In The Line Of Duty I-IV: Deluxe Collector's Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1985 (Yes, Madam!), Hong Kong, 1986 (Royal Warriors), Hong Kong, 1988 (In the Line of Duty III), Hong Kong, 1989 (In the Line of Duty 4: Witness)
Directors: Corey Yuen (Yes, Madam!), David Chung (Royal Warriors), Arthur Wong, Brandy Yuen (In the Line of Duty III), Yuen Woo-ping (In the Line of Duty 4: Witness)
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Cynthia Rothrock, John Sham, Hoi Mang, Tsui Hark, James Tien, Dick Wei, Fat Chung, Melvin Wong, Wai Shum (Yes, Madam!), Michelle Yeoh, Michael Wong, Hiroyuki Sanada, Bai Ying, Chan Kwok-Kuen, Michael Wai-Man Chan (Royal Warriors), Cynthia Khan, Hiroshi Fujioka, Stuart Ong, Michiko Nishiwaki, Yueh Hua, Paul Chun, Dick Wei, Melvin Wong (In the Line of Duty III), Cynthia Khan, Donnie Yen, Michael Wong, Yat Chor Yuen, Lisa Chiao, Liu Kai-chi (In the Line of Duty 4: Witness)

Release Date: May 16th, 2023
Approximate running times: 93 Minutes 53 Seconds (Yes, Madam! - Theatrical Cut), 87 Minutes 36 Seconds (Yes, Madam! - Export Cut), 96 Minutes 36 Seconds (Royal Warriors), 84 Minutes 27 Seconds (In the Line of Duty III), 95 Minutes 24 Seconds (In the Line of Duty 4: Witness - Theatrical Cut), 95 Minutes 38 Seconds (In the Line of Duty 4: Witness - Export Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Theatrical Mix - Yes, Madam! Theatrical Cut), DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Home Video Mix Original Effects - Yes, Madam! Theatrical Cut), DTS-HD 5.1 English (New Dub - Yes, Madam! Theatrical Cut), Dolby Digital Mono English (Classic Dub - Yes, Madam! Export Cut), DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Theatrical Mix - Royal Warriors), DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Alternate Mix - Royal Warriors), DTS-HD Mono English (Classic Dub - Royal Warriors), DTS-HD 5.1 English (New Dub - Royal Warriors), DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (In the Line of Duty III, In the Line of Duty 4: Witness), DTS-HD Mono English (In the Line of Duty III, In the Line of Duty 4: Witness), Dolby Digital Mono English (Classic Dub - In the Line of Duty 4: Witness)
Subtitles: English (Yes, Madam! - Theatrical Cut, Royal Warriors, In the Line of Duty III, In the Line of Duty 4: Witness - Theatrical Cut)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $99.95

Yes, Madam!: "Chicks with kicks! When gangsters murder her friend, Inspector Ng (Michelle Yeoh, Police Story III, Tomorrow Never Dies) is drawn into a deadly search for the men who did it. Just as well she's got backup from British supercop Carrie Morris (the legendary Cynthia Rothrock, No Retreat, No Surrender 2, China O'Brien)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Royal Warriors: "Returning from her holiday in Japan, Inspector Yip (Michelle Yeoh, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Everything Everywhere All At Once) foils a daring mid-air rescue of a gangster being returned to Hong Kong for trial. But Inspector Yip needs to watch her back: that gangster has friends." - synopsis provided by the distributor

In the Line of Duty III: "How do you top the first two In The Line of Duty films? Easy... bigger explosions, wilder fights and even crazier stunts! This time, two Japanese thieves have fled to Hong Kong with a tough J-cop (Cynthia Khan, Blade of Fury) hot on their heels. It's up to Hong Kong's finest to stop the villains before too much damage is done!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

In the Line of Duty 4: Witness: "The fourth (and for some fans... the best) of the In the Line of Duty series, sees the return of Cynthia Kahn (The Avenging Quartet) as Inspector Yeung. This time, she's on the trail of some ruthless international drug dealers, ably assisted by Donnie Yen (John Wick: Chapter 4, Ip Man) and Michael Wong (Royal Warriors, Tiger Cage III)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (Yes, Madam! - Theatrical Cut, Royal Warriors), 4.25/5 (In the Line of Duty III, In the Line of Duty 4: Witness - Theatrical Cut), 4/5 (Yes, Madam! - Export Cut, In the Line of Duty 4: Witness - Export Cut)

Here’s the information provided about the transfers, "Stunning new 2K restorations of all 4 films."

Yes, Madam! comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46 GB

Feature: 28.4 GB (Theatrical Cut), 10.8 GB (Export Cut)

Royal Warriors comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.2 GB

Feature: 32 GB

In the Line of Duty III comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.4 GB

Feature: 24.2 GB

In the Line of Duty 4: Witness comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.1 GB

Feature: 27.5 GB (Theatrical Cut), 14.3 GB (Export Cut)

The sources used for Yes, Madam! (theatrical cut) and Royal Warriors are in excellent shape. Color saturation, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

The sources used for In the Line of Duty III and In the Line of Duty 4: Witness (theatrical cut) are in great shape. Flesh tones look healthy; colors have good image clarity; black levels are strong; and compression is solid.

The sources used for Yes, Madam! (export cut) and In the Line of Duty 4: Witness (export cut) are in great shape. The image looks crisp, the colors are strong, the black levels look good, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Home Video Mix Original Effects - Yes, Madam! Theatrical Cut, DTS-HD 5.1 English - New Dub - Yes, Madam! Theatrical Cut), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Theatrical Mix - Yes, Madam! Theatrical Cut), 3.75/5 (Dolby Digital Mono English - Classic Dub - Yes, Madam! Export Cut), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Theatrical Mix - Royal Warriors), DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Alternate Mix - Royal Warriors, DTS-HD Mono English - Classic Dub - Royal Warriors, DTS-HD 5.1 English - New Dub - Royal Warriors), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - In the Line of Duty III), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - In the Line of Duty III), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - In the Line of Duty 4: Witness Theatrical Cut), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - In the Line of Duty 4: Witness Theatrical Cut), 3.75/5 (Dolby Digital Mono English - Classic Dub - In the Line of Duty 4: Witness Export Cut)

Yes, Madam! the theatrical cut comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese (theatrical mix), a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese (home video mix original effects), and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English (new dub). The three audio tracks included with this release are comparable to the three audio tracks included with Eureka Video’s release. All three tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, ambient sounds are well-represented, and fight scenes sound robust. That said, the Cantonese track labeled "theatrical mix" does not sound as full as the two other tracks. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language tracks and removable English subtitles for Cantonese text when watching the English language track.

Yes, Madam! the export cut comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English (Classic Dub). This audio track sounds clean, clear, and balanced.

Royal Warriors comes with four audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese (theatrical mix), a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese (alternate mix), a DTS-HD mono mix in English (classic dub), and a DTS-HD 5.1 English (new dub). All four audio mixes are comparable. Dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds are well-represented, and fight scenes sound robust. The DTS-HD 5.1 track does a good job expanding upon the original mono source. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language tracks and removable English subtitles for Cantonese text when watching the English language track. It should be noted that the Cantonese language tracks have some dialog in Japanese, and these moments come with removable English subtitles.

In the Line of Duty III comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The Cantonese language track is the stronger of the two tracks. The English language track has some background hiss that varies in degree of severity. That said, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and action sequences sound robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language tracks and removable English subtitles for Cantonese text when watching the English language track.

In the Line of Duty 4: Witness comes with two audio options: a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The English-language track is stronger than the Cantonese-language track, which is not as robust as the English-language track. That said, the dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and fight scenes are well-represented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language tracks and removable English subtitles for Cantonese text when watching the English language track.

The original export version comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English. This audio track sounds clean, clear, and balanced.

Extras:

Extras for Yes, Madam! include reversible cover art, an introduction with actress Cynthia Rothrock (9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), archival featurette tilted Battling Babes (10 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actress Michelle Yeoh (15 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Mang Hoi titled Ladies First (13 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Chinese with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Cynthia Rothrock titled A Team Player (17 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a scene select audio commentary with Cynthia Rothrock and Frank Djeng for Airport Scene (4 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a scene select audio commentary with Cynthia Rothrock and Frank Djeng for Final Fight (8 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng.

Extras for Royal Warriors include reversible cover art, Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), English language In the Line of Duty titles (2 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), missing airplane scene inserts (29 seconds, Dolby Digital Mono), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng.

Extras for In the Line of Duty III include reversible cover art, Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer #1 (3 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), English language theatrical trailer #2 (3 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), English language credits (2 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), archival interview with actor John Sham (25 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and Michael Worth.

Extras for In the Line of Duty 4: Witness include reversible cover art, Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (5 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with text in English), an archival interview with actor Donnie Yen (20 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, and an archival audio commentary with Hong Kong expert Stefan Hammond and actor Michael Wong.

Other extras include a double-sided foldout poster, and a one-hundred page booklet with cast & crew information for each film, an interview with Shan Tam and Michael Parker titled  Police Assassins conducted by Matthew Edwards, Yes, Madam! archive picture gallery, an interview with Stephan Berwick titled Force of the Dragon conducted by Matthew Edwards, an interview with Michael Woods titled Red Force conducted by Matthew Edwards, archival imagery for Royals Warriors, In the Line of Duty III, and In the Line of Duty 4: Witness.

Summary:

Yes, Madam! has had numerous alternate English language titles, like In the Line of Duty 2, Police Assassins, and Super Cops. Yes, Madam! is the second film in a series of seven films that make up the In the Line of Duty series. The first two films, In the Line of Duty (Royal Warriors) and In the Line of Duty 2 (Yes, Madam!) both featured Michelle Yeoh in the title role, while the remaining films featured Cynthia Khan in the title role. Yes, Madam! was directed by Corey Yuen, whose other notable films include Righting Wrongs (Above the Law), The Transporter, and So Close.

Yes, Madam! covers ground that has been covered in a slew of Hong Kong action films. And yet, despite the familiarity of the narrative, the film manages to stand on its own due to exceptional performances from Michelle Yeoh and James Tien. Yes, Madam! is also significant for being the first starring role for Michelle Yeoh, whose later film credits include Police Story 3: Supercop, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She had two minor film roles before Yes, Madam!, and even at this early stage of her career, she proves that she is more than capable of holding her own in action sequences.

My favorite moment in Yes, Madam! involves Michelle Yeoh’s character, Inspector Ng, who is hanging upside down on a balcony while two bad guys try to knock her over the edge. The railing she is hanging on is glass, which she breaks through and pulls the two guys off the ledge to the floor below.

Another standout performance is by James Tien, who plays Tin, the lead bad guy in the film. He hams it up as the diabolical Tin. His character has a laughing fetish and even goes so far as to remark on how much he loves laughing. Another performance of note is Cynthia Rothrock in one of her first starring roles. She proves that she can hold her own against her male counterparts, and her chemistry with Michelle Yeoh is off the charts.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Yes, Madam! does not deliver and then some. The briskly paced narrative is a satisfying mix of action set pieces and offbeat humor. The best action sequence is saved for an exceptional finale. Also, the score, like so many martial arts and action films from the 1970s and 1980s, features music cues lifted from other movies. Yes, Madam! uses the musical cue "The Shape Talks" from John Carpenter’s Halloween. Ultimately, Yes, Madam! is a high water mark for 1980s martial arts cinema that features some of the most jaw-dropping action set pieces to ever appear in a Hong Kong film.

Royal Warriors was also released under the title In the Line of Duty. This title would be used to link together a series of films that are only connected by name. Royal Warriors was directed by David Chung, who only directed six films. He is best known for his work as a cinematographer on films like My Heart Is That Eternal Rose, God of Gamblers, and Once Upon a Time in China.

The narrative revolves around three police officers who stop a plane hijacking, killing the two suspects. From there, the three police officers are targeted for assassination by associates of the two dead suspects.

Royal Warriors is a film that quickly jumps into action with a sequence that showcases Michelle Yeoh’s (Magnificent Warriors) exceptional martial arts skills. Then, after a brief exposition moment, it is once again back into action with a phenomenal sequence that takes place inside of an airplane that has been hijacked. Needless to say, Royal Warriors is heavy when it comes to action set pieces. Fortunately, all of the action sequences deliver and then some.

Though Royal Warriors has a solid cast, they are all very good in their roles. It is ultimately Michelle Yeoh in the role of a Hong Kong CID officer who steals the show. Throughout Royal Warriors, she proves that she can more than hold her own against her male counterparts, and in some instances, she outdoes them. Another performance of note included Hiroyuki Sanada (Roaring Fire) in the role of a Japanese interpol agent.

From its opening moments, Royal Warriors establishes a brisk momentum that barely gives you a chance to catch your breath. Though backstory is minimal, this is never an issue since the action set pieces are strong enough to carry the narrative. Also, the stunts are phenomenal, and there is a thrilling car chase sequence. The most surprising aspect of Royal Warriors is its high body count. Ultimately, Royal Warriors is a solid martial arts film that fans of 1980s Hong Kong cinema are sure to enjoy.

In the Line of Duty III is one of nine loosely connected films that make up the In the Line of Duty film series. The first two films in the series, Yes, Madam!, and Royal Warriors, starred Michelle Yeoh (Police Story 3: Supercop) in the role of the protagonist. In In the Line of Duty III, there would be a change in the role of the protagonist, with Cynthia Khan taking over for Michelle Yeoh this time around. Also, Cynthia Khan, whose real name is Li-Tsing Yang, takes her stage name from Cynthia Rothrock and Khan from Michelle Yeoh, whose real last name is Khan. Cynthia Rothrock and Michelle Yeoh both appeared in Yes, Madam!

Trying to replace Michelle Yeoh is an impossible task. Fortunately, in the case of Cynthia Khan, the filmmakers let her bring her own unique qualities to the character instead of trying to make her a Michelle Yeoh clone. That said, Cynthia Khan proves that she can more than hold her own, especially when it comes to the martial arts sequences.

The narrative revolves around a police officer named Rachel Yeung, whose initiative during a robbery while working as a traffic cop leads to her moving up quickly in the police force. From there, her path crossed with a terrorist organization that was double-crossed during a diamond heist.

The performances are very good, especially the two main villains, Stuart Ong (Die Another Day) in the role of Nakamura Genji and Michiko Nishiwaki (Magic Cop) in the role of Michiko Nishiwaki, a pair of psychopath lovers who are part of the Red Army terrorist group. Hiroshi Fujioka (Ghost Warrior) in the role of Hiroshi Fujioka, a Japanese detective determined to avenge the death of his partner, who was murdered by Genji and Nishiwaki, is another performance of note.

At eight and a half minutes in length, In the Line of Duty III’s briskly paced narrative never overstays its welcome. What In the Line of Duty III lacks when it comes to character development, it more than makes up for with solid action set pieces. Notably, an elaborate diamond heist sequence Also, when it comes to the action set pieces, there is an ample amount of violent carnage. Ultimately, In the Line of Duty III is another solid entry in the In the Line of Duty film series.

In the Line of Duty 4: Witness was directed by Yuen Woo-ping, an acclaimed action director (Matrix, Kill Bill), and a director in his own right whose notable films include Drunken Master, The Magnificent Butcher, Iron Monkey, and Tai Chi Master. And it should not come as a surprise when it comes to In the Line of Duty 4: Witness, the action set pieces deliver and then some. These sequences are inventive; they have high-flying wire work and impact crunching blows.

The narrative revolves around an immigrant living in America named Luk Wan-Ting, who witnesses a corrupt CIA agent kill a cop. From there, he flees back to Hong Kong, where he is followed by two American cops and pursued by numerous assassins.

Though cast in a different role, Cynthia Khan (In the Line of Duty III) returns in the role of Inspector Yeung Lai-Ching. Her character has a connection to the fugitive who has returned to Hong Kong. And cast in one of his first leading roles is Donnie Yen (IP Man), who portrays an American cop who is tracking the fugitive. Though this role does not give him much to work with in terms of character development, When it comes to martial arts sequences, he often overshadows the rest of the cast. Other cast members of note include Yat Chor Yuen (The Postman Strikes Back) in the role of Luk Wan-Ting and Michael Wong (City Hunter) in the role of an American cop, who is Donnie Yen’s character's partner.

From a production standpoint, In the Line of Duty: Witness is a better film than its predecessor, In the Line of Duty III. It features a stronger narrative, which devotes more time to building up the characters. Also, there is a good mix when it comes to exposition moments and action set pieces. Ultimately, In the Line of Duty 4: Witness is a solid martial arts film that embodies all that is great about 1980s Hong Kong martial arts cinema.

The audio/video presentations for these four films are on par with Eureka Video’s releases for these same films. And though this release has some of the extras from Eureka Video’s releases, It also comes with a substantial amount of extras that are exclusive to its release. In The Line Of Duty I-IV is a solid release from 88 Films that comes with strong audio and video presentations and a wealth of insightful extras. It is highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Hand of Death: Limited Edition – Arrow Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1976
Director: John Woo
Writer: John Woo
Cast: Tan Tao-Liang, James Tien, Jackie Chan, Ching Chu, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, Carter Wong

Release Date: May 9th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 7 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD 5.1 Mandarin (Remix), DTS-HD Stereo Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English (Alternate Mix titled “Classic”), DTS-HD 5.1 English (DVD Dub)
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $39.95

"After a traitor of the Shaolin temple, Shih Shao-Feng (James Tien, The Big Boss), has eliminated thousands of his former colleagues in exchange for power from the Manchus under the Qing dynasty, a surviving master of Shaolin, Yun Fei (Tan Tao-Liang), is tasked with the mission of bringing Shih to justice. In order to defeat Shih's overwhelmingly large army - led by the ruthless Tu Qing (Sammo Hung) - Yun Fei will need to team up with a skilled blacksmith (Jackie Chan) and a reluctant swordsman to beat the odds and avenge his fallen brothers." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "2K restoration from original film elements by Fortune Star."

Hand of Death comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.3 GB

Feature: 29 GB

The source for this transfer is in great shape. Colors and flesh tones look correct, contrast and black levels look very good, details look crisp, and there are no issues with compression. That said, there are a few moments where the black levels are not as strong as they should be. The source used for this release's transfer is comparable to the source used for Eureka Video's Blu-ray transfer.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Mandarin, DTS-HD Stereo Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English - Alternate Mix Titled "Classic"), 4/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Mandarin - Remix, DTS-HD 5.1 English - DVD Dub)

This release comes with five audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Mandarin, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English (DVD Dub), and a DTS-HD mono mix in (an alternate mix titled "Classic"). All the audio mixes are in good shape. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. The sound effects and fight scenes sound robust, and range-wise, the differences between these audio mixes are minimal. Though the two DTS-HD 5.1 tracks sound good for remix tracks, at times they feel too spread out compared to the other three tracks. Included are English subtitles for the two Mandarin tracks, a second English subtitle track for the Cantonese language track, and a third English subtitle track for Mandarin text when watching the English language tracks. It should be noted that the English subtitles for the Mandarin and Cantonese language tracks can only be turned on and off via the menu and not while watching the movie.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (43 images - stills/lobby cards/posters/home video art), Mandarin language theatrical trailer (4 minutes, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), alternate credits sequence under the title Countdown to Kung Fu (5 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an archival with actor Sammo Kam-Bo Hung (5 minutes 44 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with John Woo and comments by cinematographer Peter Pau, and actor Chow Yun-Fat titled From Hong Kong to Hollywood (22 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Tan Tao-Liang with a newly filmed introduction by Michael Worth titled A Cool Conversation with Tan Tao-Liang (29 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with martial arts cinema experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, reversible cover art, a double-sided fold-out poster (first pressing only), a slipcover (first pressing only), and a booklet (first pressing only) with cast & crew information, an essay written by William Blaik, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Hand of Death was written and directed by John Woo, who is most known for his heroic bloodshed films. Notable films directed by John Woo include A Better Tomorrow, A Better Tomorrow II, The Killer, and Hard Boiled.

Revenge is a theme that dominates the martial arts genre. There are so many revenge-themed martial arts films that it would be impossible not to get a feeling of déjà vu watching them. That being said, Hand of Death falls into many of the same trappings that viewers of these types of films have become accustomed to. The way that John Woo handles these familiar elements is what ultimately distinguishes Hand of Death from other revenge-themed martial arts films.

When one thinks of John Woo films, they are remembered for their action set pieces. And though the action set pieces in Hand of Death are well executed, their leisurely pacing is in direct contrast with the frenetic pacing that has become synonymous with John Woo’s heroic bloodshed films. Fortunately, this contrast in style is not a deal breaker, and the result is an action-packed film that even the most die-hard John Woo fans should thoroughly enjoy.

Without a doubt, Hand of Death’s greatest asset is its superb cast. With Hand of Death’s most memorable performance being James Tien (Above the Law) in the role of this film’s main villain, a traitor named Shih Shao-Feng. Other notable performances include Jackie Chan (Police Story) in the role of a rebel fighter who joins forces with the protagonist and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (Eastern Condors) in the role of a henchman with an overbite.

Standout moments include the Shaolin massacre that opens the film and a scene where the protagonist’s impatience to get revenge puts his own life in peril. The last third of the film is wall-to-wall action where the protagonist, who’s assembled his own elite fighting crew, takes on Shih Shao-Feng and his eight bodyguards.

Though Arrow Video’s releases use a transfer that is comparable to Eureka Video’s releases, Arrow Video’s release shares three of the same audio tracks. It is in the extras department, where Arrow Video’s release is noticeably stronger. Hand of Death gets an excellent release from Arrow Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Bloody Judge (Der Hexentöter von Blackmoor) - Koch Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/West Germany/Spain/Liechtenstein, 1970
Director: Jesús Franco
Writers: Enrico Colombo, Jesús Franco, Michael Haller, Harry Alan Towers, Anthony Scott Veitch
Cast: Christopher Lee, Maria Schell, Leo Genn, Hans Hass Jr., Maria Rohm, Margaret Lee, Peter Martell, Howard Vernon, Milo Quesada, Diana Lorys

Release Date: July 9th, 2020
Approximate running times: 102 Minutes 40 Seconds (International Verison), 104 Minutes 8 Seconds (Integral Version), 79 Minutes 4 Seconds (German Version)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (International Verison, German Version), 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen (Integral Version)
Rating: FSK 16 (Germany)
Sound: LPCM Mono English (International Verison), LPCM Mono German (International Verison, German Version), Dolby Digital Mono English (Integral Version), Dolby Digital Mono German (Integral Version)
Subtitles: English (International Verison, Integral Version), German (All Versions)
Region Coding: Region B/Region 2 PAL
Retail Price: EUR 49,80

"England in the 17th century: George Jeffreys was appointed Chief Justice by the Royal Household. And thus to become the first witch hunter in the country, who leads a cruel regiment with the help of his no less sadistic torturers. Political adversaries fall victim to him just as much as young women, who he sends into the flames as witches, especially when they do not want to submit to him. A false word, and the pyre is on fire!" – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (International Verison), 3.5/5 (Integral Version)

The Bloody Judge, the international version comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 30.5 GB

Feature: 30.3 GB

The source used is in excellent shape; there are no issues with source-related damage. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look correct, image clarity is good, and black levels are solid. Compression is strong throughout, and the image retains an organic look.

The Bloody Judge, the German version comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 24.3 GB

Feature: 22.3 GB

The Bloody Judge, the integral version comes of a dual layer DVD.

Disc Size: 6.9 GB

For a DVD, this transfer looks very good; it is on par with the transfer that Blue Underground used for their DVD.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono English - International Version), 3.5/5 (Dolby Digital Mono English - Integral Version)

The international version comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in English and a LPCM mono mix in German. The English language track is in great shape. Dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are removable English and removable German subtitles. It should be noted that there are two English subtitles: the first translates the whole English language track, and the second translates sections where the dialog is only available in German.

The German version comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in German; there are no subtitles.

The integral version comes with two audio options: a Dolby Digital mono mix in English and a Dolby Digital mono mix in German. The English language track sounds clean, clear, and balanced. It should be noted that there are two English subtitles: the first translates the whole English language track, and the second translates sections where the dialog is only available in German.

Extras:

There are no extras on the Blu-ray disc that contains the international version. 

Extras on the Blu-ray disc with the German version include an image gallery (71 images - posters/lobby cards/stills/other promotional materials), a double feature TV spot for Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb and Night of the Blood Monster (32 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), a double feature theatrical trailer for Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb and Night of the Blood Monster (1 minute 51 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), Night of the Blood Monster theatrical trailer #1 (54 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), Night of the Blood Monster theatrical trailer #2 (1 minute 2 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), additional scenes one is from Spanish version (6 minutes 17 seconds, LPCM mono Spanish with non-removable German subtitles), and an introduction by Christian Kessler (4 minutes 37 seconds, LPCM stereo German, no subtitles).

Extras on the DVD with the integral version include a featurette comparison of scenes edited differently in the Spanish version (2 minutes 14, Dolby Digital mono Spanish with removable German subtitles).

Extras on a second DVD include a super 8 version of Night of the Blood Beast (31 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital mono German, no subtitles), and a documentary titled Franco-Philes (75 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English subtitles).

A CD with Bruno Nicolai's thirty-five track score.

A sixteen page bookelt with an essay titled Two and a half years, nine films: Jess Franco and Harry Alan Towers written by Oliver Nöding. Text is in German.

Summary:

When The Bloody Judge was originally released in the U.S., it was under the alternate title Night of the Blood Monster. Producer Harry Alan Towers had a good eye for finding and exploiting whatever was trending. And The Bloody Judge was made in response to films like Michael Reeves The Witchfinder General.

The Bloody Judge was Harry Alan Towers' eighth of nine collaborations with Jess Franco. And though most of these films are more restrained than Jess Franco’s post-Harry Alan Towers films, there are still many flourishes throughout these nine films that are undeniably Jess Franco.

The Bloody Judge is loosely based on Lord Jefferies, the Lord Chief Justice of seventeenth-century England. He used his position to further his political and sexual desires by condemning women as witches, when they were often not witches.

Christopher Lee (The Whip and the Body) is cast in the role of Lord Jefferies. This is the type of character that Christopher Lee excelled at portraying. He delivers a diabolical performance in which he fully immerses himself. Other notable cast members include Maria Schell (99 Women) in the role of a blind witch named Mother Rosa, Howard Vernon (The Other Side of the Mirror) in the role of the executioner, and Maria Rohm (Venus in Furs) in the role of Mary Gray, a woman who is falsely accused of being a witch by Lord Jefferies.

From a production standpoint, there are no areas where The Bloody Judge is lacking. The premise is well-executed, the narrative does a great job building tension, and the production design and costume design are first-rate. Also, there is an abundance of naked flesh and brutal moments of torture. Another area that excels is composer Bruno Nicolai’s exceptional score, which perfectly reinforces the mood. Ultimately, The Bloody Judge is a satisfying mix of sadism and historical melodrama.

The Bloody Judge gets a strong release from Koch Films that comes with multiple versions of the film and an informative documentary, recommended.

                                                  International Verison Screenshots.

                                                    Integral Version Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Lucky, the Inscrutable (Lucky M. füllt alle Särge) - Pidax Film/Alive (DVD)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain/Italy/West Germany, 1967
Director: Jesús Franco
Writers: Julio Buchs, Remigio Del Grosso, Jesús Franco, José Luis Martínez Mollá
Cast: Ray Danton, Barbara Bold, Dante Posani, Dieter Eppler, María Luisa Ponte, Rosalba Neri, Beba Loncar, Teresa Gimpera, Marcelo Arroita-Jáuregui, Jesus Franco

Release Date: September 30th, 2016
Approximate Running Time: 81 Minutes 30 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: FSK 16 (Germany)
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English, Dolby Digital Mono German
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region 2 PAL
Retail Price: EUR 10,95

"His name is Lucky. He works for the American secret service. And he is one of the best in his field. No wonder he is sent to Europe by the highest authorities when a dangerous gang of dollar counterfeiters is up to mischief. The trail of the blossoms first leads to Rome. After some investigation it is clear that Lucky has to travel further to Albania. There he is supported by an extremely pretty policewoman whose charms Lucky cannot resist..." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Lucky, the Inscrutable comes of a dual layer DVD.

Disc Size: 6.6 GB

No information is provided about the source used for this transfer. The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Details look crisp, black levels remain strong throughout, flesh tones look healthy, and colors look nicely saturated and appropriately vibrant. Also, compression is good, and there do not appear to be any egregious uses of edge enhancement.

Audio: 3.25/5 (Dolby Digital Mono English), 3.5/5 (Dolby Digital Mono German)

This release comes with two audio options: a Dolby Digital mono mix in English and a Dolby Digital mono mix in German. Though both audio mixes sound clean and are in very good shape, the English audio mix has some mild background hiss. Fortunately, this is a minor issue that never becomes intrusive. Another difference between these two audio mixes is that the German mix sounds more robust than the other. It should be noted that when watching with the English language track, there is some dialog that is not in English, and these moments do not come with English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art without a ratings logo, an image gallery with the film’s main theme playing in the background, six deleted scenes (7 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), and trailers for X312 - Flight to Hell (1 minute 45 seconds, Dolby Digital mono German, no subtitles) and The Vengeance of Doctor Mabuse (1 minute 54 seconds, Dolby Digital mono German, no subtitles).

Summary:

After the success of the James Bonds films an influx of Spy knockoffs would follow in its wake throughout the 1960’s. Visually Lucky, the Inscrutable borrows just as much from James Bond as it does from fumetti’s (Italian comic books). Lucky, the Inscrutable was directed by Jess Franco and stylistically the film doesn’t feature the elements one would expect while watching a Jess Franco film. Lucky, the Inscrutable looks and feels like a film that was made by a director for hire. That is not to say that it is totally devoid of Franco like touches. There is an ample amount of humor in this film that is undeniably Jess Franco.

Lucky, the Inscrutable features many colorful villains and a collection of beautiful ladies. Some of the things that happen throughout Lucky, the Inscrutable seem hokey, but this may be the filmmakers’ original intention. Even the anticlimactic ending fails perfectly in line with everything that precedes it. The action sequences are good but could have been more convincing. Lucky, the Inscrutable fails as a film if you view it just as a typical spy film. Part of its charm is its irreverent take on the spy genre.

Lucky, the Inscrutable is played by Ray Danton, an actor who had previously starred in these spy films: The Spy Who Went into Hell and Secret Agent Super Dragon. Two interesting things about the character Lucky the Inscrutable are his multilingual skills and how he is recognized by everyone he encounters, even when in disguise. Ray Danton is wooden, and at best, anything he contributes to Lucky, the Inscrutable that stands out is most likely due to Jess Franco’s direction. Wooden, uninspired performances are nothing new to many international co-productions made in the 1960s since most, if not all, performers’ were dubs since the cast is usually made up of different languages’ being spoken on the set.

In a minor but unforgettable role is actress Rosalba Neri (Amuck!), whose character is Yaka, an Albanian general. Rosalba Neri is only in a handful of scenes, including the most memorable scene, where she discovers that she forgot to put her pants on after assembling her soldiers to find Lucky, the Inscrutable, who escaped after seducing her the night before. Lucky, the Inscrutable would mark the first time that actress Rosalba Neri and composer Bruno Nicolai would be working with director Jess Franco. Bruno Nicolai composes yet another memorable score for Lucky, the Inscrutable, that ranks amongst his best work as a composer. Ultimately Lucky, the Inscrutable is an amusing satire on the spy films of the 1960s.

Lucky, the Inscrutable makes its long overdue DVD debut via a good audio/video presentation from Pidax Film.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Twisted Nerve – Umbrella Entertainment (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: UK, 1968
Director: Roy Boulting
Writer: Leo Marks, Roy Boulting, Roger Marshall
Cast: Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, Billie Whitelaw, Phyllis Calvert, Frank Finlay, Barry Foster, Salmaan Peerzada, Christian Roberts, Gretchen Franklin, Thorley Walters

Release Date: April 2023
Approximate Running Time: 117 Minutes 50 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC & 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: M (Australia)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $28.00

"Martin Durnley (Hywel Bennett) is a surly recluse of extraordinary cunning. After meeting an attractive young student, Susan Harper (Hayley Mills), Martin hatches an elaborate plan to charm his way into her life. To appeal to Susan’s nurturing instincts he adopts an alternate personality, Georgie, a simple, mentally challenged man-child.This devious deception sets in motion an unsettling tale of deadly obsession and frenzied murder!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Twisted Nerve comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.7 GB

Feature: 27.8 GB (1.66:1 Aspect Ratio), 14.6 GB (1.33:1 Aspect Ratio)

Considering this film’s reputation, it has been vastly underrated on DVD and Blu-ray. With its only notable release before this release from Umbrella Entertainment being a 2007 DVD by Optimum Releasing.

Though no information has been provided about the source used for this release transfer, StudioCanal appears to be the source since their logo appears before the film.

Image clarity and color saturation are solid, flesh tones look healthy, black levels are strong, and compression is very good. That said, this is easily the best Twisted Nerve has ever looked on home video.

This release comes with two aspect ratio options. It should be noted that the audio and subtitle options are the same.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included are removable English SDH subtitles. There are no issues with background hiss or sibilance; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Ambient sounds very good, and Bernard Herrmann’s score sounds appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with author and film historian Alan Jones titled Cleaver. Cleaver. Chop. Chop. (13 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with English Gothic author Jonathan Rigby and Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film & Television editor Kevin Lyons, a J-card (limited to first pressing) and a slipcover (limited to first pressing).

Other extras that were limited only to those who pre-ordered directly from Umbrella Entertainment included a daybill and a twenty-page press book. It should be noted that neither of these items fits inside the Blu-ray case.

Summary:

Twisted Nerve was co-written and directed by Roy Boulting, whose other notable films include a trio of films with Peter Sellers: Carlton-Browne of the F.O., There’s a Girl in My Soup, and Heavens Above! Twisted Nerve stars Hayley Mills, who rose to prominence as a child actress while working for Disney on films like Pollyanna, The Parent Trap, and That Darn Cat! In 1966, Haley Mills, while working on the film The Family Way, fell in love with the film’s director, Roy Boulting, who was thirty-three years her senior. Thirty-five years after it was first released, Twisted Nerve was brought back into the spotlight once again when director Quentin Tarantino used the film’s main theme in his 2003 film Kill Bill: Volume 1.

The narrative revolves around Martin, a troubled youth with an overbearing mother who treats him like a child. Martin has an alternate personality named Georgie that emerges whenever he feels vulnerable. One day while shopping, Martin encounters a young woman named Susan, whom he quickly fixes on. Martin, posing as Georgie, works his way into Susan’s life. Feeling sorry for Georgie, Susan convinces her mother to allow him to stay with them until his father returns from Paris. The more time Susan spends with Georgie, the more it becomes clear that he is mentally disturbed.

When it was first released fifty-five years ago, Twisted Nerve was a controversial and, in many ways, a film that was ahead of its time with its take on mongolism and the mentally disturbed. A prologue was added by the producers after it was felt that  Twisted Nerve negatively portrayed those with mongolism as mentally disturbed. The narrative centers around a young man named Martin who has a younger brother who suffers from mongolism. Martin’s mother, afraid that her other son might also turn out the same way, coddles him to the point that he suffers a psychotic break in which he invents a second personality, Georgie. After this opening prologue, Martin’s brother is only referred to and not seen ever again. Twisted Nerve manages to walk a fine line without ever negatively portraying those with monalism.

Visually, Roy Boulting creates a tense and suspenseful film. At nearly two hours, the film paced evenly, with no scene feeling padded or unnecessary. The violence is mostly off camera, with some of the aftermath shown on camera. One of Twisted Nerve's greatest strengths is composer Bernard Herrmann masterful score. The best use of the score is when Martin hums it as he follows Susan. The standout performance is Hywel Bennett's as Martin. When he switches into the character of Georgie, he really shines, giving a performance that ranks among the more memorable cinematic psychopaths. Cast in the role of Susan is Hayley Mills, who has an innocent quality to her that perfectly captures the essence of her character. The rest of the cast are all very good in their respective roles. Ultimately, Twisted Nerve is an entertaining Hitchcockian-like thriller that has lost some of its shock value over the years.

Twisted Nerve gets a solid release from Umbrella Entertainment that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer