Calamity of Snakes – Unearthed Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Taiwan/Hong Kong, 1982
Director: William Cheung Kei (Chi Chang)
Writers: William Cheung Kei (Chi Chang), Tsai Kuo-Jung, Li Kang-Nian
Cast: Hsiang Yun-Peng, Kao Yuen, Lo Pi-Ling, Wei Ping-Ao, Ou-Yang Sha-Fei

Release Date: April 25th, 2023
Approximate running times: 86 Minutes 17 Seconds (Theatrical Cut), 76 Minutes 41 Seconds (Cruelty Free Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: English (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.95

"After a businessman kills thousands of snakes in a pit while they are building a new apartment building. The people living there soon become attacked by millions of snakes with a vengeance." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Calamity of Snakes comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.9 GB

Feature: 19.2 GB (Theatrical Cut), 14.1 GB (Cruelty Free Cut)

No information is provided about the source used for these transfers. Though this is arguably the best this film has ever looked on home video, There is noticeable source-related damage throughout (check out examples in the screenshots below). Also, there is some fluctuation when it comes to the colors; the image looks crisp, and the black levels and compression look good. That said, there does not appear to be any egregious use of digital noise reduction.

Audio: 3.5/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese), 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with three audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin, and a LPCM mono mix in English. The Mandarin and the English language tracks are more robust than the Cantonese language track. Also, I did notice some sibilance issues on all three tracks. That said, dialog comes through clearly, and range-wise ambient sounds are well-presented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese and Mandarin language tracks.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background, alternate Mandarin credits (4 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an interview titled Reptilian Recollections: Lin Kuang-Yung In Conversation With Chui-Yi Chung (15 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Chinese with non-removable English subtitles), a documentary titled From Shaw to Snakes: The Venom And Violence Of Early Chinese Language Horror Cinema (76 minutes 25 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Chinese with non-removable English subtitles), a third cut of Calamity of Snakes titled uncut version (86 minutes 53 seconds, 2.35:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Nathan Hamilton and Brad Slaton for the theatrical cut, and a slipcover (limited to first pressing).

It should be noted that the uncut version of Calamity of Snakes comes from a standard-definition source that does not look anywhere as good as the other versions included with this release.

Summary:

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, black magic and snakes were two of the more exploited plot devices in Hong Kong horror cinema. Notable films from this era include The Killer Snakes, Black Magic, and The Boxer's Omen. This brings us to Calamity of Snakes, a Taiwan/Hong Kong co-production that takes all the elements that these types of films are known for and pushes them to their limits.

The Narrative revolves around a greedy real estate developer whose project is in danger of not completing on time when a snake infestation is discovered on site. Instead of properly and humanely disposing of the snakes, he orders the construction crew to kill the snakes with shovels and an excavator. From there things start to unravel when it becomes clear that he did not kill all the snakes and they are out for revenge.

Throughout, snakes are hacked into pieces and skinned alive, and in one scene, ferrets attack and ingest snakes. There is no CGI; all of the snakes, including the ones that attack humans, are real. That said, anyone who is squeamish about animal cruelty might want to reconsider watching Calamity of the Snakes.

Though there are many intense moments in Calamity of the Snakes, tone-wise it is a film that is actually all over the place. Notably, there are some odd moments of humor that revolve around a fat woman. Also, when discussing Chinese cinema from this era, it is hard not to notice famous music cues. Calamity of the Snakes uses music cues from William Lustig’s Maniac and George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead.

The opening setup does a good job laying the foundation for what follows. There are several lulls along the way before the narrative gets to its greatest asset: snakes attacking humans. And once this happens, it is a non-stop barrage of snakes, leaving carnage wherever they go. Ultimately, Calamity of the Snakes is a textbook example of an exploitation film that goes for the jugular.

Calamity of the Snakes gets a solid release from Unearthed Films that comes with a good audio/video presentation, three versions of the film, and a trio of informative extras, recommended.

“A percentage of all profits from Calamity of the Snakes in all formats will be donated to Save the Snakes in continuation of their mission to protect snake populations around the world.” - Unearthed Films

Written by Michael Den Boer

Gorgeous – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1999
Director: Vincent Kok
Writers: Jackie Chan, Vincent Kok, Yiu Fai Lo
Cast: Jackie Chan, Shu Qi, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Wakin Chau, Emil Chau, Bradley James Allan, Tats Lau

Release Date: March 27th, 2023 (UK), April 11th, 2023 (USA)
Approximate running times: 119 Minutes 40 Seconds (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), 99 Minutes 20 Seconds (International Theatrical Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: PG (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese (Both Versions), DTS-HD 5.1 English (International Theatrical Cut)
Subtitles: English (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £19.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"Young and beautiful Bu (Shu Qi, The Transporter) finds a romantic message in a bottle near her family restaurant in Taiwan. On a whim, she flies to Hong Kong to meet her potential soul mate, who turns out to be Albert (Tony Leung, Infernal Affairs), a gay beautician pining for his ex. Taking pity on the girl, he brings her to his workplace, where she falls for the wealthy and lonely C.N. Chan (Jackie Chan, Rush Hour, Supercop). But when Chan's lifelong enemy, Lo, discovers Chan has a new love, he decides to ruin their happiness." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut, International Theatrical Cut)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "2K Transfers from Original Film Materials of the Hong Kong & International versions of the film."

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

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 21.5 GB (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), 19.6 GB (International Theatrical Cut)

The sources for the two versions are comparable. And though they are in great shape, there are some very minor instances of white flecks. Colors and flesh tones look correct; image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 English)

The Hong Kong theatrical cut comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, and included are removable English subtitles.

The international theatrical cut has two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and a second removable English subtitle track for a song that is in Cantonese when watching the English language track.

Quality-wise, the differences between the audio mixes are minimal. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and fight sequences sound appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include English language theatrical trailer (1 minute 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (2 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), music video 1 (4 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese, no subtitles), music video 2 (4 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled The Making of Gorgeous (30 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Vincent Kok titled Boxing Day (23 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview stuntman Andy Cheng who discusses stuntman/actor Brad Allan titled Shy Guy (17 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and FJ Desanto for the Hong Kong theatrical cut, an audio commentary with action experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema for the Hong Kong theatrical cut, an audio commentary with actor Jackie Chan, in English for the international theatrical cut, reversible cover art, A3 folded travel poster (limited to first pressing), O-Ring slipcase (limited to first pressing), and a 34-page booklet (limited to first pressing) with on set recollections titled The Accidental Spy: Istanbul Set Visit written by Matthew Edwards.

Summary:

Though there have been a few films throughout his career where Jackie Chan (Drunken Master) stepped out of his comfort zone, Notably a film like Heart of the Dragon. He would not venture into the romantic comedy genre until Gorgeous.

Sure, throughout his career, Jackie Chan’s characters had had romantic interests. Unfortunately, most of them were relegated to secondary characters who never really flourished. That was until Gorgeous paired up Jackie Chan with Shu Qui (So Close). In Gorgeous, she would portray Bu, a character who actually gets the majority of the screen time. And her performance as a young woman whose yearning for the man of her dreams is phenomenal.

The premise is a fish out of water scenario where a small town girl from Taiwan goes to Hong Kong after finding a message in a bottle. From there, she searches for the man who sent it, only to discover that she was not the intended recipient of the message. Determined to find love, she stays in Hong Kong looking for her dream man.

Besides Jackie Chan and Shu Qi, there is a solid supporting cast, all of whom are great in their roles. Notably, Tony Leung Chiu-wai (Bullet in the Head) played Albert, a lonely gay man who sent the note that was in the bottle found by Bu. Also, there are several recognizable faces, many whose roles only amount to cameos, notably Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer) in the role of a Hong Kong police officer.

When discussing Jackie Chan’s films, one is always drawn to his explosive and inventive fight sequences. And though Gorgeous does not have as many fight sequences as one would expect from a Jackie Chan film, What fight sequences there are are exceptional. Notably, there are two boxing or martial arts sequences between Jackie Chan and Brad Allen.

From its opening moments right on through to its heartwarming finale The narrative does a fantastic job keeping things moving forward by giving key moments ample time to resonate. Ultimately, Gorgeous is a very satisfying blend of romance,  humor, and action.

Gorgeous gets a solid release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation, two versions of the film, and an abundance of informative extras, highly recommended.

 Written by Michael Den Boer

Martin: Limited Edition – Second Sight Films (UHD/BluRay/CD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1976
Director: George A. Romero
Writer: George A. Romero
Cast: John Amplas, Lincoln Maazel, Christine Forrest, Elyane Nadeau, Tom Savini, Sara Venable, Francine Middleton, Roger Caine, George A. Romero

Release Date: March 27th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 46 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10 HDR10+
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Stereo English, DTS-HD 5.1 English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £39.99 (UK)

"A troubled young man, who believes himself to be a vampire, goes to live with his elderly and religious cousin in a small Pennsylvania town where he tries to redeem his blood-craving urges after he falls for a lonely housewife, all the while his hostile cousin becomes convinced that the young man is actually Nosferatu." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.75/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "A Second Sight Films 4K scan and restoration of a 35mm dupe negative supervised and approved by Director of Photography Michael Gornick."

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

Disc Size: 61.5 GB

Feature: 54.3 GB

Martin was shot on 16mm reverse stock and then blown up to 35mm for theatrical exhibition. Obviously, considering the source materials, Martin is a film that is not going to look flawless. That said, Second Sight Films has done a remarkable job with the source used for their transfer.

Though there is a softness that is inherent to the source, the image clarity in general looks very good. Colors and flesh tones look good, and while black levels generally look good, there are a few moments where they are not as strong. Also, there is a thick, healthy layer of grain, and the image always retains an organic look.

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

Disc Size: 35.8 GB

Feature: 27.2 GB

The Blu-ray uses the same source as the 4K UHD does for its transfer.

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

This release comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. The mono track sounds great; there are no issues with sibilance or hiss, the dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Also, range-wise, this track far exceeds expectations; ambient sounds and the score are well-presented. That said, despite the fact that the other two tracks included with this release also sound very good, they don’t have the same impact that the mono track does. Included are removable English SDH.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer, a TV spot, two radio spots (4 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a short film by Tony Buba titled J Roy - New And Used Furniture (11 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), An archival featurette titled Making Martin: A Recounting (9 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Donald Rubinstein titled Scoring the Shadows (17 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a documentary Taste the Blood of Martin (69 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival audio commentary with screenwriter/director George A Romero, actor John Amplas and actor Tom Savini, an archival audio commentary with George A Romero, producer Richard P Rubinstein, Tom Savini, cinematographer Michael Gornick and Donald Rubinstein, an audio commentary with film critic Travis Crawford, and an audio commentary with film critic Kat Ellinger.

The extras are the same on the 4K UHD and the Blu-ray.

Other extras exclusive to this limited edition include five collector's art cards, a CD with Donald Rubinstein’s score, and a 108-page booklet with an essay titled Folie a Deux: Colour and Microchrome, Fantasy and Reality in George A. Romero’s Martin written by Daniel Bird, an essay titled Martin written by Tony Williams, an essay titled A Virgin Among The Living Dead; On Martin, Sxuality, and Original Sin written by Kat Ellinger, an essay titled The Angry Young Vamp: The Kitchen Sink Credentials of Romero’s Grimmest Horror Film written by Andrew Graves, an essay titled Freak Rapist Asshole written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, an essay titled ‘Monsters Within Us’ written by Jon Towlson, an essay titled ‘You Get Used to Your Life’: Realism and Fantasy in George A. Romero’s Martin written by Elena Lazic, an essay titled Martin: The Novelisation written by Simon Ward, an essay titled ‘And That’s Another Thing About Those Movies’: Martin and the 1970s Independent Vampire Film written by Miranda Corcoran, an essay titled ‘People are the Hardest Thing’ - George A. Romero’s Martin written by Stephen Thrower, Reaping the Seeds of Dysfunction: George A. Romero’s Martin written by Heather Drain, an essay titled Cinema Over Braddock: Martin and the Films of Tony Buba written by Travis Crawford, Acknowledgements, and Production Credits.

Summary:

The vampire is one of horror cinema’s most durable and celebrated characters. And though most vampires do not diverge too far from the character traits established by Dracula, every now and then someone comes along and puts a new spin on vampires. Case in point: George A. Romero’s Martin, a different kind of vampire film that stands apart from any vampire film that came before or since.

Martin’s narrative dives into the head first, before determining who anyone is and what their motivations are. The opening moments are a scene on a train in which the protagonist attacks a woman on the train. This scene firmly establishes Martin’s Modus operandi. This scene firmly establishes Martin’s Modus operandi. From there, Martin goes to live with his uncle, who is determined to keep him from harming anyone else. Will Martin hold his bloodlust at bay, or will he fall into familiar trappings?

When discussing Martin, one cannot stress the importance of its lead, John Amplas. He delivers a phenomenal performance that perfectly captures Martin’s social awkwardness. Another strength of Martin's, and more specifically John Amplas, performance is how effectively the line is blurred between whether Martin is a vampire or just a mentally ill person. That said, the rest of the cast ranges from good to adequate.

Donald Rubinstein’s (Knightriders) exceptional score is another aspect of Martin that one must not overlook. His score does a superb job reinforcing the sinister story at hand. Though the score is mostly made up of avant-garde music cues, it is a music cue with angelic voices that stands out as the most powerful music cue.

From a production standpoint, Martin is a textbook example of a low-budget film. The narrative has a deliberate pacing that does a great job building and maintaining tension, and the finale provides a very satisfying coda. Another strength is how effectively the narrative employs flashbacks via black-and-white footage. Also, when it comes to the visuals, which are filled with symbolism, and the editing, both of these things are immaculate. Ultimately, Martin is an extraordinary film that is a must see if you are a fan of vampires and George A. Romero.

Martin gets a definitive release from Second Sight Films, 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 VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Demonia – Severin Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1990
Director: Lucio Fulci
Writers: Piero Regnoli, Lucio Fulci, Antonio Tentori
Cast: Brett Halsey, Meg Register, Lino Salemme, Christina Engelhardt, Al Cliver, Paola Cozzo, Lucio Fulci

Release Date: August 25th, 2020
Approximate Running Time: 88 Minutes 38 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.98

"When a Canadian archeological team begins excavating the ruins of a medieval Sicilian monastery, they will unleash the vengeance of a crucified coven of satanic sisters with full-on Fulci fury." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "now scanned in 4k from the original negative recently discovered in the attic of a Collevecchio convent."

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

Disc Size: 28.5 GB

Feature: 22.3 GB

Though the source material used for this transfer is in great shape, colors look correct, and though details generally look crisp, this film has an intentional soft-focus look. It should be noted that this transfer exhibits some compression-related issues.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options: a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced throughout. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH subtitles for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include English language theatrical trailer (1 minute 5 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with director Lucio Fulci on set filming Demonia titled Fulci Days (4 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with camera operator Sandro Grossi titled Of Skulls and Bones (14 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter/assistant director Antonio Tentori titled Holy Demons (33 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Stephen Thrower, author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci.

Summary:

Starting with Zombie in 1979 and culminating with The New York Ripper in 1982, this was Lucio Fulci's most creative period as a filmmaker. Over this three-year span, he would direct seven films, most notably his masterpiece The Beyond. Unfortunately, for Lucio Fulci, the Italian film industry would collapse just as he was hitting his peak as a filmmaker. And though he would continue to work until his death, The films that he directed after Manhattan Baby would suffer from a lack of resources.

Case in point: a film like Demonia, which was made the same year as Lucio Fulci’s last great film, A Cat in the Brain. And yet the results are two films that couldn’t be farther apart creatively. Where a film like A Cat in the Brain succeeds despite its limited resources, Demonia quickly crumbles under the weight of its limited resources.

On paper, Demonia should have been better than what appeared onscreen. Religion often played a significant role in Lucio Fulci's films. And yet, the result is an underwhelming cinematic experience that feels like a film that was made by a filmmaker who was going through the motions.

Lucio Fulci had many ups and downs throughout his career. Most of his films, even many of his lesser films, have magical moments that are undeniably Lucio Fulci. Ultimately, Demonia is a rare expectation in a Lucio Fulci film that feels like it could have been directed by anyone.

Demonia gets a first-rate release from Severin Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Aenigma – Severin Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/Yugoslavia, 1987
Director: Lucio Fulci
Writers: Lucio Fulci, Giorgio Mariuzzo
Cast: Jared Martin, Lara Naszinski, Ulli Reinthaler, Sophie d’Aulan, Jennifer Naud, Riccardo Acerbi, Kathi Wise, Milijana Zirojevic, Dragan Bjelogrlic, Dusica Zegarac, Lucio Fulci

Release Date: August 25th, 2020
Approximate Running Time: 89 Minutes 17 seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.98

"When a bullied student at a New England girls school becomes comatose after a prank gone wrong, her tormenters will suffer graphic telepathic punishment that includes the infamous ‘death by snails’ scene." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "scanned in 4k from the original negative for the first time ever in America."

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

Disc Size: 30.3 GB

Feature: 22.3 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape, and any source-related debris is minimal. Colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels look strong throughout, compression is very good, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks are in great shape; there are no issues with distortion or background hiss, the dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH subtitles for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include Italian opening and closing credits (6 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), English language theatrical trailer (3 minutes, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Italian language theatrical trailer (3 minutes, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Giorgio Mariuzzo titled Writing Nightmares (14 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), a featurette titled Italian Aenigma: Appraising Late Day Fulci (38 minutes 26 seconds, in English and Italian with non-removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Troy Howarth, author of Splintered Visions – Lucio Fulci & His Films and film critic Nathaniel Thompson.

Summary:

Aenigma was co-written and directed by Lucio Fulci, a filmmaker who’s most remembered for the horror films that he directed, starting with Zombie in the late 1970s and culminating with Manhattan Baby in 1982.

Aenigma continues Italian genre cinema’s long tradition of taking elements from successful films. Though most of Lucio Fulci’s films post-Manhattan Baby are divisive, even among Lucio Fulci’s most die-hard fans, there are few films like The Devil’s Honey. Enigma and Cat in the Brain remind you of what Lucio Fulci was capable of achieving as a filmmaker.

Content-wise, Aenigma is equal parts Carrie and Phenomena. It also features a heavy dose of elements that have become synonymous with 1980s horror. That said, there are areas where Aenigma shows its lack of resources. Most notably, when it comes to its special effects The same cannot be said when it comes to Lucio Fulci’s ability to create murder set pieces (murder by snails).

One area where Italian genre films can be problematic is their English dubbing. And because of post-sync dubbing, far too many Italian genre films do better when watched in Italian. That said, the performances are best described as serviceable. With Aenigma’s strongest performance being Lara Naszinski (A Blade in the Dark) in the role of Eva Gordon, a student who’s used as a conduit by a comatose teenager to exact her revenge.

From a production standpoint, Aenigma is a film that often exceeds its limited resources. The premise is well-executed, and the narrative does a great job maintaining tension. Ultimately, with Aenigma, Lucio Fulci takes what in lesser hands would have been a mediocre film and crafts a very satisfying supernatural horror that has an ample amount of atmosphere.

Aenigma gets a first-rate release from Severin Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Heart of Dragon: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1985
Director: Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
Writer: Barry Wong
Cast: Jackie Chan, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Emily Chu, Mang Hoi, Lam Ching-ying, James Tien, Yuen Wah

Release Date: April 11th, 2023
Approximate running times: 91 Minutes 25 Seconds (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), 99 Minutes 11 Seconds (Extended Japanese Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono English (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut), DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese with Hong Kong music, DTS-HD Mono English/Cantonese (Extended Japanese Cut)
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"Tat (Chan) is a hotshot cop with more stresses than he can bear: if he's not on the verge of getting beaten up on his day job, he's looking out for his mentally handicapped brother Dodo (Hung), who needs constant supervision in case his naïve, kind nature gets taken advantage of. Tat wants nothing more than to escape his obligations and see the world; but when Dodo accidentally winds up in the line of fire, Tat must run into danger and make the ultimate sacrifice to save his brother." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (Hong Kong Theatrical Cut, Extended Japanese Cut)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Both the original Hong Kong theatrical cut and the extended cut released in Japan were restored in 2K resolution from original film elements by Fortune Star, who supplied these masters to Arrow Video for this Blu-ray release. Additional elements appear on this release with thanks to Shochiku Co, LTD."

Heart of Dragon comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.3 GB

Feature: 28.6 GB

The source used for this transfer looks excellent; it is one of the stronger Jackie Chan Fortune Star transfers. Color saturation, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Mono English - Hong Kong Theatrical Cut, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese with Hong Kong music, DTS-HD Mono English/Cantonese - Extended Japanese Cut)

The Hong Kong theatrical cut comes with three audio options: a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin, and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track.

The Extended Japanese Cut comes with three audio options: a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese with Hong Kong music, and a DTS-HD mono mix in English and Cantonese. Included are removable English subtitles, one for each Cantonese language track, and non-removable English for Cantonese dialog when watching the English/Cantonese hybrid track.

Fidelity-wise, the differences between these six audio tracks are minimal. Dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and fight scenes sound robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (27 images - stills/posters/home video art), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (5 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English export theatrical trailer (1 minute 44 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Japanese theatrical trailer (2 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), two Japanese teasers (2 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), Fortune Star re-release trailer (2 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with English text), alternate English credits under the title The First Mission (2 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival interview with cinematographer Arthur Wong (15 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor/director Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (7 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (11 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles subtitles), an archival interview with actor Rocky Lai (10 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles subtitles), an archival interview with actor Jackie Chan (9 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled The Making of The First Mission (48 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled The First Mission: Pre-Release Event (15 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng & FJ DeSanto for the extended Japanese cut, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to first pressing), a double sided poster (limited to first pressing), and a 28-page booklet (limited to first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled To the Beat of a Dragon’s Heart written by Dylan Cheung, an essay titled Heart of the Matter: Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and the Golden Years of Hong Kong written by David West, and information about the transfers.

Summary:

Jackie Chan (Police Story) had firmly established himself as the premier actor working in martial arts cinema by the mid-1980s. At this point in his career, humor and incredible fight sequences were two things you could always count on when watching a Jackie Chan film. This leads me to Heart of the Dragon, a film that ultimately provided Jackie Chan with the chance to venture beyond his traditional boundaries.

That said, when you watch a Jackie Chan film, there are certain expectations. Although Heart of the Dragon meets the expected elements of a Jackie Chan film, it effectively retains Jackie Chan's core elements while balancing them with a softer side that demonstrates his ability to excel in dramatic moments.

Besides Jackie Chan, one must not overlook the role that Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (The Magnificent Butcher) plays in Heart of the Dragon. Not only did he direct Heart of the Dragon, but he also portrays Jackie Chan’s mentally disabled brother. Over the years, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung have appeared in numerous films. They have a tremendous amount of chemistry, and with Heart of the Dragon, their performances are perfectly in sync. That said, the rest of the cast are all excellent in their roles.

Although there is an ample amount of melodrama, the opening twelve minutes are non-stop action, which is in line with what one expects from a Jackie Chan film. Tone-wise, things change once Sammo Kam-Bo Hung’s character appears on screen. The narrative does a superb job balancing Jackie Chan’s and Sammo Kam-Bo Hung's characters, and in the case of the latter, he delivers an exemplary performance that never feels like a caricature. 

Anyone who wants their martial arts films to be wall-to-wall action set pieces Don’t let Heart of the Dragon’s melodrama turn you off. It is a well-expected story that is engaging, and when there are action sequences, there are exceptionally executed moments of jaw-dropping action that one has come to expect from Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. Ultimately, Heart of the Dragon is a very satisfying blend of melodrama and action.

Heart of the Dragon gets an exceptional release. Arrow Video, which comes with a solid audio/video presentation, two versions of the film, and a wealth of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer