Quick Let's Get Married – VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1964
Directors: William Dieterle, Victor Stoloff
Writer: Allan Scott
Cast: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Barbara Eden, Elliott Gould, Carl Schell, Michael Ansara, Walter Abel, David Hurst, Leonardo Cimino

Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 56 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: GP
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Thief Mario Forni arrives in a small Italian town searching for hidden treasure, posing as a house painter. He falls for Madame Rinaldi, a local brothel owner, while secretly locating the treasure beneath a statue in an old church. When a prostitute named Pia confides her pregnancy nearby, Mario speaks from inside the statue, pretending to be St. Joseph, and leaves her gold coins. Believing it a miracle, Pia inspires the town, drawing attention from a suspicious mayor, banker, and a visiting bishop. Even after learning the truth, the bishop sees real value in the hope the "miracle" brings. When the statue collapses, revealing a golden cross, the town celebrates--while Mario and Rinaldi slip away with part of the treasure to start anew." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3/5

Quick Let's Get Married comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.5 GB

Feature: 20.7 GB

While the source is clean and free of any debris, it does not retain a filmic appearance. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity is strong, and there are no major issues related to compression.

Audio: 3.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English with SDH. While the track sounds clean, clear, and balanced, range-wise it is limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a poster & photo gallery of Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Barbara Eden, and Elliott Gould movies and television shows; alternate opening and closing credits under the title 7 Different Ways (2 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital mono); and an audio commentary with film historian, podcaster, and artist Rob Kelly.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

From its inception, Quick Let's Get Married was a troubled film; its original director, Victor Stoloff (Sinfonia fatale), was fired and replaced by William Dieterle (Portrait of Jennie). Although filmed in 1964, under the working title The Confession, the film would not be released until 1971 under the title Quick Let's Get Married. 

A thief looking for a treasure buried underneath a St. Joseph statue takes interest in a distraught woman and when he speaks to her, she thinks that the statue talked to her. His words renew her faith in humanity, and as a result, a series of events unfold that lead the locals to believe they are divine interventions from St. Joseph.

What begins as a crime caper evolves into a romantic comedy where a thief becomes romantically involved with a brothel’s madame. While the treasure beneath the St. Joseph statue is central to the story that unfolds, that subplot often takes a backseat to romantic encounters and corrupt government officials. The most intriguing character is a prostitute named Pia, whose lover abandons her when he finds out she’s pregnant. That said, Pia’s character serves as the moral center for a film populated by immoral characters.

Quick Let's Get Married was produced by William Marshall, who at that time was married to Ginger Rogers (Magnificent Doll) and it was planned as a comeback for her after an 8-year absence from theatrical films. Ginger Rogers is cast in the role of Madame Rinaldi, and Ray Milland (Lost Weekend) is cast opposite her in the role of a thief named Mario Forni. They had previously worked together on The Major and the Minor.

The cast is a who’s who in 1950s and 60s film and television, notably Barbara Eden in the role of Pia. Made a year before, she portrayed what is arguably her signature character, Jennie, from I Dream of Jeannie; she delivers a heartfelt performance that stands out among the cast. Other notable cast members are Michael Ansara (The Manitou), who portrays a corrupt mayor, and Elliott Gould (The Long Goodbye), who makes his theatrical film debut portraying a mute.

Sometimes the narrative is too clever for its own good, which disrupts momentum. Fortunately, there is never a shortage of surprises to keep things from getting predictable. While the humor can be hit or miss, the funniest moments are scenes with Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland. Ultimately, on paper, Quick Let's Get Married should have turned out much better than it did, and the result feels like a missed opportunity.

VCI Entertainment gives Quick Let's Get Married a servicable audio/video presentation and an informative audio commentary.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Reanimator Academy: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray)

Release Date: USA, 1992
Director: Judith Priest (Bret McCormick)
Writer: Benton Jennings, Judith Priest (Bret McCormick)
Cast: Steve Westerheit, Connie Speer, Richard Perrin, Benton Jennings, Julian Scott, Sarah Paxton, Tom Fegan, J. Scott Guy, Tricia Anderson, Matt Montano

Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 68 Minutes 32 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Interlaced / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95

"The fraternity brothers at Delta Epsilon Delta are your typical red-blooded American party animals, that is except for Edgar Allen Lovecraft. He's locked up in his room trying to cure death and finds a serum that works on the severed head of a recently deceased comedian. When a mafia hood steals the serum to use on his murdered squeeze, her reanimated corpse goes on a campus killing spree—let the corny puns and one-punch decapitations fly!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 1.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Transfer from existing SD tape masters."

Reanimator Academy comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 26.9 GB

Feature: 10.4 GB (Reanimator Academy), 7.4 GB (Children of Dracula)

There is only so much that can be done with the source, which looks rough. That said, image clarity and black levels are never convincing, and colors fluctuate.

Audio: 1.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio lacks depth, and it's a positive that there are English subtitles for this release.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a Visual Vengeance trailer for Reanimator Academy (1 minute 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Bret McCormick Reanimator Academy Q&A at Nitehawk Cinema (15 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Fred the Head interview (4 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Tom Fegan (4 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Greg Synodis titled Brainwaves: Scoring Reanimator Academy (7 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a locations featurette titled Back To School: Reanimator Academy Location Tour (5 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director Bret McCormick titled Talking Heads (8 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Reanimator Academy’s 2023 director’s alternate soundtrack cut (68 minutes 32 seconds, 1080 interlaced, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH), an audio commentary with Sam Panico of B&S About Movies and Bill Van Ryn of Drive-In Asylum, a bonus feature film: Children of Dracula (55 minutes 57 seconds, 1080 interlaced, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview for Children of Dracula with Bret McCormick (4 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, original poster art, a 'Stick your own' video store sticker sheet (first pressing only), a folded mini-poster, a video store card (first pressing only), and a limited-edition O-Card slipcover (first pressing only).

Other extras are Visual Vengeance trailers for Highway to Hell, The Abomination, and Repligator.

Summary:

Reanimator Academy: Bret McCormick directed Reanimator Academy, who's known for low-budget cinema like The Abomination and Repligator.

The narrative revolves around a college student named Edgar Allen Lovecraft, who’s created a serum that reanimates the dead. His first experiment is on the severed head of a dead comedian, which he successfully reanimates. From there things spiral out of control when a mafia hood steals the serum and brings a dead hooker back to life who then goes on a killing spree. 

While the film’s title and the name of its protagonist, Edgar Allen Lovecraft, make reference to H.P. Lovecraft, Reanimator Academy’s connection to the literary writings of H.P. Lovecraft is nonexistent. Reanimator Academy is a textbook example of an ultralow-budget horror film that tries to associate itself with a known commodity. The acting is horrible, and the narrative is padded with moments that make it feel longer than it is. Despite attempts at humor, the film consistently fails to deliver.

The genesis of Reanimator Academy can be traced back to David DeCoteau, who served as the film’s executive producer. Looking for work, Bret McCormick reached out to David DeCoteau, who offered him a film and the only requirement was he had to use the title Reanimator Academy. Shot quickly over one weekend on video, Reanimator Academy is not the type of film that one puts on their resume. That said, it is not surprising that the director Bret McCormick used a pseudonym for Reanimator Academy.

Children of Dracula: A documentary about vampires with people who claim to be vampires and it is narrated by Joe Estevez.

Visual Vengeance continues to rescue cinema from obscurity and give it Criterion-like home media releases.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Lionheart: Extended Cut: Collector's Edition – MVD Rewind Collection (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1990
Director: Sheldon Lettich
Writers: Stefani Warren, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sheldon Lettich
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Harrison Page, Deborah Rennard, Lisa Pelikan, Ashley Johnson, Brian Thompson, Dennis Rucker, Billy Blanks

Release Date: July 28th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 109 Minutes 6 seconds (The Extended Cut), 104 Minutes 32 seconds (The Theatrical Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10 (The Extended Cut), 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions - Blu-ray)
Rating: R
Sound: LPCM Stereo English (4K UHD - The Extended Cut, Blu-ray - The Theatrical Cut), DTS-HD 5.1 English (Blu-ray - The Theatrical Cut), Dolby Digital 5.1 English (Blu-ray - The Extended Cut), Dolby Digital Stereo English (Blu-ray - The Extended Cut)
Subtitles: English SDH (4K UHD - The Extended Cut, Blu-ray - The Theatrical Cut), French (Blu-ray - The Theatrical Cut), Spanish (Blu-ray - The Theatrical Cut)
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $49.95

"Upon receiving news that his brother in Los Angeles is seriously injured, Lyon Gaultier (Van Damme) Deserts the French Foreign Legion from a remote outpost in North Africa. Fleeing from two of the Legion's security force who have orders to bring him back at any cost, Lyon reluctantly turns to the illegal, bare-knuckles underground fighting circuit to raise the money he needs to help his brother's family." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (4K UHD), 3.75/5 (Blu-ray - Both versions)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Director Approved 2025 4K Scan & Restoration (2160p - 16-Bit Scan of the Original Camera Negative) of the extended “A.W.O.L. Cut” of the movie presented in 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio in HDR."

Lionheart comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 60.6 GB

Feature: 60.1 GB

Lionheart comes on a 50 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.5 GB

Feature: 20.4 GB (The Extended Cut), 16.8 GB (The Theatrical Cut)

This Blu-ray uses the same master that MVD used for their 2018 Blu-ray release.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Stereo English - The Extended Cut), 4/5 (LPCM Stereo English - The Theatrical Cut, DTS-HD 5.1 English - The Theatrical Cut)

The 4K UHD only contains the extended cut and it comes with one audio option, a LPCM stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. This track is the best-sounding of the ones included. It sounds clean, clear, and balanced and robust when it should.

The Blu-ray contains two versions. The extend cut comes with two audio options, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English and a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix in English. There are no subtitles. While they sound clear and balanced, they lack oomph! The theatrical cut comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and action sequences are well represented. Included are removable English SDH and French and Spanish subtitles.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an audio commentary with director Sheldon Lettich, moderated by Heath Holland.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), five promotional clips/scenes from the movie for television (1 minute 29 seconds, 1 minute 3 seconds, 1 minute 26 seconds, 1 minute 15 seconds, 1 minute 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a behind-the-scenes photogallery with music from the film playing in the background, an archival featurette titled Behind the Scenes of the Audio Commentary (5 minutes 39 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable German subtitles), an archival interview with actor Harrison Page (13 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Sheldon Lettich (25 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival Making of featurette (8 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Lionheart: Behind the Fights, featuring interviews with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sheldon Lettich, and producer Eric Karson (10 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Inside 'Lionheart' with the Filmmakers and Cast, featuring interviews with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sheldon Lettich, and producer Eric Karson (25 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled The Story of 'Lionheart, featuring interviews with Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sheldon Lettich, and producer Eric Karson (47 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with Sheldon Lettich and Harrison Page for the theatrical cut, and an audio commentary with Sheldon Lettich and Heath Holland for the extended cut.

Other extras include trailers for Black Eagle, Return of the Swamp Thing, and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, reversible cover art, a collectible Lionheart “4K LaserVision” mini-poster, and a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Sheldon Lettich directed Lionheart. He’s most known for the four films he made with Jean-Claude Van Damme, the other three being Double Impact, The Order, and The Hard Corps.

A man serving in the French Foreign Legion is forced to take drastic measures to reunite with his grieving family after his brother's death. Now on the run, after escaping the French Foreign Legion, he becomes entangled in underground street fights to raise money for his brother's widow and child.

Lionheart is arguably Jean-Claude Van Damme’s most well-rounded film. While action is always the focal point of any Jean-Claude Van Damme film, a film like Lionheart showcases what he’s capable of beyond the brawn. Jean-Claude Van Damme portrays Lyon, a character that allows him as an actor to dig deeper than his usual role. That said, Lyon’s estrangement from his brother and his need to make amends for not being there for him when he was murdered are what drive the narrative.

Although Lionheart is overflowing with 1980s and 1990s action cinema cliches, they actually suit the story that unfolds really well. The bulk of the action is organized street fights for affluent people's entertainment. All around the action sequences are outstanding, especially a brutal knockdown drag-out finale where Lyon narrowly wins.

Jean-Claude Van Damme (Kickboxer) delivers a solid performance that’s oozing with charisma. His character, Lyon, is a man of few words who lets his fists do most of the talking. Lyon is a fish out of water when he arrives in the US. He meets Joshua, a former fighter who helps him earn money and locate his dead brother's wife. Unfortunately, for Lyon, wherever he goes, trouble seems to find him.

While Jean-Claude Van Damme is clearly the main attraction, Lionheart surrounds him with a strong cast who are all excellent in their roles. Harrison Paige in the role of Josuha delivers a standout performance. Rounding out the cast are Deborah Rennard, who portrays Cynthia, who orchestrates the street fights, and Brian Thompson (Cobra) in the role of Cynthia’s bodyguard. The bad guy characters are stereotypical and deliriously over the top.

The opening setup immediately grabs you with a scene where Lyon’s brother, a drug dealer, is burned alive. This scene firmly sets the tone for a grim story that is filled with tense moments and several well-executed twists. After a solid opening setup, the narrative does a superb job holding your attention while it builds momentum to an emotionally charged, cathartic finale. Ultimately, Lionheart is a very satisfying mix of melodrama and action.

Lionheart gets a first-rate release from the MVD Rewind Collection that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Timecop – Shout! Factory (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1994
Director: Peter Hyams
Writers: Mark Verheiden, Mike Richardson
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mia Sara, Ron Silver, Bruce McGill, Gloria Reuben, Scott Bellis, Jason Schombing, Scott Lawrence, Kenneth Welsh

Release Date: April 29th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 57 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10 Dolby Vision
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $27.99

"It is the year 2004. Time travel is a reality and a new breed of criminal has emerged with it. Suddenly, it is possible to alter historical events so the 'time enforcement commission' is formed to enforce a simple rule: no one goes back. Now, someone has broken that rule and there is only one man who can stop him - Max Walker, "Timecop" (Jean-Claude Van Damme)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (4K UHD), 4/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "4K transfer from the 35MM original camera negative."

Timecop comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 71.4 GB

Feature: 63.1 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, color reproduction, image clarity, and black levels are solid, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reproduction.

Timecop comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 30.3 GB

Feature: 30.0 GB 

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Stereo English), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. While both tracks sound clear and balanced, range-wise their differences are minimal. That said, the action sequences sound appropriately robust. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this release are a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Peter Hyams directed Timecop. He’s known for Outland, 2010: The Year We Make Contact, The Presidio, Narrow Margin, and Sudden Death.

A time-traveling cop tracks down criminals who travel to the past to enrich themselves and reshape the future.

Many time travel films exist, but what makes them stand out is not how they explore it, but the consequences of changing history. For example, Timecop is a film that follows a law enforcement officer named Walker, who is responsible for apprehending and punishing those who exploit time travel for personal gain. What sets Walker apart from other characters is his moral compass, knowing what can be achieved via time travel and yet he does not use it for personal gain, like going back in time saving his wife from being murdered.

Timecop’s premise is well-executed, and the opening setup does an excellent job fleshing out key characters. Another strength of the opening setup is how effectively it lays out the parameters of time travel and the negative sides of changing history. There is never a shortage of tense moments that build upon each other as the narrative propels to a finale where Walker is given the opportunity to correct several wrongs without ever breaking his moral code.

By the mid-1990s Jean-Claude Van Damme (Blood Sport) had reached the apex of his star power, and while he has continued to make entertaining films, Timecop is his last great film. Jean-Claude Van Damme essentially portrays a variation of a heroic character in most of his films, and knowing his limitations as an actor, he was smart not to stray from his typecasting. While Jean-Claude Van Damme has never been the strongest actor when it comes to dramatic moments, he excels more than usual when it comes to the moments related to Walker’s dead wife.

Being that Timecop is a film that delves into futuristic elements, it's not surprising that it relies heavily on special effects. Fortunately, when it comes to the special effects, they hold up better than expected. When one thinks of a Jean-Claude Van Damme, you know that there are going to be plenty of action sequences, and when it comes to action set pieces, Timecop scores high marks. Ultimately, Timecop is a highly entertaining action/sci-fi film that holds up well upon subsequent viewings.

The lack of any extras is a huge disappointment. Shout! Factory gives Timecop a strong audio/video presentation.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer