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

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1975
Director: Luigi Comencini
Writers: Carlo Fruttero, Franco Lucentini, Agenore Incrocci, Furio Scarpelli
Cast: Marcello Mastroianni, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Aldo Reggiani, Maria Teresa Albani, Omero Antonutti

Release Date: April 17th, 2023 (UK), April 18th, 2023 (USA)
Approximate running time: 109 Minutes 18 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC & 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"An odious architect is beaten to death and a high society wife (Jacqueline Bisset, Day for Night) and her gay friend (Jean-Louis Trintignant, The Conformist) are the key suspects with a discarded letter implicating them in the crime. Commissioner Santamaria (Marcello Mastroianni, Fellini’s 8 ½) is assigned to the case and tries to uncover the murder suspect in upper-class Turin." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (1.85:1 Aspect Ratio, 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “The Sunday Woman was scanned in 2K from the original negative and restored by Studio Cine, Rome. Additional color grading and correction was performed by Radiance.”

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

Disc Size: 45.5 GB

Feature: 21.6 GB (1.85:1 Aspect Ratio), 18.5 GB (1.33:1 Aspect Ratio)

The sources used for both aspect ratios look excellent. Though the 1.33:1 aspect ratio offers more headroom, there are some moments where the 1.33:1 aspect ratio has too much headroom. Flesh tones look correct; color saturation, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid. Also, the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian, and removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape; dialog always comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; and Ennio Morricone’s score sounds appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with academic and Italian cinema expert Richard Dyer (18 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli (22 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with academic and screenwriter Giacomo Scarpelli (36 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an archival French TV interview with Jean-Louis Trintignant (4 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 24-page booklet (limited to 2000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled The Sunday Woman written by Mariangela Sansone, a reprint of an archival piece on the film titled A Fable Without Morality written by Gerard Legrand and information about the transfer. 

Summary:

The Sunday Woman was directed by Luigi Comencini, a filmmaker best remembered for his work in commedia all'italiana. Notable films he directed include Bread, Love and Dreams, The Window to Luna Park, and Unknown Woman. The Sunday Woman was adapted from Franco Lucentini and Carlo Fruttero’s novel titled La donna della domenica, Mondadori.

The narrative revolves around a detective and a group of suspects who all have a reason for wanting the murdered man dead. The murder weapon is a large phallus. And with each new revelation, the detective is one step closer to the truth.

Though The Sunday Woman is a thriller, it is a different type of thriller than the black-gloved thrillers that dominated 1970s Italian cinema. In fact, The Sunday Woman is just as much of a thriller as it is a comedy. That said, most of the humor is on the subversive side.

The Sunday Woman features a solid cast who are amazing in their roles, especially the three leads, Marcello Mastroianni (8 1/2) in the role of a detective named Salvatore Santamaria, Jacqueline Bisset (The Mephisto Waltz) in the role of a high society wife named Anna Carla Dosio, and Jean-Louis Trintignant (So Sweet... So Perverse) in the role of Anna’s gay friend Massimo Campi. All three actors deliver pitch-perfect performances that superbly play off of each other.

Despite a deliberately paced narrative that takes its time to establish who all the main players are, The Sunday Woman’s narrative always manages to remain engaging. With the last forty minutes being pure perfection where everything falls into place. Other strengths include Ennio Morricone’s (Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion) exceptional score, and cinematographer Luciano Tovoli’s (Suspiria) striking visuals do a superb job reinforcing the mood. 

If you go into The Sunday Woman expecting a straight-forward thriller, then you might be disappointed, while those who go into The Sunday Woman with an open mind will find a highly entertaining slice of subversive humor that could have only come from Italy.

The Sunday Woman gets an excellent release from Radiance Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Shanghai Joe – Cauldron Films (Blu-ray) 

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1973
Director: Mario Caiano
Writers: Mario Caiano, Fabrizio Trifone Trecca, Carlo Alberto Alfieri
Cast: Chen Lee (Myoshin Hayakawa), Klaus Kinski, Carla Romanelli, Gordon Mitchell, Katsutoshi Mikuriya, Robert Hundar, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Carla Mancini

Release Date: May 16th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 4 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Chin Hao (Chen Lee/Myoshin Hayakawa), arrives in America looking for a better life, only to be faced with locals that don't take kindly to outsiders. Much to their surprise, Chin is not your average drifter as he rips his way through racist bad guys with his unstoppable fighting techniques. After word of his skills spreads, he gets a job at a ranch only to find that the owner, Stanley Spencer, is a cattle smuggling slave trader who brutalizes Mexican farmers and anyone else who dares get in his way. Chin ramps up the violence as he stops at nothing to free the slaves and enact revenge on the sadistic Spencer." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "2K restoration from the negative."

Shanghai Joe comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.4 GB

Feature: 27.7 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape; any source imperfections have been cleaned up. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is solid.

Audio: 4.25/5 (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. Dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH subtitles for the English language track. It should be noted that subtitles can only be chosen via the audio setup menu, and they cannot be turned off while watching the main feature. Also, you cannot toggle between the two audio options while watching the main feature.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, an image gallery, a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 29 seconds, DTS-HD mono with Italian text, no subtitles), a video essay by film historian Eric Zaldivar titled East Meets West: Italian Style (19 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Katsutoshi Mikuriya titled Samurai Spirit (9 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historian Mike Hauss.

Extras not carried over from the limited edition release for this standard edition release include a poster, a slipcase, and a CD with Bruno Nicolai's score.

Summary:

Shanghai Joe was directed by Mario Caiano, a versatile director who worked in just about every genre that was popular in 1960s and 1970s Italian cinema. Notable films he directed include Bullets Don’t Argue, Nightmare Castle, Eye in the Labyrinth, Violent Milan, and Weapons of Death. Shanghai Joe’s score was composed by Bruno Nicolai (The Case of the Bloody Iris), who is best remembered for his collaborations with Ennio Morricone and Jess Franco.

The spaghetti western genre is one of Italian cinema’s weirdest genres. Its evolution from A Fistful of Dollars to comedy/action hybrids culminated in films that came full circle to where this genre started. There were also some other unusual sub-genres along the way, none crazier than the East Meets West spaghetti westerns. Case in point: a film like Shanghai Joe.

The narrative revolves around a Chinese immigrant who leaves San Francisco for the wide-open state of Texas. From there, what evolves is a fish out of water tale in which the protagonist is faced with a constant barrage of overt racism.

Spaghetti westerns are known for their cast, especially when it comes to casting a recognizable name in the role of the protagonist. Surprisingly, Shanghai Joe goes against the grain by casting Myoshin Hayakawa, aka Chen Lee, in the role of Shanghai Joe. Though his character is a man of few words, when it comes to fight scenes, he more than holds his own.

That said, when it comes to the rest of the cast, there are several recognizable faces like Klaus Kinski (For a Few Dollars More) in the role of a hitman named Scalper Jack, Gordon Mitchell (Beyond the Law) in the role of a hitman named Burying Sam, and Giacomo Rossi Stuart (Ben and Charlie) in the role of a hitman named Tricky the Gambler.

Though made during a time when spaghetti westerns popularity was in decline, Shanghai Joe goes against the comedy and action westerns that were in vogue at that time. The narrative does a good job moving things forward. And what it lacks in character development, it more than makes up for with its solid action set pieces. Also, Shanghai Joe is one of the gorier/graphic spaghetti westerns. Ultimately, Shanghai Joe is an unusual mix of spaghetti western and martial arts genres that fans of these genres should enjoy.

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

Written by Michael Den Boer

Lust for Freedom – Troma Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1987
Director: Eric Louzil
Writers: Craig Kusaba, Duke Howard, Eric Louzil
Cast: Melanie Coll, William J. Kulzer, Judi Trevor, Howard Knight, Elizabeth Carlisle, Dee Booher

Release Date: May 30th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 93 Minutes 33 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $19.95

"Somewhere... in the middle of nowhere, there is a town so sinister, that visitors who dare cross its borders become forever lost in the swamp of corruption. Criminals, mobsters and misfits run the town, and innocent visitors become their slaves. They are thrown into a broken down, rat infested prison where they are raped, tortured, brutalized and made to perform all kinds of unspeakable and perverted acts. All of this changes when Gillian Kaites comes to town. Gillian is beautiful and sexy, tough and strong and fiercely independent. After she witnesses the violent death of her boyfriend in a police shootout, Gillian decides to get out of the city. She looks for peace and quiet, but drives into hills that harbor horror and violence." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Lust for Freedom comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.2 GB

Feature: 17.4 GB

It appears that Troma Films is using the same 2K master that Vinegar Syndrome used for their 2014 DVD. Here’s the information about that transfer: "Scanned in 2K from a 35mm blow-up negative." Shot on 16mm and blown up to 35mm, there is a healthy layer of grain present throughout, and there are a handful of times where there is a thick layer of grain. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is very good.

Audio: 3.5/5

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

Extras:

Extras for this release include original DVD introduction by Lloyd Kaufman (1 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English. No subtitles), theatrical trailer (3 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with Lloyd Kaufman (10 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with director Eric Louzil.    

Other extras include Mercedes: The Tromette, Words of Inspiration from Eli Roth, Radiation March, Grizzard Face 2: The Return of Grizzard Face, and trailers for Shakespeare's Shitstorm, The Toxic Avenger, Class of Nuke 'Em High, Divide & Conquer, Slashering: The Final Beginning, and Tromeo & Juliet.

Summary:

Don’t be fooled by the opening set-up; it gives no indication of where the narrative is about to go. Sure, there is an abundance of action in this film—the kind of action that could only have come from the 1980s. And yet, to pin down Lust for Freedom as solely a run-of-the-mill action film would greatly underestimate Lust for Freedom's undeniable power to entertain its audience. This is a take no prisoners kind of film that lays out the basic narrative and bolsters it up with exploitative elements that only further reinforce Lust for Freedom's awesomeness.

Once the narrative gets past its open credits and settles in, things really start cooking once the narrative settles into what is commonly referred to as a WIP (women in prison) film. From there, the cat fights erupt, and the clothes start to come off at regular intervals. Needless to say, this is grade ‘A’ exploitation clicking on all cylinders.

Any limitations due to budgetary reasons are quickly forgotten because of Eric Louzil’s steady direction, which always keeps things moving along and thus ensures that there is never a dull moment. And when it comes to action sequences, they are always a blast to watch. Also, though Lust for Freedom is rooted in seedy subject matter, this does not stop some well-placed humor from cropping up throughout. Another area where Lust for Freedom unintentionally supplies some laughs is its use of miniatures that stick out like sore thumbs.

From casting stand point they are more then adequate in their respective roles, especially Melanie Coll in the role of the protagonist Gillian Kaites. In what would end up being her one and only screen performance, she turns in a strong performance that is further bolstered by her undeniable charisma. And though no other performance comes close to matching hers, the cast does feature several recognizable faces like a pair of adult film actresses, Crystal Breeze and Michelle Bauer. Not surprising that these two have a lesbian scene that ranks as the most erotic moment in Lust for Freedom. Ultimately, Lust for Freedom is a fun film that has all the elements that fans of exploitation cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Lust for Freedom gets a very good release from Troma Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Convoy Busters – Cauldron Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1978
Director: Stelvio Massi
Writers: Danilo Massi, Gino Capone, Teodoro Corrà
Cast: Maurizio Merli, Olga Karlatos, Massimo Serato, Nello Pazzafini, Mario Feliciani

Release Date: May 16th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 41 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"After brandishing his gun and badge too many times in front of powerful people, Maurizio Merli (Violent Naples and The Cynic, The Rat, and The Fist) is busted down from Homicide to Emergency Squad. Despite his demotion, he is not content with letting Rome's criminal element run rampant and his violent nature soon finds him the target of both the press and the local mob. After a bloody attempt on his life, he is transferred to a quiet coastal town to run a local department but, never one to leave things alone, he quickly finds a dangerous smuggling ring is using the cover of the sea and darkness to run their operations in his sleepy district." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "2K restoration from the negative."

Convoy Busters comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.4 GB

Feature: 29.1 GB

When compared to the transfer used for Koch Films German Blu-ray, Cauldron Films transfers are a marked improvement. Areas of greatest improvement include image clarity, black levels, and contrast, and compression is solid. Also, the digital noise that plagued Koch Films release is not an issue with Cauldron Films release.

Audio: 4.25/5 (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. Dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are English subtitles for the Italian language track and English SDH subtitles for the English language track. It should be noted that subtitles can only be chosen via the audio setup menu, and they cannot be turned off while watching the main feature. Also, you cannot toggle between the two audio options while watching the main feature.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background, Stelvio Massi image onset image gallery with music from the film playing in the background, Italian theatrical trailer (3 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with non-removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (4 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), alternate English language opening credits (59 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), five featurettes that previously appeared on NoShame’s DVD, an interview with director Ruggero Deodato titled Bullet in the Closet (6 minutes 27 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with director Enzo G. Castellari titled The Protagonist (22 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Ennio Girolami titled My Good Fella Maurizio (15 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with journalist Eolo Capacci titled A Star is Born (16 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles) and an interview with Maurizio Merli’s son Maurizio Matteo Merli titled Merli on Merli (20 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), a featurette titled Stelvio Massi video tribute by Danilo Massi (8 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo with Italian and removable English subtitles), an interview with Maurizio Matteo Merli titled My Father, the Cop (20 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Danilo Massi titled The Massi Touch (24 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with tough-guy film expert Mike Malloy titled Maurizio Merli: A Lethal Hunter of Subtle Variation (29 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Mike Malloy and Mike Martinez.

Extras not carried over from the limited edition release for this standard edition release include a poster and a slipcase.

Summary:

A pair of homicides lead detective Olmi (Maurizio Merli) to a suspect who gets off because of his friends in high places. Olmi is then reassigned from Homicide to Rome’s emergency squad. His tactics towards suspects get scrutinized by the press, which accuses him of police brutality. Olmi finally hits rock bottom when he accidentally kills a man. He then relocates to a small town on the Adriatic coast, where he finds love with a woman named Anna. Unfortunately, old habits are hard to break and Olmi returns to his old ways as he uncovers a massive gun smuggling operation.

By the time that Stelvio Massi directed Convoy Busters, he had firmly entrenched himself as one of the premier directors working in Poliziotteschi cinema. And though he directs Convoy Busters with the same style that’s become synonymous with his most celebrated Poliziotteschi films. Convoy Busters lacks the substance that defined his initial Poliziotteschi films.

Content wise, Convey Busters has all the cliches that have become synonymous with Poliziotteschi cinema. There are numerous shootouts, thrilling chase sequences (one suspect is pursued by a helicopter), and frustrated law enforcement officers who take the law into their own hands.

Speaking of Poliziotteschi cinema chase sequences, in Convoy Busters there’s a chase scene where Olni in a helicopter chases a suspect who’s running through an open field. This chase that ends with a slow-motion death shot from Olini is arguably one of the coolest shots you will ever see in any Poliziotteschi film.

The performances are best described as serviceable. With the main attraction being Maurizio Merli’s (The Tough Ones, Violent Naples) no hold barred portrayal of detective Olmi. He’s a no-nonsense character who kicks ass and asks questions later. Detective Olmi is similar to many of the anti-heroes like Dirty Harry and Paul Kersey (Death Wish) in that they are all fed up with how the law protects the bad guys while innocents are harmed or murdered. Overall, Convoy Busters is an action-packed film that fans of Poliziotteschi cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Cauldron Films gives Convoy Busters its best home video release to date. Cauldron Films gives Convoy Busters a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, highly recommended.

 Written by Michael Den Boer

Noon Wine – Liberation Hall (DVD)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1966
Director: Sam Peckinpah
Writer: Sam Peckinpah
Cast: Jason Robards, Olivia de Havilland, Theodore Bikel, Per Oscarsson, Robert Emhardt, Steve Sanders, Ben Johnson, Peter Robbins, L.Q. Jones, Jill Andre, Joan Tompkins

Release Date: May 30th, 2023
Approximate Running Times: 59 Minutes 1 Second (Version With Commercials), 50 Minutes 12 Seconds (Version Without Commercials)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: N/A
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $14.95

"Royal Earle Thompson owns a dairy farm in southern Texas during the late 1890s. His farm is fairly unproductive, due in part to Thompson's laziness and distaste for most of the required labor on a farm. Thompson lives with his wife, Ellie, and two small sons, and while Ellie is continually ill, she does her best to perform her domestic duties around the farm. One day, Olaf Helton presents himself at the farm and the taciturn Swede asks Farmer Thompson for a job and is hired on the spot. Helton proves to be an invaluable asset and after nine years pass, the dairy farm is thriving, thanks to Helton's incomparable work ethic One day, an offensive and irritating stranger named Homer T. Hatch shows up at the farm. saying he is there to "locate" Helton. Thompson takes an immediate dislike to Helton due to his grating banter and subtle insults. Hatch eventually reveals he is a bounty hunter, and Helton is an escaped mental patient. Thompson has a vision of Hatch driving a knife blade into Helton's stomach.and rushes to Helton's defense, striking Hatch with an axe blade and killing him. Nenwhile, Helton flees. After a perfunctory trial, Thompson is acquitted on the ground of self-defense/defense of another but Thompson continues to relive the killing, endlessly reviewing possible options, other paths he could have taken. Worse, though he is legally "not guilty," the community regards him as not innocent, and fears that he has become an outcast.. In a climactic scene at home, Thompson realizes that even his wife is afraid of him and that their now nearly grown sons no longer trust him. Dressed in his best, Thompson writes a note of explanation, how he never meant to kill Hatch. Poignantly, Thompson puts no blame on Helton, observing that had Hatch come hunting him instead of Helton, his friend would have done the same for him." – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 2.5/5

Here’s information about Noon Wine, “The show was recorded live, on kinescope and the original masters were thought to be lost.”

Noon Wine comes of a single layer DVD.

Disc Size: 4.1 GB

Considering the limitations of the source available for this release, this transfer can only look so good. There are tape defects (analog source?), colors fluctuate, black levels are at best adequate, and image clarity is generally crisp. Quality-wise, the two versions are comparable.

Audio: 2.5/5

Each version comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English. Both audio tracks have background hisses that vary in degree throughout. That said, the dialog comes through clearly enough to follow, and everything sounds balanced. Also, considering the limitations of the source, these tracks sound good range-wise.

Summary:

Noon Wine was a television program that was part of the ABC Stage 67 anthology series. This series ran for one season, and there were 26 episodes.

Noon Wine was directed by Sam Peckinpah, a filmmaker best remembered for his revisionist westerns like The Wild Bunch, and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. Noon Wine was adapted by Sam Peckinpah from author Katherine Anne Porter’s short novel of the same name.

At the heart of Noon Wine is a morality tale about self-interest versus doing the right thing. The narrative revolves around a dairy farmer trapped in a loveless marriage who hires a stranger to work on his farm. This decision proves to be very beneficial to the dairy farmer, and when faced with the possibility of losing his helper, the dairy farmer commits an act of violence that puts a heavy burden on his conscience.

Noon Wine has a solid cast that features many faces that will be recognizable to anyone familiar with the films of Sam Peckinpah. And though the cast is all very good, It is the three leads who shine the brightest: Jason Robards (The Ballad of Cable Hogue) in the role of a dairy farmer named Royal Earle Thompson, Olivia de Havilland (The Heiress) in the role of Ellie, the dairy farmer's wife, and Per Oscarsson (Hunger) in the role of Olaf Helton, the stranger looking for a job.

Though there is only so much that can be done when working on a product made for television, the result is something that far exceeds its meager resources. The premise is well executed, and the narrative does a great job building momentum towards a bleak finale, which serves as a perfect coda. Also, Sam Peckinpah’s direction does a superb job of letting the characters take center stage. Ultimately, Noon Wine is an extraordinary piece of filmmaking that is filled with cinematic flourishes that are synonymous with the films of Sam Peckinpah.

Liberation Hall rescued Noon Wine, a rarely seen work from Sam Peckinpah, out of obscurity. That said, don’t let the technical limitations of this release discourage you from checking out Noon Wine.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Police Story 3: Supercop – 88 Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1992
Director: Stanley Tong
Writers: Edward Tang, Fibe Ma, Lee Wai Yee
Cast: Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung, Kenneth Tsang, Wah Yuen, Bill Tung, Josephine Koo, Kelvin Wong, Philip Chan, Ken Lo, Lieh Lo

Release Date: April 25th, 2023
Approximate Running Times: 96 Minutes 30 Seconds (Police Story 3: Supercop), 90 Minutes 42 Seconds (Supercop Alternate US Version)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10 (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Stereo Cantonese, Dolby Atmos Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English (Police Story 3: Supercop), DTS-HD 5.1 English, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Supercop Alternate US Version)
Subtitles: English, English SDH (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $44.95

"To infiltrate a drug cartel, police Inspector Chan Ka Kui (Jackie Chan, Rush Hour, Rumble in the Bronx) goes undercover in a Chinese prison. There, he earns the trust of Panther (Yuen Wah, Kung Fu Hustle), a cartel member, by breaking him out of prison. With the help of another undercover agent (Michelle Yeoh, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), they travel to Hong Kong and join up with Panther's gang. Ka Kui is accepted by the gang's leader (Ken Tsang), but his operation is jeopardized when Ka Kui's girlfriend (Maggie Cheung, Hero) accidentally reveals his true identity." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD - Police Story 3: Supercop), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray - Police Story 3: Supercop), 4.5/5 (4K UHD - Supercop Alternate US Version), 4/5 (Blu-ray - Supercop Alternate US Version)

Police Story 3: Supercop comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 76.7 GB

Feature: 63.8 GB

Though 88 Films uses the same source as Eureka Video for their 4K UHD release, These two releases are not identical. There are differences when it comes to colors, and Eureka Video framed the image tighter than 88 Films. That said, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and contrast are solid, and the image retains a filmic look.

Police Story 3: Supercop comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.6 GB

Feature: 30.1 GB

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

Audio: (DTS-HD Stereo Cantonese, Dolby Atmos Cantonese - Police Story 3: Supercop), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English - Police Story 3: Supercop), 4/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 English - Supercop Alternate US Version, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Supercop Alternate US Version)

Police Story 3: Supercop comes with four audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Cantonese, a Dolby Atmos mix in Cantonese, and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Despite the fact that all audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. The Cantonese stereo and Atmos tracks sound noticeably more robust than the mono Cantonese and English tracks. It should be noted that the Cantonese audio tracks feature some dialog in Mandarin. Included with this version are removable English subtitles for all the dialog in Cantonese and Mandarin. Also, there are removable English SDH for the English language track.

Supercop alternate US version comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English and a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese. Both the audio mixes sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should. It should be noted that the Cantonese audio track features some dialog in Mandarin. Included with this version are removable English subtitles for all the dialog in Cantonese and Mandarin. Also, there are removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include Guy Laroche 1984 commercial with Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh (33 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Chinese with removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), Japanese teaser trailer (41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), US teaser trailer (1 minute 39 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), US theatrical trailer (1 minute 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), seven US TV spots (2 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), US video screener promo (1 minute 37 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng for Hong Kong theatrical cut.

Extras for the Blu-ray disc include Guy Laroche 1984 commercial with Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh (33 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Chinese with removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), Japanese teaser trailer (41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), US teaser trailer (1 minute 39 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), US theatrical trailer (1 minute 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), seven US TV spots (2 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), US video screener promo (1 minute 37 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), outtakes (51 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog, music from the film playing in the background), an archival interview with Stanley Tong from 2004 (17 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Stanley Tong titled The Stuntmaster General (19 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Ken Lo titled The Fall Guy (21 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Michelle Yeoh titled Dancing with Death (21 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actor Jackie Chan titled Flying High (19 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng for Hong Kong theatrical cut.

Other extras include reversible cover art, six replica lobby cards, a double-sided foldout Poster, a slipcase, and an 80-page perfect-bound book with cast & crew information, an interview with John Wakefield titled Meet the cop that can’t be stopped!, an essay titled Threenage Kicks: The Joy of Supercop written by C.J. Lines, and selected archive materials.

Summary:

Jackie Chan (Drunken Master) returns for a third time as Inspector Chan Ka Kui. And just like its predecessors, Police Story 3: Supercop is a wall-to-wall action extravaganza that's filled with spectacular stunts that showcase Jackie Chan’s prowess as one of Hong Kong cinema’s most fearless martial artists when it comes to dangerous stunts.

Police Story 3: Supercop was directed by Stanley Tong, a director best known for his collaborations with Jackie Chan. Their notable collaborations include Rumble in the Bronx and First Strike.

The narrative revolves around Hong Kong police Inspector Chan Ka Kui, who is sent to China under the guise that he is a supercop. His mission once inside China is to make contact with a man named Panther who can get him closer to a notorious drug kingpin named Chaibat.

Despite the fact that Police Story 3: Supercop picks up where its predecessors left off in terms of content, the result is a film that is best described as a different breed. Most notably, the difference between Police Story 3: Supercop and its predecessors is that humor is not as prominent, and the addition of Michelle Yeoh (Yes, Madam!) in the role of inspector Yang Chien-Hua, provides Jackie Chan with a female equivalent who more than holds her own.

Besides Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh, the rest of the cast is filled with performances that all exceed expectations. Notable cast members include Maggie Cheung (The Heroic Trio) in the role of May, Chan Ka Kui’s neglected girlfriend; Lieh Lo (King Boxer) in the role of a general who supplies various crime bosses with drugs; and Kenneth Tsang (The Killer) in the role of Chaibat, a crime boss who resembles a James Bond villain.

Though most sequels fail to live up to the first film in their series, The Police Story films are a rare exception where each film somehow betters its predecessor. With Police Story 3: Supercop standing tall as the best of the three Police Story films.

88 Films gives Police Story 3: Supercop an excellent release that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth 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 VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer