Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet: Standard Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Czechoslovakia, 1978
Director: Oldrich Lipský
Writers: Jirí Brdecka, Oldrich Lipský
Cast: Michal Docolomanský, Rudolf Hrusínský, Milos Kopecký, Václav Lohniský, Ladislav Pesek, Nada Konvalinková, Kveta Fialová, Martin Ruzek, Olga Schoberová, Zdenek Díte, Karel Effa, Vladimír Hrubý, Petr Brukner, Vladimír Hrabánek, Milan Mach

Release Date: February 11th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 107 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Czech
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Nick Carter, America's Greatest Detective (Michal Dočolomanský), called to Prague to investigate the case of a missing dog and instead winding up in the jaws of a giant carnivorous plant controlled by his old nemesis, The Gardener (Miloš Kopecký)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "New restoration from the original camera negative and sound elements by the Národní Film Archive, Prague.

The goal of digital restoration was to make the film available in a form similar to how it could have been seen and heard by an audience at the time when it was first released in 1978. As a result, various features that originate from the shooting of the film or its laboratory processing have been preserved and are evidence of the technologies and creative approaches of the time. We also respected the aspect ratio of the picture, i.e. the one that the film had at the time it was presented.

The source for the digitization were film materials stored in the National Film Archive in Prague. The image was digitized from the original negative and the sound from the sound negative.

The restoration was done by the Hungarian Filmlab in Budapest, under the supervision of the National Film Archive, in 2015."

Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40 GB

Feature: 28.7 GB

The source looks excellent; that said, there are a few instances where cut dots remain. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Czech with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialogue always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include four animated shorts directed by Jiří Brdečka; Badly Drawn Hen (13 minutes 40 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono Czech with removable English subtitles), Forester’s Song (9 minutes 35 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono Czech with removable English subtitles), The Miner’s Ruse (8 minutes 5 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono Czech with removable English subtitles), and What Did I Not Tell The Prince (9 minutes 33 seconds, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, LPCM mono Czech with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with  Czech film expert Irena Kovarova of Comeback Company and Czech film critic and screenwriter Tereza Brdečková, and an insert with a URL that has a PDF of the audio commentary.  

Summary:

Oldrich Lipský directed Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet. He’s also known for Lemonade Joe, Happy End, and The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians.

America’s greatest detective, Nick Carter, goes to Prague for a case involving a missing dog and uncovers something far more sinister.

Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet is a parody of the literary character Nick Carter, a dime novel private detective that was created by Ormond G. Smith and John R. Coryell. Though Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet takes a known literary character, it is not an adaptation of any of the Nick Carter stories. That said, the result is a wholly original adventure for the Nick Carter character.

Most of Oldrich Lipský's other films, like Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet, are rooted in the anti-establishment art movement Dadaism. The humor in Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet is exaggerated, and it perfectly complements the hyperrealism of the story that unfolds. Two notable running gags are the numerous failed attempts by assassins on Nick Carter and a Prague detective who constantly is eating while assisting Nick Carter.

All around, the performances are outstanding, especially Michal Docolomanský’s pitch-perfect portrayal of Nick Carter. His comedic timing is flawless, and his onscreen chemistry with Rudolf Hrusínský, who portrays a food-obsessed detective, provides some of the funniest moments. The main bad-guy, Rupert von Kratzmar, aka master criminal, is also known as The Gardener. Milos Kopecký masterfully portrays Rupert von Kratzmar. Then there is the character of Adela, which is a carnivorous plant that eats Rupert von Kratzmar’s victims whenever it hears the German lullaby Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet does not excel. The well-constructed narrative moves briskly from one revelation to the next, and it does a superb job building towards the climax. Another area where Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet is hyper-stylized is its visuals, which do a remarkable job heightening the mood. Ultimately, Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet is an exceptional example of fantastical cinema.

Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet gets an excellent release from Deaf Crocodile that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, four bonus short films, and an insightful audio commentary; highly recommended.

Note: There is a deluxe release of Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet that comes in a slipcase and a 60-page book with an essay by film historian and expert on Central & Eastern European cinema Jonathan Owen, an essay by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central), and excerpts from the book Jiří Brdečka: Life-Animation-Magic (2015, Limonádový Joe Publishing).

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Last Match – Cauldron Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/USA, 1991
Director: Fabrizio De Angelis
Writers: Gianfranco Clerici, Gary Kent, Vincenzo Mannino
Cast: Oliver Tobias, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Napier, Henry Silva, Martin Balsam, Rob Floyd, Melissa Palmisano

Release Date: February 11th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 94 Minutes 3 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Get ready for the most important game of your life where one mistake means Game Over! What do you do when your daughter is framed for drug smuggling during a Caribbean vacation while being held in jail by a sadistic warden (Henry Silva - Escape from the Bronx)? If you are football star Cliff Gaylor (Oliver Tobias - Cobra Mission), you call an audible and do whatever you can to get her out! But when the American Consulate (Charles Napier - Beyond the Valley of the Dolls) doesn't want to be involved and the local attorney (Martin Balsam - Psycho) only wants you to grease his palm with no guarantees, your only choice is to take matters into your own hands. Before he can even call the next play, his coach (Ernest Borgnine - Code Name: Wild Geese) and the rest of the football team (in full uniform!) are on a plane packed with weapons and money aimed to free his daughter or die trying!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "a new 4k restoration struck from the camera negative."

The Last Match comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38 GB

Feature: 25.6 GB

The source looks excellent; colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH subtitles. Included are removable English subtitles for all dialog not in English. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, this audio track sounds very good.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (posters/home video art/stills), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 10 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), an interview with special effects artist Roberto Ricci titled Blown Away (16 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), a video-essay by Italian film expert Eugenio Ercolani titled Understanding the Cobra, he discusses director Fabrizio De Angelis (17 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a minidoc by Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s director Mike Malloy titled American Actors in a Declining Italian Cinema (29 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Italian exploitation movie critic Michael A. Martinez.

Summary:

Fabrizio De Angelis directed The Last Match. He’s also known for Thunder, Cobra Mission, and Killer Crocodile. Besides directing, he also worked as a producer on films like Violent Naples, Zombie, Zombie Holocaust, The Beyond, The House by the Cemetery, and The New York Ripper.

A football star's daughter is imprisoned on a Caribbean island for possession of illegal drugs. When it becomes clear that they are dealing with a corrupt government known for their brutality, the father, his coach, and some of his teammates decide to break her out of prison.

Being a producer and a director are two vastly different, albeit significant, roles in the filmmaking process. Having now seen a cross-section of Fabrizio De Angelis’ films as a director, it is clear that he is nothing more than a workmanlike filmmaker with no distinct style. That said, when it came to producing the films, the films he worked on always flourished because of their directors.

Though The Last Match has a solid premise, a foreigner accused of a crime they did not commit and imprisoned. The execution of said premise is not without its shortcomings. Most of the first hour is not much more than characters talking and not much happening. Things liven up in the action-heavy last 30 minutes, when the father and his teammates, dressed in the football uniforms and armed to the teeth, attack the prison.

Something you can always count on from Italian genre cinema is recognizable faces, many Hollywood actors and actresses in the twilight of their careers. Notable cast members are Ernest Borgnine (The Wild Bunch), who portrays a football team coach; Charles Napier (Supervixens), who portrays a U.S. embassy official; Henry Silva (The Manchurian Candidate), who portrays the drastic prison warden; and Martin Balsam (Psycho), who portrays a shady lawyer. The performances often veer into the over-the-top realm, especially when it comes to the aforementioned Hollywood actors.

By the 1980s, Italian genre cinema was in decline, and budgets were slashed, and though they continued to churn out films like The Last Match into the 1990s, it is clear they were working on even finer margins. That said, what the Italians often lacked when it came to money, they more than made up for with their ingenuity. Nowhere is this clearer in The Last Match than in its action sequences, which include a moment where a character blows up a helicopter by drop-kicking a grenade into it. Ultimately, The Last Match is not even B grade cinema, it is Z grade.

The Last Match gets a solid release from Cauldron Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras, only recommended for fans of Z-grade cinema.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Hokuriku Proxy War: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1977
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Writer: Kôji Takada
Cast: Hiroki Matsukata, Yumiko Nogawa, Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Mikio Narita, Kô Nishimura, Yôko Takahashi, Takeo Chii, Gorô Ibuki, Tatsuo Endô, Seizô Fukumoto

Release Date: February 24th, 2025 (UK), February 25th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 3 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"Loose-cannon gangster Kawada rebels when his two-timing boss forms an alliance with a major crime syndicate. The syndicate’s main rivals see Kawada as their perfect proxy, but his furious temper quickly rubs them the wrong way, leaving Kawada to face overwhelming forces." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Hokuriku Proxy War was transferred in High-Definition by Toei Company, Ltd. and supplied to Radiance Films as a High-Definition digital file."

Hokuriku Proxy War comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.9 GB

Feature: 26.7 GB

The source is in great shape; colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and there are no egregious issues related to digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Japanese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds excellent; dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 21 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with Yakuza film historian Akihiko Ito on the real-life Hokuriku Proxy War murder case (14 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Yoko Takahashi (15 minutes 51 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Koji Takada (18 minutes 42 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 28-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) cast & crew information, an archival essay titled Fukasaku’s Theory of Machiavellianism written by Muneo Nakamura, an archival essay titled Hokuriku-Style Hard-Headedness written by Motohiko Kano, an archival essay titled The Sanctity of Violence written by Isao Fujisawa, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

A turf war erupts between a yakuza clan from Osaka and Hokuriku when the former tries to take over the latter's region.

Kinji Fukasaku had a career that spanned five decades and over 60 feature films. Though he worked in just about every genre, he is known for his work in the yakuza genre. And with Hokuriku Proxy War, he would make his last yakuza film. Reportedly, Hokuriku Proxy War was going to be the fourth entry in New Battles Without Honor and Humanity.

Stylistically, Hokuriku Proxy War goes away from the documentary-style feel of Kinji Fukasaku’s other yakuza films. Hokuriku Proxy War does a phenomenal job setting the tone; a man who is buried up to his neck has a jeep erratically drive around him in the snow. That said, Hokuriku Proxy War Kinji Fukasaku’s other yakuza films have introductory text, and it does a superb job when it comes to building up its characters.

Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (The Street Fighter), a frequent collaborator of Kinji Fukasaku, portrays the boss of the Kani clan. Though he portrayed anti-hero’s, seeing him in a straight up bad guy role is always a pleasure. Despite his limited screen time, his character looms large throughout. That said, his performance is all dialogue-driven, and yet his character is the most menacing.

When it comes to the rest of the performances, they are all great, especially Hiroki Matsukata (Blackmail Is My Life), whose character Noboru Kawada is the protagonist. He delivers an exceptional performance; his character's defiance and the fall in line with what is unfolding is the heart and soul of Hokuriku Proxy War. Other performances of note are Yumiko Nogawa (Gate of Flesh) and Yoko Takahashi (Rebellious Journey); they are the two women in Kawada's life, his past and present.

From a production standpoint, Kinji Fukasaku is clicking on all cylinders. The narrative is fast-moving; there is never a shortage of tension, and it builds to a fever pitch by the time the finale arrives. Though there is an ample amount of carnage, the most gruesome moment is saved for the finale. Another strength of Hokuriku Proxy War is its snow-covered landscapes, which are fully exploited. Ultimately, Hokuriku Proxy War is top-tier Kinji Fukasaku, and it is a perfect swan song for a filmmaker renowned for yakuza cinema. 

Hokuriku Proxy War gets a first-rate release from Radiance Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Legend of the Eight Samurai – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1983
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Writers: Kinji Fukasaku, Toshio Kamata
Cast: Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, Hiroko Yakushimaru, Hiroyuki Sanada, Etsuko Shihomi, Minori Terada, Masaki Kyômoto, Shunsuke Kariya, Takuya Fukuhara, Kenji Ôba, Mari Natsuki

Release Date: February 17th, 2025 (UK), February 18th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 136 Minutes 10 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese, LPCM Stereo Japanese, LPCM Stereo English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"The Satomi Clan have been all-but wiped out by their mortal enemies: the ghoulish members of the undead Hikita Clan. The last Satomi survivor is Princess Shizu (Yakushimaru), who goes into hiding to avoid meeting the same fate as her family. Left to wander on her own, she eventually becomes entangled with farmer-turned-soldier Shinbei (Sanada) and then a pair of warrior monks who reveal themselves to be two of eight fabled Hakkenden - or "Dog Warriors" - who can lift the curse that has been placed upon her family. Together, they must find the rest of the Hakkenden and take on the leader of the Hikita Clan: the evil Tamazusa (Mari Natsuki).." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, "from a brand new 4K restoration".

Legend of the Eight Samurai comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.8 GB

Feature: 41.8 GB

The source looks excellent; colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, black levels are strong, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Japanese, LPCM Stereo Japanese), 3.75/5 (LPCM Stereo English)

This release comes with three audio options, a LPCM stereo mix in Japanese, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Japanese, and a LPCM stereo mix in English. The two Japanese language tracks sound excellent; the English language track has some mild background noise. That said, all of the audio tracks and dialogue always come through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Included are removable English subtitles for the Japanese language tracks and a second removable English subtitle track for Japanese text when watching with the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay by film historian and critic Stuart Galbraith IV titled The Trials of the Eight Samurai (15 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Kinji Fukasaku's son, filmmaker Kenta Fukasaku titled Always Looking for the New (24 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Japanese cinema expert Joe Hickinbottom, an O-Card slipcase (limited to the first pressing), and a 20-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled One Idol, Eight Dogs and a Rubber Snake written by Tom Mes, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

When the undead armies of the Hikita Clan kill her whole family, Princess Shizu is forced to flee from her kingdom. She must get to the land of her uncle before the Hikita Clan finds and sacrifices her. Along her journey, she meets Dōsetsu, who tells her a tale about Tamazusa’s century-long curse on her family’s clan. Enlisting the help of the eight samurai who each bear a magic crystal, Princess Shizu is now one step closer to ending the family curse.

Legend of the Eight Samurai is an adaptation of Toshio Kamata's novel Shin Satomi Hakkenden, which is a loose retelling of Kyokutei Bakin’s 98-volume epic titled Nansō Satomi Hakkenden (Eight Dog Warriors of the Satomi clan). If the story that unfolds feels familiar, that’s because Legend of the Eight Samurai is also influenced by The Hidden Fortress, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Kinji Fukasaku's Message from Space.

At 2-plus hours in length, Legend of the Eight Samurai covers a lot of ground. Though Princess Shizu is the central character, Legend of the Eight Samurai is filled with secondary characters who play a pivotal role in the story that unfolds. When it comes to pacing, the narrative does a superb job building momentum. That said, there are a few lulls; fortunately, none of these ever derail any momentum.

Legend of the Eight Samurai has an excellent ensemble cast, many of them belonging to the famed Japan Action Club. The chemistry of its two leads is its greatest asset: Hiroko Yakushimaru (Sailor Suit and Machine Gun), who portrays Princess Shizu, and Hiroyuki Sanada (Roaring Fire), who portrays a vagabond named Shinbei. Another performance of note is Mari Natsuki’s (Onimasa) diabolical portrayal of Tamazusa, the evil queen of an undead army.

The most recognizable cast member is Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba (The Street Fighter), who portrays Dōsetsu, one of the samurai who protect Princess Shizu on her treacherous journey. Though he portrays a secondary character, he takes full advantage of his screen time. His character has the most memorable moment, a scene where he fights a giant centipede. Another notable cast member is Etsuko Shihomi (Sister Street Fighter), a frequent collaborator of Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba; they worked together on over 20 films.

Though Kinji Fukasaku has made better films than Legend of the Eight Samurai, one cannot fault his solid direction. That said, Legend of the Eight Samurai is beautifully photographed; moments when Tamazusa’s naked body emerges from a pool of blood and a wedding where thousands of petals float through the air—these are two of the more striking moments. Also, Kinji Fukasaku is not a stranger when it comes to epic films, and he does a phenomenal job creating grandiose moments in Legend of the Eight Samurai. Ultimately, Legend of the Eight Samurai is a fun film that often exceeds the sum of its parts.

Legend of the Eight Samurai gets an exceptional release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Terrornauts – Vinegar Syndrome Labs (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: UK, 1967
Director: Montgomery Tully
Writer: John Brunner
Cast: Simon Oates, Zena Marshall, Charles Hawtrey, Patricia Hayes, Stanley Meadows, Max Adrian

Release Date: January 21st, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 77 Minutes 7 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $44.98

"Scientist Joe Burke is determined to prove the existence of alien life and has set up a powerful radio telescope to look for signs. One night, after months of failure, he detects a clear but faint communication emerging from the deepest reaches of space. Excited by his findings, he rushes to his nearby research quarters. No sooner than arriving, the entire building, including its occupants, is lifted into space by a mysterious extraterrestrial force. After docking on a spacecraft, the frightened abductees realize that they have been selected to participate in a dangerous mission, the success of which will determine the fate and survival of Earth..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative."

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

Disc Size: 29.6 GB

Feature: 21.1 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. There are no issues with background hiss or distortion; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Range-wise, this audio track sounds great.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival interview with editor Peter Musgrave tilted Budget Cuts (8 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with production manager Ted Wallis titled Managing on a Budget  (7 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with writer/film critic Kim Newman titled Subotsky the Trailblazer (22 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with author and film historian Brian Hannan, reversible cover art, and a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 3,000 units).

Summary:

Scientists whose radio telescope picks up a mysterious signal from outer space are kidnapped and taken aboard a flying saucer.

The Terrornauts was made simultaneously with They Came from Beyond Space and they were distributed as a double feature. The Terrornauts and They Came from Beyond Space are widely regarded as Amicus Productions' worst films. The Terrornauts was adapted from Murray Leinster’s novel The Wailing Asteroid.

Though Amicus worked in a variety of genres, they are most known for their horror output. The Terrornauts, like their other sci-fi films, are known for their minimalism: basic sets and primitive special effects. Amicus was a company that often worked in the margins, and despite many of their films working well in these limited perimeters, all of their sci-fi films came off looking cheap, like an episode of Dr. Who.

Though no one performance stands out, you can’t really fault any of them. The characters are one-dimensional, and the cast is given little to work with. A cast member of note is Zena Marshall (Dr. No); in her final role, she portrays one of the scientists.

At 77 minutes in length, the narrative never overstays its welcome. Though there are a few lulls, there are enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. The narrative's biggest flaw is the vagueness behind the aliens who abducted the scientists.

The Terrornauts is a product of its time; it was made before sci-fi cinema made great advancements with special effects. The space alien monster with a crab claw hand on the flying saucer is a sight to behold. That said, The Terrornauts is a film that fans of 1950s and 60s sci-fi cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

The Terrornauts gets an excellent release from Vinegar Syndrome Labs that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Lady Assassin – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1983
Director: Chin-Ku Lu
Writer: Chin-Ku Lu
Cast: Tony Liu, Norman Chui, Jason Pai Piao, Ku Feng, Leanne Liu, Max Mok Siu-Chung, Ching Miao, Cheung King-Yu, Yeung Jing-Jing, Yuen Tak, Kwan Fung, Johnny Wang Lung-Wei, Sun Chien

Release Date: February 24th, 2025 (UK), February 25th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 33 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"From Hong Kong's legendary Shaw Brothers studio comes a blood-drenched story of ninjas, eunuchs and dark palace intrigue: the old emperor is on his last legs, and his most ambitious and amoral son plots to cheat his way to the throne. But taking power is the easy bit. Staying on top will prove much more difficult..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "High Definition Blu-ray Presentation (1080p) In 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio."

The Lady Assassin comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 26.7 GB

Feature: 21 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. 

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery (21 images), digital reissue trailer (1 minute 17 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Poon Kin-Kwan titled From Child Actor to Fight Coordinator (23 minutes 50 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, double sided poster (limited to the first pressing), and an O-Ring slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Chin-Ku Lu directed the film The Lady Assassin. His other notable films are The Master, Holy Flame of the Martial World, Bastard Swordsman, Return of the Bastard Swordsman, and Holy Virgin vs. The Evil Dead.

When the 4th prince learns that his father has chosen his brother, the 14th prince, to be his successor, he sets in motion a plan to take the throne from his brother.

The Lady Assassin's story is rooted in treachery. A character's lust for power leads them to scheme their way into power. When it becomes clear that they cannot simply kill the heir to the throne, they form temporary alliances that bring them close to their goal. Once he assumes the throne, the only thing that can stop him is the bodyguard of the 14th prince, who was supposed to be the heir to the throne.

Though the premise covers familiar ground, the result is a film that always holds your attention. The well-executed narrative does a superb job building momentum, and there are ample well-timed twists. The first half moves faster than the latter half, with everything culminating in a bloody finale.

All around, the performances are great, especially Norman Chui’s (The Sword) portrayal of the 14th prince's bodyguard. His character is a skilled swordsman who is unrivaled, and he is a man of honor who cannot be persuaded to betray the man he’s sworn to protect. Another performance of note is Leanne Liu’s (Opium and the Kung-Fu Master) portrayal of Lui Si Niang, the daughter of a rebel leader. Lui Si Niang has exceptional sword fighting skills, and she is just as deadly as her male counterparts.

When it comes to martial arts cinema, the main draw is the action sequences, and in this area, The Lady Assassin always delivers. That said, though the action comes fast and furious, there is a sufficient amount of time devoted to exposition. There is not much in the way of hand-to-hand combat; most of the fight sequences are swordplay.

The Shaw Brothers were only a few years away from drastically reducing their output by the time they made The Lady Assassin. Despite the ever-changing landscape of martial arts cinema in the 1980s, the Shaw Brothers continued to make a kind of martial arts film that was now considered old-fashioned. That said, The Lady Assassin is a solid example of the type of martial arts films that The Shaw Brothers were known for.

The Lady Assassin gets a first-date release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative interview, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer