Stray Dog - Criterion Collection
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Stray Dog
  • could any other 'missing gun' movie better than this one?
  • This should be hackneyed by now
  • To Make A Mends
  • EARLY KUROSAWA: FORETELLS HIS CINEMATIC TALENT
Stray Dog - Criterion Collection
Starring: Toshirô Mifune , Takashi Shimura , Keiko Awaji , Eiko Miyoshi , and Noriko Sengoku
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001UZZSG
Release Date: 2004-05-25

Amazon.com essential video

A classic crime film steeped in the vivid environs of postwar Tokyo, Stray Dog is arguably Akira Kurosawa's finest film preceding the international success of Rashomon. A classic theme--the identification between criminal and crime fighter--is presented here in one of its earliest incarnations, as a promising young detective (Toshiro Mifune) struggles to retrieve his stolen pistol. The missing gun is used in a robbery and murder, and Mifune's superior (Ikiru's Takashi Shimura) is caught in the case's volatile crossfire. As the detective closes in on his lethal alter ego, his own moral compass spins out of control, into a psychological tempest that inspires Mifune to give one of his best early performances. Using real locations and a sense of sweltering heat rivaled only by Do the Right Thing, Kurosawa (who first wrote this film as an unpublished novel inspired by an actual incident) maintains an atmosphere of lurid urgency perfectly suited to this riveting film noir scenario. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A bad day gets worse for young detective Murakami (Toshiro Mifune) when a pickpocket steals his gun on a hot, crowded bus. Desperate to right the wrong, he goes undercover, scavenging Tokyo's sweltering streets for the stray dog whose desperation has led him to a life of crime. With each step, cop and criminal's lives become more intertwined and the investigation becomes an examination of Murakami's own dark side. Stray Dog goes beyond a crime thriller, probing the squalid world of postwar Japan and the nature of the criminal mind. The disc also includes an audio commentary by scholar Stephen Prince, a booklet of essays, and a 32-minute documentary on the making of the film.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Stray Dog.......2007-06-25

Landmark, atmospheric Japanese noir helped cement Kurosawa's reputation as a director to watch. Not only is "Dog" a satisfying thriller, it exposes the thin line between a vengeful cop and his base and desperate prey. Superb film also fascinates in capturing a scarred Tokyo in the wake of the Second War.

5 out of 5 stars could any other 'missing gun' movie better than this one?.......2007-05-18

we saw the rare and young toshiro mifune in this 1949 movie as a sentimental, blood-boiling, headstrong, moronic, almost witless rookie detective lost his colt and felt so guilty when that gun later incurred robbery and homicide case after case. we could also saw akira kurosawa as a young director who had already done a great movie before 1950. of course, the screenplay was not perfect, still a little bit dragged sometimes, but never failed to get you unfocused.
whew....the summer heat in tokyo in the '40s was so dense and so humid that made new orlean look like a pretty cool place. this movie also made 'in the heat of the night' like taking a lukewarm water shower.
it also told that choosing to become a stray dog or not is absolutely by one's own choice. choosing to take drugs and becoming an addict is nothing but your own choice, don't blame your parents, your unhappy childhood or anything as an excuse for you to become a stray dog. same as to choose a bad dog to feed, then dealing with the consequences are decisions that nobody else could do but you.

5 out of 5 stars This should be hackneyed by now.......2007-03-27

I've seen many of Kurosawa's films and I'd have to say that this one is my favorite. You might think you've seen every permutation of the detective story that compares the cop to the criminal but this movie is surprisingly fresh and engaging. Cultural differences and the setting of post-war Japan add a little extra to a typical Noir story arc. The familiar themes make this one of Kurosawa's most approachable films even while it holds and rewards your attention.

4 out of 5 stars To Make A Mends.......2006-11-03

In the post WWII environment of Japan, the line between becoming a criminal and a cop was a very thin one. The prospect of upholding any myths or nationalistic fervor must have been slim for soldiers returning home, after a brutal war, one which ended in the most barbaric of ways, and effectively castrated and humiliated a proud and rigid culture. A lifetime of pride in your homeland could evaporate as quickly as a backpack being stolen...
In Stray Dog, master Kurosawa wastes no time in setting up the film's one story line, that of rookie detective Murakami, who on a sweltering and packed bus loses his gun. For the new detective, a former soldier, the transition between war and domestic soldiering proves the mettle of the film, and the depth of it's story comes in that difficult place. Unfamiliar with procedure, departments, as well as the in's-and-out's of Tokyo's underworld, the search for his strength, his pride, his manhood, etc., will define him, make him or break him.
With the dogged leadership of veteran cop Sato, Murakami's mentor in this pursuit, he recognizes the significance of his position, seeing himself and perhaps allowing for hope in a fractured society.
Toshiro Mifune, legend, is Murakami, frazzled, humiliated, frequently an emotive wreck. Though an early sequence in which he goes undercover as a soldier to search out black market guns-a long sequence that is completely without speaking-is beautiful and powerful in it's exposure of the seamy world of desperate people, "stray dogs" who suffer the dregs of a crowded uncomfortable world. Takashi Shimura is Sato, the other lead, and his presence is a strong, calming one, as the knowing cop, the rudder perhaps, to Murakami's windy sail.
An interesting deep cop film, it is very stylish, naturalistically made and acted, though it's print is visibly aged, it's shadows seem to be less sharp than a noir, allowing for the light to get in.

5 out of 5 stars EARLY KUROSAWA: FORETELLS HIS CINEMATIC TALENT .......2006-08-15

This early Akira Kurosawa film is outstanding. What captivated me about this early Kurosawa film was the way in which he allows us to see post-war Japan. It is truly remarkable that we are seeing the streets that just a few years before were being laid to waste by massive bombings.

The character played by Toshiro Mifune is also a great glimpse into what will become one of the greatest actors ever to come out of Japan. And there is the presence of my favorite Japanese actor, Takashi Shimura.

And with Shimura guiding the young Mifune through the maze of police work, and suggestions on how to proceed with his obsession in finding his missing, stolen handgun: we see a wonderful study in character development in this early Kurosawa classic.

Criterion did a wonderful transfer with this film. This is a truly great classic. Just looking at post-war Japan itself is a cinematic masterpiece. Highly recommended.
Stray Dogs
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Stray Dogs
    Starring: Guinevere Turner , Dot Jones , Bill Sage , Ryan Kelley , and Zach Gray
    Director: Catherine Crouch
    Manufacturer: Spectrum Entertain
    ProductGroup: DVD
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    ASIN: B00006IUK7
    Release Date: 2002-10-08

    Amazon.com

    This backwoods thriller starts slow but builds to a taut and harrowing conclusion. Guinevere Turner (Go Fish, American Psycho) stars as Darla, the mother of two boys by her boozing husband Myers (Bill Sage, Simple Men, High Art). One boy is bookish and fervently religious, the other reckless and wild. When Darla finally resolves to leave their mountain shack and return to South Carolina, Myers comes home determined to keep them there--only to find that his sister Jolene (Dot-Marie Jones) may not be on his side. Stray Dogs is a lean movie, taking place mostly in the shack and the surrounding yard, but the characters are so fully realized and their relationships are so multifaceted that the movie will hold you through sheer narrative craft. The performances are solid all around, with Sage in particular giving the movie a genuine jolt of menace. --Bret Fetzer
    SHELTER DOGS
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Don't Agree
    • A Heart Wrenching Look Into Life At A Dog Shelter
    • Heartbreaking and strangely compelling
    • Boxer Lover
    • dog's best friend
    SHELTER DOGS

    Manufacturer: CustomFlix
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    ASIN: B00069CR9C
    Release Date: 2006-07-13

    Product Description

    Each year, almost 5 million dogs end up in animal shelters - but not every dog is safe to place with a family. What if a shelter dog shows aggression, or is a known biter - should he be adopted out? For two years filmmaker Cynthia Wade was given unprecedented access to Rondout Valley Kennels and its controversial owner Sue Sternberg, and the result is an award-winning film about ethics in a morally ambiguous world. "What makes one want to keep watching is Ms. Sternberg's unflinching willingness to confront the problem of unwanted dogs, and the unflinching eye of Cynthia Wade, the film's director." The New York Times "A film well worth seeing... audience members will leave the theater with a renewed appreciation for these four-legged beings who give us so much, and with feelings of awe at shelter workers' commitment and ability to manage agonizing challenges every day." Marin Independent Journal "Astonishing... a stirring, emotional, irresistible portrait... unforgettable. One of the Ten Best Documentaries of 2003" The Boston Phoenix "A forceful message that every dog's life is a miracle." Orlando Weekly "Poignant and heartwarming" The Dallas Morning News "Powerful and provocative" BARK Magazine "Engrossing" TV Guide

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Don't Agree.......2007-07-13

    This is a good documentatry movie about dogs in shelters and what they have to go through and the people they have to deal with. I strongly disagree with Sue Sternbergs behavioral evaluation methods and I think several of the dogs in this film did not deserve their lives taken away. This movie is a thought provoker and a tear jerker and anyone interested in dog welfare should watch it. You will be thinking about it for weeks to come and dying to discuss it with other animal lovers.

    5 out of 5 stars A Heart Wrenching Look Into Life At A Dog Shelter.......2007-06-27

    My family and I volunteer at a shelter and absolutely love all animals and heard about this documentary and knew that we had to purchase it. This documentary was both heart wrenching and heart warming. Sue Sternburg shows so much compassion for her animals. Whether They are friendly or show signs of aggression she treats them all with the care and compassion that they deserve. She and her staff really due care and it is clear through the film that they do all they can for every animal that walks through their shelter doors. It makes viewers face the facts about life at a shelter from surrendering the animals who go from homes to cages and how some animals must meet an untimely demise. It is a amazing film which in my opinion all animal lovers and other should experience in their lifetime. Cynthia Wade did a truly amazing job.

    5 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking and strangely compelling.......2006-11-10

    I've seen Shelter Dogs several times on HBO. Like others, I was originally in favor of "no kill," but this made me take a second look at the issue. Why should we torment animals for the rest of their natural lives because they were so badly handled that they became unsafe? It's cruel to condemn them to a long MISERABLE life, because of our mistakes.

    I've always been a fan of QUALITY of life instead of Quantity. If an animal is miserable because of illness, it would selfish to keep them alive to make ME feel better. We should never let ourselves make an animal suffer because it is hard to make tough decisions. And there was NO doubt in my mind that the dogs in the "no kill" shelter were suffering terribly.

    This documentary is also a very strong advertisement for neutering your animals. There would not be such an overload in today's shelters if people were responsible enough to prevent unwanted births. When these cute puppies get older, they become heartbreakingly difficult to adopt out, and just become one more animal being sacrificed to our irresponsibility. The unwanted dogs who get euthanized at her shelter are really the lucky ones...they are not given a life sentence of misery.

    5 out of 5 stars Boxer Lover.......2006-02-10

    I had seen this documentary playing on HBO and for a long time couldn't bring myself to watch it. I am barely able to go to the shelters now without crying or bringing home another animal. However, one night I decided to give Shelter Dogs a chance and am so glad I did. There were some scenes that really were hard for me to watch but I began to look at things a bit differently than I had before. I had been a supporter of the no-kill policy but after seeing how some of these animals have to live out their lives, I no longer think it is the answer. This film really touched my heart and I would recommend it to anyone who thinks they have already made up their mind on these issues.

    5 out of 5 stars dog's best friend.......2005-06-17

    Filmmaker Cynthia Wade followed Sue Sternberg for two years as she worked in her Roundout Valley Kennels, in upstate N.Y., a shelter she had owned for eight years when this film was made, and runs with a small staff of dedicated workers and a shoestring budget.
    The dogs that are surrendered, for reasons varying from behavior problems to lack of time on the part of the owners, are loved and tended to, and those who are unadoptable, usually because of habitual biting, are euthanized.
    The shelter has a section of concrete kennels, and a limited number of little rooms, brightly painted and with pieces of dilapidated furniture, to make the dogs who are in for a long stay feel more "at home".

    It is heartwarming to see the dogs that get good homes, but in certain shelters that we are shown in this film, there is the inhumanity of the long term "no kill" policy that is spreading in this country. There are dogs that are permanently traumatized, and spend their lives in a small concrete and chain link cell. As an "animal person", I am horrified by the cruelty of keeping the "hopeless cases" alive in their misery, and this documentary describes the situation well.

    Sue Sternberg is a remarkable woman, as says that she must have been born with an "extra dog chromosome", having an intense affinity for canines since she was a small child. There are some wonderful old home films of her with assorted four-pawed friends, and she is seen at home, underneath a pile of her present fur family.
    Excellent photography and editing makes this award winning documentary essential viewing for anyone interested in animal welfare, and it is also enhanced by a nice score by Simon Gentry and Mark Suozzo.
    Total running time is 74 minutes.
    Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy Collection (Talking Head/Stray Dogs/The Red Spectacles) + Soundtrack CD
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Unique
    • Great work with some flaws
    • I'll be honest...
    Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy Collection (Talking Head/Stray Dogs/The Red Spectacles) + Soundtrack CD
    Starring: Mamoru Oshii
    Manufacturer: Bandai
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

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    ASIN: B0001BMM9U
    Release Date: 2003-11-04

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Unique.......2004-05-25

    These movies certainly won't appeal to everyone, but I personally found them refreshingly different, interesting and very enjoyable. Whether or not you will enjoy them depends not only on personal taste but also what you intend to get out of seeing movies. If you've dismissed movies such as David Lynch's "Eraserhead" or "Lost Highway" as 'arsty pretentious rubbish', these won't be the films for you. The directing draws attention to itself (especially in "Talking Head"), which means if you just want to be told a story, you're already missing the point. These can be seen as 'experiments' in movie-making, and the results are very interesting, provided you're into that sort of thing.

    Understandably, some people may be interested in these movies because of the connection to the Oshii-written anime "Jin-Roh". Don't expect a similar film, or much relation to it. At first, these films seem to have little relation to each other, let alone other films. Don't expect action, either. There are occasional action scenes, though if that's why you're watching the film you're once again likely missing the point.

    It occured to me that "The Red Spectacles" is, in a way, a parody of itself. Any event or aspect of the storyline that may have been slightly far fetched, silly, or seen as a mistake in a normal film, is made very deliberate, exaggerated and displayed in an over-the-top manner that is somewhat remeniscent of comedic anime.. yet it doesn't feel out of place. It seems to fit right into the world Oshii has created in the film.

    "Stray Dog" is a mellow, aesthetically beautiful film, rich in color, which is a startling contrast to the schizofrenic "Red Spectacles", which was predominately in black and white, and generally far from mellow. If you're not a fan of slow movies, or are expecting some action, you'll likely look at the time an hour into the movie and be amazed that seemingly nothing's happened yet. This isn't actually the case, of course, and while the film may be less complex, and generally less active, than the other two in the series, it still has plenty of ideas to express. This is the film that probably has the most in common with Jin-Roh, but again, don't expect the same film.

    "Talking Head" defies convention even more than "The Red Spectacles" did, and presents a story about filmmaking full of bizarre characters and events, and commentary on various aspects of the art. This should be fascinating viewing for appreciators of 'arty' cinema, not just for it's bold direction and quirkiness, but also for the ideas expressed about the medium of film (and more specifically, animation), and the creative process.

    I've long appreciated Oshii's animated works (such as Patlabor 2, Ghost in the Shell and Jin-Roh), and was very interested to see his live action films. Between his anime films, these films, and the absolutely stunning "Avalon", Oshii has shown diversity and unique vision, and has more than earned a place among the giants of cinema.

    4 out of 5 stars Great work with some flaws.......2004-05-13

    I loved these movies and the soundtrack that came with them. Mamoru Oshii is a genius but there were quite a few flaws that kept me unsatisfied. I wouldn't recommend these for everyone but only for those who like Oshii and anime. If you do it's a definate buy!

    1 out of 5 stars I'll be honest..........2004-02-17

    These movies flat out suck. For one thing, the box art and movie trailers will show you that these movies are action packed (by showing constant gun fights, and armored soldiers running around), when in fact they are not. My main reason for buying this set was because I loved Jon-Roh, as well as Ghost in The Shell. So I figured a live action version would be awesome, but it's not. In Jon-Roh, there was quite a bit of action involving the awesome looking armors the soldiers wear. In the live action movies, you barely see this at all. At the start of the films you see a tiny bit of action, and then for almost an hour and a half later, it's nothing but slow pacing footage of people wondering what's going on.

    In Red Spectacles, a former Kerberos soldier comes back to Japan to find his team mates he left behind, and goes to find out what's been going on ever since he left. He finds out what happens to his buddies, but the ending leaves you questioning if he did in fact find out anything at all. The Movie starts off in color, but the rest of it is in black and white, which gives the movie an odd look. Also, instead of being a serious film, the characters end up trying to be comical like in anime, but it's never funny because trying to do cartoon gags in live action never turn out right because live action films never get the timimg right.

    In Stray Dogs, most of it is serious, but at times they will go off doing stupid gags that never work (again, because the timing is off). And just like Red Spectacles, we never see any action except towards the end. In Stray Dogs, a former Kerberos soldier is released from prison, and he leaves japan to search for his master. The pacing in this movie is too slow as well. Most of the movie is just wandering around, not really doing anything. When there's a small fight between these two characters, it's all in one angle, and one angle only. Not only can you see the kicks not even making contact (they just swing them over each other) but the actors reactions for being hit are way off. One guy kicks, delay, other guy finally reacts. Had they had quicker timing for this, and different angles and sound effects, it would have been better, but instead just looks cheesy.

    I haven't even watched the third film yet. The soundtrack for Stray Dogs that came with this set is pretty good, but I'm afraid this may be the only good thing this set has to offer. My advice: don't buy this set at all. It's embarrassing
    .
    Chiens Egares / Stray Dogs (Widescreen)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • A moving look at the resiliency of children in crisis
    Chiens Egares / Stray Dogs (Widescreen)

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    ASIN: B000GPK7QG

    Product Description

    Dolby Digital

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A moving look at the resiliency of children in crisis.......2007-03-15

    Marziyeh Meshkini's latest film, STRAY DOGS, from 2004, vividly illustrates that her earlier work, THE DAY I BECAME A WOMAN (2001), was no fluke - she is a filmmaker with a unique vision, with the technical abilities to translate that vision to the screen. Great filmmaking runs in the family - Marziyeh is the wife of renowned Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf, who has 18 features to his credit, including GABBEH (1996), A MOMENT OF INNOCENCE (1996), SILENCE (1998), and KANDAHAR (2001). Their daughter Samira has followed in the artistic footsteps of her parents, directing THE APPLE (1997), THE BLACKBOARD (1999), and 5 IN THE AFTERNOON (2003). Their son Maysam and daughter Hana have begun their own careers with shorts and documentaries. The Makhmalbaf Film School was established by Mohsen so that Iranian students interested in working with cinema would have the opportunity to learn their craft in their own country - his family members who are working in film, as well as others, have been given a chance that might well have been outside of their grasp if not for his devotion to his art.

    STRAY DOGS is filled with memorable images - Marziyeh's eye, spirit, intelligence and skill work together, along with her talented team, to tell this story in such a way as to carve it into the heart and soul of the viewer. The film is set in Afghanistan, after the fall of the Taliban - the two central characters are a sister and brother, Gol-Ghotai and Zahed, respectively. Their ages are never given directly, but I would guess that she's around 7, and her brother perhaps 11. For all practical purposes, the two are war orphans - their parents are alive, but both are in prison and unable to care for the children. Their father is a Taliban mullah who has been imprisoned by the Americans. When he went off to fight in the war, disappearing without a trace for 5 years, the mother assumed he was dead and, unable to properly provide for her children, remarried - their father reappeared and, finding his wife married to another man, charged her with adultery. Her second husband is now dead - she begs the children, who are at first allowed by prison guards to spend the night in their mother's cell, to go to their father and convince him to forgive her, so that she can be set free and take care of them. He continues to refuse, saying that `she can burn in hell'. Talk about kids being caught in the middle of a domestic dispute!

    Gol-Ghotai and Zahed have nowhere to live - they do their best to survive on the streets, foraging for anything salvageable that can be eaten, sold or burned for warmth. One day they cross paths with a large group of boys, brandishing torches, chasing a stray dog. `Kill him!' one boy shouts. `It's a Western dog!' The boys trap the dog in what appears to be some sort of deep outdoor kiln - it cowers and barks below as they shout taunts at it, now and then tossing down a torch to torment it. Gol-Ghotai slips into a horizontal shaft leading to the area where the dog is trapped - she grabs it and pulls it to safety just as its pursuers toss down the rest of their torches, creating an inferno intended to kill it. The dog becomes the constant companion of the sister and brother - and fittingly, as the two of them have been living as little more than stray dogs on the streets already.

    The children are informed by a formerly friendly guard at the prison that a crackdown by the governor makes it impossible for them to spend the night with their mother any more. Desperate to be with her, aching to reestablish a sense of family, they concoct a scheme to commit a crime and get arrested in order to be placed in prison with her. The idea comes, fittingly enough, from the two of them viewing Vittorio De Sica's classic film BICYCLE THIEVES - an honest and respectful nod by Marziyeh to the great Italian director - and the scene in which Zaheb steals a bicycle and gets arrested is a beautifully realized visual echo of the scene in De Sica's 1948 film where the father steals a bicycle and is surrounded by a mob of citizens and taken into custody by the police.

    In an oft-repeated quote, W. C. Fields once said `Never work with animals or children' - Marziyeh Meshkini has done both here, and brought it off with great success. The two child actors are astonishingly believable and natural - especially Gol-Ghotai. The emotions they were called upon to portray come across as very real, and are never overplayed. While the subject matter and setting are dark, the director and her actors also manage to inject a few elements that are nothing short of playful - in one scene, after having little success in coaxing the dog they've adopted into eating from a piece of flatbread, Gol-Ghotai holds it over strips of meat smoking on a grill so that it will absorb some of the odor. Her character (whether by instinct or by direction) is obviously pleased with herself for thinking of this - and the twinkle in her eye shows it, and is very real.

    I'm not sure how widely STRAY DOGS was distributed to theatres in the US - I believe the edition of the DVD on this page was released by a Canadian studio, but is no longer readily available, and that's a shame. I picked up a region 2 copy released by Artificial Eye in the UK - their releases are generally transferred to digital media with great care (although they contain few `extra items' as a rule), and this one is no exception . It looks and sounds great - one more reason for having a region-free DVD player - and however you can see it, I recommend it wholeheartedly.
    Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy Collection (Talking Head/Stray Dogs/The Red Spectacles) + Soundtrack CD
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Unique
    • Great work with some flaws
    • I'll be honest...
    Mamoru Oshii Cinema Trilogy Collection (Talking Head/Stray Dogs/The Red Spectacles) + Soundtrack CD
    Starring: Shigeru Chiba , Machiko Washio , Hideyuki Tanaka , Eaching Sue , and Takashi Matsuyama (II)
    Director: Mamoru Oshii , and Krzysztof Kieslowski
    Manufacturer: Bandai
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

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    ASIN: B0000CG8AS
    Release Date: 2003-11-04

    Description

    Mamoru Oshii has created and directed some of Japan's most celebrated motion pictures including highly acclaimed movies like `Ghost in the Shell', `Patlabor', and `Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade'. Now available for the first time outside of Japan are three of Oshii's early live action theatrical features: `Talking Heads', `Stray Dogs', and `Red Spectacles'. These are the stories of of men whose lives are forever changed by deceit, betrayal, and murder and whose sole purpose is either to live as wolves or to live as sheep. Prepare yourself for a cinematic collection that delves into the mind of one, Mamoru Oshii.

    KEY SALES POINT
    From one of the premier directors of Japanese Cinema - Director Mamoru Oshii
    Filmography includes - director 'Ghost in the Shell', creator 'Jin-Roh', director 'Patlabor'
    Live Action Theatrical Feature
    Anamorphic Widescreen
    Mamoru Oshii's Cinema Collection Contains an EXCLUSIVE original CD Soundtrack from the features
    DVD Features:
    Interactive Animated Menus
    Dolby Digital Surround Sound
    Japanese Language
    English subtitles option
    EXCLUSIVE Original CD Soundtrack
    DVD Extras:
    Mamoru Oshii Text
    Theatrical Trailers

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Unique.......2004-05-25

    These movies certainly won't appeal to everyone, but I personally found them refreshingly different, interesting and very enjoyable. Whether or not you will enjoy them depends not only on personal taste but also what you intend to get out of seeing movies. If you've dismissed movies such as David Lynch's "Eraserhead" or "Lost Highway" as 'arsty pretentious rubbish', these won't be the films for you. The directing draws attention to itself (especially in "Talking Head"), which means if you just want to be told a story, you're already missing the point. These can be seen as 'experiments' in movie-making, and the results are very interesting, provided you're into that sort of thing.

    Understandably, some people may be interested in these movies because of the connection to the Oshii-written anime "Jin-Roh". Don't expect a similar film, or much relation to it. At first, these films seem to have little relation to each other, let alone other films. Don't expect action, either. There are occasional action scenes, though if that's why you're watching the film you're once again likely missing the point.

    It occured to me that "The Red Spectacles" is, in a way, a parody of itself. Any event or aspect of the storyline that may have been slightly far fetched, silly, or seen as a mistake in a normal film, is made very deliberate, exaggerated and displayed in an over-the-top manner that is somewhat remeniscent of comedic anime.. yet it doesn't feel out of place. It seems to fit right into the world Oshii has created in the film.

    "Stray Dog" is a mellow, aesthetically beautiful film, rich in color, which is a startling contrast to the schizofrenic "Red Spectacles", which was predominately in black and white, and generally far from mellow. If you're not a fan of slow movies, or are expecting some action, you'll likely look at the time an hour into the movie and be amazed that seemingly nothing's happened yet. This isn't actually the case, of course, and while the film may be less complex, and generally less active, than the other two in the series, it still has plenty of ideas to express. This is the film that probably has the most in common with Jin-Roh, but again, don't expect the same film.

    "Talking Head" defies convention even more than "The Red Spectacles" did, and presents a story about filmmaking full of bizarre characters and events, and commentary on various aspects of the art. This should be fascinating viewing for appreciators of 'arty' cinema, not just for it's bold direction and quirkiness, but also for the ideas expressed about the medium of film (and more specifically, animation), and the creative process.

    I've long appreciated Oshii's animated works (such as Patlabor 2, Ghost in the Shell and Jin-Roh), and was very interested to see his live action films. Between his anime films, these films, and the absolutely stunning "Avalon", Oshii has shown diversity and unique vision, and has more than earned a place among the giants of cinema.

    4 out of 5 stars Great work with some flaws.......2004-05-13

    I loved these movies and the soundtrack that came with them. Mamoru Oshii is a genius but there were quite a few flaws that kept me unsatisfied. I wouldn't recommend these for everyone but only for those who like Oshii and anime. If you do it's a definate buy!

    1 out of 5 stars I'll be honest..........2004-02-17

    These movies flat out suck. For one thing, the box art and movie trailers will show you that these movies are action packed (by showing constant gun fights, and armored soldiers running around), when in fact they are not. My main reason for buying this set was because I loved Jon-Roh, as well as Ghost in The Shell. So I figured a live action version would be awesome, but it's not. In Jon-Roh, there was quite a bit of action involving the awesome looking armors the soldiers wear. In the live action movies, you barely see this at all. At the start of the films you see a tiny bit of action, and then for almost an hour and a half later, it's nothing but slow pacing footage of people wondering what's going on.

    In Red Spectacles, a former Kerberos soldier comes back to Japan to find his team mates he left behind, and goes to find out what's been going on ever since he left. He finds out what happens to his buddies, but the ending leaves you questioning if he did in fact find out anything at all. The Movie starts off in color, but the rest of it is in black and white, which gives the movie an odd look. Also, instead of being a serious film, the characters end up trying to be comical like in anime, but it's never funny because trying to do cartoon gags in live action never turn out right because live action films never get the timimg right.

    In Stray Dogs, most of it is serious, but at times they will go off doing stupid gags that never work (again, because the timing is off). And just like Red Spectacles, we never see any action except towards the end. In Stray Dogs, a former Kerberos soldier is released from prison, and he leaves japan to search for his master. The pacing in this movie is too slow as well. Most of the movie is just wandering around, not really doing anything. When there's a small fight between these two characters, it's all in one angle, and one angle only. Not only can you see the kicks not even making contact (they just swing them over each other) but the actors reactions for being hit are way off. One guy kicks, delay, other guy finally reacts. Had they had quicker timing for this, and different angles and sound effects, it would have been better, but instead just looks cheesy.

    I haven't even watched the third film yet. The soundtrack for Stray Dogs that came with this set is pretty good, but I'm afraid this may be the only good thing this set has to offer. My advice: don't buy this set at all. It's embarrassing
    .
    Stray Dogs
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Stray Dogs
      Starring: Gol Ghoti , Zahed , Agheleh Rezaii , Gol-Ghotai , and Sohrab Akbari
      Director: Marziyeh Meshkini
      Manufacturer: Seville Canada
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      GeneralGeneral | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
      ( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
      ASIN: B000GJ0JJ2
      Release Date: 2006-09-05
      Stray Dog
      Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
      • Not what I was expecting.
      Stray Dog
      Starring: Shigeru Chiba , Eaching Sue , Takashi Matsuyama (II) , and Yoshikazu Fujiki
      Director: Mamoru Oshii
      Manufacturer: Bandai
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      CrimeCrime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      ThrillersThrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      RevengeRevenge | By Theme | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Japan | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Japan | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      JapaneseJapanese | By Original Language | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      Mamoru OshiiMamoru Oshii | By Animator | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video
      BandaiBandai | By Studio | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video
      Oshii, MamoruOshii, Mamoru | ( O ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      JapanJapan | Asian Cinema | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      JapaneseJapanese | By Original Language | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      ( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
      Similar Items:
      1. The Red Spectacles The Red Spectacles
      2. Mamoru Oshii's Talking Head Mamoru Oshii's Talking Head

      ASIN: B0000CG8AX
      Release Date: 2003-11-04

      Description

      The Metropolitan Police's ultimate crime-fighting unit was an elite squad of men and women known as the Kerberos. A riot and uprising ensues when the unit refuses to acknowledge orders from government officials to disband. At the center of the riot is the leader of the Kerberos squad, Kouichi Todome who escapes after the fighting. Three years later, Inui is released from prison. A member of the Kerberos squad who served jail time for his participation in the riot, he wants nothing more to find his former master. However, the trail to Kouichi is a twisted one, involving a strange woman and a new and unimagined lifestyle. But when he finally finds him, he realizes that, instead of following his own path, he was following the orders of another. KEY SALES POINT

      * From one of the premier directors of Japanese Cinema - Director Mamoru Oshii
      * Live Action Theatrical Feature
      * Anamorphic Widescreen
      DVD Features:
      Interactive Animated Menus

      Dolby Digital Surround Sound

      Japanese Language

      English subtitles option

      DVD Extras:

      Theatrical Trailer

      Mamoru Oshii's Stray Dog Text

      Customer Reviews:

      2 out of 5 stars Not what I was expecting........2004-11-10

      Mamoru Oshii has put out pretty impressive videos, this is not one of them.
      The main character pursues his old master (like a Stray Dog.. ) who left his unit behind. Throughout the entire movie all he does is walk down streets (they even walk the same streets over pointlessly ) , occasionally bumping into a guy that feels life can be summed up in his "Stray Dog philosophy", then eating, then walking around some more. All the while a horrible piano tune plays.

      Don't let the cover fool you, there really isn't many kerberos panzer cops in this movie. It's not until the very end does the main character put on his nifty leather armor and mow through baddies, which was about the only exciting part of the movie (no cheesy piano music either!).

      Not much of a plot, predictable, and boring. If you're interested in Mamoru's live action movies Avalon is better. If you absolutely have to have something with kerberos cops in it try Jin-Roh The Wolf Brigade.
      Stray Dog
      Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
      • Not what I was expecting.
      Stray Dog
      Starring: Shigeru Chiba , Eaching Sue , Takashi Matsuyama (II) , and Yoshikazu Fujiki
      Director: Mamoru Oshii
      Manufacturer: Bandai
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      CrimeCrime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      ThrillersThrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      RevengeRevenge | By Theme | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video
      BandaiBandai | By Studio | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video
      GeneralGeneral | Japan | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Japan | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
      Mamoru OshiiMamoru Oshii | By Animator | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video
      Oshii, MamoruOshii, Mamoru | ( O ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
      JapanJapan | Asian Cinema | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
      ( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
      Similar Items:
      1. The Red Spectacles The Red Spectacles
      2. Mamoru Oshii's Talking Head Mamoru Oshii's Talking Head

      ASIN: B0001BMMA4
      Release Date: 2003-11-04

      Customer Reviews:

      2 out of 5 stars Not what I was expecting........2004-11-10

      Mamoru Oshii has put out pretty impressive videos, this is not one of them.
      The main character pursues his old master (like a Stray Dog.. ) who left his unit behind. Throughout the entire movie all he does is walk down streets (they even walk the same streets over pointlessly ) , occasionally bumping into a guy that feels life can be summed up in his "Stray Dog philosophy", then eating, then walking around some more. All the while a horrible piano tune plays.

      Don't let the cover fool you, there really isn't many kerberos panzer cops in this movie. It's not until the very end does the main character put on his nifty leather armor and mow through baddies, which was about the only exciting part of the movie (no cheesy piano music either!).

      Not much of a plot, predictable, and boring. If you're interested in Mamoru's live action movies Avalon is better. If you absolutely have to have something with kerberos cops in it try Jin-Roh The Wolf Brigade.
      Stray Dogs
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Stray Dogs

        Manufacturer: Echelon Entertainment
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        GenresGenres | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
        ASIN: B00069CRCE

        Product Description

        Set in 1958 and adapted from the award-winning play by Julie Jensen, Stray Dogs is a Southern gothic film about the last night of a bad marriage. Darla Carter reaches her turning point this October day, when most of the men in her Appalachian town are engaged in a vicious, chaotic hunt to round up and kill stray dogs. In the afternoon, Darla gets terrifying news: she is pregnant again, and she believes the baby will be a girl child. Legend has it that female children cannot survive on Carter Mountain. Darla has lost three female infants in a row, and has come to believe the curse is real. For the sake of her children's future, she resolves to leave her husband Myers and Carter Mountain once and for all.

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