Patti Rocks: Limited Edition Site Exclusive – Fun City Editions (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1988
Director: David Burton Morris
Writers: David Burton Morris, Chris Mulkey, John Jenkins, Karen Landry
Cast: Chris Mulkey, John Jenkins, Karen Landry, David Turk, Stephen Yoakam

Release Date: September 8th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 41 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $30.00

"Twin Cities barge worker Billy (Chris Mulkey, First Blood) enlists his buddy Eddie (John Jenkins, Loose Ends) to accompany him on a night time road trip in the dead of winter to visit his out-of-town, pregnant girlfriend Patti Rocks (Karen Landry, The Personals). Billy hasn't told her that he's already married with two children and cannot afford another child or the disruption to his life. Billy is messed up enough for several thousand guys, while Eddie is understanding enough for two. And Patti--well, she straightens them both out." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Long out of circulation, David Burton Morris’s Patti Rocks has been restored from a 4K scan of its original 35mm internegative for its worldwide Blu-ray premiere."

Patti Rocks comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.8 GB

Feature: 25.1 GB

The source is clean and free of any debris or imperfections. 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.

Audio: 4.25/5

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

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with executive producer Sam Grogg titled New Position: Patti Rocks (10 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Sam Grogg titled The History of Film Dallas Pictures (15 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an isolated music track, an audio commentary with filmmakers David Burton Morris and Victoria Wozniak, a reversible cover art, a slipcover (this strictly limited deluxe set is exclusive to the FCE website), and a 16-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with an interview with actor John Jenkin and cast & crew information.

Summary:

David Burton Morris co-wrote and directed Pattie Rocks. He’s most known for Purple Haze and Jersey Girl. Pattie Rocks is a continuation of Loose Ends, an earlier film directed by David Burton Morris. Actors Chris Mulkey and John Jenkins appear in both films.

Eddie gets a call during Christmas time from Billy, an old friend he hasn’t seen or heard from in six months. Billy likes to sleep around and has gotten his girlfriend pregnant. Looking for a way out, Billy calls in a favor and asks Eddie to go with him to talk to his girlfriend.

Patti Rocks is a film of two distinct halves. The first half revolves around two friends, Billy and Eddie, who go on a road trip to see Patti, Billy’s girlfriend. The second half introduces a third character, Patti, who interacts with Billy and Eddie. The first half is male-dominated, and it features vulgar dialogue that veers into misogynistic territory, while the second half subverts a lot of what was discussed in the first half when Patti is given a voice.

While Pattie Rocks is a film that clearly lays out its themes that it explores, one cannot overlook the role that its three leads play with their performances. The three leads all contributed to writing the screenplay. Chris Mulkey and John Jenkins are cast in the roles of Billy and Eddie. Billy is an arrogant character who thinks with his dick and not his brain, while Eddie is more level-headed. That said, the standout of the three leads is Karen Landry’s portrayal of Patti.

For a film that’s never flashy visually, the focal point is always its characters and the cast's performances. The narrative is essentially characters in conversations, which are always intimate and throughout; characters' insecurities are at the forefront and they often let them get the best of them. Patti Rocks excels in another area: its rawness enhances the authenticity of the word being spoken. The most surprising aspect of Patti Rocks is how well it employs humor. Ultimately, Patti Rocks is an exemplary drama about female empowerment that takes on toxic masculinity head-on.

Fun City Editions gives Patti Rocks a solid release that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Ping Pong – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 2002
Director: Fumihiko Sori
Writer: Kankurō Kudō
Cast: Yôsuke Kubozuka, Arata Iura, Sam Lee, Shidô Nakamura, Kôji Ohkura, Naoto Takenaka, Mari Natsuki

Release Date: July 27th, 2026 (UK), July 28th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 114 Minutes 21 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Japanese, DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £20.00 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Punkish ping pong prodigy Peco (Yosuke Kubozuka; Go, Silence) is on a losing streak, not helped by his friend since childhood, Smile (ARATA; After Life, United Red Army), intentionally letting him win in their practice sessions. As tournament day draws near, it is up to Peco to regain his mojo to take on such fearsome opponents as China (Sam Lee; Made in Hong Kong), who has fallen off the Chinese national team and wound up, bitter, in Japan, and Dragon (Nakamura Shido; Deathnote), their arch-nemesis from the rival Kaio Academy team, who approaches the table with an almost militaristic fanaticism." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "High-Definition Blu-ray presentation."

Ping Pong comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.9 GB

Feature: 32.9 GB

The film was shot on HDCAM, and this transfer does an excellent job retaining the intended digital look. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are vivid, and image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 5/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Japanese and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Japanese. There is some dialogue in Cantonese and English. Both tracks sound excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Etras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with filmmaker Michael Arias titled An Artist's Take (21 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by Jasper Sharp titled A Different Class (13 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Zack Davisson, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings, and a 12-page booklet with cast & crew information and an essay titled See the Ball written by Jonathan Clements.

Summary:

Fumihiko Sori directed Ping Pong. He’s most known for directing Ichi (2008) and a trio of Fullmetal Alchemist films. Ping Pong is based on Taiyō Matsumoto's manga series of the same name.

Two childhood friends become competitors in a ping pong tournament.

At the heart of Ping Pong is a story about friendship and how the competition divides two friends. Peco and Smile (both nicknames) have been friends since childhood. Smile is an introvert who puts others' feelings over his own, while Peco thrives to be the best at everything he does, even at the expense of others. Where Smile has a natural talent when it comes to playing ping pong, Paco's lack of training often holds him back.

Besides Smile and Paco, there is a color cast of characters who populate Ping Pong. Some of their rivals include the Dragon, a strict disciplinarian who leads the Kaio academy team; Demon, a friend of Smile and Paco, who is part of the Kaio academy team; and another opponent named Kǒng "China" Wéngé. Then there is Naoto Takenaka (A Night in Nude), who portrays Butterfly Joe, a former ping pong champion who mentors Smile, and Mari Natsuki (Samurai Fiction), who portrays Obaba, Paco’s grandmother, who restores his confidence by reminding him what is important.

While the ping pong matches are exciting to watch, the real drive behind the narrative is moments where characters interact outside of playing. That said, all of the characters over the arc of the narrative show a tremendous amount of growth. When it comes to the performances, there is an enthusiasm from the cast that is infectious. Outside of the competition moments, there are training sequences reminiscent of films like Rocky and The Karate Kid. Ultimately, Ping Pong is a highly entertaining film and one of the most satisfying live-action adaptations of a manga.

Ping Pong gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

P.O. Box Tinto Brass: 2-Disc Edition – Cult Epics (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1995
Director: Tinto Brass
Writers: Tinto Brass, Aurelio Grimaldi, Claudio lizza
Cast: Tinto Brass, Cinzia Roccaforte, Laura Gualtieri, Erika Savastani, Paolo Lanza, Alessandra Antonelli, Carla Solaro, Cristina Rinaldi, Sara Cosmi, Gaia Zucchi, Gabriella Barbuti

Release Date: August 25th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 93 Minutes 29 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $49.95

"Italian director Tinto Brass is known as the absolute master of erotica, creator of works like All Ladies Do It, Frivolous Lola and Paprika. His gift at perfectly portraying the beauty of the female body has made him celebrated by both men and women. And it is precisely the latter category that sends him boxes full of fan letters. P.O. Box Tinto Brass is a collection of those letters, photos and videos of female sexual fantasies. This erotic comedy featuring the Maestro himself, with a score by Riz Ortolani, contains a succession of exciting, downright sensational and sometimes even shocking material." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "4K Transfer and Restoration from the original camera negative."

P.O. Box Tinto Brass comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 58.2 GB

Feature: 57.4 GB

This transfer looks exceptional. Flesh tones look healthy; colors are vibrant; image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic appearance. That said, there are two things I considered when coming up with a score for this transfer. How does it compare to this film’s previous home video releases, and does it look any better than this transfer? It's a solid upgrade that’s superior in every way to this film’s previous home media releases.

P.O. Box Tinto Brass comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 28.9 GB

Feature: 25.4 GB 

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

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian), 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mmo mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. It should be noted that about seven minutes of the English language is in Italian with English subtitles. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. That said, the Italian-language track sounds fuller than the English-language track. Included are English subtitles for the Italian-language track. Language tracks and subtitles can only be changed via the setup menu and not during playback.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 6 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with text in Italian, no subtitles) and an audio commentary with Troy Howarth, Jeremy Richey, Nathaniel Thompson, Eugenio Ercolani, and Heather Drain.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a photo & poster gallery with music from the film playing in the background (28 images), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 6 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with text in Italian, no subtitles), an archival interview with director Tinto Brass (16 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Troy Howarth, Jeremy Richey, Nathaniel Thompson, Eugenio Ercolani, and Heather Drain.

Other extras include reversible cover art with original Italian poster art, a slipcase (limited to the first pressing), and a 20-page booklet with an essay titled Tinto Brass Superstar! Written by Eugenio Ercolani, and archival images.

Summary:

Tinto Brass directed P.O. Box Tinto Brass. He’s known for Deadly Sweet, Salon Kitty, The Key, Snack Bar Budapest, and All Ladies Do It. 

Tinto Brass takes on an anthology framework instead of a linear narrative that revolves around a singular character for P.O. Box Tinto Brass. Fans of Tinto Brass send him letters, photos, and video cassettes detailing their sexual escapades. The wrap-around segments feature Tinto Brass and a character referred to as his secretary.

The first story revolves around a couple who are having sex on the beach, and the woman becomes aroused by a voyeur couple who are also having sex. A housewife who secretly works at a brothel is the focus of the second story. While working at the brothel, she encounters a man who looks exactly like her husband. When confronted, the man claims he does not know her. Is her husband playing his own game of deception or does he have a doppelganger? The third story revolves around a woman wandering around at a tourist site who catches a Japanese tourist, whom she then plays with for his camera.

The fourth story revolves around couples who film each other in erotic situations that pay homage to Tinto Brass. The fifth story revolves around a frustrated housewife who’s libido is unleashed by a pervert phone caller. The sixth story revolves around a couple who go to a swinger party. The seventh story revolves around a man who loses his wife because of his gambling addiction. The final segment features Tinto Brass filming a scene with his secretary and when aroused, an elephant truck comes out of his pants.

At 93 minutes in length, P.O. Box Tinto Brass is a briskly paced narrative where no segment overstays its welcome. The strongest segments are the housewife that works at a brothel, the frustrated housewife whose libido is unleashed by a pervert phone caller and the finale where Tinto Brass takes center stage. The only segment that I found lacking was the one where a wandering woman turns on a Japanese tourist.

There are three things that you can always count on from a Tinto Brass erotica film: subversive humor, gorgeous women, and exquisite cinematography. In the case of the latter, the visuals never miss an opportunity to showcase the female cast members' voluptuous bodies. A key asset of P.O. Box Tinto Brass is Riz Ortolani’s (Cannibal Holocaust) outstanding score, which perfectly underscores the mood. P.O. Box Tinto Brass would be Riz Ortolani’s fifth and final collaboration with Tinto Brass.

Although P.O. Box Tinto Brass has all the elements that are synonymous with his films from The Key onward, what sets it apart from his similarly themed films is the significant role he plays in the story that unfolds. Tinto Brass, like Alfred Hitchcock before him, fully embraces his cinema persona. That said, where most filmmakers saw a decline later on in their careers, Tinto Brass from The Key to Monamour delivered A+ erotica.

P.O. Box Tinto Brass gets an exceptional release from Cult Epics that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a trio 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

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