Arrow Video resurrects Asia Extreme with VERSUS (review)

Although he’s not as well known as the likes of Shinya Tsukamoto or Takashi Miike, Ryuhei Kitamura defined Asia Extreme with VERSUS (2000) in which an escaped convict battles immortal samurai and zombies over the 666th portal to hell.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video USA/MVD Visual (US) Region A/B Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

VERSUS Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One - Original Cut (120 mins):
• 1080p24 MPEG-AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles (for Japanese track) and English SDH Subtitles (for English track)
• Audio Commentary by director Ryuhei Kitamura, actors Tak Sakaguchi, Hideo Sakaki, Shoichiro Masumoto, producer Keishiro Shin and second unit director Yudai Yamaguchi (in Japanese with English subtitles)
• Audio Commentary by director Ryuhei Kitamura and Producer Keishiro Shin, moderated by Napalm Films marketing director Vanessa Shin (in English)
• "Body Slamming Body Horror" visual essay by Jasper Sharp
• "The Encounter" archival interview with editor Shûichi Kakesu
• Deleted Scenes with Audio Commentary by Ryuhei Kitamura, Tak Sakaguchi, Minoru Matsumoto, and Shoichiro Masumoto
• "Versus: FF Version" condensed recut of the film
• Archival Featurettes:
• "First Contact: Versus Evolution"
• "Tak Sakguchi's One-Man Journey"
• "Behind Versus"
• "Part 1: Birth of a Dark Hero"
• "Part 2: Versus The Legend"
• "Team Versus"
• "Deep in the Woods"
• Festival Screenings
• "Versus Side Stories" Shorts:
• "Nervous"
• "Nervous 2"
• "The Making of Nervous 2"
• Photo Galleries:
• Promotional Stills
• Posters
• Japanese Press Book
• Japanese Press Kit
• Promo and Theatrical Trailers
  
• Disc Two - Ultimate Versus Cut (130 mins):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Ryuhei Kitamura and actors Tak Sakaguchi, Hideo Sakaki and Shoichiro Masumot (in Japanese with English subtitles)
• "Sakigake! Otoko Versus Juku" behind the scenes featurette
  
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film and a reprinted interview with Kitamura by Tom Mes, and notes on the making of the film by Kitamura