Melon Farmers Original Version

Shopping Calendar: Recent Releases


What's cut and what's not


 

Weekly UK DVD and Blu-ray Releases...

Gaira's Guts Trilogy, Unlawful Entry


Link Here29th October 2024

UK flagReleased on 23rd September 2024

Gaira's Guts Trilogy

Link Here

Gaira's Guts Trilogy is a film set by Kazuo 'Gaira' Komizu
Starring Saeko Kizuki, Keiko Asano and Megumi Ozawa

These films have notably not been released in the UK until 2024 presumably over fears of BBFC censorship.

UK: Guts of a Beauty is uncut and BBFC 18 rated for sexual violence, strong sex, nudity, bloody violence, gore:
  • 2024 88 Films Gaira's Guts Trilogy (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon #ad released on 23rd September 2024
  • 2024 88 Films Gaira's Guts Trilogy R2 DVD at UK Amazon #ad released on 23rd September 2024
Guts of a Beauty is a 1986 Japan horror fantasy thriller by Kazuo 'Gaira' Komizu
Starring Megumi Ozawa, Ayako Ishii and Seira Kitagawa Melon Farmers link  BBFC link 2020  IMDb

Notably not released in the UK until 2024 presumably over fears of BBFC censorship.

Promotional Material

Discover the visceral world of Kazuo 'Gaira' Komizu with the definitive trilogy boxset: "Guts of a Beauty," "Guts of a Virgin," and "Rusted Body." Renowned for his bold storytelling and uncompromising vision, Gaira delves into the darkest corners of human nature and desire. Each film weaves a gripping narrative with unflinching imagery, pushing the boundaries of horror and eroticism. This collection is a must-have for fans of provocative cinema, offering a unique glimpse into the twisted genius of one of Japan's most controversial directors.

Guts of a Beauty: In a world where innocence meets terror, a young woman finds herself at the mercy of a sadistic killer. As she navigates the urban labyrinth, she uncovers the true extent of her captor's madness. Each encounter pushes her closer to the brink of sanity, blending horror with a raw exploration of human resilience.

Guts of a Virgin: A group of filmmakers on a remote shoot discovers that their secluded location harbors a dark secret. As night falls, they are hunted by a grotesque creature born from their worst nightmares. The lines between reality and horror blur as they fight for their lives, confronting their own fears and desires.

Rusted Body: In a dystopian future, a disfigured man grapples with his identity amidst a society that shuns him. As he searches for a place to belong, he encounters others who are similarly broken, each bearing their own scars. Their stories intertwine in a haunting tapestry of pain and redemption.

Death Game

Link Here

Death Game is a 1977 US thriller by Peter S. Traynor
Starring Sondra Locke, Colleen Camp and Seymour Cassel BBFC link 2020 IMDb

There are no censorship issues with this release

Summary Notes

Two close women seduce and torment a businessman in his plush San Francisco home.

UK: Uncut and BBFC 18 rated for sexual violence, strong sex, nudity:
  • 2024 Grindhouse Releasing (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon #ad released on 23rd September 2024

Promotional Material

THE OBJECT IS TO STAY ALIVE! Grindhouse Releasing is proud to present the ultimate 1970s psychological thriller. John Cassavetes veteran Seymour Cassel stars as George Manning, a family man whose perfect life is turned into a nightmare of sex and torture when he allows himself to be seduced by two nubile young strangers (Sondra Locke and Colleen Camp) who show up at his door on a rainy night. Considered lost for many decades, DEATH GAME is presented for the first time on UK home video in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio, meticulously restored in 4K from the original camera negative.

SPECIAL FEATURES Spectacular new 4K restoration created from the original camera negative Provocative, in-depth interviews with cult movie legend Colleen Camp (GAME OF DEATH, APOCALYPSE NOW) and director Peter Traynor, conducted by Eli Roth Additional interviews with co-star Sondra Locke, producer Larry Spiegel, cinematographer/editor David Worth, and screenwriter Michael Ronald Ross Audio commentaries by Colleen Camp & Eli Roth, and Larry Spiegel & David Worth 24-page full-color booklet with rare photos and liner notes Extensive still galleries AND OTHER SURPRISES!

Unlawful Entry

Link Here

Unlawful Entry is a 1992 Japan/US crime thriller by Jonathan Kaplan
Starring Kurt Russell, Ray Liotta and Madeleine Stowe BBFC link 2020 IMDb

There are no censorship issues with this release

Summary Notes

A burglar holds a knife to Karen's throat while her husband does nothing. The couple ends up befriending the cop that comes. The friendship ends when the cop beats up the culprit. Karen isn't ready to end it. Things get ugly with the cop.

UK: Uncut and BBFC 18 rated for sexual violence:

Promotional Material

Released for the first time in the UK on Blu-Ray! After an attempted armed robbery at their suburban home, happily married couple Michael and Karen Carr befriend LA policeman, Pete Davis, an officer showing a rare sense of compassion in a world of escalating urban crime. But as the professional relationship evolves into a personal one, obsession, confusion and terror begins to creep into each of their lives, as good cop goes bad, and the Carrs are left fighting for their very survival. A psychological thriller from the producer of Die Hard 1 & 2, with a killer cast including Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight, Escape from New York), Madeleine Stowe (Twelve Monkeys, The Last of the Mohicans) and Ray Liotta (GoodFellas, Revolver).

The Golden Throne

Link Here

The Golden Throne is a 2019 Kazakhstan action drama by Rustem Abdrashev, I. Kolyada, Prince Oak Oakleyski
Starring Kairat Kemalov, Yerkebulan Daiyrov and Doskhan Zholzhaksynov  BBFC link 2020  IMDb

There are no censorship issues with this release

Summary Notes

Fifteenth century. In the vast expanses of Eurasia for several centuries, the descendants of the great Genghis Khan have created their own and crushed the alien states. One of them is the legendary Abulkhair Shaibani, who usurped power in the White Horde. The two legitimate heirs...

UK: BBFC 15 rated for strong violence, injury detail, threat for strong violence, injury detail, threat after BBFC cuts:

Promotional Material

Fifteenth century. In the vast expanses of Eurasia for several centuries, the descendants of the great Genghis Khan have created their own and crushed the alien states. One of them is the legendary Abulkhair Shaibani, who usurped power in the White Horde. The two legitimate heirs to the throne, Kerei and Zhanibek, call the part of the nomadic tribes to leave the hard ruler. After migrating from the far west of Desht-i-Kipchak to Mogolistan in Zhetysu, they revive their ancient shanyrak Ak Orda, the Kazakh Khanate. The first khan elected a direct descendant of Jochi and Urus Khan, Sultan Kerey. Here it is, the promised land when you can live peacefully and freely. But the enemies are trying to strangle the fragile Kazakh khanate even in the cradle and bloody battles, severe trials, the bitterness of losses and the joy of victories await them.

 

 

 

UK flagReleased on 9th September 2024

The Golden Lotus

Link Here

The Golden Lotus is a 1974 Hong Kong drama by Han Hsiang Li
Starring Chun Yang, Chin Hu and Ni Tien BBFC link 2020 IMDb

There are no censorship issues with this release

Summary Notes

Hsi-Men Ching woos a beautiful woman Pan Chin-lien, and they murder Pan's husband together. However, the adulterer and adulteress don't get to share a wonderful life after their crime.

UK: Uncut and BBFC 18 rated for strong sex, sexual violence:

Promotional Material

Hsi-Men Ching woos a beautiful woman Pan Chin-lien, and they murder Pan's husband together. However, the adulterer and adulteress don't get to share a wonderful life after their crime.

 

 

 

Weekly US DVD and Blu-ray Releases...

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story, The Brute, Empire of the Ants


Link Here17th October 2024

US flagReleased on 27th August 2024

Castle of Blood

Link Here

Castle of Blood is a 1964 Italy/France horror by Antonio Margheriti, Sergio Corbucci
Starring Barbara Steele, Georges Rivière and Margrete Robsahm BBFC link 2020 IMDb

Exists in several variants based up on Italian, French and International versions. The film was cut by the BBFC for 1964 X rated cinema release.

Summary Notes

A journalist takes a bet that he can spend the night in a haunted castle on All Hallow's Eve. During his stay, he bears witness to the castle's gruesome past coming to life before him, and falls in love with a beautiful female ghost.

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

Promotional Material

THE WORLDWIDE UHD PREMIERE! BOTH VERSIONS NOW RESTORED UNCUT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!

It was begun by Sergio Corbucci (DJANGO), completed by Antonio Margheriti (THE LONG HAIR OF DEATH) and remains one of the true masterpieces of Gothic Horror. Now both versions - the Italian DANZA MACABRA and the U.S. release CASTLE OF BLOOD - can be experienced like never before: When a cynical journalist accepts a wager that he won't survive the night in a haunted castle, it will unlock an odyssey of sexual torment, undead vengeance and a dark seductress (the legendary Barbara Steele) who surrenders the gravest of pleasures. Georges Rivière (THE VIRGIN OF NUREMBERG) co-stars in "a classic cornerstone of the EuroHorror Renaissance" (DVD Savant), scanned in 4K from the original negative and restored by Cinématographique Lyre in collaboration with Severin Films, with 3+ hours of new and archival Special Features that include a selected scene commentary by Steele.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett Of NaschyCast And The Bloody Pit, And Dr. Adrian Smith, Co-Author Of Norman J. Warren: Gentleman of Terror
  • Selected Scene Commentary With Actress Barbara Steele And Barbara Steele Archivist Russ Lanier
  • Exploring The Castle Of Blood - Interview With Stephen Thrower, Author Of Books On Jess Franco And Lucio Fulci
  • The Director Who Didn't Like Blood - Interview With Edoardo Margheriti, Son Of Director Antonio Margheriti
  • Enigmatic Elegance: Unveiling The Haunting Legacy Of Barbara Steele In The Italian Gothic - Video Essay By Rachael Nisbet, Film Critic And Co-Host Of Fragments Of Fear
  • Return To The Castle - Location Featurette
  • Antonio Margheriti Remembers CASTLE OF BLOOD And Barbara Steele
  • Trailer
  • TV Spot
A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 1 & 2

Link Here

A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 1 & 2 is a double bill by Bosco Lam, Kin-Nam Cho
Starring Yvonne Hung Yung, Lawrence Ng and Mai Ching

Never released in the UK. There are Mandarin & Cantonese language variants.
US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
  • 2024 Vinegar Syndrome [A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 1 + 2] (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon #ad released on 27th August 2024
A Chinese Torture Chamber Story is a 1994 Hong Kong film by Bosco Lam
Starring Yvonne Hung Yung, Lawrence Ng and Mai Ching IMDb
Never released in the UK. There are Mandarin & Cantonese language variants.
Chinese Torture Chamber Story 2 is a 1998 Hong Kong horror thriller by Kin-Nam Cho
Starring Mark Ho-nam Cheng, Yolinda Yam and Wai-Kin Lam IMDb

Never released in the UK.

Promotional Material

*This listing is for the standard edition version and does NOT come with a limited edition slipcase!*

Vinegar Syndrome specializes in the masterful restoration and distribution of cult, horror, and erotic films from the 1960s-90s.

Notorious even amongst Hong Kong's Cat III films, A CHINESE TORTURE CHAMBER STORY 1 & 2 remain some of the most outrageous entries in the genre, thanks to their shameless blending of explicit sex and extreme violence all played with a touch of macabre humor. Unfolding like a set of Shaw Bros wuxia films gone horribly wrong, both take full advantage of their period settings to indulge in the grisly details of all types of archaic torture. Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present these two jaw-dropping highlights of early 90's Hong Kong exploitation filmmaking on Blu-ray for the first time in the U.S., newly and exclusively restored from their original negatives and presented completely uncut, along with the never-on-disc presentation of the Mandarin language edit of A CHINESE TORTURE CHAMBER STORY featuring exclusive and alternate scenes.

A CHINESE TORTURE CHAMBER STORY - A beautiful young woman named Little Cabbage is sold by her family to a wealthy scholar named Yang in order to become his future concubine. However, Yang's overbearing wife becomes jealous of Little Cabbage and arranges to have her married off to a well-endowed peasant. When Little Cabbage's new husband is found dead, poisoned by a powerful aphrodisiac, Little Cabbage and Yang are brought in front of a bloodthirsty court to face charges of conspiring to commit murder. Maintaining their innocence, Little Cabbage and Yang are forced to endure unspeakable torture at the hands of a corrupt judge in an attempt to make them confess. Cleverly told in a series of flashbacks, this horrific and hilarious film features wall-to-wall sex and violence, culminating in an explosive "climax" unlike anything you've seen before.

A CHINESE TORTURE CHAMBER STORY II - Ma, a man rising in the ranks of politics, is traveling to the capital when he is accosted by two down-on-their-luck bandits, Wong and Cheung. Taking pity on the two lowly peasants, Ma agrees to help his new friends better their lives, partly due to Ma's attraction to Wong's sister (who also happens to be Cheung's fiancée), the young and beautiful Lotus. When they all arrive in the capital to take Ma up on his generous offer, they discover that Ma has embroiled them in an elaborate con, and soon find themselves caught up in a saga of jealousy, betrayal, and of course...torture. An equally deranged follow-up to its infamous predecessor, this in-name-only sequel does its best to increase not only the amount of sex and eroticism, but also the levels of cringe-inducing violence.

Bonus Features:
1. 2-disc Region Free Blu-ray Set
2. Newly scanned and restored in 2K from their 35mm original negatives
3. Commentary track with film historian Samm Deighan (Part #1)
4. Commentary track with film historian Frank Djeng (Part #2)
5. Alternate 92-minute Mandarin language edit of A CHINESE TORTURE CHAMBER STORY with newly translated English subtitles
6. Brand new interview with Wong Jing, producer of A Chinese Torture Chamber Story 1 & 2 (5 min)
7. "The CAT III Films of Wong Jing" (17 min) - a video essay by Justin Decloux of The Important Cinema Club
8. "Titillating Torture" (18 min) - a video essay by film historian Erica Shultz
9. Original Cantonese and English trailers for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story
10. Original Cantonese trailer for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story II
11. English opening title sequence for A Chinese Torture Chamber Story
12. Booklet with an essay by film historian and author Grady Hendrix
13. Reversible sleeve artwork
14. Newly translated English subtitles

The Brute

Link Here

The Brute is a 1977 UK crime drama by Gerry O'Hara
Starring Sarah Douglas, Julian Glover and Roberta Gibbs BBFC link 2020 IMDb

Cut by the BBFC for 1977 cinema release. An uncensored version was created for export. Powerhouse Films have promised an uncut pre-release UK restoration presumably without the BBFC cuts.

Summary Notes

Glamour model Diane Shepherd gets routinely beaten by her husband Tim, who accuses her of infidelity. When she can't take it anymore, she finds shelter with photographer Mark and his girlfriend Carrie. They introduce Diana to Millie, who is in a similar situation. Meanwhile, Tim informs Diane that if she doesn't come back to him, he will see that he gains custody of their son Timmy.

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
  • 2024 Powerhouse Films US Limited Edition (RA) Blu-ray at US Amazon #ad released on 30th August 2024

Promotional Material

On the surface, it would appear model Diane Shepherd (Sarah Douglas) had it all-fine house, beloved son, prosperous husband (Julian Glover). You wouldn't have to delve deep, however, to discover the boundlessness of her spouse's mental and physical cruelty... and when she tries to break the cycle and find shelter with friends, he'll show that escape comes with a price. Stark and inflammatory drama also stars Bruce Robinson, Roberta Gibbs, Jenny Twigge.

90 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English. Region Free

Empire of the Ants

Empire of the Ants is a 1977 USA Sci-Fi horror by Bert I Gordon.
Starring Joan Collins, Robert Lansing and John David Carson. Melon Farmers link  Youtube link  BBFC link 2020  IMDb

Heavily cut for a BBFC A rated cinema release in 1977. Uncut on 15 rated 2002 DVD. Uncut and PG rated in the US.

Summary Notes

Sleazy scam artist Joan Collins tries to sell phony real estate deals down in the Florida everglades. What she and her unsuspecting buyers don't know is the area has been taken over by giant ants!

US: Uncut and MPAA PG rated for:

Promotional Material

It's no PICNIC! From sci-fi mastermind H.G. Wells and B-movie bigwig Bert I. Gordon (Village of the Giants, The Food of the Gods)--brace yourself for mutant mayhem and pestilent payback in this cult classic creature feature about good bugs gone BAD! Starring queen of mean Joan Collins (The Stud), this incredible insect extravaganza is swarming with flesh-crawling chills, hair-raising thrills and spine-tingling terror...with a venge-ANTS! A heavenly paradise becomes a hellish nightmare when a toxic spill turns harmless ants into rampaging, radioactive reprobates! Stumbling into their creepy lair, a sleazy land developer (Collins) and her clients (including Robert Lansing and John David Carson) are horrified to realize that the ants are having a picnic...and humans are on the menu! Fleeing for their lives--only to be squashed underfoot--they soon discover that these bad-boy bugs are hell-bent on exterminating mankind, and building an evil empire where humans check in...but they can't check out!

Special Features:
- NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Filmmaker/Historian Michael Varrati
- Audio Commentary by Producer/Director Bert I. Gordon
- Theatrical Trailer
- Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
- Optional English Subtitles

Squirm

Squirm is a 1976 USA horror by Jeff Lieberman.
With Don Scardino, Patricia Pearcy, R.A. Dow. Melon Farmers link    YouTube icon  BBFC link 2020    IMDb

The film was originally released in the US uncut with an MPAA R rating. Shortly after the distributor chose to make cuts for an MPAA PG rated re-rlease. The cut version was later released on VHS but DVD releases have been the uncut version. Running time suggest that it was the uncut version that has been released in the UK, originally with an X rating for cinema and an 18 rating for VHS and DVD. The rating was downrated to BBFC 15 for 2013 Blu-ray.

Summary Notes

A storm causes some power lines to break and touch the ground, drawing millions of man-eating worms out of the earth, and into town where they quickly start munching on the locals.

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

Promotional Material

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out...and to their ravenous intent, they leave no doubt! A truly frightening account of an infestation of biting worms, Squirm is guaranteed to make you do just that! When a powerful storm knocks Fly Creek, Georgia's power lines down onto wet soil, the resulting surge of electricity drives large, bloodthirsty worms to the surface--and then out of their soil-tilling minds! Soon, the townspeople discover that their sleepy fishing village is overrun with worms that burrow right into their skin! Inundated by hundreds of thousands of carnivorous creatures, the terrorized locals race to find the cause of the rampage--before becoming tilled under themselves! Try to sit still for Squirm, the cult eco-horror classic from director Jeff Lieberman (Blue Sunshine, Just Before Dawn) and makeup F/X legend Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London)!

Special Features:
- NEW Audio Commentary by Film Critics/Authors Lee Gambin and John Harrison
- Audio Commentary by Writer/Director Jeff Lieberman
- Digging In - The Making of Squirm: Documentary with Jeff Lieberman, Actor Don Scardino and Special Effects Artist Bill Milling (33:11)
- Eureka: A Tour of Locations with Jeff Lieberman
- TV and Radio Spots
- Theatrical Trailer
- Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
- Optional English Subtitles

High Crime

High Crime is a 1973 Italy/Spain/France film by Enzo G. Castellari
Starring Franco Nero, Fernando Rey and James Whitmore BBFC link 2020 IMDb

The Original Version was cut by the BBFC for an X rated cinema release in 1974. The BBFC cuts were waived for a 15 rated Export Version in 2019.

ummary Notes

An Italian police inspector matches wits with a powerful European drug ring. As he comes closer to the top of the underworld organization, his odds of survival decrease.

US: The Original Version is uncut and MPAA R rated for:
  • 2024 Blue Underground R0 4K Blu-ray/R0 Blu-ray Combo at US Amazon #ad released on 27th August 2024
  • 2024 Blue Underground R0 Blu-ray Combo at US Amazon #ad released on 27th August 2024

Promotional Material

In the Tradition of THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Franco Nero (DJANGO) gives his most powerful performance as Commissioner Belli, a head-strong Italian cop who uncovers brutal murders in Genoa linked to Europe's lucrative heroin trade. When Belli and his family become targets, the obsessive cop turns up the heat in his fight to take down the smugglers importing the deadly dope from France. How much will Commissioner Belli sacrifice to bust the Marseille Connection?

Fernando Rey (COMPANEROS), James Whitmore (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION), and Delia Boccardo (TENTACLES) co-star in this violent, action-packed crime thriller from Co-Writer/Director Enzo G. Castellari (STREET LAW). Blue Underground is proud to present the complete, uncensored version of HIGH CRIME (LA POLIZIA INCRIMINA, LA LEGGE ASSOLVE) from a brand-new 2024 Dolby Vision HDR 4K master , loaded with hours of exclusive Extras, for the first time ever in America!

SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) and HD Blu-ray (1080p) Widescreen 1.85:1 feature presentations
  • Audio: 1.0 DTS-HD MA (English); 1.0 DTS-HD MA (Italian)
  • Optional Subtitles: English SDH, Francais, Espanol, English for Italian Audio
  • Audio Commentary #1 with Co-Writer/Director Enzo G. Castellari
  • Audio Commentary #2 with Star Franco Nero and Filmmaker Mike Malloy
  • Audio Commentary #3 with Film Historians Troy Howarth, Nathaniel Thompson and Eugenio Ercolani
  • The Genoa Connection -- Interviews with Director Enzo G. Castellari and Star Franco Nero
  • From Dust To Asphalt -- Interview with Director Enzo G. Castellari
  • Hard Stunts For High Crimes -- Interview with Actor/Stuntman Massimo Vanni
  • Framing Crime -- Interview with Camera Operator Roberto Girometti
  • The Sound Of Onions -- Interview with Composers Guido and Maurizio De Angelis
  • The Connection Connection -- Featurette by EUROCRIME! Director Mike Malloy
  • Alternate Ending
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Poster & Still Gallery
  • HIGH CRIME Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis (with EXCLUSIVE Bonus Track)

The Mexico Trilogy

The Mexico Trilogy: El Mariachi, Desperado & Once Upon A Time In Mexico is a trilogy  by Robert Rodriguez
Starring Antonio Banderas, Carlos Gallardo and Carlos Gómez

US: MPAA R rated for:
  • 2024 Arrow Limited Edition [El Mariachi, Desperado & Once Upon A Time In Mexico] R0 4K Blu-ray/(RA) Blu-ray Combo at US Amazon #ad released on 27th August 2024

Desperado is a 1995 US/Mexico action drama by Robert Rodriguez
Starring Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Joaquim de Almeida Melon Farmers link  BBFC link 2020  IMDb

Reportedly cut in the US to obtain an MPAA R rating.

Promotional Material

A Tex-Mex tornado of fire and fury, writer-director Robert Rodriguez's astonishing 'Mexico Trilogy' broke fresh new ground in American independent and action cinema, catapulting the filmmaker and his largely Hispanic cast and crew into the Hollywood stratosphere.

Rodriguez's ingenious 1993 debut El Mariachi (infamously filmed for only $7000) sees a naive young musician entering a godforsaken border town and finding himself in the middle of a deadly case of mistaken identity. The major studio follow-up Desperado sees Antonio Banderas take up the mantle of the mysterious Mariachi, stalking the Mexican underworld with enough bullets up his sleeves for every bandito in his path. Finally, 2003's Once Upon a Time in Mexico sees Rodriguez use every cutting-edge technological innovation in his arsenal to bring the trilogy's explosive conclusion to the screen, as the Mariachi finds himself in the center of a bloody war for the soul of Mexico itself.

Fun, fast and full of invention and inspiration, this deadly trio cemented Robert Rodriguez's reputation as an action auteur worth following, and are accompanied here by insightful new interviews with the director and his crew of collaborators.

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

  • High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all three films
  • 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of Desperado
  • Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by Carlos Aguilar and Nicholas Clement
  • Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper
  • Double sided posters featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper
  • Collectable poster featuring Robert Rodriguez's original poster concept for El Mariachi

DISC 1 - EL MARIACHI (BLU-RAY)

  • Original uncompressed Latin-American Spanish stereo audio, plus an English dub in lossless stereo
  • Optional English subtitles, plus English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • Commentary by writer-director Robert Rodriguez
  • Big Vision Low Budget , a newly filmed interview with Rodriguez
  • The Original Mariachi , a newly filmed interview with producer/star Carlos Gallardo
  • The Music of 'El Mariachi' , a newly produced featurette on the music in the film, featuring interviews with composers Eric Guthrie, Chris Knudson, Alvaro Rodriguez and Marc Trujillo
  • Ten Minute Film School , an archive featurette produced and narrated by Rodriguez
  • Bedhead , a 1991 short film by Rodriguez
  • Theatrical trailer and TV spot

DISCS 2 & 3 - DESPERADO (BLU-RAY / 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

  • New 4K restoration from the original camera negative by Sony Pictures
  • Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • Audio commentary by writer-director Robert Rodriguez
  • Lean and Mean , a newly filmed interview with Rodriguez
  • Shoot Like Crazy , a newly filmed interview with producer Bill Borden
  • Kill Count , a newly filmed interview with stunt coordinator Steve Davison
  • Lock and Load , a newly filmed interview with special effects coordinator Bob Shelley
  • Game Changer , a newly filmed appreciation by filmmaker Gareth Evans ( The Raid: Redemption )
  • Ten More Minutes: Anatomy of a Shootout , an archive featurette narrated by Rodriguez
  • Textless opening ("Morena de mi Corazón")
  • Theatrical trailers

DISC 4 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO (BLU-RAY)

  • Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo audio
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
  • Commentary by writer-director Robert Rodriguez
  • The Revolution Will Be Digitized , a newly filmed interview with Rodriguez
  • Troublemaking , a newly filmed interview with visual effects editor Ethan Maniquis
  • Eight deleted scenes, with optional commentary by Rodriguez
  • Ten Minute Flick School , an archive featurette narrated by Rodriguez
  • Inside Troublemaker Studios , an archive featurette on Rodriguez's studio in Austin
  • Ten Minute Cooking School , an archive featurette in which Rodriguez shows you how to cook Puerco Pibil
  • Film is Dead: An Evening with Robert Rodriguez , a presentation by the director given in 2003
  • The Anti-Hero's Journey , an archive featurette on the arc of the Mariachi
  • The Good, the Bad and the Bloody: Inside KNB FX , an archive featurette on the film's special effects
  • Theatrical trailers

Reptilicus

Reptilicus is a 1961 Denmark action adventure drama by Poul Bang, Sidney W. Pink
Starring Bent Mejding, Asbjørn Andersen and Povl Wøldike Melon Farmers link  BBFC link 2020  IMDb

BBFC category cuts were required for an 'A' rated 1963 cinema release. Uncut and PG rated for 2016 DVD. Uncut and MPAA PG rated in the US.

A few scenes in the Danish version of the film in which Reptilicus was shown flying were cut from the U.S. version of it before it even reached the U.S. because its producer/U.S. director considered them unconvincing

Summary Notes

After copper miners discover a piece of the frozen tail of a giant prehistoric reptile in Lapland, scientists inadvertently bring it back to life.

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:
  • 2024 Vinegar Syndrome R0 4K Blu-ray/(RA) Blu-ray Combo at US Amazon #ad released on 27th August 2024

Promotional Material

Vinegar Syndrome specializes in the masterful restoration and distribution of cult, horror, and erotic films from the 1960s-90s.

A group of mining engineers prospecting for copper in the mountains of Lapland make an incredible discovery when their drilling unearths the remains of a giant, prehistoric amphibious reptile. A section of the creature's tail is exhumed from beneath the frozen tundra and transported to the National Aquarium in Copenhagen, where it's placed in a cold room to be studied by Professor Otto Martens and his research team. But when the door to the room is accidentally left ajar, the tail segment begins to thaw, quickly regenerating itself into a gigantic beast! Now loose and embarking on a cross-country rampage, the military are forced to employ all means necessary to rout the creature - now dubbed "Reptilicus" - before it launches a full-scale attack on the capital.

A Danish-American co-production, REPTILICUS is a delirious creature feature which serves as the Scandinavian answer to Godzilla, complete with astonishing scenes of its titular monster causing carnage in Copenhagen. Filmed in both Danish and English language versions, directed by Poul Bang and Sidney W. Pink ( Journey to the Seventh Planet ) respectively, REPTILICUS features a nearly identical cast to its Danish counterpart but adds in unique special effects flourishes such as the beast spewing acid saliva on its victims. The monster maniacs at Vinegar Syndrome are thrilled to regenerate REPTILICUS in a new 4K restoration from the original negative for its world UHD premiere, alongside an HD transfer of the Danish-language version - available on disc for the first time ever in the U.S. - and an array of newly-produced bonus features.

Bonus Features:
1. 3-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray x2
2. 4K UHD presented in High-Dynamic-Range
3. Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative
4. Includes the U.S. disc debut of the alternate 95-minute Danish version of REPTILICUS with newly translated English subtitles (Blu-ray only)
5. Commentary track with film historian Nicolas Barbano and novelist and critic Kim Newman
6. "Fifty Million Years Out of Time: Revisiting Reptilicus" (32 min) - a new retrospective featuring film historian/producer Robert Parigi and screenwriter/film historian C. Courtney Joyner
7. "Pink Goes West: Life After Reptilicus" (11 min) - an interview with filmmaker/historian Jay Jennings
8. "Invincible... Indestructible!" (29 min) - illustrator, author and film historian Stephen R. Bissette on Reptilicus and its enduring legacy
9. Promotional image gallery
10. Reversible sleeve artwork
11. English SDH subtitles

 

 

 

Weekly UK DVD and Blu-ray Releases...

Nothing But The Best, The Bodyguard From Beijing


Link Here15th October 2024

UK flagReleased on 2nd September 2024

Campton Manor

Link Here

Campton Manor is a 2024 Canada film by Cat Hostick
Starring Shawn Roberts, Jason London and Kenneth Welsh BBFC link 2020 IMDb

There are no censorship issues with this release

Summary Notes

An author tries to investigate a decades old mystery and finds himself stuck in his own ghost story.

UK: Uncut and BBFC 15 rated for strong bloody images, horror, violence:
 

 

UK flagReleased on 26th August 2024

Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza

Link Here

Tokijiro: Lone Yakuza is a 1966 Japan action adventure by Tai Katô
Starring Kinnosuke Nakamura, Junko Ikeuchi and Chiyonosuke Azuma BBFC link 2020 IMDb

There are no censorship issues with this release

Summary Notes

According to the code of the gamblers, Tokijiro, though he dislikes killing, has to join in the fighting when afforded a night's stay and meals at the home of a town boss. He will be tested again and again in the bloody tale.

UK: Uncut and BBFC 15 rated for strong bloody violence:

Promotional Material

Weary of the rigid codes of the underworld, gambler Tokijiro (Kinnosuke Nakamura, Goyokin) wanders Japan in search of freedom. But escape proves to be impossible when an obligation to a gang boss leaves him with no choice but to kill a man. To atone for his crime, he vows to take care of his victim's widow and young son. But the gang won't rest until they've killed the entire family - including the man who stands in their way. With this breathtakingly stylised film, Tai Kato broke all the conventions of the yakuza genre, fusing blood-spurting action with melodrama worthy of Japanese cinema's greatest masters.

EXTRAS: LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES, High-Definition digital transfer, Uncompressed mono PCM audio, Interview with film critic Koushi Ueno about the film's place in genre cinema history (2024), A visual essay on star Kinnosuke Nakamura by Japanese cinema expert Robin Gatto (2024), New and improved English subtitle translation, Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow, Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by scholar Ivo Smits and a newly translated archival review

Nothing But The Best

Link Here

Nothing But The Best is a 1964 UK comedy by Clive Donner.
Starring Alan Bates and Denholm Elliott and Harry Andrews. BBFC link 2020 IMDb

Cut by the BBFC for 1964 cinema release. The cuts have persisted onto DVD.

Summary Notes

Success has James Brewster's name written all over it, and he also has his heart set on his boss's daughter. A con artist hires him to help out on a bank scheme, but then again, James will do anything to get rich and be the most successful businessman in Britian-even if it means murder!!!

UK: Uncut and BBFC 12 rated for moderate bad language, sex references:

Promotional Material

Black humour and biting social satire combine in this acclaimed comedy of 1964, starring Alan Bates as an ambitious young real-estate clerk who is determined to crawl his way to the top of the social pile; Denholm Elliott is the disreputable aristocrat who teaches him all he needs to know, Millicent Martin the girl he sets out to woo and win. Nothing but the Best is scripted by Academy Award winner Frederic Raphael with Nic Roeg earning a BAFTA-Award nomination for cinematography. Jimmy Brewster is a working-class lad using his dynamism and abundant charm to overcome any obstacles to the champagne lifestyle he craves. He has his sights firmly set on his boss's daughter, Ann, and finds a perfect mentor in the form of the caddish, crook Charlie. But just how far is Brewster prepared to go to get what he wants?

EXTRAS: Interview with Frederic Raphael University of London interview with Clive Donner Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery Original trailer

 

WOLVES, PIGS AND MEN

Link Here

WOLVES, PIGS AND MEN is a 1964 Japan action drama by Kinji Fukasaku
Starring Ken Takakura, Kin'ya Kitaôji and Shinjirô Ebara BBFC link 2020 IMDb

There are no censorship issues with this release

Summary Notes

A lonely gangster tries recruiting men to plunder a respected and powerful gang.

UK: Uncut and BBFC 15 rated for strong violence, injury detail, language, sexual violence:
  • 2024 Eureka Entertainment (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon #ad released on 26th August 2024

Promotional Material

A standout yakuza film directed by a master of the genre in Kinji Fukasaku ( Battles Without Honour and Humanity ), Wolves, Pigs and Men is an uncompromising treatise on brutality and brotherhood starring Rentarô Mikuni ( Harakiri ), Kin'ya Kitaôji ( Battles Without Honour and Humanity: Final Episode ) and the inimitable Ken Takakura ( Abashiri Prison ).

Kuroki (Mikuni), Jirô (Takakura) and Sabu (Kitaôji) are three brothers born into poverty. Kuroki, the eldest, finds an escape from his squalid beginnings by turning to organised crime -- and soon both Jirô and Sabu have followed him into the yakuza lifestyle. But none of the brothers see eye to eye, each of them showing more loyalty to their criminal comrades than to their siblings. Following a stint in prison, Jirô convinces Sabu to help him pull off a potentially lucrative heist, leading to a series of betrayals and horrifically violent acts that will test the bonds of blood to their breaking point.

Blending the staple themes of the Japanese gangster film with narrative and aesthetic qualities borrowed from the French New Wave and American film noir, Wolves, Pigs and Men stands as one of the finest yakuza movies of the 1960s. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK from a new restoration of the original film elements by Toei.

SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES:

Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju) [First print run of 2000 copies only] | 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a restoration of the original film elements supplied by Toei | Original Japanese audio track (uncompressed LPCM mono) | Audio commentary track by Jasper Sharp | Interview with screenwriter Jun'ya Satô | Interview with producer Tatsu Yoshida | Interview with Kinji Fukasaku's biographer, Sadao Yamane | Trailer | PLUS: A collector's booklet featuring new writing by Japanese cinema expert Joe Hickinbottom

A MAN CALLED TIGER

A MAN CALLED TIGER is a 1973 Hong Kong action adventure by Wei Lo
Starring Jimmy Wang Yu, Kawai Okada and Yôko Minakaze IMDb

Exists as the Original Hong Kong Version, a shorter 1978 Re-release Version and a longer Taiwan Version.

Summary Notes

A tough Chinese man suspects that his father's suicide in Japan was a gang murder. He gets himself hired by a rival gang, and uses both wit and force to uncover the truth.

UK: BBFC details not yet published for the Hong Kong Version:
  • 2024 Eureka Entertainment Special Edition [Original Hong Kong Version + Re-release Version] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon #ad released on 26th August 2024

Promotional Material

Starring Jimmy Wang Yu ( The One-Armed Swordsman ) and directed by Lo Wei , the man behind the smash-hit Bruce Lee vehicles The Big Boss and Fist of Fury , A Man Called Tiger is a martial arts extravaganza released at the height of an international kung fu craze.

Chin Fu (Wang Yu) is a formidable martial artist who suspects his father's apparent suicide was actually a cold-blooded murder. His desire for answers -- and revenge -- leads him to Japan, where he becomes entangled with the yakuza. With the aid of his fellow countryman Liu Han-ming ( James Tien , Hand of Death ) and a nightclub hostess ( Maria Yi , Fist of Fury ), Chin Fu sets out to infiltrate Tokyo's underworld, expose a criminal conspiracy, and uncover his father's true fate by any means necessary.

Long rumoured to have been planned as the third collaboration between Lo Wei and Bruce Lee before Lee made his directorial debut with The Way of the Dragon , A Man Called Tiger instead became a vehicle for another martial arts superstar in Jimmy Wang Yu. Eureka Classics is proud to present the film for the first time ever in the UK from a brand new 2K restoration.

SPECIAL BLU-RAY EDITION FEATURES:

  • Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling
  • Limited edition reversible poster featuring original poster artwork
  • 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a 2K restoration of the rarely seen uncut Hong Kong theatrical release version of the film, making its home video debut in the UK / US (112 mins)
  • 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a 2K restoration of the re-release version of the film (79 mins)
  • Original Mandarin and classic English dub audio options on both cuts of the film (original mono presentations)
  • Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
  • Brand new audio commentary on the Hong Kong version by East Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and Michael Worth
  • Brand new audio commentary on the export version by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
  • Cutting Tiger, Hidden Subtitles -- Brand new video essay by Brandon Bentley
  • Do You Know What Sadness Means? + Because I Have Your Love -- Music videos prepared exclusively for this release
  • Textless opening
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original poster artwork
  • Trailer
  • PLUS: A limited edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by writer and critic James Oliver, and a short essay by Brandon Bentley about the versions of the film presented on this release
The Bodyguard From Beijing

Link Here

The Bodyguard From Beijing is a 1994 Hong Kong action thriller by Corey Yuen
Starring Jet Li, Christy Chung and Kent Cheng BBFC link 2020 IMDb

The Hong Kong Version titled The Bodyguard from Beijing was shortened an cut for the US Version titled The Defender

Summary Notes

Corrupt tycoon kills witness to a crime. Only the girlfriend of a businessman with Chinese govt. ties saw it. Beijing bodyguard helps Hong Kong police protect her. But he and the witness develop feelings, complicating matters.

UK: BBFC details not yet published for the Original Version:

Promotional Material

A corrupt businessman commits a murder and the only witness is the girlfriend of another businessman with close connections to the Chinese government, so a bodyguard from Beijing is dispatched to help two Hong Kong cops protect the witness. Complications arise when the bodyguard and the witness must confront their deep feelings for one another.

Island Of Fire

Island Of Fire is a 1991 Taiwan action drama by Yen-Ping Chu
Starring Jackie Chan, Andy Lau and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung Melon Farmers link  BBFC link 2020   IMDb

Exists as a Taiwanese version and a shorter Hong Kong version The Taiwanese version features more character development of the Taiwanese actors and bit players and ends up being easier to understand.

Summary Notes

A cop goes undercover to infiltrate a deadly prison where a team of mercenaries is being assembled.

UK: Uncut and BBFC 18 rated:

Promotional Material

Four men of iron face their destinies within the harsh walls of a Taiwanese prison. Steve (Jackie Chan, 'Rush Hour') is a gambler seeking to atone for his sins. Andy (Tony Leung, 'The Lover') is an undercover cop solving a crime. Lee (Andy Lau, 'The Great Wall') is a gangster looking for vengeance. John (Sammo Hung, TV's 'Martial Law') is a lifer seeking to reunite with his son. For this slice of Chinese jailhouse rock, producer Wang Yu ('The One-Armed Boxer') brought together both the finest talent in Asian cinema and the finest scenes from 'Bad Boys', 'Cool Hand Luke', 'Papillon' and every classic Hollywood prison movie ever! Our heroes get time off for bad behaviour, leading to a furious final 'Wild Bunch' style showdown. 'Island of Fire' sees Jackie Chan deliver a new level of fury!

Island Of Terror

Island Of Terror is a 1966 UK Sci-Fi horror by Terence Fisher.
Starring Peter Cushing and Edward Judd and Carole Gray. BBFC link 2020 IMDb

Cut by the BBFC for all X rated 1966 cinema release and PG rated 1995 VHS, 2004 DVD. The 2014 DVD/Blu-ray release is uncut

Summary Notes

A small island community is overrun with creeping, blobbish, tentacled monsters which liquefy and digest the bones from living creatures. The community struggles to fight back.

UK: Uncut and BBFC PG rated for mild peril and violence:

Promotional Material

Horror is unleashed on an isolated island community when the inhabitants find themselves at the mercy of tentacled creatures that can liquefy human tissue and bone. Stanley, a pathologist, and Dr. David West attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery and discover that a scientific team on the island, now dead, may have been responsible for the 'Sillicates' which carve a deadly trail across the island. Directed by Terrence Fisher (Curse of the Werewolf, Dracula) and starring Hammer stalwart Peter Cushing, this monstrous island-style feature, follows in the footsteps of Jules Verne, and H.G. Wells providing a satisfyingly entertaining tale of horror and medical experiments gone array.

 

Orgasmo

Orgasmo (aka Paranoia) is a 1969 Italy/France thriller by Umberto Lenzi.
Starring Carroll Baker, Lou Castel and Colette Descombes. Melon Farmers link  BBFC link 2020    IMDb

In the US a shortened US version with extra nudity was released. The Original Version/Director's Cut is MPAA Unrated in the US. It seems likely that it was the US Version that was cut by the BBFC for an X rated cinema release in 1969.

Summary Notes

A rich and lonely American widow befriends two young people whose motives become suspect.

UK: BBFC details not yet published for:

Promotional Material

More giallo goodness from the master of the genre, Umberto Lenzi. This cinematic gem follows a wealthy widow who moves to a luxurious home in Italy, only to find herself the target of a mysterious but handsome stranger and his equally stunning step-sibling, so cue questionable debauchery, dangerous drugs and very saucy sex. Starring Hollywood hottie Carroll Baker this psychological thriller takes the genre into truly dark, surreal places whilst delivering a pitch perfect, claustrophobic atmosphere.

The Complete Confessions, 1974--1977

The Complete Confessions is a film set by Val Guest, Norman Cohen, Justin Cartwright
Starring Robin Askwith, Anthony Booth and Linda Hayden

There are no censorship issues with this release.
UK: Uncut and BBFC aggregate 18 rated:
  • 2024 Powerhouse Films Limited Edition (RB) Blu-ray at UK Amazon #ad released on 26th August 2024

Promotional Material

Robin Askwith (Britannia Hospital) stars in THE COMPLETE CONFESSIONS, 1974--1977, the definitive collection of the celebrated British sex-comedy series. Based on the pseudonymous Timothy Lea novels by screenwriter Christopher Wood (The Spy Who Loved Me), each instalment follows the fortunes of the feckless and accident-prone -- yet seemingly irresistible -- Timmy (Askwith) as he gets embroiled in the money-making schemes of his brother-in-law Sidney Noggett (Anthony Booth, Corruption).

The fun starts in Confessions of a Window Cleaner, as Timmy must satisfy the demands of a clientele of lonely housewives whilst attempting to woo police officer Liz (Linda Hayden, The Blood on Satan's Claw).

In Confessions of a Pop Performer, Timmy endures the ups and downs (and ins and outs) of the music business when he joins a band managed by Sid.

With Confessions of a Driving Instructor, Timmy finds his female students fumbling for his gearstick.

Finally, in Confessions from a Holiday Camp, entertainment officer Timmy struggles to organise a beauty contest under the watchful eye of the camp's tyrannical new manager.

Directed by Val Guest (The Full Treatment) and Norman Cohen (Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers), this classic quartet features a supporting cast of British comedy greats, including Bill Maynard (Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt), Doris Hare (On the Buses), Windsor Davies (Endless Night), John Le Mesurier (The Wrong Box), and Liz Fraser (Adventures of a Taxi Driver). As beloved by audiences as they were reviled by critics, the Confessions series sparked a string of imitators, and stand as a time capsule of the fashions and attitudes of 1970s Britain.

Along with an array of new commentaries and interviews, this Blu-ray premiere collection also includes producer Greg Smith's follow-up feature film, Rosie Dixon -- Night Nurse, which was adapted from Christopher Wood's Confessions of a Night Nurse.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION 4 x BLU-RAY BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES High Definition presentations of Confessions of a Window Cleaner, Confessions of a Pop Performer, Confessions of a Driving Instructor, and Confessions from a Holiday Camp Standard Definition presentation of Rosie Dixon -- Night Nurse Original mono audio All-new audio commentaries on all four Confessions film by the much-loved star of the series, Robin Askwith (2024) Confessions of a Film Composer (2024): interview with prolific film and TV composer Ed Welch, the man responsible for scoring three Confessions movies, and Rosie Dixon -- Night Nurse Hey, Judy! (2024): cult film actress Judy Matheson recalls working alongside veteran director Val Guest, and co-star Robin Askwith, during the production of Confessions of a Window Cleaner Interview with David Hamilton (2024): the veteran broadcaster recalls his cameo appearance in Confessions of a Pop Performer Interview with Esta Charkham (2024): the prolific casting director discusses Rosie Dixon -- Night Nurse and the unique job of casting a British sex comedy The BEHP Interview with Val Guest (1988): archival audio recording of the Confessions of a Window Cleaner director in conversation with Roy Fowler The BEHP Interview with Geoffrey Foot (1988): archival audio recording of the editor of three Confessions films, and Rosie Dixon -- Night Nurse, in conversation with Sidney Cole and Alan Lawson Super 8 version of Confessions of a Driving Instructor: two-part cutdown home-cinema presentation Original theatrical trailers Image galleries: promotional and publicity materials New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Limited edition exclusive 120-page book with a new essay by Simon Sheridan, archival interviews and articles, and film credits World premieres on Blu-ray Limited edition box set of 5,000 individually numbered units for the UK All extras subject to change

The Italian Connection

The Italian Connection is a 1972 Italy / West Germany action crime thriller by Fernando Di Leo
Starring Mario Adorf, Henry Silva and Woody Strode BBFC link 2020 IMDb

Cut by the BBFC for X rated cinema release in 1973. Uncut and BBFC 15 rated for 2024 Blu-ray.

Summary Notes

When a shipment of heroin disappears between Italy and New York, a small-time pimp in Milan is framed for the theft. Two professional hitmen are dispatched from New York to find him, but the real thieves want to get rid of him before the New York killers get to him to eliminate any chance of them finding out he's the wrong man. When the pimp's wife and daughter are murdered in the course of the "manhunt", he swears revenge on everyone who had anything to do with it.

UK: Uncut and BBFC 15 rated for strong violence, nudity, sexual threat:

Promotional Material

In the 1970s the crime film flourished in Italy as the country went through years of political and social unrest, the so-called 'Years of Lead'. Italian movie producers would capitalise on these times by producing cheap, violent movies about national organised crime and corruption, establishing the genre of the poliziotteschi. One of the most celebrated poliziottesco directors was Fernando Di Leo, a director as concerned with telling entertaining stories as he was with creating socially relevant backdrops. In Di Leo's The Italian Connection, the New York mob dispatch two hitmen (Henry Silva, The Boss and Woody Strode, Once Upon a Time in the West) to apprehend pimp Luca Canali (Mario Adorf, Milano Calibro 9), who they believe to have stolen a shipment of heroin. The local mob also join the hunt, but despite being outnumbered Luca refuses to go quietly and fights back against his pursuers, leading a thrilling series of chases and shootouts, and a trail of bloody destruction. A noted influence on Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, this is the poliziottesco at its most entertaining and action-packed.

EXTRAS: LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES: 2020 4K restoration of the original negative, presented with Italian and English audio, on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK, Uncompressed mono PCM audio, ...And a Tiny Bullet for a Tiny Kitten: A new visual essay by Howard S. Berger on Di Leo's use of deadpan farce and absurdism in his social critiques of post-war Italy in his milieu trilogy, Archival documentary The Roots of the Mafia (26 mins), Reversible sleeve featuring artwork based on original posters, New and improved English subtitle translation, Limited edition booklet with new writing by Italian crime expert Austin Fisher and extracts of an archival interview with Di Leo

 

 

 

Weekly US DVD and Blu-ray Releases...

In the Line of Duty, The Last Emperor, Navajo Joe


Link Here5th October 2024

US flagReleased on 13th August 2024

In The Line Of Duty IV: Special Edition

Link Here

In The Line Of Duty IV: Special Edition is a 1989 Hong Kong action comedy
Starring Cynthia Khan, Donnie Yen and Michael Wong BBFC link 2020 IMDb

Cut by the BBFC for 18 rated VHS in 1990. Uncut since 18 rated DVD in 2001.

Summary Notes

A Hong Kong cop and two American cops are onto a suspected harbor worker and are forced to team up when they discover that the suspect is a witness on the run from CIA agents and their schemers; two corrupt cops.

US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:

Promotional Material

Donnie Yen and Cynthia Khan play two cops from both sides of the Pacific on the trail of a drug trafficking syndicate. Khan and Yen discover to their dismay that the syndicate has more than one insider working in the law enforcement agencies. As they break the rules to save a witness, the two find themselves pursued by American assassins, Hong Kong gangs and the law.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Stunning new 2K restoration of the Hong Kong cut, featuring 2.0 Cantonese Mono with English Subtitles & 2.0 English Mono
  • New 2K restoration of the Export Version of the film featuring the Classic English Dub
  • Audio Commentary with Frank Djeng and Michael Worth
  • Archival commentary by Hong Kong expert Stefan Hammond and lead actor Michael Wong
  • Archive Interview with Donnie Yen
  • Hong Kong Trailer
  • English Trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original Hong Kong artwork
The Last Emperor

Link Here

The Last Emperor is a 1987 China / Italy / UK / France biography by Bernardo Bertolucci.
Starring John Lone and Joan Chen and Peter O'Toole. BBFC link 2020 IMDb

Exists in two versions, the preferred Theatrical Version and an extended TV version.

Summary Notes

A dramatic history of Pu Yi, the last of the Emperors of China, from his lofty birth and brief reign in the Forbidden City, the object of worship by half a billion people; through his abdication, his decline and dissolute lifestyle; his exploitation by the invading Japanese, and finally to his obscure existence as just another peasant worker in the People's Republic.

US: Uncut and MPAA PG-13 rated for:
  • 2024 The Criterion Collection [Theatrical + TV Version] R0 4K Blu-ray/(R0) Blu-ray Combo at US Amazon #ad released on 13th August 2024

Promotional Material

Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor won nine Academy Awards, unexpectedly sweeping every category in which it was nominated--quite a feat for a challenging, multilayered epic directed by an Italian and starring an international cast. Yet the scope of the film was, and remains, undeniably powerful--the life of Emperor Puyi, who took the throne in 1908, at age three, before witnessing decades of cultural and political upheaval within and without the walls of the Forbidden City. Recreating Qing-dynasty China with astonishing detail and unparalleled craftsmanship by cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti, The Last Emperor is also an intimate character study of one man reconciling personal responsibility and political legacy.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

  • 4K digital restoration, presented in the aspect ratio of 2.35:1, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
  • One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and two Blu-rays with the film and special features
  • Audio commentary featuring director Bernardo Bertolucci, producer Jeremy Thomas, screenwriter Mark Peploe, and composer-actor Ryuichi Sakamoto
  • 218-minute television version
  • The Italian Traveler, Bernardo Bertolucci, a film by Fernand Moszkowicz tracing the director's geographic influences, from Parma to China
  • Footage taken by Bertolucci while on preproduction in China
  • Two documentaries about the making of the film
  • Program featuring cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, editor Gabriella Cristiani, costume designer James Acheson, and art director Gianni Silvestri
  • Archival interview with Bertolucci
  • Interviews with composer David Byrne and cultural historian Ian Buruma
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic David Thomson, a reminiscence by Bertolucci, interviews with production designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti and actor Ying Ruocheng, and an essay by Fabien S. Gerard
Navajo Joe

Link Here

Navajo Joe is a 1966 Italy/Spain western drama by Sergio Corbucci
Starring Burt Reynolds, Aldo Sambrell and Nicoletta Machiavelli BBFC link 2020 IMDb

Cut for violence for X rated UK cinema release. The violence was restored for DVD but new cuts were made for animal cruelty. Uncut and MPAA Unrated in the US.

Summary Notes

A Native American warrior seeks revenge on the gang of sadistic scalphunters-turned-bank robbers who massacred his tribe.

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

Promotional Material

Screen legend Burt Reynolds (White Lightning, The Longest Yard) stars in this classic western about a fearless Native American with a relentless vendetta. A band of outlaws, headed by a sullen leader Duncan (Aldo Sambrell, For a Few Dollars More), sweeps across the country like the plague, destroying everything in its path including a Navajo village. The outlaws arrive in the town of Esperanza, where they are hired by a crooked doctor to hijack a bank train and share in the wealth. But the sole survivor from the Indian village, a renegade Navajo named Joe (Reynolds), foils the plan by relocating the money. An irate Duncan holds Joe's beautiful sweetheart (Nicoletta Machiavelli, The Hills Run Red) hostage until Joe surrenders... Joe once again must take on Duncan and his ruthless comrades with unforgettable vengeance. Featuring the great Fernando Rey (The French Connection) with top-notch direction by spaghetti western legend Sergio Corbucci (Django, The Hellbenders, The Great Silence) with a rousing and now classic score by the legendary Ennio Morricone (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly).

Special Features:
- NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker Alex Cox, Author of 10,000 Ways to Die: A Director's Take on the Italian Western
- Scene Specific Audio Commentary by Ennio Morricone Historian Gary Palmucci
- Theatrical Trailer
- Optional English Subtitles

 



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