun May 03, 2020 8:00 pm

A more successful Fukasaku film for me than Street Mobster, owing to a more interesting plot (involving both a sadistic serial killer and a TV talent show that compete with one another as red herrings) and a better balance of the director’s trademark chaotic energy and the necessary exposition. Sonny Chiba is also memorable as the bumpkin cop (he’s from Okinawa! [canned laughter]) who arrives in Tokyo not only wearing a straw hat, but carrying a pig under his arm.

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