Written by: Michael Den Boer on December 4th, 2007
Theatrical Release Dates: Japan, 1973
Director: Kôzaburo Yoshimura
Cast: Rika Aoki, Jiro Kawarasaki, Taui Tonoyama, Kotoe Hatsui, Reiko Kasahara, Masami Souda, Yoshie Ichige, Eiko Fukazawa, Shoji Oki
DVD released: December 18th, 2007
Approximate running time: 85 minutes
Rating: NR
DVD Release:
Exploitation Digital
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: $29.95
Synopsis: Rica is in reform school once again uncovers a sex slave organization which sells the more trouble delinquents to the highest bidders. Rica’s friends June who also happens to be a half-breed was kidnapped and sold by the same sons of bitches who Rica and here new friends just narrowly escaped. Will Rica with the help of her new posse of girls be able to rescue June and put a end to the sex slave organization?
Rica 3 Juvenile’s Lullaby is the third and final installment in the Rica trilogy. Story wise it is closer to the more to the first Rica film then the second film Lonely Wanderer. Actress Rika Aoki returns in the film’s title role and this time around she looks more confident than ever as Rika. The fight scenes are all inventive and not rehashes from previous films in the series. Some of the more memorable moments in the film are when Rica is tied down arms and legs with ropes and then a tug of war with her four limbs ensues or when a some thugs who have been hassle her throughout the movie finally got her cornered so she agrees to sleep with them. Little do they know that she has other plans and gains the upper hand once again!
One thing that stand out in Rica 3 is the amount of comedy and unlike the two previous films which mostly played things pretty straight and narrow a lot of what happens in the film is resolved in kind of childish ways. Also this film is the only one in the series directed by Kôzaburo Yoshimura while the previous two films had the same director Kô Nakahira. Rica 3 is the most action packed of the three adventures and its finale is one of the most spectacular in the whole series. Ultimately Rica 3 Juvenile’s Lullaby is the second best film in the series and a satisfying conclusion to the Rica trilogy.
- 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
- Shot on 35mm
- Transfer is Progressive
Audio:
- Dolby Digital Mono Japanese with English subtitles
Extras:
- Trailers for Rica, Rica: Lonely Wanderer and Rica: Juvenile’s Lullaby
- Photo gallery (12 stills)
- Trailers for other Exploitation Digital titles
Overall:
The video presentation for Rica 3 three is colorful, detailed and at times grainy. There are no problems with compression, artifacts and print damage is very minor. The audio while not explosive is more than adequate as dialog, music and effects sound evenly balanced and at times dynamic. Removable English subtitles have been included that are error free, easy to read and follow. The extras for this one are light are limited to a still gallery and trailers. Media Blasters gives Rica 3 Juvenile’s Lullaby solid DVD release which is on par with their previous two entries in the series Rica and Rica 2 Lonely Wanderer.