Written by: Michael Den Boer on October 2nd, 2004
| Theatrical Release Date: Japan, February 15th, 1975 Director: Kinji Fukasaku Writer: Tatsuhiko Kamoi, Fumio Konami, Hiro Matsuda Cast:Tetsuya Watari, Tatsuo Umemiya, Yumi Takigawa, Eiji Go |
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| DVD released: | 2003 | 2004 |
| Approximate running time: | 93 minutes | 93 minutes |
| Aspect Ratio: | 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen | 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen |
| Rating: | 18 | NR |
| Sound: | Dolby Digital Mono Japanese | Dolby Digital Mono Japanese |
| DVD Release: | Eureka Video | Home Vision |
| Region Coding: | Region 2 Pal | Region 1 NTSC |
| Retail Price: | $24.95 | $29.95 |
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Eureka’s Region 2 DVD
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Home Vision’s Region 1 DVD
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The Film :
Graveyard of Honor is loosely based on the life of Rikio Ishikawa an infamous member of the Yakuza. The film takes place in post world war two in Japan and Ishikawa’s (Tetsuya Watari) violent outbursts leads to him going to jail. When he is released his gang banishes him to Osaka for a period of ten years in which he is not to return to Tokyo during this time. He quickly gets bored with Osaka and by this time he has developed a drug habit so he returns to Tokyo. To uncontrollable for his own good he betrays his boss once again which lead to him going back to prison.
Video:
Home Visions release has excellent detail and vivid colors with natural flesh tones throughout. While Eureka’s release suffers from a softer picture with faded colors and more grain is present. Another thing about Eureka’s release is that is suffers from over scan. Home Vision obviously had better materials to work with and their transfer is makes Eureka’s look like a budget release.
Audio:
Both releases come with a Dolby Digital mono Japanese audio track and English subtitles that are easy to read and follow. Both releases audio tracks are clean and free of any hiss or distortion. Home Vision subtitles are more accurate then Eureka’s.
Extras:
Eureka’s DVD is essentially a bare bones release that includes some minor extras like a photo gallery and a profile for Kinji Fukasaku. Home Visions release is the better of the two releases in the extras department. Extras include Graveyard of Honor original trailer and trailers for the The Yakuza Papers (Volumes 1-5), Graveyard of Honor and HVe Zatoichi Trailer. Tom Mes author of Agitator: The cinema of Takashi Miike provides liner notes for this release are insightful and informative. Rounding out the extras is two featurette’s, A Portrait of Rage which runs about twenty minutes in length and On The Set With Fukasaku a five-minute segment with Kenichi Oguri who was the assistant director on Graveyard of Honor.
Overall:
Home Visions release Graveyard of Honor beats Eureka’s release in every way except they are on par in the audio department. If you own the Eureka’s release it is time for you to retire that DVD and upgrade to the superior Home Vision Graveyard of Honor DVD.