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28 June 2023

Radiance Films mourns with THE BRIDE WORE BLACK (review)

Jeanne Moreau plays on a woman on a mission.  She murders man after man, and no one knows the connection between them except her... and the dead in François Truffaut's Hitchcockian thriller THE BRIDE WORE BLACK.

REVIEW LINK: Radiance Films (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE BRIDE WORE BLACK Blu-ray specs: 

  • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 Widescreen
  • French LPCM 2.0 Mono
  • Optional English Subtitles
  • 1968 television interview with director François Truffaut by Anne Andreu 
  • 1969 television interview with actress Jeanne Moreau
  • Appreciation by "Hitchcock/Truffaut" filmmaker Kent Jones
  • Interview with critic Barry Forshaw on Cornell Woolrich and the Adaptation
  • "Les surmenés" 1958 short film by Jacques Doniol-Valcroze written by François Truffaut and starring Jean-Claude Brialy
  • U.S. Theatrical Trailer
  • Reversible cover featuring designs based on original posters.
  • The first pressing includes a removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a booklet featuring archival writing by Truffaut and Moreau, and a contemporary article on the film by Penelope Houston.

Eureka Classics casts Cynthia Rothrock as LADY REPORTER: THE BLONDE FURY (review)

In her first lead role, Cynthia Rothrock plays an FBI agent who infiltrates an Hong Kong newspaper that is a front for counterfeiting in LADY REPORTER: THE BLONDE FURY.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

LADY REPORTER Blu-ray specs:

  • Hong Kong Theatrical Cut:
    • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
    • Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono 
    • Optional English Subtitles 
    • Audio Commentary by actor/martial arts director Vincent Lyn, moderated by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
  • English Export Version:
    • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
    • English LPCM 2.0 Mono 
    • Audio Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
  • Select-Scene Audio Commentary by actress and martial-arts movie icon Cynthia Rothrock, moderated by Frank Djeng
  • "The Blonde Fury: Cynthia Rothrock on Making LADY REPORTER" interview
  • "Mang Hoi on LADY REPORTER" interview
  • Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
  • English Export Trailer
  • Reversible Cover
  • The first pressing of 2,000 copies includes a limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling, set of Facsimile Lobby Cards, and a collector's booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver.

26 June 2023

Unearthed Films' skin crawls with THE SOUND OF SUMMER (review)

THE SOUND OF SUMMER during the hot months of June through August in Japan are the song of cicadas, but they are starting to get under the skin of a young coffee server (quite literally) in this body horror film from the director of THE ROPE MAIDEN.

REVIEW LINK: Unearthed Films (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE SOUND OF SUMMER Blu-ray specs:

  • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 Widescreen
  • Japanese LPCM 2.0 Stereo
  • Optional English Subtitles
  • Behind The Scenes
  • Tokyo Talkshow with the creators of "The Sound of Summer" moderated by loud and legendary director Shozin Fukui
  • Japanese Premiere
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Trailer for DIFFICULTY BREATHING
     

Cult Epics ponders A QUESTION OF SILENCE (review)

Three women who have never met before kill a man together.  A psychiatrist is tasked with determining whether they are insane or not but starts questioning her own identity as she becomes entangled in theirs in the controversial debut feature of Marleen Gorris (future Academy Award-winning director of ANTONIA'S LINE).

REVIEW LINK: Cult Epics (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

A QUESTION OF SILENCE Blu-ray specs:

  • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 Widescreen
  • Dutch DTS-HD Master Audio and LPCM 2.0 Mono
  • Optional English Subtitles
  • Audio Commentary by film scholar Patrica Pisters 
  • 1982 "Cinevisie" television interview with director Marleen Gorris 
  • 1983 "Cinevisie" television interview with actress Cox Habbema 
  • 1982 Polygoon Journal Newsreel Extract 
  • Promotional Gallery 
  • Theatrical Trailer 
  • Bonus Trailers

22 June 2023

Arrow Video bids you to ENTER THE VIDEO STORE: EMPIRE OF SCREAMS (review)

Arrow Video restores classics from the video rental era with the output of Empire Pictures.  In THE DUNGEONMASTER, a computer genius and his girlfriend must take battle a demonic wizard in a series of adventures.  In DOLLS, travelers lost in a storm take shelter in the country house of a toy maker whose dolls have a deadly life of their own.  In CELLAR DWELLER, a comic book artist discovers that the monstrous creation of her artist hero is all too real and very hungry.  In ARENA, a short order cook on an intergalactic space station takes on aliens and robots in the ring.  In ROBOT JOX, global war in the future is fought one on one by trained fighters piloting massive robots.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video (US/UK) Region A/B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

ENTER THE VIDEO STORE: EMPIRE OF SCREAMS Blu-ray specs:

  • Disc One - The Dungeonmaster:
    • "Ragewar" Pre-release Version (77:59) 
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
      • English LPCM 1.0 Mono 
      • Optional English SDH Subtitles 
      • Audio Commentary by actor Jeffrey Byron, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain 
    • "Ragewar" International Version (77:23) 
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
      • English LPCM 1.0 Mono 
      • Optional English SDH Subtitles 
    • "The Dungeonmaster" US Theatrical Version (73:35)
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
      • English LPCM 1.0 Mono 
      • Optional English SDH Subtitles 
      • "I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own" interview with actor Jeffrey Byron 
    • Trailers: 
      • U.S. Theatrical Trailer 
      • Alternate Trailer
  • Disc Two - Dolls:
    • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
    • English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo 
    • Optional English SDH Subtitles 
    • Audio Commentary by David Decoteau, Empire alumnus and friend of director Stuart Gordon 
    • Audio Commentary by director Stuart Gordon and writer Ed Naha 
    • Audio Commentary by actors Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Stephen Lee, Carrie Lorraine, and Ian Patrick Williams 
    • "Assembling Dolls" interview with editor Lee Percy 
    • "Toys of Terror: The Making of DOLLS" documentary 
    • Film-to-Storyboard Comparison 
    • Trailers: 
      • U.S. Theatrical Trailer 
      • Alternate Trailer 
    • U.K. Home Video Trailer Image Gallery
  • Disc Three - Cellar Dweller:
    • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
    • English LPCM 2.0 Stereo 
    • Optional English SDH Subtitles
    • Audio Commentary by special make-up effects artist Michael Deak, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain 
    • "Grabbed by the Ghoulies" appreciation of special make-up effects artist John Carl Buechler by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain 
    • "Inside the Cellar" interview with special make-up effects artist Michael Deak 
    • VHS Trailer
    • Empire Pictures Trailer Reel: 
      • GHOULIES 
      • GHOULIES II 
      • BREEDERS 
      • ELIMINATORS 
      • CRAWLSPACE 
      • FROM BEYOND 
      • PRISON 
    • Empire Pictures Trailer Reel - VHS Mode!: 
      • CATACOMBS 
      • ELIMINATORS 
      • ENEMY TERRITORY 
      • FROM BEYOND 
      • GHOST TOWN 
      • GHOULIES 
      • GHOULIES II 
      • TERRORVISION 
      • TROLL 
      • CRAWLSPACE 
    • Image Galleries: 
      • Behind the Scenes 
      • Artwork and Stills 
    • Original Sales Sheet 
    • Original Production Notes
  • Disc Four - Arena:
    • Widescreen Version: 
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
      • English LPCM 2.0 Stereo 
      • Optional English SDH Subtitles 
      • Audio Commentary by director Peter Manoogian, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain 
    • Cropped Fullframe Version:
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen (upscaled) 
      • English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo 
    • "Not His Arena" interview with co-screenwriter Danny Bilson 
    • "Empire of Creatures" interview with special make-up effects artist Michael Deak 
    • Theatrical Trailer in 16:9 and 4:3 Versions
    • Image Gallery: 
      • Behind the Scenes 
      • Posters and Stills
  • Disc Five - Robot Jox:
    • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen 
    • English LPCM 2.0 Stereo 
    • Optional English SDH Subtitles 
    • Audio Commentary by director Stuart Gordon 
    • Audio Commentary by associate effects director Paul Gentry, mechanical effects artist Mark Rappaport, and stop-motion animator Paul Jessell 
    • "Crash and Burn" interview with actor Gary Graham 
    • "Her Name is Athena" interview with actress Anne-Marie Johnson 
    • "The Scale of Battle: David Allen and the FX of ROBOT JOX" appreciation by visual effects artists Steve Burg, Yancy Calzeda, Paul Gentry, Kevin Kuchaver, Dennis Muren, and John Vincent 
    • "Looking Back" interview with actor Paul Koslo 
    • "Salvaged from the Wreckage" behind the scenes photos archive from associate effects director Paul Gentry 
    • Theatrical Trailer 
    • Image Galleries: 
      • Behind the Scenes 
      • Posters and Stills 
    • Original Sales Sheet 
    • Original Production Notes
  • Comes in limited edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Laurie Greasley, reversible sleeves and double-sided posters for each film featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady, fifteen postcard-sized reproduction artcards, an Arrow Video store "membership card", and an 80-page perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the films by Lee Gambin, Dave Jay, Megan Navarro, and John Harrison plus select archival material.

11 June 2023

Eureka Video gets HOPPING MAD with THE MR. VAMPIRE SEQUELS (review)

After the huge success of Mr Vampire, Hong Kong audiences were desperate for more vampire-hopping action and the films’ producers were more than happy to oblige. A steady stream of jiangshi content was produced over the following years, and presented here are 4 of these classic titles from stunning new restorations.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

HOPPING MAD: THE MR. VAMPIRE SEQUELS Blu-ray specs:

  • DISC ONE:
    • Mr. Vampire II:
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.84:1 Widescreen 
      • Cantonese and English LPCM 2.0 Mono 
      • Optional English Subtitles 
      • Audio Commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng 
      • Extended Scene 
      • Theatrical Trailer
    • Mr. Vampire III:
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.84:1 Widescreen 
      • Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono 
      • Optional English Subtitles 
      • Audio Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema 
      • Audio Commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng and film writer John Charles 
      • Theatrical Trailer 
      • "Taoist Cinema: The World of Mr. Vampire" interview with Taoist priest Kelvin Yip
  • DISC TWO:
    • Mr. Vampire Saga IV:
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.84:1 Widescreen 
      • Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono 
      • Optional English Subtitles 
      • Audio Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema 
      • Theatrical Trailer
    • Vampire vs. Vampire:
      • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.87:1 Widescreen 
      • Cantonese LPCM 2.0 Mono (theatrical and home video mixes) 
      • Optional English Subtitles 
      • Audio Commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng 
      • Theatrical Trailer 
      • "Vampire Legacy" documentary on the history and resurgent popularity of the jiangshi genre
  • The first 3,000 copies come with a limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling and a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the films and the Jiangshi genre by James Oliver.

08 June 2023

Severin Films plots DROWNING BY NUMBERS (review)

Three women named Cissie - mother, daughter, niece - successively drown their husbands and the only thing that keeps them from being caught even as suspicion grows is their resilience against the games men play in Peter Greenaway's DROWNING BY NUMBERS starring Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson, and Joely Richardson.

REVIEW LINK: Severin Films (US) Region ALL 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

DROWNING BY NUMBERS 4K UltraHD/Blu-ray specs:

  • DISC ONE (4K UltraHD):
    • 2160p24 HEVC 1.66:1 Widescreen
    • English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
    • Optional English SDH Subtitles
    • Audio Commentary by writer/director Peter Greenaway
    • Theatrical Trailer
  • DISC TWO (Blu-ray):
    • 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 Widescreen
    • English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
    • Optional English SDH Subtitles
    • Audio Commentary by writer/director Peter Greenaway
    • "Painting by Numbers" interview with writer/director Peter Greenaway
    • "Three Women and a Coroner" interview with actor Bernard Hill
    • "Fear of Drowning" 1988 documentary directed by Vanni Corbellini and Peter Greenaway
    • "Some Greenaway Game Concepts" Storyboard Gallery
    • Theatrical Trailer

 

Also available on Blu-ray: