GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka, Vol. 1

"I will give you panties fresh off my butt," 16-year-old Nana promises her 22-year-old student teacher Eikichi Onizuka, a virginal second-degree black belt slimebucket who seems as likely a candidate to teach high school kids as Marilyn Manson might be to head up a daycare. Hoping to score with jailbait in the opening two-part episode on this four-episode compilation, based on Tohru Fujisawa's original manga, our scum hero is instead assigned to teach thug delinquents, who attempt to trap Onizuka in a blackmail scam revolving around a staged seduction by the aforementioned Nana. The plan backfires--not because Onizuka isn't willing to have sex with a minor, but because he catches the culprits and tortures them, leading to a newfound respect built on those time-honored educational incentives of fear and physical force. While GTO is played mainly for laughs (and no actual sex occurs), the basics series concept of trolling for teenage nookie and abusing students into submission reeks. Interesting footnote: the live action finale of GTO was the most watched TV program ever in its native Japan. In addition to The Legend Begins, the DVD includes the episodes Enter Uchiyamada, Late Night Roof Diving and The Secret Life of Onizuka. Not recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)