The Criterion Collection brings us an Eclipse box set of the work of Koreyoshi Kurahara

by Chris MaGee

Every time you get out they pull you right back in again! Okay, we paraphrase that famous Al Pacino line from "The Godfather: part III", but when it comes to the Criterion Collection it's kind of true. The Criterion discs have come down in price in recent years, but they releases of classic films are still pretty pricey; but when the wave one of their Eclipse box sets filled with the work of one of Japan's better kept film-making secrets in front of our noses we forget about the x-amount of DVDs we've already racked up on our credit cards and we shell out even more. The latest example of this is the recently announced Eclipse box set of five films by Nikkatsu director Koreyoshi Kurahara.

Titled "The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara" the set, due out in stores on August 23rd, include everything from an adaptation of a novel by Yukio Mishima (Thirst for Love), a romantic comedy (I Hate But Love), the story of a jazz-loving Japanese and an African-American GI scored by none other than Max Roach (Black Sun), a Godard-esque tale of delinquent youth (The Warped Ones) and finally a noir tale of dirty bankers and crooks (Intimidation). This is a set that fans of both Nikkatsu's early 60's action films like and " I Am Waiting", a Kurehara film that was featured in the Eclipse set Nikkatsu Noir, and hardcore New Wave fans will not want to miss. Check out more details on this upcoming release at the Criterion Collection's website here