Black Cat: Deluxe Collector's Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong/Canada, 1991
Director: Stephen Shin
Writers: Bo Shun Chan, Tan-Ping Lam, Wai-Lun Lam
Cast: Jade Leung, Simon Yam, Thomas Lam

Release Date: February 28th, 2022
Approximate running time: 96 Minutes 8 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"When Catherine (Jade Leung), a mentally disturbed young woman, is detained by the police after accidentally killing a truck driver, she finds herself part of a covert training system. Programmed as an assassin, having learned a host of new deadly skills, she becomes a lethal government weapon, codenamed Black Cat." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, "Brand New 2K Remaster from the Original Camera Negative."

Black Cat comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.7 GB

Feature: 29 GB

The source used for this transfer is in immaculate shape. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and a LPCM mono mix in English. Both the audio tracks sound clean, clear, balanced, and robust when they should. Included with this release are three subtitle options: removable English subtitles for the Cantonese opening credits when watching with the English language track; removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track; and removable English SDH subtitles for the Cantonese language track. It should be noted that there is some dialog in Japanese and this dialog is only translated when watching with the subtitle tracks provided for the Cantonese audio track.

Extras:

Extras for this release Tai Seng reconstructed trailer (1 minute 40 seconds), a newly reconstructed trailer (3 minutes 45 seconds, LPCM mono with Cantonese text and removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (4 minutes 43 seconds, LPCM mono with English text), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (3 minutes 10 seconds, LPCM mono with Cantonese text and removable English subtitles), English language opening and closing titles (3 minutes 4 seconds, LPCM mono), an interview with actress Jade Leung (8 minutes 20 seconds, LPCM stereo Chinese with non-removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, an audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng, four replica Lobby Cards, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and a forty-page perfect bound book with an interview with line producers Shan Tam and Michael Parker by Matthew Edwards.

Summary:

Although female characters in Hong Kong cinema have always been able to compete with their male counterparts. A film like Black Cat is a different breed that actually finds its inspiration from Luc Besson's La Femme Nikita. I was hesitant at first to watch Black Cat because of the numerous elements in Black Cat that mirror La Femme Nikita. Fortunately, the result is a film that is so much more than a La Femme Nikita clone.

The thing that grabbed me in the opening moments of Black Cat was its setting. Where most Hong Kong films are set in Hong Kong, Black Cat is set in North American locations. This change to a familiar location gives Black Cat a different vibe that works in its favor. It should be noted that later on, the protagonist is given jobs in Hong Kong and Japan, which return her to more familiar locations.

When discussing Black Cat, one must not overlook the importance of casting Jade Leung in the role of the protagonist. Though this is her first film, she delivers a remarkable performance that carries Black Cat. She would return to the role of Catherine/Black Cat in Black Cat 2. That said, none of the other performances left any lasting impression.

From its opening moments, Black Cat sets a relentless pace that's reinforced by tense moments, which all build up to a very satisfying conclusion. Another strength are the well-executed kill sequences. Ultimately, Black Cat is a solid action film that fans of Hong Kong cinema are sure to enjoy.

Black Cat gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) - VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Mexico, 1955
Director: Luis Buñuel
Writers: Luis Buñuel, Eduardo Ugarte, Rodolfo Usigli
Cast: Miroslava, Ernesto Alonso, Rita Macedo, Ariadne Welter, Andrea Palma, Rodolfo Landa, José María Linares-Rivas, Leonor Llausás, Eva Calvo, Enrique Díaz Indiano, Carlos Riquelme, Chabela Durán, Carlos Martínez Baena, Manuel Dondé, Armando Velasco

Release Date: September 13th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 42 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English, Spanish
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"The story begins when an overindulged young boy of 'privilege' is shown a music box, which is a family air loom, alleged to cause the death of an enemy when played. The boy decides to test it out, setting his sights on his nanny, who'd recently offended him, wishing for her death. When moments later, a stray bullet from a revolutionary's gun sails though the window killing her, the twisted boy is convinced this was no accident and finds that he likes his newfound 'power'. Taking on the mind of a serial killer, he carries this mindset into adulthood, plotting, planning, fanaticizing, and 'wishing', with women as his victims. The irony of it all is, his efforts to carry out these crimes are always thwarted by outside forces, be it 'twist of fate' or 'providence', making him a serial killer in 'mind' only.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “Essay of a Crime is part of the project for the preservationof Mexican Cinema implemented by the National Cinematheque. The film is owned by the Film Production Workers Union (STPC) and has been restored by the institution's Digital Restoration Laboratory.

Image digitization was performed from the original 35 mm negative acetate. 129,589 frames were restored. The sound was worked from a composite positive copy, using the optical sound negative to fill in the missing audio."

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.5 GB

Feature: 17.5 GB

The restoration, which serves as the foundation for these transfers, looks solid. Print debris and other imperfections have been cleaned up. Image clarity is consistently strong, and contrast and black levels look very good, outside of a few moments where black levels look grayish. And when it comes to digital tinkering like noise reduction, this transfer fares much better than most of VCI’s transfers.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in Spanish, and included with this release are removable English subtitles and removable Spanish subtitles. The audio is in great shape; there are no issues with background hiss or distortion, dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise ambient sounds are well-represented. Though the lack of a lossless audio track is disappointing, the track included as part of this release sounds very good for a lossy audio track.

Extras:

Extras for this release are limited to a video essay by film historian Dr. David Witt (26 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English and Spanish subtitles).

Also, the front and back covers and menu are bilingual, English and Spanish.

Summary:

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) was directed by Luis Buñuel, a Spanish filmmaker who made most of his films in France and Mexico. Notable films he directed include L'Âge d'Or, The Exterminating Angel, Belle de jour, and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) fits firmly within the crime film genre. And yet, the result is not always a straightforward crime film because of the surreal elements that are a hallmark of the cinema of Luis Buñuel.

The narrative revolves around an affluent protagonist who, as a boy, was given a music box that he believes has magical powers that kill people whom he wishes death upon. After an opening sequence when he was a boy, which lays the groundwork for what follows, we fast forward to a mental institution where the protagonist now lives. From there, the bulk of the narrative is told via flashbacks that detail the protagonist's alleged crimes.

The cast is excellent, particularly Ernesto Alonso (The Forgotten Ones), who plays Archibaldo de la Cruz, a wealthy man whose obsession with a childhood trauma has impaired his ability to distinguish reality from fantasy. He delivers a solid performance that perfectly captures his character's state of mind.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) does not excel. The premise is superbly realized, and a well-executed narrative that does a great job of employing flashbacks builds momentum that culminates in a sensational finale. Another strength is the visuals, which have a few stylish moments that are connected to the music box deaths. Ultimately, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) is a well-made psychological thriller that does a fantastic job of blurring reality with dark humor.

The Criminal Life Of Archibaldo De La Cruz (Ensayo De Un Crimen) gets a good release from VCI Entertainment that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an excellent video essay; recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Robotrix: Deluxe Collector's Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1991
Director: Jamie Luk
Writers: Jamie Luk, Man Sing So
Cast: Amy Yip, Chikako Aoyama, David Wu, Billy Chow, Siu-dan Hui, Chung Lam

Release Date: September 20th, 2021
Approximate running time: 98 Minutes 12 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"When evil inventor Ryuichi Sakamato (Chung Lin) transfers his mind into that of a powerful cyborg, he becomes a murderer and rapist. But when one of his victims, Police officer Selena Lin (Chikako Aoyama) becomes super robot Eve-27, she teams up with android sidekick Ann (Amy Yip) and together they seek to bring the criminally insane scientist to justice." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, "UNCUT HD restoration in original 1:85:1 aspect ratio."

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

Disc Size: 31.3 GB

Feature: 27.9 GB

Having only watched Robotrix on DVD, this new transfer from 88 Films is a noticeable improvement that is vastly superior to this film's previous home video releases. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones are healthy looking, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and there does not appear to be any digital tinkering with the source.

Audio: 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono Cantonese), 4/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese and a LPCM mono mix in English. Both tracks sound balanced and clean. Range-wise, the English language track sounds more robust. Also, both tracks exhibit some more sibilance issues. Included with this release are three subtitle options: removable English subtitles for the Cantonese opening credits when watching with the English language track; removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track; and removable English SDH subtitles for the Cantonese language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a English language theatrical trailer (1 minute 51 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language opening titles (1 minute 14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), scenes from the alternative version (8 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an introduction with director Jamie Luk (36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), six replica Lobby Cards, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and a eighty-page perfect bound book with an interview with Jamie Lu, an interview with Robotrix actor Vincent Lyn, an essay titled Robotrix versus censorship written by Matthew Edwards, and an essay titled VHS Cat III Cinema boom of the 90s written by Tim Murray. 

Summary:

While on the surface, Robotrix may appear to be a Robocop clone, it is so much more. The only real connection is that both films feature a police officer who is wounded severely and they are left in a comatose state. Here is where any similarities end. In Robotrix, the part of Selena Lin, the female officer whose body is useless after being shot, so her mind, the only part of her fully operational, is transported into a robot body that is also given her exact features. In order to track down the evil scientist named Ryuichi Sakamoto, who has also transferred his mind into a robot’s body, the police decided that their best chance of catching him was to do the same thing; this is why Selena’s mind was chosen for the task. The police receive their first significant lead when the body of a prostitute thrown out a window after a marathon sex session is linked to Ryuichi Sakamoto. Dr. Sara, the scientist who transferred Selena’s brain into a robot’s body, is assisted by Ann, another robot she created.

To say that many things in the narrative are far-fetched would be a dramatic understatement. To this film's credit, it never tries to take itself seriously, and everything in the film is most definitely done in a tongue-in-cheek manner. It is clear very early on that this film has only two goals: to keep things simple and to arouse the viewer. All three of the leading ladies, Chikako Aoyama, Amy Yip (Erotic Ghost Story) and Siu-dan Hui, are each given a rousing sex scene. The action sequences are surprisingly good for a film that is heavy on T&A. Ultimately, Robotrix is a delirious and sleazy category III film that never strays too far away from its three biggest assets: Amy Yip, Chikao Aoyama, and Siu-dan Hui.

Robotrix gets a solid release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative perfect-bound book, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World (Maciste alla corte del Gran Khan) – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France, 1961
Director: Riccardo Freda
Writers: Oreste Biancoli, Duccio Tessari
Writers US Version: George Gonneau, Lee Kresel
Cast: Gordon Scott, Yôko Tani, Hélène Chanel, Dante DiPaolo, Gabriele Antonini, Leonardo Severini, Valéry Inkijinoff, Franco Ressel, Ely Yeh, Ham Chau Luong, Chu Lai Chit

Release Date: August 16th, 2022
Approximate running times: 95 Minutes 50 Seconds (International Version), 76 Minutes 19 Seconds (AIP Version)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Versions)
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $24.95

"Hordes of sadistic Mongol warriors descend upon China, enslaving its people and plotting to assassinate the beautiful young princess (Yôko Tani, The Savage Innocents)—until a musclebound hero (Gordon Scott, Tarzan the Magnificent) rises up and rouses the people to drive the Mongols from their nation’s majestic mountainscapes. A legendary warrior fulfills his destiny and becomes a miracle of a man in this classic peplum adventure film, also known as Maciste at the Court of the Great Khan." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (International Version), 3.75/5 (AIP Version)

Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.5 GB

Feature: 21.5 GB (International Version), 14.7 GB (AIP Version)

Though no information is provided about the sources used for both versions, the source used for the international version is in great shape, and other source imperfections are minimal. Colors and flesh tones look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there does not appear to be any digital noise reduction.

The source for the AIP version is not in as good condition. The opening and closing credits come from sources that look worn and are in rough shape. That said, the rest of the video looks considerably better, and it obviously comes from a different source than the one used for the opening and closing credits.

Audio: 4/5 (International Version), 3.5/5 (AIP Version)

Both versions come with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and both versions come with removable English SDH subtitles. The audio track for the international version sounds clean, clear, and balanced. The audio track for the AIP version has some syllabance issues, but the dialog comes through clearly enough to follow, and the ambient sounds are well represented. That said, when it comes to range, both audio mixes can sound limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, a limited-edition slipcover, and an audio commentary with novelist and film critic Tim Lucas.

Other extras include trailers for The Revolt of the Slaves, Arabian Adventure, Jack the Giant Killer, The Magic Sword, and Sinbad of the Seven Seas, and a promo for Kino Cult.

Summary:

Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World was directed by Riccardo Freda, a versatile filmmaker who worked in whatever genre was popular at the time in Italian cinema. Notable films directed by Riccardo Freda include I Vampiri, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, The Ghost, Double Face, and The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire. Many of the sets and extras in Samson and the Seven Miracles of the World are reused from Piero Pierotti's Marco Polo, for which Riccardo Freda shot the action sequences. Also, actress Yoko Tani (The Savage Innocents) is in both films.

Though the Peplum genre had one of the longest runs of the genres which dominated Italian cinema in the 1950's, 60's and 70’s. The Plum peak period was between 1958 and 1965. With the last few years of this run suffering from the same elements that brought about the demise of all subsequent genre film cycles in Italian cinema, sub-genres within the genre are another element introduced by Peplum that would become a staple of later Italian film cycles. A case in point is Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World, a film that fits into a subgenre that revolves around a character named Maciste. It should be noted that the character's original name was Maciste, and it was changed for the US theatrical release to Samson.

The thing that immediately sets Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World apart from other Peplum is its setting in the Orient. And though Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World has many of the elements that one has come to expect from Peplum films, the mix of the Orient with the Peplum makes for an odd pairing.

Peplum films are most remembered for their leading men, who are usually former bodybuilders who have been chosen for their physique. Cast in the lead role of Samson is Gordon Scott, who before making a name for himself in Peplum, appeared as Tarzan in five films. He more than fulfills the psychical attributes of Samson.

Though Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World is a film that maximizes its resources, it is not a film without its shortcomings. Most notably, an unfocused narrative that suffers from a lack of Samson, who does not make his first appearance until about the twenty-minute mark. That said, when it comes to action sequences and moments of spectacle, Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World delivers in spades. Ultimately, Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World is a mid-tier Peplum that fans of this genre will get the most out of.

Samson and the 7 Miracles of the World gets a first-rate release from Kino Lorber that comes with a strong audio/video presentation, two versions of the film, and an insightful audio commentary, recommended.

                                                       AIP Version Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Planet of the Vampires: 2K Master – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/Spain, 1965
Director: Mario Bava
Writers: Mario Bava, Alberto Bevilacqua, Callisto Cosulich, Antonio Román, Rafael J. Salvia
Writers English Language Version: Louis M. Heyward, Ib Melchior
Cast: Barry Sullivan, Norma Bengell, Ángel Aranda, Evi Marandi, Stelio Candelli

Release Date: July 26th, 2022
Approximate running time: 87 Minutes 44 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"A Close Encounter Of The Undead Kind! Get sucked into a chilling black hole of cosmic creepiness when an evil alien race zeroes in on a crew of unsuspecting astronauts, turning them into zonked-out zombies! Packed with space-age suspense and extraterrestrial terror, this eerily photographed and electrifying thriller drips with an intoxicating, feverish atmosphere of dread. A band of space travelers has just intercepted a distress call from a distant world! Is it a desperate cry for help... or something far more sinister? After landing on the shadowy planet, the crew is attacked by a horde of disembodied aliens with a diabolical plan: to conquer the universe by controlling the crew's minds and stealing their souls-proving that even in outer space, possession is 9/10 of the law!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Brand New 2K Master."

Planet of the Vampires comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 33.1 GB

Feature: 26.4 GB

It should not come as a surprise that this new transfer is a noticeable improvement when compared to Kino Lorber’s/Scorpion Releasings' 2014 Blu-ray, since this new release's transfer comes from a brand new 2K master, and the 2014 Blu-ray was sourced from a dated master. The most notable areas of improvement include image clarity and black levels. Also, this transfer does a great job of maintaining grain and retaining an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5

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

Extras:

Extras for this release a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), original Italian opening credits (2 minutes 48 seconds, DTS-HD mono Italian, no subtitles), ‘Trailers from Hell’ with filmmaker Joe Dante (3 minutes 47 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English, no subtitles), ‘Trailers from Hell’ with Josh Olson (2 minutes 28 seconds, DTS-HDl stereo English, no subtitles), alternate music score highlights (20 minutes 31 seconds, DTS-HD mono), an archival audio commentary with Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava – All the Colors of the Dark, an audio commentary with novelist/film critic Kim Newman and writer/journalist Barry Forshaw, reversible cover art, and a limited-edition slipcover.

Extras dropped from Kino Lorber’s/Scorpion Releasings' 2014 Blu-ray include a still gallery and author Renato Pestriniero’s original story.

Other extras include trailers for Hercules in the Haunted World, Black Sabbath, The Whip and the Body, Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs, and Hatchet for the Honeymoon.

Summary:

When it comes to Italian cinema, science fiction is the one genre that far too often misses the mark, or when it does work, as in the case of films like Contamination, Beast in Space, or Alien 2: On Earth, it is for all the wrong reasons. This brings us to Mario Bava’s Planet of the Vampires, one of the few times that he would ever venture into the science fiction genre. With his only other foray into this genre being the film The Day the Sky Exploded, he was the cinematographer on that film. First and foremost, what distinguishes Planet of the Vampires from the majority of Italian science-fiction films is Mario Bava's incorporation of film elements typically associated with the horror genre.

The narrative is well constructed, allowing each new revelation an ample amount of time to fully resonate before moving to the moment of terror. And though the characters are not much more than mere props in the grander scheme of things, this ultimately proves not to be a problem since this film's greatest strength is its atmospheric visuals. Some of the most striking moments are the scenes where the first corpses rise from their tombs and the one where the Captain and crew members are trapped on what appears to be an alien spaceship.

As mentioned before, the performances are one of Planet of the Vampires' strongest assets, and they are best described as adequate. Notable cast members include Stelio Candelli (Nude for Satan), Norma Bengell (Hellbenders), Ivan Rassimov (The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, Spirits of Death) and Barry Sullivan (Violent Naples) in the role of Captain Mark Markary. Overall, Planet of the Vampires is one of those rare examples where a film exceeds the sum of its parts, and there is no denying this film’s influence on the science fiction genre. Its influence can be traced to films like Alien.

Planet of the Vampires gets a new Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of informative audio commentaries, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer