The ZERO WOMAN pictures chart the sexy and violent adventures of Rei (played by a different actress in each installment), a crafty, improbably gorgeous secret agent from Section Zero, a clandestine division of the Japanese police that handles cases where assassination and other illegal activities are routinely used to battle the underworld. Media Blasters has taken their earlier releases from the series (previously issued as single discs with a $30 SRP) and repackaged them into this much more economical three DVD set. The platters comes in an unusual double keepcase, with one on the left side and the remaining two overlapped on the other. Not the best design but adequate. I reviewed the original stand alone version of ZERO WOMAN RETURNS in issue #100a. This release is identical, so consult the earlier write-up for information about the production and the DVD. The following two reviews are based on the original Japanese versions, not the wretched English dubs.

In spite of its new American release title, Daisuke Gotoh's ZERO WOMAN is actually the second entry in the series. Former popstar Natsuki Ozawa (image; nudity) is Rei this time out, assigned to recover a suitcase full of stock certificates worth 10 million yen. They were stolen from the Yakuza by a trio of illegal aliens right before Rei could do it herself. Joining with former partner/lover Kishima, Rei investigates and various double crosses ensue. Some are triggered by Kishima himself, who is out to grab the certificates and sell them back to the mob. This task would, of course, be a whole lot easier if Kishima killed Rei but he just cannot bring himself to do it.

The story is not especially complex or interesting and the action scenes (never the strong point of these films) are merely serviceable, with plenty of running around but little in the way of excitement. The real attraction here is Ozawa, who resembles retired HK singer/actress Vivian Chow Wei-man. Like the other Zero Women, she does not look completely comfortable holding a gun and is too petite to do much believable physical damage to opponents but Ozawa (who also sings the song heard under the end titles) more than fulfils the eye candy quota. The fact that she is so winsome makes the production's obvious debits much easier to forgive. A now grown-up Kane Kosugi (from the 1983 Cannon cult favorite REVENGE OF THE NINJA) plays one of the thieves, who is also a martial arts expert (natch) and eventual ally for Rei.

If Media Blasters had to give it a new name, Koji Enokido's ZERO WOMAN: FINAL MISSION should have been rechristened "First Mission," as it is the premiere entry (not that there is much in the way of continuity with this series). At any rate, the original title remains on the movie itself. This time out, Rei (Naoko Iijima [image, nudity], who is gifted with enough flattering close-ups for ten movies) and two friends witness a hit and run "accident" perpetrated by Yumi Ogasawara (Miho Suzuki). An heiress with a clean cut image, Yumi is actually a troubled sado-masochist who ran over her lover (twice) when he refused to punish her one evening. The young woman’s powerful father undertakes a murderous cover-up that extends so far up the police hierarchy, even Rei's boss may be involved.

This chapter spends more time on the inner workings of Section Zero to the detriment of the plot, which is not exactly taut to begin with. There are also several attempts at character development but the principals here are just not interesting enough to warrant further elaboration. In the end, the film does deliver enough of the promised exploitation elements to satisfy viewers in search of kinky but non-graphic thrills (culminating in a dungeon torture session lorded over by a decidedly sinful dwarf!), which is really all that is expected of these productions.

Dolby Digital 2.0 Sync Sound Japanese and Dubbed English Language Tracks Permanent English Subtitles 8 Chapters Illustrated In the Menu With Video Grabs Letterboxed (1.75:1) 82 Minutes Contains brutal violence, sexual violence, frequent nudity, moderate sexual content, and drug use

DVD menu courtesy Tokyo Shock.

Dolby Digital 2.0 Sync Sound Japanese and Dubbed English Language Tracks Optional English Subtitles 10 Chapters Illustrated In the Menu With Video Grabs Letterboxed (1.60:1) 81 Minutes Contains moderate violence, torture, mild sexual violence, brief nudity, and moderate sexual content

DVD menu courtesy Tokyo Shock.

ZERO WOMAN TRIPLE SHOT is available at Poker Industries.