Sailor Suit and the Machine Gun (1981) {Arrow Video Blu-ray Review}

Reviewed by Jason Lockard

Arrow Video have been given foreign movie fans releases to rejoice in. Recent Japanese Blu-rays releases include The Snake Girl and The Silver-Haired Witch, Yokai Monsters Collection, and The Invisible Man Appears.  

Now the latest Arrow Video Blu-ray to get a review here on Classic Cinema Plus is 1981's Yakuza Action film the Sailor Suit and the Machine Gun.

The film follows a high-schooler Izumi Hoshi an innocent young girl who forced to grow up fast when her father dies and she takes over as the boss of the yakuza clan. Plucked from the security of her classroom and thrust into the heart of the criminal underworld. Now she must come to terms with the fact that her actions hold the key to the life or death.

The story is very unique one. It tries to be a light-hearted tale of the violent world of organized crime and a little girl in charge of one of the most violent groups in the city. But for me it fell a little flat.

On this Blu-ray release their is both the original theatrical and longer complete versions of this film. The films are presented in 1080p from a restored Kadokawa Pictures 4K scan from the original negative. It is complete with the original uncompressed Japanese mono and the 5.1 audio options. Now if you don't speak Japanese, no worries there is the option English subtitles.

This 4k scan looks and sound stunning there is no signs of damage to this print. Fans of Japanese cinema are going to love the looks of this transfer. But Arrow Video never gives the fans a bare bones release. Check out the bonus features included in this release.

• Girls, Guns and Gangsters: Shinji Somai & Sailor Suit & Machine Gun, an exclusive new 50-minute documentary featuring actor Akira Emoto, film scholar Chika Kinoshita, Somai biographer Tatsuya Kimura and Sailor Suit assistant director Koji Enokido discussing the making of the film, its director and its legacy.

• Original Trailers and TV spots for both versions

• Image Gallery

• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Michael Lomon
  

Now I have to say this release is not going to be for everyone. Even though this is a satire there is a good amount of adult content and violence. Plus organized crime films are a very niche audience.

If you love Japanese cinema or Yakuza films this Arrow Video Blu-ray of Sailor Suit and the Machine Gun is going to be right up your alley. You can order a copy of this Blu-ray by heading over to Amazon.com today.


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