DVD/Blu-ray Reviews

Details: Created: 09 January 2022; Published: 09 January 2022; Written by Loron Hays

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Eddie Brock has a BIG secret! It takes a couple of views, but Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a fun, fast-paced flick that, easy to swallow, gets straight to the point as Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) continues to live with the unwanted shape-shifting symbiote known as Venom (also voiced by ...

Details: Created: 09 January 2022; Published: 09 January 2022; Written by Loron Hays

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In just five short years since the much-maligned Spider-Man 3, Marvel’s Spider-Man gets the rebooted remake in Marc Webb’s thrilling The Amazing Spider-Man. While, before seeing the picture, one could argue the rationale of such a move on Columbia’s part, the necessity however becomes ...

Details: Created: 16 January 2022; Published: 16 January 2022; Written by Loron Hays

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Shawscope Volume One - Limited Edition

5 Beers

Video: 5 Beers

Audio: 4 Beers

Special Features: 5 Beers

This set from Arrow Video is arguably their best release yet. It is indeed a labor of love as the company has carefully curated and gorgeously presented a selection of all-time Shaw Brothers classics in this box set. You read that correctly. From King Boxer to Mighty Peking Man and everything in between, it is all here in the first of hopefully several volumes from the company.

Interestingly enough, Kung-Fu in Hollywood was introduced to audiences with Cary Grant in 1927's The Awful Truth, when he famously takes down Micki Morita, playing a Japanese houseboy, who introduces himself with the line, “Me Jiu-Jitsu” and Grant, ever the cool cat, responds with, “is that so? Well, me Jiu-Jitsu, too” and flips him to the side of the room. If it sounds completely out of place in a romantic comedy, just know that audiences loved the moment as East meets West.

Yet, it wouldn’t be until the middle of the 1960s when Asian fighting styles would truly be appreciated with the arrival of A Shot in the Dark, starring Peter Sellers as the unflappable Inspector Clouseau who regularly gets attacked - per orders - from Burt Kwouk as Kato. Kung-fu, though, would take another couple of years to firmly take hold in America, but when it did . . . WOW. The asian cinematic influence was everywhere. From styles to dance and beyond, literally everyone WAS Kung-Fu fighting.

And this ROCK STAR of a set absolutely celebrates that phenomenon. From here on out, let Arrow Video do the talking. This set damn near sells itself!

"After an undisputed reign at the peak of Hong Kong’s film industry in the 1960s, Shaw Brothers (the studio founded by real-life brothers Run Run and Runme Shaw) found their dominance challenged by up-and-coming rivals in the early 1970s. They swiftly responded by producing hundreds of the most iconic action films ever made, revolutionizing the genre through the backbreaking work of top-shelf talent on both sides of the camera as well as unbeatable widescreen production value, much of it shot at ‘Movietown’, their huge, privately-owned studio on the outskirts of Hong Kong.

This inaugural collection by Arrow Video presents twelve jewels from the Shaw crown, all released within the 1970s, kicking off in 1972 with Korean director Chung Chang-wha’s King Boxer, the film that established kung fu cinema as an international box office powerhouse when it hit Stateside cinemas under the title Five Fingers of Death. From there we see Chang Cheh (arguably Shaw’s most prolific director) helm the blood-soaked brutality of The Boxer from Shantung and two self-produced films in his ‘Shaolin Cycle’ series, Five Shaolin Masters and its prequel Shaolin Temple, before taking a detour into Ho Meng-hua’s King Kong-inspired Mighty Peking Man, one of the most unmissable insane giant monster films ever made. Chang’s action choreographer Lau Kar-leung then becomes a director in his own right, propelling his adoptive brother Gordon Liu to stardom in Challenge of the Masters and Executioners from Shaolin. Not to be outdone, Chang introduces some of Shaw’s most famous faces to the screen, including Alexander Fu Sheng fighting on the streets of San Francisco in Chinatown Kid and, of course, the mighty Venom Mob in The Five Venoms and Crippled Avengers. Finally, Lau and Liu successfully meld high kicks with humor in two of their masterworks, Heroes of the East and Dirty Ho, also featuring such fan favorites as Wong Yue, Hsiao Hao and Kara Hui.

From kickass kung fu killers to crazy kaiju knockoffs to culture clash comedies, this carefully curated and gorgeously presented selection of all-time Shaw Brothers classics merely represents the tip of the iceberg of the studio’s rich output, making it both an ideal starting point for newcomers and a treat for hardcore fans alike."

For fans of KILLER Kung-Fu Klassics, this set is a no-brainer. Bring on the second volume already!

Blu-Ray Specifications:

With this collection, fans get High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all twelve films, including seven new 2K restorations by Arrow Films, an Illustrated 60-page collectors’ book featuring new writing by David Desser, Terrence J. Brady and James Flower, plus cast and crew listings and notes on each film by Simon Abrams, New artwork by Sam Gilbey, Matthew Griffin, Chris Malbon, Jacob Phillips, Ilan Sheady, Tony Stella, Darren Wheeling and Jolyon Yates, hours of never-before-seen bonus features, including several cast and crew interviews from the Frédéric Ambroisine Video Archive, and if that is not enough, there are two CDs of music from the De Wolfe Music library as heard in six of the films, exclusive to this collection.

Video:

Arrow Video presents these kung fu classics on 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 from a 2K restoration effort provided from the preservation negatives. The results are stunning and crisp and totally unexpected for a low-budget film like this one. The masters have been digitally scrubbed and combined to offer the best-looking color print positive. The hues are properly detailed and bright, and the saturation offers an evenly handled look at the fashions of the time period.

Audio:

The sound – presented in the original 1.0 mono audio - is adequate for this release. There is a new optional English subtitle translation included with the release.

Commentary:

See Special Features for the breakdowns.

Special Features:

Look below, Heathens! This puppy is loaded. BRING ON VOLUME TWO ALREADY!

Disc One – King Boxer

Brand new 2K restoration by Arrow Films from a 4K scan of the original negative

Newly restored uncompressed Mandarin and English original mono audio

Newly translated English subtitles for the Mandarin audio, plus English hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dub

Brand new commentary by David Desser, co-editor of The Journal of Japanese and Korean Cinema and The Cinema of Hong Kong

Newly filmed appreciation by film critic and historian Tony Rayns

Interview with director Chung Chang-wha, filmed in 2003 and 2004 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Interview with star Wang Ping, filmed in 2007 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Interview with Korean cinema expert Cho Young-jung, author of Chung Chang-wha: Man of Action, filmed in 2005 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu, the first in a three-part documentary on Shaw Brothers’ place within the martial arts genre produced by Celestial Pictures in 2003, featuring interviews with Jackie Chan, Jet Li, John Woo, Sammo Hung, Gordon Liu, Lau Kar-leung, Cheng Pei-pei, David Chiang and many others

Alternate opening credits from the American version titled Five Fingers of Death

Hong Kong, US and German theatrical trailers, plus US TV and radio spots

Image gallery

Disc Two – The Boxer From Shantung

Brand new 2K restoration by Arrow Films from a 4K scan of the original negative

Newly restored uncompressed Mandarin and English original mono audio

Newly translated English subtitles for the Mandarin audio, plus English hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dub

Interview with star Chen Kuan-tai, filmed in 2007 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Interview with assistant director John Woo, filmed in 2004 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Interview with star David Chiang, filmed in 2003 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Conversation between stars Chen Kuan-tai and Ku Feng, filmed at a Shaw Brothers reunion in 2007 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Hong Kong and German theatrical trailers, plus US TV spot

Image gallery

Disc Three – Five Shaolin Masters / Shaolin Temple

Uncompressed Mandarin and English original mono audio for both films

Newly translated English subtitles for both films, plus English hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dub

Newly filmed appreciation of Chang Cheh by film critic and historian Tony Rayns

Interview with star Kong Do, filmed in 2003 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Elegant Trails: David Chiang and Elegant Trails: Ti Lung, two featurettes on the actors produced by Celestial Pictures in 2003

Alternate standard-definition version of Shaolin Temple

Alternate opening credits from Five Masters of Death, the US version of Five Shaolin Masters

Alternate opening credits sequences for Shaolin Temple

US and German trailers for Five Shaolin Masters

Hong Kong and German trailers for Shaolin Temple

Image galleries for both films

Disc Four – Mighty Peking Man

Uncompressed Mandarin and English original mono audio

Newly translated English subtitles for the Mandarin audio, plus English hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dub

Brand new commentary by Travis Crawford

Brand new interview with suit designer Keizo Murase, filmed in 2021 by Daisuke Sato and Yoshikazu Ishii

Interview with director Ho Meng-hua, filmed in 2003 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Interview with star Ku Feng, filmed in 2004 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Behind-the-scenes Super 8 footage from the archives of Keizo Murase

‘Unrestored’ standard-definition version

Alternate opening credits from Goliathon, the US version of Mighty Peking Man

Hong Kong, US, German and Dutch theatrical trailers, plus US TV spot

Image gallery

Disc Five – Challenge Of The Masters / Executioners From Shaolin

Brand new 2K restoration of Challenge of the Masters from the original negative by Arrow Films

Uncompressed Mandarin and English original mono audio for both films, plus Cantonese mono for Challenge of the Masters

Newly translated English subtitles for both films, plus English hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dubs

Newly filmed appreciation of Lau Kar-leung by film critic and historian Tony Rayns

Interview with star Gordon Liu, filmed in 2002 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Interview with star Chen Kuan-tai, filmed in 2007 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Textless opening credits for Challenge of the Masters

Alternate English credits for Executioners from Shaolin

Hong Kong theatrical trailers for Challenge of the Masters

Hong Kong and US theatrical trailers for Executioners from Shaolin

Image galleries for both films

Disc Six - Chinatown Kid:

Brand new 2K restoration of the 115-minute International Version from original film elements

90-minute Alternate Version

Uncompressed original Cantonese audio for the International Version, with newly translated English subtitles

Uncompressed original English audio for the International Version, with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles

Uncompressed original Mandarin audio for the Alternate Version, with newly translated English subtitles

Select scene video commentary by co-star Susan Shaw from 2021

Elegant Trails: Fu Sheng, a featurette on the actor produced by Celestial Pictures in 2005

Hong Kong, US and German theatrical trailers, plus US TV spot

Image gallery

Disc Seven – The Five Venoms/Crippled Avengers

Brand new 2K restorations of both films from the original negatives by Arrow Films

Uncompressed Mandarin and English original mono audio for both films plus Cantonese mono for The Five Venoms

Newly translated English subtitles for both films, plus English hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dubs

Brand new commentary on The Five Venoms by critic Simon Abrams

Interview with star Lo Meng, filmed in 2003 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Chang Cheh: The Master, a featurette about the director produced by Celestial Pictures in 2003

Hong Kong and US theatrical trailers for The Five Venoms

Hong Kong theatrical trailer for Crippled Avengers

Image galleries for both films

Disc Eight:

Brand new 2K restoration of Dirty Ho from the original negative by Arrow Films

Uncompressed Cantonese, Mandarin and English original mono audio for both films

Newly translated English subtitles for both films, plus English hard-of-hearing subtitles for the English dubs

Brand new commentary on Heroes of the East by Jonathan Clements, author of A Brief History of the Martial Arts

Newly filmed appreciation of both films by film critic and historian Tony Rayns

Interview with Heroes of the East star Yasuaki Kurata, filmed in 2003 by Frédéric Ambroisine

Alternate opening credits for Shaolin Challenges Ninja, the international version of Heroes of the East

Alternate English credits for Dirty Ho

Hong Kong theatrical trailer for Heroes of the East, plus US TV spot

Hong Kong theatrical trailer for Dirty Ho

Image galleries for both films

Disc Nine: The Music

MUSIC FROM SHAOLIN TEMPLE, MIGHTY PEKING MAN AND CHINATOWN KID (CD)

MUSIC FROM THE FIVE VENOMS, CRIPPLED AVENGERS AND DIRTY HO (CD)

Details: Created: 01 October 2021; Published: 01 October 2021; Written by Frank Wilkins

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If we are to believe the film’s promotional materials, namely its poster which asks “Who Made Tony Soprano,” then The Many Saints of Newark is an origin story for the fictional gangster played by James Gandolfini in David Chase’s groundbreaking, award-winning HBO drama series ...

Details: Created: 09 January 2022; Published: 09 January 2022; Written by Loron Hays

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The run of Daniel Craig as James Bond comes to its stunning and long delayed conclusion with No Time to Die, an action-packed spectacle of fun and tears that seriously delivers. For “final” Bond films, this one satisfies on every level connecting the dots and plot points of previous entries ...

Details: Created: 10 January 2022; Published: 10 January 2022; Written by Loron Hays

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Loretta Young is a wholesome brunette no more! As a naive blonde bombshell, this one-time gangster’s moll finds herself with a deep, dark secret. Because of You is the film that launched Tony Bennett's career as the title song became his first Number 1 hit, but it is also progressive for its era ...

Details: Created: 13 January 2022; Published: 13 January 2022; Written by Loron Hays

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The new comedy starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson called The Hustle is an almost identical remake of the 1988 classic comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which starred Michael Caine and Steve Martin - itself a remake of Marlon Brando’s Bedtime Story. I say “almost” because ...

Details: Created: 19 January 2019; Published: 19 January 2019; Written by Loron Hays

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Kitty’s back on the cell block! Woot! Woot! Let the sweat-dripping orgies begin! Violence in a Women’s Prison, originally released in 1982, is a damn ugly exploitation flick. Even when you lower the bar when it comes to Women in Prison flicks, this ...

Details: Created: 17 September 2021; Published: 17 September 2021; Written by Emily Strong

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Despite the film’s strong foundation and rather rich themes, Paul Schrader’s newest project, The Card Counter, is unsuccessful in attempts to achieve a tense and mysterious tone, and ultimately ends up as a dull, messy drama full of awkward dialogue and performances ...

Details: Created: 09 January 2022; Published: 09 January 2022; Written by Loron Hays

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“The worm is the spice! The spice is the worm!” David Lynch’s Dune might not be the director’s favorite movie-making experience. It also might not be on any science fiction fan’s top 10 list (although it probably should be). Those sentences alone do not make Lynch’s attempt at bringing ...

Details: Created: 11 January 2022; Published: 11 January 2022; Written by Loron Hays

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Director Jack Arnold was Universal’s go-to guy when they wanted a quick hit. He proved himself mightily as he churned out classics like It Came from Outer Space (1953), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Revenge of the Creature (1955), Tarantula (1955), and The Incredible Shrinking ...

Details: Created: 28 May 2019; Published: 28 May 2019; Written by Loron Hays

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You say want sex and violence? Well, the Masked Mutilator has EXACTLY what you are looking for. Just be respectful because this house parent will definitely kick your ass ...

Details: Created: 24 September 2021; Published: 24 September 2021; Written by Frank Wilkins

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It’s time for Clint Eastwood to hang up his acting hat for good. There, I said it. And that’s coming from one of the guy’s biggest fans. Sure, the man is inarguably a true Hollywood legend having appeared in more than 50 films, from 1950’s sci-fis, to countless war dramas, to starring roles in a dozen or ...