Picture of a Nymph: Deluxe Limited Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1988
Director: Wu Ma
Writers: Wu Ma, Chan Ka-Cheong
Cast: Yuen Biao, Joey Wong, Wu Ma, Elizabeth Lee, Lawrence Ng, Yuen Wah

Release Date: February 23rd, 2026 (UK), March 10th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £25.00 (UK), $49.95 (USA)

"Set in ancient China, the story follows a gentle scholar whose chance encounter with a mysterious young woman leads to a love that transcends the boundaries of life and death. But when he unwittingly releases a vengeful demon from centuries of imprisonment, the spirit of his beloved becomes the demon’s only hope for regaining power. To protect her, the scholar paints her likeness, allowing her to hide within the portrait—but his devotion soon draws the wrath of dark forces." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand new 2K restoration from the original negative."

Picture of a Nymph comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray. 

Disc Size: 28.4 GB

Feature: 26.6 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is solid.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/posters), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng, an audio commentary with Hong Kong cinema expert David West, reversible cover art, an art card (limited to this edition), an O-card and rigid slipcase (limited to this edition), and a 40-page perfect-bound book (limited to this edition) with cast & crew information, an essay titled More Ghosts and Gremlins, Less Golden Harvest written by Paul Bramhall, and an essay titled Ghosts, Scholars, and Spirits: The Legacy Behind Picture of a Nymph written by Fraser Elliott.

Summary:

Wu Ma directed Picture of a Nymph. Notable films he’s directed or co-directed include The Water Margin, All Men Are Brothers, From China with Death, Along Comes a Tiger, The Heroes, The Dead and the Deadly, Picture of a Nymph, and Just Heroes. Besides directing, he was also a prolific actor, appearing in over 300 films.

A Taoist monk and his disciple protect a scholar from two ghosts, one that gravely wants to harm him and the other who is in love with him.

Released first in Taiwan, five months after A Chinese Ghost Story, Picture of a Nymph has many similarities to that film. Beyond their similarities when it comes to premise, both of these films have Joey Wang (My Heart Is That Eternal Rose) and Wu Ma (Righting Wrongs) in lead roles essentially portraying the same type of character. That said, where these two films overlap, there is one significant area where they differ tone-wise. Where A Chinese Ghost Story is a horror film with fantasy elements, Picture of a Nymph is a fantasy film with ample amounts of lighthearted humor.

The opening setup does an excellent job drawing you in, and the narrative is very effective in building momentum to a love-conquers-all finale. Another strength of the narrative is how well it balances moments of exposition and action set pieces. Also, when it comes to pacing while things move briskly, that is not to say that key moments are not given an ample amount of time to resonate.

Yuen Biao (On the Run) and Lawrence Ng (Sex and Zen) are the two most consequential actors, despite having no connection to A Chinese Ghost Story. While Lawrence Ng's character, the scholar, is technically the protagonist, Yuen Biao's character, the Taoist monk's disciple, constantly overshadows him. Joey Wang is enchanting in the role of the ghost who falls in love with the scholar, and Wu Ma’s character, the Taoist monk, is the source of the majority of the comic relief.

Not surprisingly, the action set pieces do not disappoint; they are filled with inventiveness and impressive stunt work, especially when it comes to moments with Yuen Biao. The biggest and most impressive action set piece is a finale that takes place in hell, and characters are in a time crunch to leave before the doorway out closes. As mentioned before, humor plays a large role in the story that unfolds, and a long-running gag is how the Taoist disciple pretends to be a mute while around the scholar. The lack of words provides for some interesting exchanges between these two characters. Ultimately, despite its familiarity, Picture of a Nymph is a highly entertaining film that succeeds because of the performance of its four leads.

Picture of a Nymph gets a first-rate release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Lookin' Italian – Severin Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1994
Director: Guy Magar
Writer: Guy Magar
Cast: Jay Acovone, Matt LeBlanc, Stephanie Richards, Lou Rawls, Don Dinardo, Ralph Manza, Denise Richards

Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 101 Minutes 11 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH, English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"Having survived a New York City shootout gone horrifically wrong, a former mafioso (Jay Acovone of Beauty and the Beast and Stargate SG-1) is now living a quiet life working in a Los Angeles used bookstore. But when his reckless nephew (LeBlanc) gets involved with local gang culture, they're both dragged into an unforgiving urban jungle where fear is weakness, vengeance is destiny, and family bonds can never be broken." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "now scanned in 4K from the original camera negative".

Lookin' Italian comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46 GB

Feature: 29 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones and colors look correct; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and the image looks organic.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. It should be noted that there is an English subtitle track that translates most of the Italian dialogue. The audio sounds excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds are well represented, and the score sounds appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a gag reel (12 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival behind-the-scenes featurette (3 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Inside Edition exclusive look TV segment (3 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a Q&A with director Guy Magar and actors Jay Acovone, Matt LeBlanc, Stephanie Richards, and Ralph Manza from the 1994 Palm Springs International Film Festival (20 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor John LaMotta (10 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Lou Rawls (6 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Stephanie Richards (7 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Matt LeBlanc (11 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Jay Acovone (10 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Guy Magar (12 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an interview with Guy Magar titled Directin' Italian (12 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

While Guy Magar predominantly worked in television, he’s most known for his only other feature film, Retribution.

A former mobster is drawn back to his former life because of his hot-headed nephew's impulsive behavior.

Although the protagonist's former life in the mafia influences the story, the mafia aspect primarily serves as a launching point, remaining mostly in the background. A flawlessly executed narrative does a superb job drawing you in and holding your attention as it builds to a cathartic finale where the protagonist finally finds redemption. Another strength of the narrative is how it allows the characters time to be themselves, which allows the audiences to get to know them better.

The most impressive aspect of Lookin' Italian is the performances, which all around are outstanding. The standout performance is Matt LeBlanc (Friends) in the role of Anthony, the nephew who's unreliable and always has a new woman on his arm. Although Anthony has traits in common with Matt LeBlanc’s most famous character, Joey Tribbiani, it is the things that set him apart from that character where he excels the most, making his portrayal of Anthony the best performance of his career. Another performance of note is Jay Acovone (Cruising) in the role of Vinnie, Anthony's uncle. Vinnie is the heart and soul of Lookin' Italian, and he delivers a performance that carries this film emotionally. A cast member of note is Denise Richards (Wild Things), who appears briefly as one of Anthony's girlfriends.

There is no aspect in which Lookin' Italian fails to exceed expectations; it is a film that explores the Italian-American experience, drawing parallels to Mean Streets in several ways. There are two poignant moments that really drive the narrative. The first of these is a scene where Vinnie tells Anthony why he walked away from the mafia, while the other is a scene where Vinnie finds a distraught Anthony in the shower covered in the blood of his friends who were killed in a drive-by. Another area of note is Jeff Beal’s exemplary score, which perfectly captures the highs and lows. Ultimately, Lookin’ Italian is a moving melodrama that explores family, redemption, and vengeance.

Severin Films gives Lookin' Italian a definitive release. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Decadent Evil 2: Remastered – Full Moon Features (Blu-ray)

Release Date: USA, 2007
Director: Charles Band
Writer: Domonic Muir
Cast: Jill Michelle, Daniel Lennox, Ricardo Gil, Jon-Paul Gates, James C. Burns, Mike Muscat

Release Date: March 10th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 80 Minutes 35 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English, Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"After surviving their encounter with the queen vampire Morella, sweet vampire Sugar (Jill Michelle) and her human boyfriend Dex (Daniel Lennox) travel with Marvin the homunculus to Little Rock, Arkansas. Their plan: to revive Marvin's dead son, the world's smallest vampire hunter, 3-foot-tall Ivan Burroughs (Ricardo Gill), with the life-giving blood of the King Vampire. Soon, Sugar and Dex are drawn into a coven of the wicked creatures that are using a local strip club as cover. Will our heroes be victorious? Or will they succumb to the vile allure of this new strain of "decadent evil?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Full Moon presents this crazy cult classic in HD for the first time, transferred from the original 35mm negative."

Decadent Evil 2 comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.2 GB

Feature: 15.8 GB

This is one of Full Moon’s stronger transfers; flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 3.75/5 (Dolby Digital Stereo English), 3.5/5 (Dolby Digital 5.1 English)

This release comes with two audio options, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English and a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include Decadent Evil 2’s original trailer (1 minute 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a behind-the-scenes featurette (15 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a locations featurette titled Visions Auditions (8 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and a making of documentary titled Battle of the Bands (42 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Other extras include trailers for Cutter’s Club, Quadrant, Arcade, Crash and Burn, and Bad CGI Gator. 

Summary:

Charles Band, the man behind Full Moon, wrote and directed Decadent Evil 2. Other notable films he directed are Parasite, Trancers, Crash and Burn, and Meridian.

A vampire and her mortal lover try to repay Ivan, a vampire hunter who died saving their life. They search for a master vampire whose blood can revive Ivan.

While Decadent Evil 2 is a continuation of Decadent Evil, there are many moments where you will experience déjà vu. Not only are a strip club and exotic vampire dancers used again, but the narrative also unfolds in a similar way, making it easy to see where things are going. That said, despite being a sequel, Decadent Evil 2 feels like a redo of its predecessor.

The real star of Decadent Evil 2 is the practical special effects, notably, a puppet master-like creature called a homunculus. Where he spent most of the previous film locked in a cage, this time he’s allowed to roam more freely. When it comes to pacing, the narrative does not flow as well as its predecessor. On a more positive side, the enthusiastic performances make things more enjoyable by selling the outlandish premise. Ultimately, Decadent Evil 2 feels like a step backwards that gets further undermined by its predictability.

Full Moon Features gives Decadent Evil 2 its best home media release to date.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Decadent Evil: Remastered – Full Moon Features (Blu-ray)

Release Date: USA, 2005
Director: Charles Band
Writers: Charles Band, Domonic Muir
Cast: Phil Fondacaro, Debra Mayer, Daniel Lennox, Raelyn Hennessee, Jill Michelle

Release Date: March 10th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 74 Minutes 16 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English, Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"Nasty, horny human/reptile hybrid homunculus Marvin spends his days as a cursed, cage-bound attraction at a decadent strip club called the "Meat Market," run by ancient vampire Morella (the late Debra Mayer, Blood Dolls). Once, Marvin was fully human, and when he crossed Morella, she put a spell on him to shrink and bear witness as she and her fellow parasitic peelers drained the club clientele dry, night after night. Now, as Morella executes her final kills to become the most powerful vampire of all, Marvin's son, Ivan (Phil Fondacaro, The Creeps, Troll), appears, armed with a plan to exact the ultimate revenge against her." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "presented here for the first time in a stunning HD transfer scanned from the original 35mm negative."

Decadent Evil comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 19.4 GB

Feature: 15 GB

This is one of Full Moon’s stronger transfers; flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 3.75/5 (Dolby Digital Stereo English), 3.5/5 (Dolby Digital 5.1 English)

This release comes with two audio options, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English and a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include Decadent Evil's original trailer (1 minute 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a blooper reel (4 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and a behind-the-scenes featurette (16 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Other extras include trailers for Bad CGI Gator, Head of the Family Noir, Aimee: The Visitor, Gingerdead Men Murder-Thon, The Gingerweed Man, and Weedjies: Hallowed Night.

Summary:

Charles Band, the man behind Full Moon, wrote and directed Decadent Evil. Other notable films he directed are Parasite, Trancers, Crash and Burn, and Meridian.

Morella is a vampire who is only a few kills away from achieving invincibility, and the only obstacle in her path is a vampire hunter; he is the son of her former lover, whom she has turned into a homunculus that she keeps in a cage.

Charles Band and his company, Full Moon Features, have a formula that they have been using for over 40 years. They make predominantly horror films that often throw T&A and humor into the mix. Decadent Evil sees him once again venture into the world of the vampires, and this time around, there is a strip club where several of them work.

Although Decadent Evil clocks in around 74 minutes in length, when you remove the opening and closing credits and a 10-minute prologue that is footage from Vampire Journals, it barely clocks in at one hour in length. That said, the reused Vampire Journals footage does a great job of setting the foundation for the narrative that unfolds. When it comes to pacing, things move quickly, and the narrative is very effective at building to its finale.

While everything about Decadent Evil screams low-budget, one has to admire filmmakers who still use practical special effects, notably, a puppet master-like creature called a homunculus. Despite being a horror film with vampires, carnage is minimal. The performances are best described as enthusiastic and they suit the film well. Ultimately, Decadent Evil is a by-the-numbers horror film, only recommended for those looking to waste some time.

Full Moon Features gives Decadent Evil its best home media release to date.

Written by Michael Den Boer

She Shoots Straight – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1990
Director: Corey Yuen
Writers: Barry Wong, Corey Yuen, Yuen Kai-chi
Cast: Joyce Godenzi, Carina Lau, Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Yuen Wah

Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 92 Minutes 32 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Stereo Cantonese, LPCM Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Inspector Mina is a career-focused officer who has just married her supervisor (Tony Leung Ka-fai, Ashes of Time), who himself comes from a family of dedicated police officers. Her new sisters-in-law (including Carina Lau, Ashes of Time, Days of Being Wild) are a little jealous that Mina outranks them, but when a gang of violent Vietnamese criminals (led by the always excellent Yuen Wah, Eastern Condors, Kung Fu Hustle) target the family, the sisters unite into a lethal force of vengeance." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original negative."

She Shoots Straight comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray. 

Disc Size: 36.2 GB

Feature: 30 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Flesh tones and colors look correct; image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid; and the image looks organic. That said, it looks comparable to Eureka Video’s 2023 Blu-ray release.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Stereo Cantonese), 4/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English), 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with four audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, a LPCM stereo mix in Cantonese, a LPCM mono mix in English (classic dub), and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. The two Cantonese tracks are the strongest; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and action sequences sound robust when they should. The mono English track lacks depth and sounds more restrained than its Cantonese counterparts. The 5.1 English track does a great job expanding the original mono source. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language tracks and removable English subtitles for Cantonese text when watching in English.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), English language opening/closing credits under the title Lethal Lady (2 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/posters), an interview with screenwriter Yuen Kai-chi (15 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian Cinema expert Frank Djeng, reversible cover art, and an O-Ring Slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Corey Yuen directed She Shoots Straight. He’s known for Yes, Madam!, Righting Wrongs, and The Transporter.

A Vietnamese gang seeks vengeance against the police officers who were responsible for the deaths of their members during a nightclub robbery.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Hong Kong cinema was at the forefront of strong female characters in action cinema. And arguably the premier director making these types of films, known as Girls with Guns, was Corey Yuen. In addition to directing films, he possessed a rich background as an action director. His choreography for women in action sequences was unparalleled.

The thing that immediately grabbed me when watching She Shoots Straight is that it is not your typical Hong Kong action film. Where action often tends to be the focus, in She Shoots Straight, the relationships of its characters are the focus, notably when it comes to the protagonist, her husband, and his family. Instead of jumping right into the action, the opening sequence is a wedding, and it is about nine minutes before any action occurs.

She Shoots Straight has an amazing cast who are all very good in their roles, especially Joyce Godenzi (Eastern Condors) in the role of Inspector Mina Kao and Carina Lau (Project A2) in the role of Huang Chia-Ling, who is also a police officer and is Mina’s sister-in-law. The interactions between these two actresses' characters are the heart and soul of She Shoots Straight. Other performances of note are Sammo Hung Kam-bo (The Magnificent Butcher), whose character provides some comic relief, and Yuen Wah (Dragons Forever) in the role of the main villain.

Although the characters are central to She Shoots Straight, it is important to note that the action sequences also deliver impressive moments. The stunts featured in these sequences are remarkable, and some of the action scenes are quite graphic in their portrayal of on-screen violence. That said, the narrative does a great job balancing melodrama and action. Ultimately, She Shoots Straight is a must-see film if you're a fan of girls-with-guns films.

She Shoots Straight gets a first-rate release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Short Films of Yuri Norstein: Treasures of Soviet Animation Vol. 3 – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Soviet Union, 1968 (The 25th, the First Day), Soviet Union, 1969 (Children and Matches, Seasons), Soviet Union, 1971 (Battle at Kerzhenets), Soviet Union, 1973 (The Fox and the Hare), Soviet Union, 1974 (The Heron and the Crane), Soviet Union, 1975 (Hedgehog in the Fog), Soviet Union, 1977 (A Day Before Our Era), Soviet Union, 1979 (The Tale of Tales)
Directors: Yuri Norstein (All Films), Arkadiy Tyurin (The 25th, the First Day), Ivan Ivanov-Vano (Seasons, Battle at Kerzhenets), Fyodor Khitruk (A Before Our Era)
Cast: Viktor Khokhryakov (The Fox and the Hare), Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy (The Heron and the Crane), Aleksandr Kalyagin (The Tale of Tales)

Release Date: February 24th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 9 Minutes 31 Seconds (The 25th, the First Day), 4 Minutes 33 Seconds (Children and Matches), 9 Minutes 28 Seconds (Seasons), 10 Minutes 12 Seconds (Battle at Kerzhenets), 12 Minutes 15 Seconds (The Fox and the Hare), 10 Minutes 15 Seconds (The Heron and the Crane), 10 Minutes 28 Seconds (Hedgehog in the Fog), 5 Minutes 37 Seconds (A Day Before Our Era), 29 Minutes 8 Seconds (The Tale of Tales)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films Except Seasons, Battle at Kerzhenets, A Before Our Era), 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Seasons, Battle at Kerzhenets, A Before Our Era)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Russian (All Films)
Subtitles: English, English SDH (All Films)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $30.95

The 25th, the First Day: "Norstein's first film is a visually striking tribute to the Bolshevik Revolution on October 25th." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Seasons: "A man and woman ride through the forest while the seasons change around them in this lovely, elegiac short set to music by Tchaikovsky." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Children and Matches: "Norstein’s rarely-seen educational short about the dangers of matches, from ancient times up to today." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Battle at Kerzhenets: "Arguably Norstein's first great animated film, inspired by the legend of the City of Kitezh which disappeared into a lake to avoid Mongol invaders." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Fox and the Hare: "Norstein’s utterly charming short about a temperamental 'house-filching fox' who boots a poor rabbit out of its home." The rabbit turns to a wolf, bear, bull and rooster for help, with surprising results." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Heron and the Crane: "An awkward crane and a high-spirited heron go back and forth on marrying each other in this heartbreaking short about romantic misunderstandings." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Hedgehog in the Fog: "The deceptively epic journey of the tiny hedgehog, filled with impossible marvels and dangers: a shimmering white horse and a crafty owl. A fluttering bat, a falling leaf, and the ever-present curtain of fog. Widely considered one of the greatest animated films ever made." - synopsis provided by the distributor

A Day Before Our Era: "This experimental collage of images of the French Revolution was apparently abandoned before it was finished and remains one of Norstein’s rarest films." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Tale of Tales: "Norstein's longest film to date, TALE is a story about stories, a dream of many dreams. A giant bull and a little girl skip rope. Couples dance under a streetlight until the male partners disappear, headed off to war. And through it all, the Little Grey Wolf watches silently at the rondo of human loves and losses." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (All Films)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfers, "This first-ever U.S. Blu-ray release of Norstein’s films features several rare shorts new to home video, all newly restored by Deaf Crocodile and co-presented with Seagull Films."

Treasures of Soviet Animation Volume 3 comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.5 GB

Feature: 8.4 GB (The Tale of Tales), 4.6 GB (The Fox and the Hare), 3.5 GB (Hedgehog in the Fog), 3 GB (The Heron and the Crane), 2.9 GB (Battle at Kerzhenets), 2.9 GB (The 25th, the First Day), 2.7 GB (Seasons), 1.6 GB (A Day Before Our Era), 1.3 GB (Children and Matches)

The sources look excellent; this is another solid encode from Fidelity in Motion. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 5/5 (All Films)

Each film comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Russian or text in Russian. All audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented. There are two subtitle options: English or English SDH; these can only be changed via the setup menu and not during playback.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a video essay by film historian Evan Chester titled Nature, Texture, and Patience: The Films of Yuri Norstein (21 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Russian film clips), audio commentaries with film scholar Michael Brooke for each film, and a documentary titled Yuri Norstein: Making the Overcoat (112 minutes 39 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Russian with non-removable English subtitles).

Summary:

This collection presents the 11 completed films directed/co-directed by Yuri Norstein. What sets his animation apart from other animators is that he uses a technique that involves multiple glass planes to give it a three-dimensional look. Known for his perfectionism, his nickname is “The Golden Snail." Although all of his completed works are short films, his first feature film, The Overcoat, has been in production since 1981, and as of this writing, only about 25 minutes have been completed. Accompanying this release is a feature-length documentary that provides details about The Overcoat.

While he is known for using glass panes, when it comes to one style of animation, each of his films has a distinct look. Many of his films have no dialog and rely solely on their striking imagery. The absence of dialogue is never problematic, as most films maintain a certain brevity. While visuals are crucial, when dialogue is included, it is crafted in a way that does not complicate the unfolding story. Hedgehog in the Fog is widely considered the greatest animated film, while his most ambitious film, The Tale of Tales, is also held in high regard.

One of the best things about being a fan of cinema is discovering a new filmmaker. The quality of Yuri Norstein’s filmography is outstanding, and when watched in the order they were made, it's astonishing the amount of growth he displayed as an artist. That said, Yuri Norstein is a filmmaker who deserves all of the acclaim he’s received, and hopefully this release will introduce his films to a wider audience.

Deaf Crocodile’s The Short Films of Yuri Norstein: Treasures of Soviet Animation Vol. 3 is an exceptional release and a must-have for fans of Russian animation. Highly recommended.

Note: There is a deluxe release of The Short Films of Yuri Norstein: Treasures of Soviet Animation Vol. 3 that comes in a slipcase and a 60-page book with an essay by film historian Jennifer Lynde Barker, an essay written by animation expert John Adkins and an essay by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central).

Written by Michael Den Boer