Plot: What’s it about?
After his success in a high profile karate tournament, Masutatsu Oyama (Sonny Chiba) has become a target for those seeking to prove themselves. He was able to best not only the rage of a charging bull, but a field of gifted martial artists, to shine as the best. So if someone were able to defeat him, that would put them in his place, as an instant master. Under so much pressure, he soon cracks and hits hard times, though he rekindles an old friendship. His friend is Kimura, a man he served in the military with and is now involved in the underground, a place Oyama will soon be a part of also. Kimura offers him the chance to join in and he accepts, even making some new friends in the process. Then the head of a rival school strikes out at Oyama, killing his friends and leaving him with few options. His first action to exact revenge upon the man responsible, which leads him to Hokkaido. There he also finds a young boy named Rinato, who is stricken with cancer. The medical bills are immense and with no income, he is certain to suffer. Oyama has a plan however, as he will fight a vicious bear and with the money raised, help Rinato and his father. As he faces off with this powerful beast, will his karate skills be enough, or will this prove to be his final battle?
So you’ve seen Sonny Chiba kick ass in Karate Bullfighter, right? Now we move on to the second installment in his trilogy of tribute to Masutatsu Oyama, Karate Bearfighter. The previous film was a mixture of action and drama, as a lot of exposition was involved. This time around, the notch is turned more to the action side and that means a lot more ass to kick. As usual, Chiba is up to the task and hands out beatings with grand style, though he isn’t up against just karate in this picture. No, Chiba has to take on thugs with blades and yes, even guns, though of course, he isn’t worried. The fight scenes are the main attraction and in Karate Bearfighter, we can take in some awesome ones, even by Chiba’s high standards. The action is fluid and well handled, with a much more polished and potent presence than in Karate Bullfighter. A little more attention to detail perhaps, but for whatever reason, the bones crunch harder in this one. And yes, in case you’re curious, Chiba does step toe to toe with a bear, so the title makes sense after all. Chiba’s costars are a better assortment here also, which is another reason why this is so good, though as I said, action is still the center of attention. Karate Bullfighter was a kick ass movie, no question, but Chiba raises the ante with this sequel. Adness scores again with this disc too, so Chiba fans and anyone with an interest in martial arts cinema will be interested.
Video: How does it look?
Karate Bearfighter is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. As has become the standard for Adness releases, this movie looks excellent. I have suffered through full frame, third generation level editions for quite a while, but that trend stops here. What could have been another rehashed treatment turns out to be a revelation, as we have a brand new, gorgeous visual presentation. In addition to being in the proper aspect ratio, this version boasts a print that is so clean, fans will be shocked. There is some grain, but only in natural doses, while debris is minimal at worst. So the image is clean and very sharp, which brings the visuals to life like never before, a real treat for longtime fans. The colors look bright in most scenes, while contrast is smooth and consistent, with no flaws to mention. I am thrilled with this new transfer, as Adness has come through and then some, so fans should be more than excited about future releases.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is pitch perfect in line with that of Karate Bullfighter, so to save some keystrokes, I have ported over those comments. The original mono soundtrack is presented here, in the original Japanese language, so purist fans will be pleased to no end. But Adness has also supplied a brand new Dolby Digital 5.1 option, which truth be told, isn’t as bad as expected. As the mono source isn’t prime for audio dynamite, I had some doubts, but the remix doesn’t turn out to be a total loss. There is some movement in the surrounds, ever so limited, but what is there does enhance the experience somewhat. There is a thin texture at times, but for a mono track stretched out to 5.1 surround, this is a more than solid soundtrack. The mono option is more than passable also, though of course, lacks the overall presence. In case you need to brush up on your Japanese, Adness has included optional English subtitles, so don’t overlook those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s trailer.
