Admittedly more art than exploitation, this film is undeniably erotic, twisted, gorgeously shot, and simply one of the best Japanese films ever made.

Seijun Suzuki was always best at taking a cookie-cutter genre script and making it into a masterpiece. This one was so bizzare that Nikkatsu fired him. Joe Shishido stars and has silicone implants in his cheeks to look more "western"(!)

A jazzy and swift crime caper from 1968 by Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale). Some nifty camera techniques and quick editing make this a better than your average genre picture.

The second film of the trilogy, this one is in color and directed by Nobuo Nakagawa who brings more of a formal approach to the film. See it on as big a screen as you can as he favors the wide shot. Junko Miyazono reprises her role as the swordswoman who seems to look hotter the more her hair gets messed up.

The most experimental and arty of the series. Like Seijun Suzuki, Ito takes a flimsy studio Women In Prison script and makes a surrealist masterpiece out of it.

By the time Toei came out with the fourth Scorpion film in 1973, they had run out of inspiration. The only film not directed by Ito, it's the weakest. Still, Kaji is always watchable. Her next film was Lady Snowblood for Toho.

Not as good as the first but better than most. An interesting note: Juzo Itami (director of Tampopo, A Taxing Woman, The Funeral) appears in the film as an anarchist.

The opening scene of this Sex and Fury "sequel" has Reiko Ike fighting off her attackers in the rain fully nude. FYT is darker in tine than Sex and Fury with a simpler story. There is also a character who is a deadpan parody of Meiko Kaji's Scorpion persona!

A gorgeously packaged collection. Delinquent Girl Boss: Worthless to Confess is my favorite. I love that Reiko Oshida! None of these films are GREAT FILMS but if you're a fan of Pinky Violence, how can you resist?

One wonders why a major star like Tetsuro Tanba would appear it a B movie like this until one realizes that none of the numerous female characters wear a stitch of clothing. Plot? Who cares!

Unlike Hong Kong, Japan doesn't have a history of female martial arts stars. Sue Shiomi more than makes up for that. Plus, her films are violent, have some nudity, and are vastly entertaining. This box set is a real bargain.

Truly artistic softcore porn. Dark and sometimes disturbing. Based on a manga by Takashi Ishii who also provided the well written script. The best of the series.

Shinya Tsukamoto is best known for his astonishing debut Tetsuo: The Iron Man but this surreal/erotic thriller is an overlooked gem.

Takashi Miike's splatter/horror/musical is unlike any other movie I've ever seen. It goes so far over-the-top yet never loses it's heart. Some key scenes of the film are portrayed through claymation! It probably doesn't belong on this list but it's so good I had to add it.

Many of Kitano's films show yakuza life during their down time. So between the bursts of violence are long hysterical sequences illustrating the boredom and ennui of being a gangster. These are the best parts of his films.

Kitano's take on Zatoichi is freshly original (the ending dance sequence is so joyous my wife and I rewound it 7 times) and Sonatine is the most artistic and irreverent gangster film ever made.

I avoided this film for a while because I heard that it was just two actresses on a single set. But alas, that's just where it starts! Inventive, twisted, and darkly funny.