Scorpion's Revenge

Starring:Michael Hodges (III), Mark Murdock (II), Kristin Norton, Yoko Saito, Takanori Kikuchi, Shizuka Ochi, Tetta Sugimoto
Director: Daisuke Gotoh
Studio: Asian Pulp Cinema
Product Type: DVD

Customer Reviews:

Red Blood Paint.......2007-06-29

By the end of the 1960s, film ticket sells in Japan had dropped immensely because of the influx of the popularity of television. In order to make ends meet, several of the big studios turned to making "pink films" or "Roman Porno" flicks as they were commonly called. Most of these films were quite cheap and their production time was quite short. A good portion of these films pandered to some of the darker aspects of sexual desire including such themes as rape, S&M, and incest. Obviously, these films were often geared towards a male audience. During the latter half of the 1960s the female characters within these films were often "victims" of physical, emotional, and sexual violence in these films. However, it was often the case that such violence would lead the victim to fall in love with her rapist with an almost maternal affection. However, by the early 1970s, while these films were still full of gratuitous nudity and violence, the female characters began to grow stronger and instead of falling in love with their victimizers would strike back violently against them.

Female Prisoner # 701-Scorpion stars Kaji Meiko, probably most famous for her role as Lady Snowblood, as Matsushima Nami, a young woman sentenced to prison after attempting to kill her detective boyfriend after he used her in a bust that also resulted in her being raped by several members of the yakuza. Now, some three years later, Nami along with her friend Yuki try to escape a women's prison, but are soon caught. Imprisoned once again, Nami suffers torture at the hands of other prisoners, including having scalding miso soup poured on her bare skin. However, her spirit is never broken. Ever silent, Nami waits for the day in which she can seek her revenge.

On the surface Female Prisoner # 701-Scorpion is no different than several other films produced in this genre. It includes such scenes as the rape scene, a vaguely S&M scene, a lesbian sex scene, etc. However, it is evident that Ito, this was his debut film by the way, was trying to make more out of this films parts than the composite whole. The camera definitely shines at certain moments and there is even a scene that is reminiscent of a horror scene that could be found in a kabuki play, albeit one with a female cast and full nudity. Also, like many films from this period, this movie has an excellent soundtrack with Kaji singing vocals on the title and ending track "Urami Bushi" which was also used in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill films.

A decent film with several sequels, spin-offs, and imitators, I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in Japanese film from this time period or Exploitation films in general.

Well worth a watch!!.......2007-03-18

Meiko Kaji has made a great series of films in the prisoner and the thing is that they dont look outdated despite thier age. The violence fits in very well with the overall plot and i have to say that (a) id watch it again! (b) Id get the sequel which is something dont do that often. One of thebest Asian films ive seen!!

Good Clean Family Fun.......2006-04-13

Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion stars the beautiful and talented Japanese actress Meiko Kaji, best known for playing Lady Snowblood and singing "Flower of Carnage," the title song to Kill Bill. This movie has everything to be a fine example of the "women in prison" film genre: stabbings, shootings, rape, lesbian sex, torture (scaldings, beatings, burnings, women hung by ropes from their elbows) and lots and lots of female nudity. Good clean family entertainment. What more could you want?

best Women in Prison flicks ever.......2005-06-17

The Female Convict Scorpion movies are fantastic and Meiko Kaji is just incredible. I really hope someone release the other two Scorpion movies she made so that we can get the whole saga.

Note to folks who complained about subtitles: on some DVD players, you must ACTIVELY turn the sub titles ON using your DVD's internal function. There is no menu item to do this on the DVD. I have found this to be true with a few of the Media Blaster/Tokyo Shock dvd's. On my player I can do this just using my remote control and hitting the 'subtitles' button.

Antihero of the (S)exploitation Film.......2005-03-07

Uttering as few words as possible, Nami Matsushima (played by the stunningly beautiful Meiko Kaji) dispenses with the pleasantries and builds a reasonably impressive body count by the end of "Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion," one of the premiere films in the women's prison genre of films.

Natsuyagi is a cop looking to move ahead in his life, and money, after all, is the root of all evil. He hatches a scheme to use his lovely girlfriend, Nami, to lure the local mafia bosses into a scheme. But when the gang feels something's amiss, they escort Nami into a back room and rape her. Breaking in, Natsuyagi realizes he finally has what he wants: ignoring his fallen girlfriend, he convinces the mob that he can make all of their problems go away if they pay him off. They agree, and Natsuyagi has Nami thrown into prison ... where she undergoes the obligatory beatings, teasing, and other forms of degradation so common to 'girls behind bars' films.

What makes "Scorpion" different is the fact that Director Shunya Ito - in his debut film - decided to ride the fine line between art and trash. He combines the best elements of the vindictive woman's feature along with artsy lighting in order to achieve the effect of a car crash: the viewer really hates to slow down and watch, but there really must be something to see here, right? The violence is gratuitous, if not psychedelic, at times, but it all manages to flesh out (pun intended) before Nami manages to finally break out of prison and go on her murderous rampage, taking out the mobsters one-by-one until her final showdown with the unsuspecting Natsuyagi.

Also, in Kaji's graceful hands, Nami isn't so much a victim as she is an antihero, not at all unlike Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns. The viewer is pulled into this world by means of a very beautiful woman who refuses to be a 'prisoner' to the genre. Instead, she's defiant and calculating at every turn, refusing to comply with the warden's demands of good behavior. She challenges every authority, instituting her own code of justice which applies to everyone: her fellow inmates, the prison guards, and even the police outside. Uncompromising in her dedication, she ignores the acts she endures for the sake of focusing on one sole objective: revenge.

... and that's an act she takes with complete seriousness.

NOTE: Apparently, there is an issue associated to subtitling, as has been referred by other reviewers. I had no problem whatsoever, but I would add that the film would not play with the correct aspect ratio of 2:35:1 in my American DVD player. I did have to watch the film in my Region Free player, and I did not experience any problems.

Female Prisoner #701 Scorpion: Beast Stable

Average customer rating:

Family versus Friends
Beast Stable
Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable

Female Prisoner #701 Scorpion: Beast Stable
Starring: Meiko Kaji , Masakazu Tamura , Yumi Kanei , Hiroshi Tsukata , and Yayoi Watanabe
Director: Yasuharu Hasebe
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Scorpion - Female Prisoner 701: Grudge Song
Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Female Yakuza Tale - Inquisition and Torture
The Pinky Violence Collection - Includes Audio CD (Criminal Woman: Killing Melody/ Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom/ Girl Boss Guerilla/ Delinquent Girl Boss: Worthless To Confess)

ASIN: B000C6NP7W
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Description

Following her succuessful prison break, Scorpion begins this third episode in the series hiding out in a brothel. Her prostitute friend tries to keep her identity secret, but the brothel's madam discovers that Scorpion is the ex-girlfreind of the vice officer who killed her lover.

Customer Reviews:

Family versus Friends.......2007-07-04

The third volume of the Female Prisoner Scorpion Series, Beast Stable, opens up with quite a bang, or maybe it would be better to say a large meaty slice, when our heroine Matsushima Nami, better known as Sasori, or Scorpion, slices open the face of one police officer and then hacks off the arm of another, an arm that she is handcuffed to, so that she can escape a train. The viewer is then treated to a running Scorpion with a severed arm dangling from the handcuffs that bind her to it. If this scene is not twisted enough, we then go to view a young prostitute copulating indifferently with a man on top of her. Now this scene is not really odd until we learn that the girl, Yuki, is having sex with her own mentally handicapped brother. So begins the third volume, some also consider the weakest volume, of the Female Prisoner Scorpion series.

Unlike the other volumes of the series in which the action, of course, centers on Sasori, Beast Stable seems to be more interested in the being of Yuki. Stuck with her familial obligation to take care of her retarded brother, Yuki makes her living as a prostitute. However, because she is an independent worker, she often comes under the attack of Yakuza who want a cut of her money. Because of her situation she begs Sasori to kill her brother, but has a change of heart and eventually this familial bond will lead her to betray Sasori.

Sasori's role is a bit underplayed in this film. She does get revenge on a handful of yakuza and some police officers, but most of her time is spent hiding within the sewers. However, the time in the sewers also offers the audience some scenes of filmic beauty when Yuki drops matches through manholes to attract Sasori. Sasori's, whose being is the embodiment of the betrayed, face is extraordinarily innocent in these scenes and almost glows with naïveté and trust. Because of these images her fate is that much bitterer.

While it might not be as action packed or stylish as the first two films in the series, Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable is still a decent film and it does raise such issues as body politics and abortion.

Beast Stable.......2006-11-10

Yes, the information about this film is misleading. They're wrong. I ordered this because I saw Tamura Masakazu's name on it. It turned out to be the wrong film. But to my surprise, it's very enjoyable. After I watched the Grudge Song (the actual one with Tamura), I found Beast Stable to be better! The shock elements are there and they're actually visually well-made. (But be ready to see blood and gruesome acts.) One tends to sympathize with Sasori in this film cos she's trying so hard to live a normal, peaceful life, but the evil policemen just wouldn't leave her alone. The small details are also thoughtfully-made and entertaining. Cool stuff!

Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable.......2006-05-05

I have been looking forward to the release of this DVD (and it's follow-up {Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song}) for some time. I very much enjoyed the first two movies of this series. After just watching this film, I would have to say that this is probably my favorite of the three.

All three of these movies were directed by Shunya Ito. What is great about them, though, is that, even though they all feature the same lead character (wonderfully played by Meiko Kaji), they are each vastly different from the others.

The first movie (Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion) is more or less a typical Women In Prison movie. But the character of Scorpion is very intriguing - very reminiscent of the anti-heroes of many spaghetti westerns. And the director often used some very interesting and unusual visual approaches to the material.

The second movie (Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41) is a real tour-de-force. Not so much a WIP movie as the bulk of the film has Scorpion and six other escaped inmates on the lam.

This movie (Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable) is the third in the series and the last one directed by Shunya Ito. This one plays out as much more of a crime drama. Once again, our heroine is on the run. But this time out, she has managed to maintain a certain amount of normalcy in her life (relatively speaking anyway). She gets a job, she finds a place to live, she makes a friend on the outside. But, of course, everything has to unravel eventually. FPS: Beast Stable has a more straight-forward story that is told at a more leisurely pace than its predecessors. But I found it to be engaging from beginning to end. And don't worry: there is still plenty of depravity to go around in this movie! But I think these movies transcend most exploitation films because the more disturbing elements are played in a straighter tone rather than being used exclusively for in-your-face shock value. Yes, there were definitely moments in this movie where I cringed mightily. But I didn't feel that they detracted from the value of the story (well, maybe a time or two).

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in out-of-the-ordinary films. FPS: Beast Stable can be enjoyed as a stand-alone piece (as can the first two movies) but I would also recommend watching the others first if you have not already done so.

Average customer rating:

Black Scorpion Movie
the one that started it all
Stinging Good Fun
great escapist fare
a blast

Black Scorpion
Starring: Jonathan Winfrey , Joan Severance , Michael Wiseman , Casey Siemaszko , and Terri J. Vaughn
Director: Bruce Abbott
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Black Scorpion II: Aftershock
Sting of the Black Scorpion
Lake Consequence
The Last Seduction II
Black Scorpion - The TV Series

ASIN: B000C1VB3W
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Description

As a street-pounding undercover cop, Darcy Walker must confront slimeballs every day -- on both sides of the law. When her father is murdered, Darcy gives up on the establishment and transforms herself into the vigilante heroine Black Scorpion. Blasting through the city in a souped-up Porsche Scorpionmobile, she searches for the key to her father's murder. Along the way, she discovers a conspiracy of the darkest kind. Can she stop her nemesis, the Breathtaker, before he destroys the city?

Customer Reviews:

Black Scorpion Movie.......2006-11-05

This is an older movie I had rented on VHS tape several times and wanted to add it to my DVD collection. The story line is typical for a comic book character. I got more out of the movie with the actor's comments enabled during the movie. Some scenes are unnecessary for the story line.

the one that started it all.......2004-12-09

If you are a fan of the Black Scorpion you need to have this one in your collection of DVDs. This is especally true if you are planning to get the box set of the TV series (which is well worth getting) since this is the origin tale of the Black Scorpion. No fan should be without this one.

Stinging Good Fun.......2004-04-27

When looking for a fun action film, a good choice would be a film called Black Scorpion that stars Joan Severance. This movie was followed by a sequel and a television series.

Black Scorpion is the story of a young girl raised by a policeman father whose tactics cause him to ruin his career. Later in life as a cop herself she finds herself in a position where she needs to find justice and the Black Scorpion is born. Using some clothes from an undercover gig as a prostitute, and a few other additions, a costumed vigilante is created. Just as she starts to make her mark a super-villain called The Breathtaker threatens the lives of everyone in the city. It is up to Black Scorpion to save the day.

This movie is a well-balanced mix of action, adventure and humor. The police chief and a con called Argyle (played by Garrett Morris) really help to make this a very enjoyable movie. At the movie's end the viewer is left wanting to see more Black Scorpion adventures. Unfortunately, this is the best that the series gets. This is an R-Rated film for good reason so despite its comic-book feel, this is not one for children.

great escapist fare.......2004-04-24

Black Scorpion always makes me smile. It's a fun movie with a great leading lady and a good sense of fun. I've watched this on more than one rainy Sunday afternoon. A black leather clad superheroine battles the Darth Vader like Breathetaker who wants to make the entire city asthmatic. Silly and sexy cult entertainment.

a blast.......2004-03-06

Sexy Joan Severance puts on black hooker clothes to battle crime as the super-heroine Black Scorpion complete with her own super-powered car. This is great stuff if you love comics and B movies.

Scorpion - Female Prisoner 701: Grudge Song

Average customer rating:

sasori saikou!
Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song

Scorpion - Female Prisoner 701: Grudge Song
Starring: Meiko Kaji
Director: Yasuharu Hasebe
Manufacturer: Tokyo Shock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Female Prisoner #701 Scorpion: Beast Stable
Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion
Zero Woman: Red Handcuffs
Female Yakuza Tale - Inquisition and Torture
The Pinky Violence Collection - Includes Audio CD (Criminal Woman: Killing Melody/ Terrifying Girls' High School: Lynch Law Classroom/ Girl Boss Guerilla/ Delinquent Girl Boss: Worthless To Confess)

ASIN: B000C3L28E
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Description

The series that inspired "KILL BILL" the last Female Prisoner Scorpion picture starring Meiko Kaji (Lady Snowblood). The film opens with Nami Matsushima (a.k.a. Matsu, a.k.a. Scorpion) once again on the lam. The police track her down at a wedding, but she manages to escape. Badly injured, she is saved by a man who works in a strip joint and holds a grudge against the police for torturing him. Can the Scorpion trust a man again? Should she?

Customer Reviews:

sasori saikou!.......2006-11-10

To me, the most attractive part about this episode is the starring of of my all-time favorite actor, Tamura Masakazu. Trust me, his old movies and dramas are hard to find! (And he didn't have the dandy style yet!) He's still very young, probably in his late 20s or early 30s. He once said that he doesn't want to appear with guns on screen. But here, you see him shooting throughout the movie. Moreover, he's a young activist in the 1960s social moements. If you're a Tamura fan, you would definitely drool watching him tortured by the police! Sasori is cool as usual, and it's the first time I see her falling for a guy! If you're looking for gruesome and campy stuff, this one may disappoint you, cos it's definitely not as good as the earlier ones done by a different director. But it's a Sasori movie -- if you've watched the rest, there is no reason to miss this one.

Female Prisoner Scorpion: #701's Grudge Song.......2006-05-06

I have been looking forward to the release of this DVD (and it's predecessor {Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable}) for some time as I very much enjoyed the first two movies of this series.

The first three movies were directed by Shunya Ito. What is great about them is that, even though they all feature the same lead character (wonderfully played by Meiko Kaji), they are each vastly different from the others.

The first movie (Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion) is more or less a typical Women In Prison movie. But the character of Scorpion is very intriguing - very reminiscent of the anti-heroes of many spaghetti westerns. And the director often used some very interesting and unusual visual approaches to the material.

The second movie (Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41) is a real tour-de-force. Not so much a WIP movie as the bulk of the film has Scorpion and six other escaped inmates on the lam.

The third movie (Female Prisoner Scorpion: Beast Stable)plays out as much more of a crime drama. Once again, our heroine is on the run. But this time out, she has managed to maintain a certain amount of normalcy in her life (relatively speaking anyway). She gets a job, she finds a place to live, she makes a friend on the outside. But, of course, everything has to unravel eventually. FPS: Beast Stable is my favorite movie in this series.

This film (FPS: #701's Grudge Song) was directed by Yasuhara Hasebe. While the previous three movies were directed in a deliriously surreal manner, this one is often much more of a paint-by-numbers action/crime thriller. I still found it enjoyable to watch throughout. I didn't care as much for the middle portion but the first and final thirds of the film had a lot of really fine moments! The last act was especially entertaining!

While this movie probably wouldn't appeal to most, I definitely think it is worth watching for fans of the previous movies. For me, a large part of the joy in this series is watching the character of Scorpion become more and more mythic. This film absolutely does not disappoint on that count!

Average customer rating:

a fun sequel
Return of Black Scorpion
when she's good she's good, but when she's bad she's better
B-movie silliness
bad, but that's what makes it so good

Black Scorpion II: Aftershock
Starring: Carl Banks , Gabrielle Beimford , Sean Gavigan , Laura Harring , and David Harris
Manufacturer: New Concorde
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Black Scorpion
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Black Scorpion - The TV Series
Vampirella
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ASIN: B000053VBW
Release Date: 2001-01-23

Customer Reviews:

a fun sequel.......2004-12-09

As a Black Scorpion I think this a fun sequel that has everything I like about the Black Scorpion Tv series (which is available on DVD in an impressive collection): a strong and intelligent heroine, weird but wonderful bad guys, and lots of B-movie/comic strip action. Good fun!

Return of Black Scorpion.......2004-04-27

When I saw that there was a movie called Black Scorpion 2 I knew that I would have to watch it right away as my wife and I had so enjoyed the first movie.

Joan Severance returns as Darcy Walker, policewoman by day and crime fighter by night. Although her partner has been recast, almost all of the faces from the first movie have returned, including Garret Morris as Argyle.

The film opens with Darcy tracking down the Gangster Prankster (sort of a cross between the Joker and Two-Face) and then busting him as Black Scorpion. Meanwhile a woman scientist has come up with a way to neutralize earthquakes and aftershocks. Unfortunately the Mayor enjoys the federal relief funds that quakes bring in so he sabotages her machine. The result is that it amplifies the quake and the scientist takes on the identity of Aftershock. It is up to Black Scorpion to make the streets safe again.

While not quite up to the level of the first film (the fight scenes are almost comical) it was still a fun film and I would recommend it to anyone who has seen the first Black Scorpion film. I definitely recommend these films to those who like the comic book film genre, although this is not intended for kids (ther is nudity and violence).

when she's good she's good, but when she's bad she's better.......2004-04-22

Some say these type of movies are "bad" and sure they won't win an Oscar, but the Black Scorpion sure will entertain. The Black Scorpion is every cool superhero cliche wrapped up in one beautiful package. Um..Make that TWO beautiful packages. Joan Severance and Michelle Lintel have both played the role. Severance played the Scorpion in the original Black Scorpion movie, and in this sequel, and Lintel took over for the tv show. Who's better? Who cares! I like em both. A LOT! How could any red blooded male decide when you can enjoy em both over and over thanks to Roger Corman and DVD technology? Enjoy!

B-movie silliness.......2004-03-06

Don't expect a serious movie, but turn off your brain and enjoy the wonders of this flick. Sexy, silly, and worth your time if you love B-movies. I've got to give it five stars for fun.

bad, but that's what makes it so good.......2004-01-14

The Black Scorpion movies and series are very funny and sexy and they aren't to be taken seriously, but are great escapism. The villans from this one return for the series which is now available on DVD and had Adam West and Frank Gorshin too! Watch these DVDs and enjoy the explosions, the beautiful women and laugh your butt off!

Average customer rating:

Unforgettable and not for everyone
A Visual Feast
Warning for Mac G4 users
An unexpected gem
Hypnotic Japanese Trash-Art

Female Convict Scorpion: Jailhouse 41
Starring: Meiko Kaji , Fumio Watanabe , Kayoko Shiraishi , Hosei Komatsu , and Hiroko Isayama
Director: Shunya Ito
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Female Prisoner #701 - Scorpion
Female Prisoner #701 Scorpion: Beast Stable
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Lady Snowblood
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ASIN: 6305943885
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Amazon.com

Gonzo doesn't begin to describe this wild women-in-prison film. A mad mix of outrageous exploitation, flamboyant art movie, and energetic comic book, this manga-inspired cult classic is actually the second film in a series, but you hardly need the history. Matsu (Meiko Kaji, of Lady Snowblood fame) is an innocent woman in jail who defies the sadistic warden and brutal guards with silent stares and sudden strikes. Nicknamed "Scorpion" for her lethal, lightning attacks, she is systematically abused, tortured, and humiliated by the vengeful warden (guess why he wears that eye patch), but escapes with a chain gang and leads the cops on a violent chase through the countryside. The doomed "Seven Sinful Women" are systematically cut down by the trigger-happy posse, but not before they take a few with them. Kaji gives a near silent performance as the smoldering Matsu, who stares out from under artfully tousled hair with piercing eyes and spars with her bullying, psychotic cellblock rival. Director Shunya Ito paints his striking set pieces in brilliant colors: an autumnal death scene that turns from restful, leaf-blown orange to a desolate gray in a flash, a blue waterfall that suddenly runs red with blood, an escape down a literal mountain of garbage. Never has exploitation looked so beautiful.

Mastered from a gorgeous widescreen print, the image is sharp and the colors vivid. The subtitles are printed on the film, but in this case they are easy to read and grammatically sound. The DVD also features the theatrical trailer and informative liner notes that chart the series' background history by film programmer and historian Chris D. --Sean Axmaker

Description

An absolutely phenomenal surrealist-cum-exploitation picture, "Female Convict Scorpion--Jailhouse 41" is the second in a series of films about Matsu (known to her fellow inmates as "Scorpion"), a diminutive but volatile woman who is wrongly sent to prison by a betraying boyfriend. Incredibly satisfying and spectacularly photographed, these women's prison pictures feature an anti-heroine who is beautiful, strong, principled and basically honorable and decent--especially when compared to everyone around her. One of the truly genuine masterpieces of violent 1970s cinema, "Female Convict Scorpion--Jailhouse 41" is, in its own way, as subversive as Donald Cammell & Nicolas Roeg's "Performance," John Boorman's "Point Blank" and Jean-Luc Godard's "Weekend."

Customer Reviews:

Unforgettable and not for everyone.......2004-06-02

If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, check out this amazing film. The opening scene alone is worth the price of admission. I saw this at a film festival and knew I had to own it so I could loan it out to other people. This easily makes my Top 10 Best Movies You Never Heard of list.

A Visual Feast.......2002-04-07

Well, I think I should cut right to the chase: FEMALE CONVICT SCORPION: JAILHOUSE 41 is quite possibly the most fascinating and visually stunning film I have ever had the pleasure to see ... And that praise comes from fan who loves ( and also admires ) films such as BLACK NARCISSUS, KWAIDAN, SUSPIRIA, and VERTIGO to name a few ...... To simply describe the plot of FEMALE CONVICT SCORPION would be a great injustice .. This is not your run-of-the-mill women in prison film ( although I do enjoy that genre ) ... YES, the story is fascinating and so perfectly simple ... The true beauty comes in the genius of transforming a simple story into a visual and creative feast for the senses, in particular, your eyes ...... But what are visuals without performance ??? ... This film wouldn't know .... The acting is brilliant, particularly Meiko Kaji who, with one glance, can send either a chill down your spine, or send butterflies to your stomach ... Does it sound as if I love this film ??? ... I DO !!! ... I highly recommend FEMALE CONVICT SCORPION: JAILHOUSE 41 .... The colors are breathtaking, and the overall look for the film is awesome ...If there is one flaw regarding this DVD, it is in the transfer: during dark scenes, a "transparent" ( for lack of a better word ) band can be seen down the right side of the screen ... Strangely, this line is NOT visible in the trailer ... This band can also be seen occasionally in BLACK TIGHT KILLERS, a Japanese film released by the same manufacturer .... It's not bad enough to take a star away, but it is noticable during dark scenes ... Simply put, FEMALE CONVICT SCORPION is one of the best films I've ever seen ...

Warning for Mac G4 users.......2002-02-09

This is a purely technical comment---I've yet to actually see the film.

I tried to view this DVD in my MacIntosh G4's DVD player-got some sound but the image skips, flickers and generally would not play correctly.

A friend who has the same computer reported the same problem.

An unexpected gem.......2001-01-23

This is probably one of the few films I've seen recently to really surprise me. I had heard a few things about the film before seeing it, and the scattered details I had picked it up made it sound like standard Japanese exploitation - stylish, violent and misogynistic. All the elements are present in the film for this sort of product - a couple of rape scenes, the torture and abuse of women, a few moments of sadistic gore. Yet, despite these elements, this film is actually explicitly feminist in its outlook (very surprising for a Japanese exploitation film!), and is oddly lyrical and poetic for much of its length. There are few films that one could describe as being simultaneously brutal, sleazy, beautiful, absurd and emotionally affecting - "Female Scorpion" manages the rare feat of producing this strange alchemy. Definitely worth seeing for fans of Japanese filmmaking.

Hypnotic Japanese Trash-Art.......2000-12-27

A masterwork as only the japanese can deliver it! A mix between kabuki-theater, women in prison trash and stylish revenge flick! If you are into entertaining trash with an edge, buy this film now! If you are into linear non-experimental movie, than forget this one...

I'll never forget the vicious female convict scorpion answering the police officers question about the prisoners in the bus... "They're all dead". What a mean motha she is!

Description

Lisa Baumer's husband dies in a dramatic airplane crash and the widow soon collects on his million-dollar insurance policy. As a suspicious insurance agent investigates the case, the inevitable corpses start piling up.

Then, when the widow Baumer herself is found murdered, her million dollars mysteriously disappears! Smelling a hot scoop, an ambitious journalist begins to put together the pieces of an increasingly bloody puzzle.

Cleverly plotted by thriller specialist Ernesto Gastaldi (THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH, THE 10th VICTIM) THE CASE OF THE SCORPION'S TAIL is a true classic of the Italian Giallo.

Using the sensual score of composer Bruno Nicolai (KILL BILL: VOL.2, THE CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS), director Sergio Martino (THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH, TORSO) magnificently exudes atmosphere and suspense with terrifying sequences worthy of genre masters Mario Bava and Dario Argento.

The high profile cast includes George Hilton (THE CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS, ALL THE COLORS OF DARK), Anita St

Customer Reviews:

Conventional and padded out giallo.......2007-06-19

The most memorable thing about giallo The Case of the Scorpion's Tail is the trailer, which shamelessly compares itself to other `masterpieces on violence' such as The Golem, Battleship Potemkin and M. The film itself is fairly conventional. Director Sergio Martino admits that he padded out the first half after the film's running time came up short, and it shows: it's not until the halfway point that the film gets much in the way of energy. The Scope location photography in London and Greece is attractive and there's some amusement to be had from the terrible model work in a plane explosion or a sunglass wearing villain called Omar who looks like a hung over Charlton Heston in Touch of Evil after being dragged through a thorn bush, but overall the film is nothing to write home about.

No complaints about the DVD presentation, which offers both Italian and dubbed English language soundtrack options, a retrospective featurette, brief stills and poster gallery and that wildly over the top trailer.

a fine giallo.......2005-07-24

The opening ten minutes are a little rough, with an overdose of crash zooms, distorting lenses, clunky dialogue and poor model work. After the first story twist, however, the film becomes a superior giallo, worthy of comparison with Bava and Argento. Director Sergio Martino stages some strong set-pieces, displaying a visual flair only hinted at in THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS WARDH. It's possible Dario Argento saw SCORPION'S TAIL before making DEEP RED, as some scenes are remarkably similar (check out the murder in the theatre). There's even a bold female reporter, who helps unmask the killer at great personal risk. While DEEP RED is the better film, Argento owes Martino a debt or two. George Hilton is a solid lead - is it his own voice on the Italian soundtrack? - and spaghetti western regular Luigi Pistilli adds a touch of class in a rare good guy role. The plot twists are satisfying, though the photo blow-up trick was well parodied by Mel Brooks in HIGH RISK.

Gorgeous and Grisly.......2005-05-30

Case of the Scorpion's tale has all the elements of a good giallo: grisly murders, inventive, eye-popping cinematography, expressive lighting, swanky interiors, a serpentine plot, and a couple of lovely actresses. While the plot does become a little convoluted, and there is too much dialogue (a lot of which is rather clunky) all of the film's minor faults can be forgiven because the movie is a spectacular visual feast that is just a lot of fun to watch. Many of the names famous to this genre are involved in this entertaining effort, the most prominent of which are, Sergio Martino, Ernesto Gastaldi, George Hilton and Bruno Nicolai.
This upcomming release, from a new company on the genre DVD scene NoShame, ranks right up there with releases from some of the more well established genre DVD companies like Blue Underground and Mondo Macabro. The image quality of the film print used for the DVD is absolutely outstanding, and there are two audio tracks, one in English and the second in Italian with optional English subtitles. Lastly, the few extras on the disc include interviews with Martino, Gastaldi and Hilton, the theatrical trailer and a poster and still gallery. If you're taking the time to read this review then this DVD probably belongs in your DVD library.

Average customer rating:

A prison of boredom

Scorpion's Revenge
Starring: Mark Murdock (II) , Kristin Norton , Takanori Kikuchi , Tetta Sugimoto , and Michael Hodges (III)
Director: Daisuke Gotoh
Manufacturer: Asian Pulp Cinema
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Scorpion Double Venom
Beautiful Target
Zero Woman - Assassin Lovers
Zero Woman: The Hunted
Beautiful Killing Machine

ASIN: B0000AINNF
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Description

Unjustly accused of murder, Nami is sentenced to lifetime imprisonment in a Los Angeles women's prison. Caged with a sadistic warden and salacious inmates, she vows to escape and get her revenge. The Ultimate Women in Prison Movie!

Customer Reviews:

A prison of boredom.......2005-03-31

WIP movies are a mixed bunch. Some are shlocky good fun, others are mostly earnest inspections of the system. Most all delve into the depths of lesbian rape, guard abuse and political coruption to one degree or another. This has all the usual elements, but something just isn't quite right.

A woman is falsely accused of a crime and sent to prison (no one ever commits crimes do they) where she vows to uncover the truth and seek revenge. Nothing we haven't heard before.

Only half the total tale takes place in prison, the other half is after her (unexciting) escape. From there the story goes through a series of increasingly less plausable events and twists till the limply delivered conclusion.

Being a fan of cheese flicks, I consider myself fairly willing to forgive lapses in logic and mediocre acting, just so long as the depraived goods are delivered. Sadly, here we have a film that is pulp-cheese to the core but seems oddly ashamed of the very elements that construct it. Violence is very tame and the nudity/sex is almost coy in it's presentation, leaving one the ponder why this should exist in the first place. I will say in a positive light that I was curious as to whether or not she would get her revenge, and that accounts for the 2/5 stars.

Like a song without a beat or a painting without an image, this is a film that offers very little, even to fans of the material.

4/10

Average customer rating:

Black Scorpion Movie
the one that started it all
Stinging Good Fun
great escapist fare
a blast

Black Scorpion
Starring: Bruce Abbott , Darryl M. Bell , Kyle Fredericks , Ed Gilbert , and Randall Shiro Ideishi
Manufacturer: New Concorde
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Crime | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Blackmail, Murder & Mayhem | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Black Scorpion II: Aftershock
Sting of the Black Scorpion
Lake Consequence
The Last Seduction II
Black Scorpion - The TV Series

ASIN: B000053VBV
Release Date: 2001-01-23

Customer Reviews:

Black Scorpion Movie.......2006-11-05

the one that started it all.......2004-12-09

Stinging Good Fun.......2004-04-27

When looking for a fun action film, a good choice would be a film called Black Scorpion that stars Joan Severance. This movie was followed by a sequel and a television series.

great escapist fare.......2004-04-24

a blast.......2004-03-06

Sexy Joan Severance puts on black hooker clothes to battle crime as the super-heroine Black Scorpion complete with her own super-powered car. This is great stuff if you love comics and B movies.

DVD:

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