Magnificent Warriors – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1987
Director: David Chung
Writer: Kan-cheung Tsang
Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Derek Yee, Richard Ng, Lowell Lo, Cindy Lau, Tetsuya Matsui, Hwang Jang Lee, Fung Hak-on

Release Date: February 9th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 92 Minutes 28 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $34.95

"Michelle Yeoh portrays a wisecracking mercenary pilot with a leather jacket, gun, and bullwhip who sets aside personal greed to defend a small town and free its leader from the clutches of the invading Japanese army!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “Brand New 2K Restoration From the Original Camera Negatives.” 

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

Disc Size: 37.7 GB

Feature: 27.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look healthy, image clarity and compression are solid, and outside of a few moments, black levels are strong.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese, DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, ambient sounds and the score are well-represented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and a second removable English subtitle track for Cantonese text when watching the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, English language trailer (3 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer 1 (3 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer 2 (4 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), English language opening credits (1 minute 49 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an archival interview with stunt coordinator Tung Wai (12 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Chinese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Michelle Yeoh (6 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, a limited edition slipcover (first pressing only), and a thirty-six page booklet (first pressing only) with an essay written by Matthew Edwards, and rare archive stills and posters.

Summary:

Michelle Yeoh only made six films before she briefly retired in 1987. Three of the four films she made as the star are considered bonafide classics of 1980s martial arts cinema. In two of these films, Yes, Madam, and Royal Warriors, Michelle Yeoh played a police inspector. The other film, Magnificent Warriors, gave her the chance to play a character who had previously only been played by men.

Magnificent Warriors is an action/adventure martial arts film set during World War II during the Japanese occupation of China. The narrative revolves around a trio of characters led by Michelle Yeoh’s character, Fok Ming-ming, a Chinese secret agent. The other two characters are another secret agent, portrayed by Derek Yee and Richard Ng (Wheels on Meals), in the role of a drifting conman. There is a playful romantic subplot between Michelle Yeoh and Derek Yee’s characters, while Richard Ng’s character is often the source of the comic relief. though the rest of the cast are all very good in their roles. It is the three leads that carry the Magnificent Warriors.

Magnificent Warriors reunites Michelle Yeoh with director David Chung, who she had previously worked with on Royal Warriors. His direction does a good job of letting characters take center stage. And when it comes to the action set pieces, they’re explosive moments filled with high-flying stunts.

Content-wise, there are many elements in Magnificent Warriors that are reminiscent of the Indiana Jones films. The David vs. Goliath premise of outnumbered and overpowered Macau citizens vs. Japanese occupiers who have superior modern weapons is superbly realized. A briskly paced narrative that finds a good balance between melodrama and action ensures there is never a dull moment. Ultimately, fans of 1980s martial arts cinema should thoroughly enjoy Magnificent Warriors' wall-to-wall action.

Magnificent Warriors gets an excellent release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin: Deluxe Collector's Edition – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong/Taiwan, 1978
Director: Chen Chi Hwa
Writer: Hsin-Yi Chang
Cast: Jackie Chan, Nora Miao, Chin Cheng-Lan, Li Yung-Kuo, Liu Ya-Ying, Chen Hsin-Yi, Chin Kang, Hu Han-Chang

Release Date: January 16th, 2023
Approximate running time: 101 Minutes 15 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin (Hong Kong Version), LPCM Mono Mandarin (Japanese Version), LPCM Mono Classic English Dub
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK)

"Released in 1978, the madcap mayhem of Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin was a surefire sign to audiences that its young star Jackie Chan was soon to be even more famous than the man who paved the way for the modern martial arts genre – Mr. Bruce Lee! An international box office success, this all-time classic is one of Chan’s most beloved masterworks and it is easy to see why. The fights come thick and fast in this relentless tale of a young kung-fu student with a very unique style – which attracts a series of curious competitors!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, "Stunning New 2K Transfer from the Original Film Negative."

Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.9 GB

Feature: 31.4 GB

For this release, 88 Films has created a brand new 2K transfer from the original camera negative. The result is a noticeable improvement over their previous Blu-ray release. Colors and flesh tones look correct; black and contrast levels are strong; and compression is solid. That said, though the image looks crisp, there are moments where it looks soft.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Mandarin), 4/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with three audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin (Hong Kong Version), a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin (Japanese Version), and a LPCM mono mix in English (Classic English Dub). Though all of the tracks sound clear, balanced, and robust when they should. It should be noted that the English language track has some moments where the quality shifts. That said, the two Mandarin audio tracks are comparable. Included are two English subtitle tracks, one for each Mandarin audio track. It should be noted that the English subtitles for this release are newly translated.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, Japanese TV spot (15 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), Japanese theatrical trailer (2 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with filmmaker Steve Lawson titled Jackie Chan – Looking Again at the Lo Wei Era (10 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Rick Baker titled Pick Your Poison (19 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema, six replica Lobby Cards, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster, and a 80-page perfect bound book with an essay titled Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin and a Prelude to Success written by Matthew Edwards, an essay titled A Tale of Two Snakes written by Andrew Heskins, and rare archive stills and posters.

Summary:

Outside of films like Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master, most of Jackie Chan’s pre-Golden Harvest films often get overlooked. Over time, their reputation has grown, and one such film, Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin, is arguably one of Jackie Chan’s best films from this era of his career.

Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin was directed by Chen Chi Hwa, who also worked with Jackie Chan on these films: Shaolin Wooden Men, Half a Loaf of Kung Fu, and Police Story. Most martial arts films from Hong Kong from this era were known to use music from either film. Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin uses a track from the De Wolfe music library titled Ice Floe 9, which also appears in the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Dawn of the Dead.

The Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin begins with a lengthy demonstration/fight sequence, as was common in 1970s martial arts films. From there, it's nonstop action with little backstory to keep the narrative moving. With the bulk of the narrative being about Hsu Yin-Fung, Jackie Chan’s character is attacked by those who want a Shaolin martial arts book in his possession. Fortunately, this does not detract from the story, as the action set pieces are all excellent.

Jackie Chan (Police Story) has an excellent platform to showcase his martial arts prowess in Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin.though there are glimpses of the humor that is synonymous with his most celebrated films. The overall tone of his performance is a lot darker than those aforementioned films.

The rest of the cast are very good in their roles, especially the two female leads, Liu Ya-Ying (Soul of Chiba), who portrays a woman who pretends to be a man, and Nora Miao (Fists of Fury) in the role of Tang Pin-Er, the leader of one of the clans trying to get the book that Hsu Yin-Fung has in his possession.

Though the films that Jackie Chan made for Lo Wei Motion Picture Company are known for their limited budgets, Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin is a textbook example of a low-budget film that makes full use of its resources. And its well-executed narrative ensures there is never a dull moment. Finally, Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin is a solid martial arts film that is a must-see if you enjoy 1970s martial arts films.

The re-release of The Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin by 88 Films is this film's best home video release to date. It comes with an improved transfer and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Burning Paradise – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1994
Director: Ringo Lam
Writers: Yin Nam, Wan Choi Wong
Cast: Willie Chi, John Ching, Yamson Domingo, Chun Lam, Carman Lee, Kuei Li, Quan Lin, Kam-Kong Wong, Xiqian Wu

Release Date: November 25th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 104 Minutes 27 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $42.98

"After the Manchu government sends soldiers to kill all of the Shaolin Monks, a young disciple named Fong Sai-Yuk flees with his master in order to avoid being captured and executed. While on the run, Fong meets a young prostitute named Dou Dou who tries to help Fong and his master hide from a ruthless Manchu General skilled with a flying guillotine. Unable to save his master, Fong and Dou Dou are both captured and sent to an underground work prison known as the Red Lotus Temple. Run by a sadistic warden named Kung, who has a penchant for torturing and decapitating his prisoners, the Red Lotus Temple is a booby trap riddled Hell from which no one can escape. Thrown into a pit full of corpses and left to die, Fong must rally the other prisoners to fight back against their evil captors if they have any hope of escaping a fate worse than death. However, Fong must first contend with a former Shaolin disciple turned traitor as well a mysterious masked female fighter in order to save Dou Dou and free himself." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative."

Here is additional information about the transfer, "The following presentation of Burning Paradise was sourced from a restored 2k master provided by the studio. Unfortunately, many imperfections were present in the provided master. Vinegar Syndrome restoration artists were able to fix the vast majority of these imperfections by re-restoring numerous sections of the film from the raw film scans. We hope you enjoy this brand new presentation of Burning Paradise."

Burning Paradise comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36 GB

Feature: 28.7 GB

The source used for this transfer is in very good shape, and any imperfections that are mentioned in the disclaimer are minimal and not distracting. Colors, black levels, and compression are strong. Also, though the image looks crisp, there are moments where it appears that digital noise reduction has been applied. That said, this new transfer is a marked improvement over Discotek’s 2010 DVD release.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should. Included are removable English subtitles and removable English SDH subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), a video essay about director Ringo Lam and Burning Paradise (20 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with producer Tsui Hark (4 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Wong Kam Kong titled A Rare Confidant (16 minutes 6 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Chinese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with film historian/author Samm Deighan, reversible cover art, a twelve page booklet with an essay titled Paradise on Fire written by Grady Hendrix, and an spot gloss slipcover limited to 6,000 units.

Summary:

Burning Paradise was directed by Ringo Lam, who rose to prominence in Hong Kong cinema in the latter part of the 1980s after directing films like City on Fire, Prison on Fire, and School on Fire. Even though he has made three films in Hollywood with Jean-Claude Van Damme, unlike most of his contemporaries, he has also managed to stay active in Hong Kong cinema. Burning Paradise was produced by Tsui Hark (We’re Going to Eat You, Once Upon a Time in China), who was offered a chance to direct this film. Though Tsui Hark turned the producers down, he was the one responsible for bringing Ringo Lam to Burning Paradise.

The narrative primarily revolves around a Shaolin disciple named Fong Sai-Yuk. This character, which is rooted in Chinese folklore, has had several films made about his exploits. Heroes II, Disciples of the 36th Chamber, and The Legend II are among the most notable. The plot also features another character that is rooted in Chinese folklore, Hung Hei-Kwun. This character was portrayed by Jet Li in The New Legend of Shaolin, released the same year that Burning Paradise was released.

While some viewers who are not as familiar with Ringo Lam’s cinematic output will find Burning Paradise exceedingly brutal and gory, tone-wise, Burning Paradise is in line with the films that Ringo Lam had directed up to that point in his career. when compared to other martial arts films that were being released around the time Burning Paradise was made. Burning Paradise really stands in a class all its own. In this way, it shifts away from what was trendy at the time. Sure, there are some funny moments, like a scene where Fong Sai-Yuk, his master, and a young woman are all piled on top of each other as they hide from Manchurian soldiers under hay. When they finally leave their hiding place, each of the characters has hand prints on their more intimate areas.

From the opening moments when the Manchurian soldiers are chasing Fong Sai-Yuk and his master. The narrative moves along at a breakneck pace. Also, the carnage occurs early and often. There are soldiers who are cut in half, decapitated horses, and handmaidens who have their throats slit with nothing more than someone’s finger tips before their heads are ripped off their shoulders. Like every story about good versus evil, this one features a few nihilistic characters who are hell-bent on just causing pain and suffering. to soften up some of the film’s rougher edges. A love interest for Fong Sai-Yuk is thrown in for good measure.

The plot, like many martial arts, is kept simple. With a focus on explosive action set pieces and copious amounts of carnage, The performances of the entire cast are the most surprising aspect of this film. This was one of many of their first films. The film’s standout performance comes from Kam-Kong Wong (The Defender), in the role of Elder Kung, the diabolical man in charge of the Red Lotus prison, where the bulk of the movie takes place. Ultimately, Burning Paradise is an exceptional film that does a superb job mixing action and melodrama.

Burning Paradise gets a first-rate release from Vinegar Syndrome, which comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Run, Man, Run: Limited Edition – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France, 1968
Director: Sergio Sollima
Writers: Sergio Sollima, Pompeo De Angelis
Cast: Tomas Milian, Donald O'Brien, Linda Veras, Marco Guglielmi, José Torres, Luciano Rossi, Nello Pazzafini, Gianni Rizzo, John Ireland, Chelo Alonso

Release Date: January 23rd, 2023
Approximate running times: 120 Minutes 44 Seconds (Original Uncut Version), 84 Minutes 3 Seconds (Theatrical Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Versions)
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian (Original Uncut Version), LPCM Mono English (Both Versions)
Subtitles: English (Both Versions), English SDH (Original Uncut Version)
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £22.99 (UK)

"After aiding in the escape of a fellow desperado, Cuchillo is given the location for a stash of hidden gold intended to fund the Mexican Revolution. Pursued by mercenaries, bandits, corrupt officials, an American gunslinger, and even his fiancé – Cuchillo will have to use all of his tricks to stay alive." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfers, "A definitive 4K restoration of the original uncut version of the film, with additional colour grading completed exclusively for this release."

"The original theatrical release version of the film, presented in 1080p from a 4K restoration with additional colour grading completed exclusively for this release."

Run, Man, Run original uncut version comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.2 GB

Feature: 35.2 GB

Run, Man, Run theatrical cut comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23.9 GB

Feature: 23.9 GB

The source used for both versions is in excellent shape. Flesh tones look correct, color saturation is very good, black levels are strong, image clarity and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

The original uncut version comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Italian and a LPCM mono mix in English. Both audio tracks are in great shape, and they’re both billed as restored. Dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. Range-wise, I did not notice any difference between these two tracks. Also, ambient sounds and the score are well-represented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH subtitles for the English language track.

The theatrical cut comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English. This track is comparable to the other audio tracks. Included are removable English subtitles that translate the opening theme song, which is in Italian, and signage that is in Italian.

Extras:

Extras on disc one (the original uncut version) include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 41 seconds, LPCM mono Italian, no subtitles), alternate opening credits (3 minutes 7 seconds, LPCM mono Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with film scholar Stephen Thrower (18 minutes 42 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with authors/film critics Barry Forshaw and Kim Newman.

Extras in disc two (the theatrical cut) are limited to an audio commentary with author Howard Hughes and filmmaker Richard Knew.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a double sided poster (limited to 3,000 copies), a slipcover (limited to 3,000 copies), and a thirty-six page booklet (limited to 3,000 copies) cast & crew information, an essay titled Born in the Wind of Knives Sergio Sollima’s Run, Man, Run written by Howard Hughes, an essay titled !Viva Mexico! The Revolution, Zapata-Style written by Howard Hughes, information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing, and Blu-ray credits.

Summary:

Where Sergio Leone had Clint Eastwood, Sergio Sollima had Tomas Milian (Almost Human). They would collaborate on three spaghetti westerns: The Big Gundown, Face to Face, and Run, Man, Run. Tomas Milian would even portray Manuel "Cuchillo" Sanchez in two of these films.

Though Sergio Sollima had directed four films before he ever directed his first spaghetti western, none of the films that he directed before The Big Gundown had the artistry that would become synonymous with his three spaghetti westerns.

When discussing Run, Man, Run, the main attraction is Tomas Milian, who reprises the role of Manuel "Cuchillo" Sanchez, a character he had previously portrayed in The Big Gundown. It is almost like he had never stepped out of Cuchillo’s shoes, as he never misses a beat, and this time around, he even makes the character more endearing. Run Man Run is clearly Tomas Milian’s show, as he steals just about every scene that he is in. My favorite moment with Cuchillo in Run, Man, Run would have to be the scene when the two French agents tie Cuchillo up to the windmill and torture him. Even in moments of despair like this one, Cuchillo is always able to worm his way out with nothing more than a few cuts and bruises.

Donald O'Brien (Zombie Holocaust) is cast in the role of Nathaniel Cassidy, a retired sheriff who has goals in line with Cuchillo. This character forms a partnership with Cuchillo in a way that is reminiscent of the partnerships The Man With No Name made in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Another performance of note is Luciano Rossi's (Death Walks at Midnight) in the role of an unscrupulous character who has a sadistic streak. Though his screen time is limited, he is always a delight to watch.

Though Run, Man, Run’s score is attributed to Bruno Nicolai, it was actually ghostwritten by Ennio Morricone, with whom Bruno Nicolai frequently collaborated as a conductor for Ennio Morricone’s scores. The score has all the hallmarks that are synonymous with Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti western scores. He delivers another amazing score that elevates the story at hand.

Sergio Sollima goes out in epic fashion with his final spaghetti western, Run Man Run, as each location and action set piece builds on the next right up to the spectacular conclusion. Though politics play a role in "Run, Man, Man," it lacks the depth of Sergio Sollima’s previous film, Face to Face. That said, Run, Man, Run is still a lot of fun. Over the course of his three spaghetti westerns, Sergio Sollima’s direction drastically improves, with his most refined work being Run Man Run. It is a shame that he abandoned the spaghetti western just as he was hitting his stride creatively.

Run, Man, Run gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, two versions of the film, and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Big Gundown – Grindhouse Releasing (Blu-ray/DVD/CD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain/Italy, 1966
Director: Sergio Sollima
Writers: Sergio Donati, Sergio Sollima, Tulio Demicheli, Fernando Morandi, Franco Solinas
Cast: Lee Van Cleef, Tomas Milian, Luisa Rivelli, Fernando Sancho, Nieves Navarro

Release Date: December 10th, 2013
Approximate Running Times: 94 Minutes 56 Seconds (Expanded U.S. Cut), 110 Minutes 18 Seconds (Original Italian Theatrical Version)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC (Both Versions)
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English (Expanded U.S. Cut), DTS-HD Mono Italian (Original Italian Theatrical Version)
Subtitles: English (Original Italian Theatrical Version)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $44.95

"The legendary Lee Van Cleef stars as a relentless bounty hunter on the trail of Cuchillo (Euro-film superstar Tomas Milian), a savage Mexican outlaw accused of the rape and murder of a twelve-year-old girl." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (Expanded U.S. Cut, Director’s Cut)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfers, "spectacular new 2K digital restoration of the original uncensored English language version, newly expanded with three additional scenes."

The Big Gundown, the expanded U.S. cut comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.3 GB

Feature: 25.1 GB

The Big Gundown, the original Italian theatrical version comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.7 GB

Feature: 17.8 GB

The transfers for both versions included as part of this release have been sourced from a brand new 2K restoration. The source is in excellent shape. Colors look nicely saturated and accurate; flesh tones look healthy; and black and contrast levels look consistently great throughout. Details look crisp, especially in close-up shots, which often look razor sharp. Also, compression is solid, and grain remains intact.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Expanded U.S. Cut, Original Italian Theatrical Version)

The expanded U.S. cut comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English.

The original Italian theatrical version comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian, and included are removable English subtitles.

Both audio mixes sound great. Dialog always comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Ambient sounds and the score are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras on Blu-ray disc one (Expanded U.S. Cut) include still galleries: production stills (20 images), U.S. promotional material (41 images), Italian promotional material (10 images), French promotional material (30 images), and various promotional material (20 images), TV spot A (1 minute 2 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), TV spot X (12 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), TV spot Y (12 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), TV spot 1 (22 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), TV spot 2 (18 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), U.S. theatrical trailer A (2 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), U.S. theatrical trailer B (2 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Italian theatrical trailer (3 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono with Italian text, no subtitles), an archival interview with director Sergio Sollima titled Sergio Sollima Remembers The Big Gundown (29 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actor Tomas Milian titled Acting on Instinct (29 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with screenwriter Sergio Donati titled Tagliatelle in Los Angeles (12 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Sergio Sollima titled Struggle Against Genre (27 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Sergio Donati titled Bonus Interview (11 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), a music and effects isolated track, and an audio commentary with Western Film Experts C. Courtney Joyner and Henry C. Parke. This disc has an Easter egg, a trailer for Run, Man, Run (3 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian, no subtitles).

Extras on Blu-ray disc two (Original Italian Theatrical Version) include an isolated music track for Ennio Morricone’s score, a music commentary subtitle track, and trailers for other titles also available from Grindhouse Releasing.

Disc three is a dual-layer DVD that includes all of the contents that are present on Blu-ray disc one of this set, and DVD-Rom contains a text essay about the differences between the two versions of The Big Gundown.

Disc four is a CD that has Ennio Morricone’s 25-track score for The Big Gundown.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a slipcover, and a twenty-four page booklet with an essay titled Sergio Sollima’s Political Gundown written by C. Courtney Joyner, an essay titled Cutting to the Chase - The Tale of Two Gundowns written by Gergely Hubai, an essay titled Six Shooter Symphony - the music of The Big Gundown written by Gergely Hubai, an text piece titled Cover Art, and track listing for Ennio Morricone’s score.

Summary:

Lee Van Cleef (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) takes everything he has learned working with Sergio Leone and incorporates it into his role as Jonathan Corbett. The character is well defined and has a lot of depth, due mostly in part to Lee Van Cleef’s dead-on portrayal of a thinking man’s bounty hunter who never becomes victim to a quick trigger finger. His role in The Big Gundown is similar in many ways to Clint Eastwood’s role in The Man With No Name Trilogy, as he is a man who lets his actions do most of the talking. The Big Gundown is one of Lee Van Cleef’s defining roles as an actor.

Tomas Milian plays Cuchillo, a Mexican bandito who is also a master knife thrower. Cuchillo has a knack for getting himself out of some sticky situations, and his knife-throwing skills help him time and again. Tomas Milian has made a career out of playing eccentric characters like Cuchillo, who in many ways might just be the bastard cousin of Eli Wallach's "Tuco" from the monumental spaghetti western The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. An interesting scene that immediately comes to mind when I think of the Cuchillo character is the scene where he is forced into the ring with a wild bull and has nothing but his bare hands to defend himself from the bull. It is this scene that perfectly captures the essence of the Cuchillo character and his fearlessness even against insurmountable odds.

Nieves Navarro (Death Walks at Midnight), known to most Euro-cult fans as Susan Scott, who starred in several key giallo films during the early 1970s, stars in The Big Gundown as a widow who runs a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Her character is all about being in control, and she uses her body to get the men on the ranch to do whatever she wants them to do. There is an interesting clash in the film when Cuchillo and Corbett both spurn the advances of this black widow-like woman. Both men have other objectives that are more important to them than satisfying this woman’s carnal lust. Cuchillo also uses her power over the men who work for her against her, as he makes them jealous that Corbett is spending some quality one-on-one time with her while they have to wait outside and guard Cuchillo. Sex is prevalent and runs throughout the film as the main thread that connects the story, whether it's the widow's sexual frustration or Cuchillo, who is wanted for raping a 12-year-old girl. Director Sergio Sollima handles this subject with grace and dignity, as he never makes it salacious.

Spaghetti westerns are known for their use of beautiful landscapes, and The Big Gundown is a movie that is always on the run as it moves from one picturesque locale to another. The cat and mouse game between Corbett and Cuchillo is very effective, and Sollima manages to build just enough tension with each near capture and escape.

The Big Gundown is an expertly crafted story that was co-scripted by Sergio Donati, who was a frequent collaborator of director Sergio Leone. Some of the feel of the story echoes Leone’s previous spaghetti westerns that were made before The Big Gundown. Ultimately, despite being the most traditional of the three westerns that Sollima directed, The Big Gundown is still easily one of the genre’s stronger efforts.

The Big Gundown gets an exceptional release from Grindhouse Releasing that comes with two versions of the film and a wealth of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer