Nun in Rope Hell – New Wave Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1984
Director: Katsuhiko Fujii
Writer: Akira Nakano
Cast: Miki Takakura, Asami Ogawa, Hiromi Yamaguchi, Kazuko Honjô, Maya Itô, Takashi Kanematsu, Chigusa Takayama, Hiroshi Takayama, Hiroshi Unayama, Shingo Yamamoto

Release Date: June 10th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 68 Minutes 45 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR (Australia)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.95 AUD (Australia)

"After a brutal act of violence shatters her illicit affair, guilt-ridden Takako (Miki Takakura) seeks salvation within the walls of a secluded convent. But the promise of absolution is a cruel illusion. Behind the convent’s holy façade lies a hidden world of ritualized cruelty, domination, and forbidden desire—where a group of nuns, aided by a notorious novelist, transform religious devotion into an elaborate twisted theater." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "1080p High Definition presentation of a 2K restoration by the Nikkatsu Corporation."

Nun in Rope Hell comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 20.5 GB

Feature: 17.7 GB

The source is in excellent shape; there is some very minor print debris that remains. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, black levels are strong, and image clarity and compression are solid.

Audio: 5/5

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

Extras:

Extras for this release include with music from the film playing in the background, a video essay by film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas titled Kiss from a Rose: Nun in Rope Hell and Nunsploitation Cinema (13 minutes 11 seconds, LPCM stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for Japanese film clips), reversible cover art, a UV/Spot Gloss slipcover, and a 16-page booklet with an essay titled Portrait of Passions Constrained: The Provenance of Nun in Rope Hell written by Jasper Sharp and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Katsuhiko Fujii directed Nun in Rope Hell. He’s most known for Cruelty: Black Rose Torture, Momoe’s Lips, and Snake Hole. Nun in Rope Hell is adapted from a story written by Oniroku Dan, who is best known for Flower and Snake.

A woman running away from her sinful past becomes a nun.

At their core, Nikkatsu romantic pornography films are exploitation films that lean heavily into sexual content. A non-exploitation-themed Nikkatsu romantic pornography film is a perfect fit for a genre that revolves around sinful behavior.

Nun in Rope Hell’s main location is a secluded nunnery whose nuns are anything but holy. Their main benefactor is an author named Kumaki, who writes sexually themed novels. They show him thanks by indulging in his sexual desires. The narrative revolves around Takako, a sinful woman who's no stranger to the acts that turn Kumaki on. Has she found the sanctuary or will she fall prey to her sexual desires?

When one considers their relative short running times and required amount of sexual content, it's often surprising how much actual story works its way into a Nikkatsu romantic pornography film. Nun in Rope Hell's opening moments perfectly set the tone for what follows and its narrative effectively builds momentum with a series of moments that offer further insight into her psyche. That said, Nun in Rope Hell is a satisfying mix of erotica and exposition.

The cast fully immerses themselves in their characters' perversity. The standout performance is Miki Takakura, who portrays Takako, a woman whose sinful behavior causes her to become a nun. She delivers a remarkable performance that captures her character's guilt and desires. Another performance of note is Asami Ogawa (Star of David: Hunting for Beautiful Girls), who portrays a nun that fully embraces her libido.

Although sexually themed content is the main draw of Nikkatsu romantic pornography films, Japanese censorship laws require filmmakers to come up with creative ways to shoot these moments. The artful placing of objects to obscure naughty parts and the striking use of color are areas where the visuals excel. There are many striking moments that heighten the mood, notably scenes where Takako is experiencing an erotic nightmare. Ultimately, Nun in Rope Hell is one of the better examples of a Nikkatsu romantic pornography film that effectively blends erotica and horror.

If you are a fan of Nikkatsu romantic pornography films, you should definitely consider owning this release. It is region-free, and the packaging does not include any ratings logos. That said, Nun in Rope Hell gets an exceptional release from New Wave Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Legend of the Sacred Stone: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Taiwan, 2000
Director: Chris Huang
Writer: Chris Huang
Cast: Vincent Huang

Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 99 Minutes 31 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Taiwanese Hokkien
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"a group of warriors of Wulin led by white-maned hero Su Huan-Jen trying to prevent Mo Kuei and his spectral assassins called "The Unkind" from gaining possession of the all-powerful Sacred Stone.  The Unkind in particular are a riot with their screechy Skeksis-like voices and unexpected sense of humor:  “We’re the most handsome men in the world!” one chortles.  Along the way you get treated to martial arts moves like Aeolian Surprise, Thunder Bars, heroes riding a flying sword like the Silver Surfer, living corpses with melting flesh – oh, and if you’ve ever wondered how a puppet bleeds, you’ll see that too." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Legend of the Sacred Stone comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.5 GB

Feature: 28.7 GB

The source looks excellent; colors look correct, and image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Taiwanese Hokkien with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; Diaglue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include original theatrical trailer #1 (1 minute 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Taiwanese Hokkien with non-removable English subtitles), original theatrical trailer #2 (1 minute 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Taiwanese Hokkien with non-removable English subtitles), a featurette titled Deluxe Edition Artwork Creation (44 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo with music from the film playing in the background), an interview with director Chris Huang and members of the PILI puppeteering team, moderated by Dennis Bartok (41 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Taiwanese Hokkien with removable English subtitles), Su Huan-Jen Character Spotlight – a newly-edited compilation for this release showing the evolution of the character of Su Huan-Jen over the course of nearly 40 years of PILI TV (5 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo Taiwanese Hokkien with removable English subtitles), a video essay by film historian Evan Chester titled Puppets, Wuxia, and Spirituality: The Lore and Inspirations Behind Legend of the Sacred Stone (17 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with puppeteer and filmmaker Ben Wolf Page, associate editor of The Puppetry Journal for the Puppeteers of America.

Summary:

Set 400 years in the past, the martial world is threatened by Mo Kuei, and a sage named Su Huan-jen gathers three martial warriors together to defeat him. Central to their quest is the Heavenly Question Stone, which grants those who possess it a wish.

Legend of the Sacred Stone is a Wuxia-themed adventure that employs bùdàixì, a type of gloved puppetry that uses gloved puppets and computer-generated imagery during action sequences. The first question that arises is how they could convincingly create a Wuxia film entirely populated with puppets. When one thinks of a Wuxia film, there are high-flying and fluid action set pieces that often feature intricate acrobatics. And yet, despite all of these things, Legend of the Sacred Stone somehow pulls them off extremely well.

Despite being a spin-off of a long-running Pili television series, Legend of the Sacred Stone is a self-contained film that doesn't necessitate any prior knowledge of the series. The opening setup does an excellent job fleshing out the main characters and setting the stage for what unfolds. While exposition-heavy, the narrative moves rather quickly, and it never has an issue as it builds to its big action set-piece finale.

When it comes to content, Legend of the Sacred Stone is standard fare for a Wuxia film; it hits all the essential elements one expects for the genre. While the premise and story that unfold cover familiar ground, it's never an issue since the main attraction is the puppetry. Ultimately, Legend of the Sacred Stone is a highly entertaining film that exceeds expectations.

Legend of the Sacred Stone gets an excellent release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras. Recommended.

Note: There is a deluxe release of Legend of the Sacred Stone that comes in a slipcase and a 60-page booklet with an essay written by Fantasia Festival programmer Rupert Bottenberg and an essay written by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central).

Written by Michael Den Boer

Iron Monkey – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1993
Director: Yuen Woo-ping
Writers: Tsui Hark, Cheung Tan, Tang Elsa, Lau Tai-Mok
Cast: Donnie Yen, Yu Rongguang, Jean Wang, Angela Tsang Sze-Man, Yuen Shun-yi

Release Date: February 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: PG-13
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $32.98

"Directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, this martial arts classic is set against the end of the Qing Dynasty and tells the tale of a chivalrous robber, Iron Monkey (Yu Rong-Guang, Supercop 2), who robs the rich and gives to the poor in Zhejiang province. A famous kung fu master (Donnie Yen, Ip Man) is enlisted in the capture of Iron Monkey. He is thus torn between upholding the law and siding with this unknown hero…" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

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

Iron Monkey comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.4 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

For this release Shout! Factory uses the same source that Eureka Video used for their 2018 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones and colors look correct, black levels are strong, image clarity, contrast, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Stereo Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD 5.1 English)

This release comes with five audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. The Mandarin and Cantonese language tracks are noticeably more robust than the English language tracks. Included are English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and English SDH for the English language track. It should be noted that subtitles and audio can only be chosen via the audio setup menu, and they cannot be turned off while watching the main feature.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (stills/poster), 7 TV spots (3 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (5 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), footage of Li Fai and Angie Tsang Sze-Man Competing at the 2003 Wushu Championships (9 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival extra titled Shadow Boxing with Alex Yip (8 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Yuen Cheung-Yan titled Iron Fist: A Look Behind the Action of Iron Monkey (16 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Angie Tsang Sze-Man (20 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Li Fai (25 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Yu Rong-Guang (26 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with producer Tsui Hark (24 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Donnie Yen (19 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Ricky Baker titled New from Monkey Business to the Big Time, he discusses Donnie Yen’s rise to stardom (12 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with writer Richard Epcar titled International Iron (18 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer James L. Venable titled Scoring A Fresh Take, he discusses his score for Iron Monkey’s American release (18 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Hong Kong filmmaker and academic Gilbert Po and film critic Sean Tierney.

Summary:

Yuen Woo-Ping directed Iron Monkey. He is also known for directing films such as Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher, and Tai Chi Master. Besides directing, he is one of Hong Kong cinema’s most acclaimed martial arts choreographers.

A masked bandit named Iron Monkey steals from the rich and gives to the poor, making the governor of a region look foolish and take excessive action to bring him to justice.

Hong Kong cinema during the early 1990s was going through a transition; many of its stars and directors were being lured away by Hollywood. While Yuen Woo-ping took his talents working as an action choreographer on The Matrix and Kill Bill, he never directed a film in Hollywood like most of his contemporaries. Throughout his career, Yuen Woo-ping directed several significant films in the careers of actors who would later achieve stardom, Jackie Chan (Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, Drunken Master); Sammo Hung Kam-bo (The Magnificent Butcher); and Donnie Yen, an actor he worked with four times before his breakout film Iron Monkey.

Iron Monkey is a period-set martial arts film that draws inspiration from Chinese and English folklore. The premise, a Robin Hood-like scenario in which a masked hero character and his accomplice take on a corrupt injustice system, is superbly realized. The narrative, which is a perfect balance of exposition and action, moves at a breakneck momentum that effectively builds to an exemplary action set-piece finale where all wrongs are righted.

All around, the performances are excellent. While Iron Monkey gives Donnie Yen a role that showcases his abilities to the fullest, the most memorable performance is Angela Tsang Sze-Man in the role of Wong Fei-hung, a Chinese martial artist and folk hero. Making her film debut in such an iconic role, she more than holds her own and delivers when it comes to her acrobatic fight sequences. Other performances of note are Yu Rong-guang (Taxi Hunter), who portrays Yang Tianchun, aka Iron Monkey, and James Wong (Tiger on the Beat) in the role of a corrupt governor named Cheng Pak-Fong.

While the premise and narrative are perfectly executed, when discussing martial arts films, the main draw is their action set pieces. It's not surprising that the action set pieces often exceed expectations, since Yuen Woo-ping is someone whose action choreography is inventive and features movements that one did not know were possible. There are several memorable action set pieces; the most notable are the scene that introduces Iron Monkey, a scene where Wong Fei-hung quickly dispenses with a gang of grown men trying to teach him a lesson, and a jaw-dropping finale that takes place on poles as fire rages on the ground below. Ultimately, Iron Monkey is a high-water mark of 1990s Hong Kong cinema, making it a must-see for fans of classic martial arts cinema.

Iron Monkey gets an excellent release from Shout! Factory that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain – Shout! Factory (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1983
Director: Tsui Hark
Writers: Shui Chung-yuet, Sze-to Cheuk-hon
Cast: Sammo Hung Kam-bo, Yuen Biao, Brigitte Lin, Adam Cheng, Moon Lee, Judy Ongg

Release Date: February 14th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 39 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $32.98

"An army deserter (Yuen Biao) is chased by vampires in the mountains of Zu. He is rescued by a master (Adam Cheung) and becomes his devoted pupil. But when they are ambushed by the Blood Devil, the pair find themselves in need of the assistance of a devil chaser (Damian Lau) and his pupil (Mang Hoi). With the additional help of Master Chang Mei (Sammo Hung), they manage to hold off the Blood Devil…but they will need to find the Dual Swords to destroy it!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

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

Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.9 GB

Feature: 26.1 GB (Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain), 8.7 GB (Zu: Time Warrior)

For this release Shout! Factory uses the same source that Eureka Video used for their 2020 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. That said, there is a dip in quality with moments that are special effects-heavy.

Audio: 4.5/5 (All Audio Tracks)

This release comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, and a DTS-HD stereo mix in English. All of the tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced and range-wise robust when they should. Included are English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and English SDH for the English language track. It should be noted that subtitles and audio can only be chosen via the audio setup menu, and they cannot be turned off while watching the main feature.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (stills/posters), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), alternate opening credits (2 minutes, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese, no English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Mang Hoi (18 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Moon Lee (21 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Yuen Biao (12 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Tsui Hark (61 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival select scene audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns, an interview with academic Lin Feng titled New the Majesty and Magic of a Hong Kong Milestone (17 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with author and academic Victor Fan titled New Riding a New Wave (27 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with visual effects consultant Peter Kuran titled New from West to East (21 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Hong Kong filmmaker and academic Gilbert Po and film critic Sean Tierney, and Zu: Time Warrior, an alternate export cut produced for European theaters (97 minutes 16 seconds, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

Tsui Hark directed Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain. He’s known for Don't Play with Fire (aka Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind), Shanghai Blues, Peking Opera Blues, Once Upon a Time in China, The Banquet, Twin Dragons, and Time and Tide. Besides directing, he’s also produced these notable films: A Better Tomorrow, A Better Tomorrow II, A Chinese Ghost Story, The Killer, Iron Monkey, Burning Paradise, and Black Mask.

During a civil war, a Chinese warrior flees the battlefield and becomes entangled in a battle of good versus evil.

The reason foreign cinema does not connect with audiences abroad is that many cultural elements are lost in translation. A significant example of how audiences interpret humor that’s derived from dialogue when they are not familiar with cultural elements. That said, another genre whose elements far too often get lost in translation is fantasy films.

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is a film firmly rooted in Xianxia, a genre heavily influenced by Chinese mythology. While it has many elements that are in common with Wuxia, if you’re not familiar with Chinese mythology, there are some things that might not translate well. While Western audiences may be familiar with fantasy cinema, Chinese fantasy films are in a realm all their own.

Without a doubt, Zu Warriors from Magic Mountain’s action set pieces are its greatest asset. The action set pieces are inventive, explosive, and highly entertaining. Another strength of Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is its cast of colorful heroes and villains. That said, while special effects have made significant advancements since Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain, there is something oddly endearing about how they are employed in this film.

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain features a solid cast that’s headlined by Biao Yuen (On the Run) in the role of Ti Ming-Chi, a soldier who finds himself on a fantastical journey where the forces of evil are being held at bay by the forces of good; Hoi Mang (Pedicab Driver) in the role of a monk’s disciple named Yi Zhen; and Moon Lee (Devil Hunters) in the role of Mu Sang, one of the ice queen’s guards.

Other notable cast members include Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (The Magnificent Butcher) and Brigitte Lin (The Bride with White Hair). Sammo Kam-Bo Hung is cast in two roles: a Red Army soldier and an ancient priest named Chang Mei, who uses his ‘long brows’ to restrain his opponents. Brigitte Lin portrays the Ice Queen, a character who has magical powers that can save the gravely wounded.

Tsui Hark's first three films, known collectively as the Chaos Trilogy, are known for subversive content and rejection of traditional Hong Kong cinema filmmaking. His films since then have become more commercially minded. While Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain was not a success at the box office, it's a significant film in Tsui Hark’s evolution as a filmmaker, and over the years it's gained a considerable following. His direction is solid and there is a kinetic energy throughout that ensures there’s never a dull moment. Ultimately, Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain is a visual extravaganza that fans of Xianxia cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Shout! Factory gives Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain a solid release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of extras. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) – Second Run (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Mexico, 1955
Director: Luis Buñuel
Writers: Luis Buñuel, Eduardo Ugarte, Rodolfo Usigli
Cast: Miroslava, Ernesto Alonso, Rita Macedo, Ariadne Welter, Andrea Palma, Rodolfo Landa, José María Linares-Rivas, Leonor Llausás, Eva Calvo, Enrique Díaz Indiano, Carlos Riquelme, Chabela Durán, Carlos Martínez Baena, Manuel Dondé, Armando Velasco

Release Date: May 25th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK)

"A reawakened childhood memory convinces rich, cultured Archibaldo that he is able to cause the death of others. But his murderous impulses are frustrated at every turn, driving him to find ever more inventive ways to fulfill his desires.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “4K restoration by Cineteca Nacional Mexico."

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34 GB

Feature: 24.3 GB

While this release uses that same 4K source that VCI did for their Blu-ray release, the result is a stronger transfer that comes with a solid encode from Silversun Post. Flesh tones look healthy; contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Spanish with newly created English subtitles that are removable. The audio quality is excellent; the dialogue is always clear, and everything sounds balanced; in terms of range, this track is noticeably more robust than VCI’s Blu-ray.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival video essay by writer and filmmaker Cristina Álvarez López titled Buñuel and Surrealism Result Into Love (4 minutes 52 seconds, LPCM stereo with text in English), an archival video essay by Cristina Álvarez López titled Buñuel in Mexico: The Logic of Delirium (4 minutes 49 seconds, LPCM mono Spanish with non-removable English subtitles and text in English), an archival video essay by Cristina Álvarez López titled International Buñuel: Interruptions as Method (5 minutes 29 seconds, LPCM mono Spanish with non-removable English subtitles and text in English), an archival video essay about The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz by film historian David Wilt (26 minutes 45 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), Luis Buñuel's annotated personal script of the film (BD-Rom content) and a 24-page booklet with an essay titled Exploring The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz written by Jordi Xifra, a text piece titled Introduction to the Video Essays, an essay titled Overcoming and Reconstructing Buñuel written by Cristina Álvarez López, cast & crew information, and disc credits.

Summary:

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) was directed by Luis Buñuel, a Spanish filmmaker who made most of his films in France and Mexico. Notable films he directed include L'Âge d'Or, The Exterminating Angel, Belle de jour, and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) fits firmly within the crime film genre. And yet, the result is not always a straightforward crime film because of the surreal elements that are a hallmark of the cinema of Luis Buñuel.

The narrative revolves around an affluent protagonist who, as a boy, was given a music box that he believes has magical powers that kill people whom he wishes death upon. After an opening sequence when he was a boy, which lays the groundwork for what follows, we fast forward to a mental institution where the protagonist now lives. From there, the bulk of the narrative is told via flashbacks that detail the protagonist's alleged crimes.

The cast is excellent, particularly Ernesto Alonso (The Forgotten Ones), who plays Archibaldo de la Cruz, a wealthy man whose obsession with a childhood trauma has impaired his ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. He delivers a solid performance that perfectly captures his character's state of mind.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) does not excel. The premise is superbly realized, and a well-executed narrative that does a great job of employing flashbacks builds momentum that culminates in a sensational finale. Another strength is the visuals, which have a few stylish moments that are connected to the music box deaths. Ultimately, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) is a well-made psychological thriller that does a fantastic job of blurring reality with dark humor.

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) gets an excellent release from Second Run that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

I Love Maria: Hong Kong Cinema Classics – Shout! Factory (UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1988
Director: David Chung
Writer: Yuen Kai Chi
Cast: John Shum, Sally Yeh, Tsui Hark, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Lam Ching-ying, David Wu, Kirk Wong 

Release Date: May 26th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 18 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10 Dolby Vision
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $39.99

"The Hero Gang, a nasty group of thugs, are terrorizing Hong Kong with their killer robots. But when one of the robots gets damaged during a mission to kill an outcast, an inventor on the police force takes her and changes her programming. The new code, plus a few injuries to her logic center, transforms the automaton into a robot with a real personality." - synopsis provided by the distributor

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

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "4K Scan from the Original Camera Negative."

I Love Maria comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 65.5 GB

Feature: 65.2 GB

This is another exemplary restoration; flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

I Love Maria comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.7 GB

Feature: 27.4 GB

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

Audio: 5/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and action sequences sound robust. Included are English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and English SDH subtitles for the English language track. There are also English subtitles for text and moments in Cantonese while watching the English language track. It should be noted that subtitles and audio can only be chosen via the audio setup menu, and they cannot be turned off while watching the main feature.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an audio commentary with film historians Frank Djeng and Erik Ko.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/Japanese press book/posters), a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 53 seconds, DTS-HD mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language credits (2 minutes 20 seconds, DTS-HD mono), an interview with screenwriter Yuen Kai-Chi titled From Brainwaves to Mainframes (6 minutes 25 seconds, DTS-HD stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and Erik Ko.

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

Summary:

I Love Maria was directed by David Chung, whose most notable film as a director is Royal Warriors. Besides directing, he predominantly worked as a cinematographer. His notable credits as a cinematographer include Don't Play with Fire (aka Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind), My Heart Is That Eternal Rose, God of the Gamblers, Once Upon a Time in China, and Royal Tramp.

A criminal gang terrorizing Hong Kong with giant killer robots creates a new robot model after their second in command, Maria. When the Maria robot is damaged during an attack, an inventor who works for the police rebuilds and reprograms her to fight against the criminal gang she once served.

Most viewers watching I Love Maria will likely think of Robocop first. While there are some similarities between these two films, I Love Maria was already in production before Robocop was released. That said, the result is a crazy genre-bending film that has all of the hallmarks that fans of 1980s Hong Kong cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Sally Yeh (The Killer) is cast in the role of Maria and her robot replica. Her performance is outstanding, particularly when she flawlessly mimics a robot's movements and lack of emotion. The rest of the cast is rounded out by recognizable faces like Lam Ching-ying (Mr. Vampire) in the role of B 12, the former leader of the Hero Gang, and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (Bullet in the Head) in the role of T.Q. Zhuang, an inquisitive reporter who often gets in the way.

Other cast members of note are John Shum (Yes! Madam) and Tsui Hark (Once Upon a Time in China) in the roles of an inventor who works for law enforcement and a former criminal. Despite being the producers of I Love Maria, they also play significant roles in characters whose stories are equally as large as the protagonist's. When it comes to humor, most of the comic relief is a result of their characters' antics.

The outlandish premise is superbly realized, and a briskly paced narrative never gives you a chance to catch your breath. The action set pieces are inventive, especially when it comes to the exemplary stunt work on display. Although Hong Kong never had the resources that Hollywood does, the special effects hold up surprisingly well. Ultimately, I Love Maria is a highly entertaining sci-fi/action/comedy hybrid that greatly benefits from its cast's enthusiastic performances.

Shout! Factory gives I Love Maria an exceptional release that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras. Highly 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