The Boxer: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1977
Director: Shūji Terayama
Writers: Fumio Ishimori, Rio Kishida, Shūji Terayama
Cast: Bunta Sugawara, Kentarô Shimizu, Masumi Harukawa, Jūrō Kara, Yôsuke Natsuki, Hiroshi Nawa, Keiko Niitaka, Akira Ôizumi 

Release Date: July 20th, 2026 (UK), July 21st, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 18 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"A former boxing champ on the skids (Bunta Sugawara, Japanese Godfather) finds an opportunity for redemption by training a young fighter everyone judges beyond hope (Kentaro Shimizu, Mermaid Legend)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “The Boxer was transferred in high-definition by Toei Company and supplied to Radiance Films as a high-definition digital file."

The Boxer comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.3 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

The transfer is clean, free of any source-related imperfections. The film has a distinct look that employs a diverse color palette, and the transfer does a great job recreating it. Image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio is clean, clear, and balanced, with well-represented ambient sounds.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an interview with composer J.A. Seazer (18 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Tom Mes titled Toei Studio in the Year 1977 (12 minutes 21 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, a removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings; and a 20-page booklet (limited to 3,000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled The Performance of the Body written by Maria Roberta Novielli, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Shūji Terayama directed The Boxer. He’s known for Pastoral: To Die in the Country, Fruits of Passion, and Farewell to the Ark.

An ex-boxer agrees to mentor a fighter who accidentally killed his brother.

While boxing is at the forefront of The Boxer, it is ultimately a film about redemption and acceptance. In the case of the former, Hayato is a self-loathing former boxer whose life has been on a downward spiral since he killed a man in the ring. Then there is the latter character, Tenma, a boxer whose determination far outpaces his skill level. That said, despite being set in the world of boxing, calling The Boxer a Japanese Rocky would be doing a great disservice to this remarkable film.

The Boxer is a film that’s overflowing with style and in many instances it goes against what one would expect from a boxing film. When it comes to the visuals, they employ a style that’s not based in reality. The Boxer does not have a conventional color scheme; it employs black and white and color filters. Another area where the visuals go against the grain is the odd angles and way the camera moves.

The two leads, Bunta Sugawara's (Street Mobster) portrayal of Hayato and Kentarô Shimizu's (Stranger) portrayal of Tenma, are excellent in their roles. It is interesting seeing Bunta Sugawara in a different kind of role, where he usually portrays confident characters who are fearless, while Hayato has given up. Another performance of note is Masumi Harukawa (The Threat) in the role of Hayato’s ex-wife, who still has feelings for him.

The opening setup does a solid job fleshing the two main characters' backstories. From there the narrative is very effective at maintaining momentum as it builds to a bittersweet finale that stays with you. Another strength of the narrative is how well it blends exposition and boxing/training moments. Ultimately, The Boxer is an extraordinary exploration of the human condition.

The Boxer gets a first-rate release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of insightful extras. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

My Name Ain't Suzie – Kani Releasing (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1985
Director: Angie Chen
Writer: John Chan Koon-Chung
Cast: Pat Ha, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Deanie Ip, Angela Yu Chien, Betty Ting Pei, Colette Koo Ka-Ling

Release Date: June 23rd, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 103 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.98

"In her ambitious follow-up to Maybe It's Love, Angie Chen offers a rebuke to the colonial imagination of films such as The World of Suzie Wong (1960). Instead, she brings the Hong Kong of the 50s and 60s to life on her own terms with the story of Shui-Mei (Patricia Ha), a “salt water girl” from the outskirts of the city, who finds a way out of poverty in the Red Light district of Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Over the years, she rises through the ranks, discovering a world of equal hardship and sisterly camaraderie, where colourful characters abound—among them Jimmy (Anthony Wong, in his debut role), a mixed-race kid looking for his father in the crowd of thirsty American sailors." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “This new 2K restoration of My Name Ain't Suzie was commissioned by Kani Releasing. The primary source for this restoration was the original camera negative; one missing shot from reel six was sourced from a print with burnt-in bilingual subtitles. Scanning completed in 2K at L'Immagine Ritrovata Asia (Hong Kong); on an Arriscan. The restoration and other grading were completed at Qooop, Inc. (Tokyo); scratches and other imperfections remain. Please approach with understanding and empathy.”

My Name Ain't Suzie comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.9 GB

Feature: 27.5 GB

While there are some very minor imperfections, the source mostly looks excellent. Flesh tones and colors look correct, black levels are strong, image clarity and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic appearance.  

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 46 seconds, DTS-HD mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Angie Chen (12 minutes 1 second, DTS-HD stereo English with removable English subtitles), an interview with Angie Chen titled Angie Chen on Working in Hong Kong (9 minutes 32 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter and planner John Chan (16 minutes 13 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Anthony Wong Chau-Sang and Angie Chen titled Becoming Jimmy on Casting Anthony Wong (7 minutes 53 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English and Cantonese with removable English subtitles), a slipcover (limited to 1,000 copies), and a 32-page booklet with an essay written by Xueli Wang, A Retort to The World of Suzie Wong written by Angie Chen, archival images, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

A country girl moves to Hong Kong to work as a bar girl in the Red Light district of Wan Chai. Dissatisfied with her current employer, she starts a similar business only to discover that there will always be someone trying to derail you.

My Name Ain't Suzie is a play on The World of Suzie Wong, a film that it draws elements from thematically. Although both films revolve around a protagonist who works as a prostitute in the Wan Chai District, they could not be more different tonally. Where both films took on social issues like poverty and prejudice, The World of Suzie Wong, like so many Hollywood films of that era, romanticizes the story that unfolds, while My Name Ain't Suzie goes for a realistic approach.

The narrative begins in post-World War II Hong Kong, and the events that follow unfold over several decades, notably the 1950s and 60s. The narrative is bookended by moments that take place in the present where a character retraces how the protagonist, Shui-Mei, arrived in Hong Kong and what led her to become a recluse. While My Name Ain't Suzie is clearly Shui-Mei’s story, the narrative is very effective at fleshing out several other characters who play a significant role in her life.

All around, the cast are excellent in their roles, especially Pat Ha (On the Run), who portrays Shui-Mei. She delivers a remarkable performance where she perfectly transforms from a naive country girl to a self-reliant woman who’s fearless. Another performance of note is Anthony Wong Chau-Sang (Full Contact), who portrays Jimmy, a mixed-race young man who was abandoned by his Chinese mother and looking for his white British father.

The opening setup does a superb job pulling you in, and the film’s production design does an outstanding job recreating the various time periods. The narrative is flawlessly constructed; it gives key moments an ample amount of time to resonate, and a bittersweet finale is slightly softened by a montage of end credits that show Shui-Mei during happier times. The score is comprised of music from the eras that the story takes place in, and the songs chosen greatly enhance the mood. Not to be overlooked is Angie Chen's solid direction; she follows up her debut film Maybe It’s Love with My Name Ain't Suzie, an extraordinary deconstruction of The World of Suzie Wong.

Kani Releasing gives My Name Ain't Suzie an excellent release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Legion of the Dead: Collectors Limited Edition – Unearthed Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Germany, 2001
Director: Olaf Ittenbach
Writer: Olaf Ittenbach
Cast: Michael Carr, Russell Friedenberg, Kimberly Liebe, Hank Stone, Harvey J. Alperin, Matthias Hues, Christopher Kriesa, Darren Shahlavi, Birgit Stauber

Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 92 Minutes 27 Seconds (Producer's Cut), 108 Minutes 39 Seconds (Director's Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 English (Both Versions), LPCM Stereo English (Producer's Cut), Dolby Stereo English (Director's Cut)
Subtitles: English (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $44.95

"William and his sidekick Luke have just started a relaxing trip through the beautiful California desert when they stumble onto a small town where, unbeknownst to them, a mysterious tall blond man and his sadistic henchmen are killing people to create a Legion of the Dead!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5 (Both Versions)

Here’s the information provided about the producer’s cuts transfer, "The original US DVD release was butchered for an R rating.

This version was sourced from the original 35mm festival version of the film. This was the best master provided to us by the licensor.” 

Legion of the Dead, the producer's cut, comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.5 GB

Feature: 26.9 GB

Here’s the information provided about the director’s cuts transfer, "This version was created by Olaf Ittenbach for the Austrian market in 2007.

It contains dialog that switches from English to German language during added and altered scenes.

English subtitles will appear during those scenes.”

Legion of the Dead, the director's cut, comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.1 GB

Feature: 21.9 GB

The sources for each version look comparable; they are in excellent shape, free of any debris or imperfections. The transfers faithfully recreate the film’s intended look. Image clarity is generally strong, black levels fare well, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English - Both Versions, LPCM Stereo English - Producer's Cut), 4/5 (Dolby Stereo English - Director's Cut)

The producer's cut comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a LPCM stereo mix in English. The director’s cut comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English/German and a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English/German. All of the tracks sound clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Both versions come with removable English subtitles for all dialogue and the director’s cut comes with a second English subtitle track just for German dialogue.

Extras:

Extras on disc one include a photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background, the original trailer (2 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an alternate trailer (2 minutes 27 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a US trailer (1 minute 9 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), outtakes (15 minutes 37 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), deleted scenes (9 minutes 16 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), festival premieres (9 minutes 17 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Making of Legion of the Dead (21 minutes 43 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with director Olaf Ittenbach.

There are no extras on disc two.

Other extras include a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Olaf Ittenbach directed Legion of the Dead. He’s known for The Burning Moon, Premutos: The Fallen Angel, Beyond the Limits, and Garden of Love.

Traveling through the California desert, two friends end up in a small town where everyone is dying at an alarming rate and coming back to life as a legion of walking-dead soldiers.

Legion of the Dead is an apocalyptic-themed zombie horror film about an antichrist-like character named Tagayo who’s assembling a legion of living dead soldiers. While the main thrust of the narrative revolves around Tagayo’s quest, there are several subplots that incorporate characters whose stories stand on their own before all coming together for the finale. Besides Tagayo and his two henchmen, who are creating a legion of living dead, there is a cast of other colorful characters, like a serial killer who picks up hitchhikers.

Although the narrative's opening setup does an excellent job fleshing out the key characters, from there it is mostly a series of moments of excessive gory carnage. An area where Legion of the Dead excels the most is its use of subversive humor. Other strengths are the cast's enthusiastic performances and visually, Legion of the Dead is Olaf Ittenbach’s best-looking film. There are two versions of Legion of the Dead, and the director’s cut plays much better than the inferior producer’s cut. Ultimately, Legion of the Dead is a wall-to-wall splatterfest that can be a lot of fun if you're in the right frame of mind.

Legion of the Dead gets an excellent release from Unearthed Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation, an alternate version of Legion of the Dead, and a pair of informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Poverty Row Classics Double Feature Volume 2: East Side Kids & Let's Get Tough - VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Dates: USA, 1940 (East Side Kids), USA, 1942 (Let's Get Tough)
Directors: Robert F. Hill (East Side Kids), Wallace Fox (Let's Get Tough)
Cast: East Side Kids, Leon Ames, Dennis Moore, Joyce Bryant (East Side Kids), East Side Kids, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall (Let's Get Tough)

Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 61 Minutes 27 Seconds (East Side Kids), 62 Minutes 26 Seconds (Let's Get Tough)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $19.95

East Side Kids: "A group of tough but loyal neighborhood boys find themselves at the center of a murder investigation after being wrongly suspected of the crime. Determined to prove their innocence, the East Side Kids set out to track down the real killer. As they dig deeper into the mystery, the boys must outsmart dangerous criminals and skeptical authorities while relying on their street smarts and friendship to clear their names.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Let's Get Tough: "A group of boys tries to enlist in World War II but is rejected for being too young. After mistakenly vandalizing a Chinese shop they thought was Japanese-owned, they try to make amends and uncover a hidden message linked to a Japanese-led spy ring called the Black Dragon Society.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 2/5 (Both Films)

East Side Kids and Let's Get Tough come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.6 GB

Feature: 16.5 GB (East Side Kids), 16.7 GB (Let's Get Tough)

Neither film's source is reference quality; they both exhibit some source-related imperfections. The image often lacks clarity; black levels are never convincing, and there are some mild compression issues.

Audio: 3/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

Each film comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. While both tracks sound clear and balanced, they lack any depth range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a poster gallery with music playing in the background, a featurette titled Streetwise on Celluloid (3 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles), a featurette titled Poverty Row Studios - A Brief History (5 minutes 8 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles), and a featurette titled Poverty Row Powerhouse - The Monogram Story (4 minutes 47 seconds, LPCM stereo English with removable English subtitles). All featurettes are AI-generated. 

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

Summary:

East Side Kids: A group of delinquent kids, falsely accused of murder, take things into their own hands and search for the real killer.

Let's Get Tough: Unable to enlist due to their age and wanting to serve their country, a group of delinquent kids uncover a Japanese spy syndicate.

The East Side Kids were characters in a series that spanned 22 films from 1940 to 1945. Despite their mischievous behavior, the kids in both films ultimately play a crucial role in assisting the police in solving a crime occurring in their neighborhood. In the first film in the series, The East Side Kids, it does an excellent job of establishing who the East Side Kids are. They are a determined group of kids who are extremely resourceful in their quests for the truth. While the East Side Kids are the main attraction of these films, they share the role of the protagonist with a police officer character who works with them.

At just over 60 minutes in length, neither film overstays its welcome, as they both move at a brisk momentum. Let's Get Tough is a perfect example of a film that is a product of its time. Made during World War II, Let's Get Tough features language that has not aged well, notably how characters refer to the Japanese as Japs or how characters label anyone who looks Asian as Japanese, even if they are Chinese. The most surprising aspect of both films is how well they blend humor into their stories. Ultimately, East Side Kids is the superior film of the two, setting a standard that subsequent films failed to meet.

VCI Entertainment gives East Side Kids and Let's Get Tough serviceable audio/video presentations.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Rise of the Super Tromettes – Troma Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 2025
Director: Mercedes
Writer: Mercedes
Cast: Elizabeth D'Ambrosio, Mercedes, Knotty Peach, Jade Theriault, Bob Wright, Lloyd Kaufman

Release Date: July 14th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 92 Minutes 19 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $14.95

"A mysterious virus is infecting the men of Tromaville. It's up to the female vigilante team known as The Super Tromettes to unite and tackle this threat." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Rise of the Super Tromettes comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.2 GB

Feature: 17 GB

Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio sounds clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an introduction featuring actress/director Mercedes and Lloyd Kaufman (53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Club Mesa commercial (34 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Mercedes The Muses' Totally Toxic Tour (5 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Super Tromettes Assemble! Making-of Mini Doc (4 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette about Troma’s production team working in Albania titled Tromalbania (26 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Take the Troma IQ test, Radiation March (54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a promo for Troma’s streaming service titled Invite Troma to Your Next Sleepover! (2 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Innards! music video (1 minute 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), TA in 4K (1 minute 10 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and trailers for Shakespeare’s Shitstorm, Eating Miss Campbell, Curse of the Werewolf, Sweet Meats, Kill Dolly Doll, Divide & Conquer, The Toxic Avenger, Class of Nume ‘Em High, Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., and Tromeo & Juliet.

Summary:

A mysterious virus is infecting the men of Tromaville, and their only hope for a cure is a female vigilante group that calls itself The Super Tromettes.

Troma Entertainment for 52 years, has been putting out films that push bad taste and are deliberately politically incorrect. Whether directed by Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman or another filmmaker, all the films they release have a similar vibe. This brings me to one of Troma Entertainment’s latest releases, Rise of the Super Tromettes, a film that fully embraces all of the qualities we have come to expect and love from Troma.

The heroes of the film are the Super Tromettes, and they are cut from the mold of other superheroes, albeit with a sexier edge to their costumes. One of their weapons is a nunchuck with dicks for its handles, and another way they disable their enemies is with queef bombs. The dialogue is filled with sexual innuendo and the humor pushes beyond the limits to political incorrectness. While the narrative is predictable, things move quickly from one outrageous moment to the next, and the cast's enthusiastic performances greatly enhance the experience. Ultimately, Rise of the Super Tromettes is on brand for Troma, and fans of their films should thoroughly enjoy it.

Rise of the Super Tromettes gets a solid release from Troma Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras.

Written by Michael Den Boer