Plot: What’s it about?
Shion (Makiko Kuno) is the most merciless assassin of the Magnificat, a notorious crime syndicate. As the Magnificat have numerous hitmen in their organization, to be the best is an honor and Shion is the obvious best of the bunch. But Shion is not the usual assassin, as she is a woman and a stunning one at that. She uses her gorgeous body and beautiful face to her advantage, to lull her enemies and get close to her targets. Of course, she never really gets close herself, as she is cold and only pretends to be interested, so that she can execute her orders. Her ice cold nature make her a perfect assassin, as she can kill without remorse and is so skilled at her trade, even the most difficult targets are downed with ease. But as cold as she seems, there is a heart that beats inside of her and she has intense emotions. Her work is just that to her, a way to turn in needed funds, but in her personal life, she is not a cold person. This careful balance is hard to keep in check, but if anyone can make it work, it is Shion. When that balance is thrown off however, she finds herself in the middle of an explosive situation. She is close to the mob bosses she works for, as they have been her family at times, but her latest mission is her most difficult. She has been assigned to murder the man she loves, but can even she carry out such a mission?
This is the kind of movie we’ve seen before, at least in terms of the basic storyline, but Beautiful Hunter is no rerun. The premise is simple and one we have seen numerous times, but the details have been changed beyond belief, making for a fresh experience. If you’ve seen other films in this special “Beautiful” line, such as Beautiful Killing Machine or Beautiful Beast, then you have a good idea of what to expect here. The tone is dark and pretty out there, as a lot of weird situations and characters surface in Beautiful Hunter. There is a camp level to some of the stuff here, but the tone remains serious at all times, so don’t expect a lot of laughs. You might laugh in a few scenes, but more because of the outlandish events, as opposed to actual humor. As with the other “Beautiful” movies, this one has ample doses of violence, blood, and naked women, as well as some decent gun battles to spice up the experience. This is not a blood soaked massacre, but there is a good deal of violence involved. On the sex side, a lot of flesh is on showcase and in one memorable sequence, an electric device is attached to a woman’s genitals. The result is chaos in action, as we have no idea if she is in pain or having the time of her life. The entertainment level is solid with Beautiful Hunter, so if you like offbeat cinema, then check it out.
Video: How does it look?
Beautiful Hunter is presented in full frame, as intended. This was a shot on video project, which yields a less than impressive presentation. The print looks good, with no real debris or grain, but the visuals still have a soft presence. This is because of the nature of shooting on video, which makes it tough to come down on this transfer. After all, Central Park had limited source material to work with, so the margin for improvement was slim. You’ll see some jagged edges and shimmer spots, but not enough to ruin the experience. If you’ve seen these kind of Asian shot on video movies before, then you know about what to expect. The colors and contrast look acceptable, but aren’t quite up the usual DVD standard. The overall result is about par for this kind of production, which is about all we can ask.
Audio: How does it sound?
You’ll find dual language tracks have been included here, as the original Japanese soundtrack is joined by an English dub option. As always, I recommend the original language and with good reason, as dubs almost always lose the intended texture of the material. I know subtitles aren’t perfect either, but at least you hear the dialogue as intended, instead of via some haphazard voice talent crew. The dialogue is well placed and never hard to understand, while the music & sound effects are also well presented. You won’t be dazzled here, but the material is covered and that’s what counts. This disc also includes optional English subtitles, so even if you don’t speak Japanese, you’re covered here.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a trivia game, some character bios, and the film’s trailer.
