Wolves, Pigs & Men – Eureka Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1964
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Writers: Kinji Fukasaku, Jun'ya Satô
Cast: Ken Takakura, Kin'ya Kitaôji, Jirô Okazaki, Renji Ishibashi, Rentarô Mikuni, Shôken Sawa, Hideo Murota

Release Date: August 19th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 12 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £17.99 (UK)

"Kuroki (Mikuni), Jirō (Takakura) and Sabu (Kitaoji) are three brothers born into poverty. Kuroki, the eldest, finds an escape from his squalid beginnings by turning to organised crime – and soon both Jirō and Sabu have followed him into the yakuza lifestyle. But none of the brothers see eye to eye, each of them showing more loyalty to their criminal comrades than to their siblings. Following a stint in prison, Jirō convinces Sabu to help him pull off a potentially lucrative heist, leading to a series of betrayals and horrifically violent acts that will test the bonds of blood to their breaking point." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information given about the transfers, "1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray from a restoration of the original film elements supplied by Toei."

Wolves, Pigs & Men comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40.7 GB

Feature: 27.6 GB

There is minor source debris in the opening credits, and source imperfections flare up in the last 20 minutes; the rest of the time the source looks great. Also, though there are some instances where the image quality fluctuates, most of the time image clarity, contrast, and black levels are strong. That said, compression is solid, and grain looks very good.

Audio: 4.5/5

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

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 53 seconds, LPCM mono Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Kinji Fukasaku’s biographer, Sadao Yamane (12 minutes 28 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with producer Tatsu Yoshida titled Slums, Stars & Studios (20 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Junya Sato titled Socially Aware Violence (20 minutes 14 seconds, LPCM stereo Japanese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Jasper Sharp, an O-card slipcase (limited to the first pressing), and a 20-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled A Beast with Bite Kinji Fukasaku’s Early Yakuza Cinema and Wolves, Pigs and Men written by Joe Hickinbottom, and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Summary:

Organized crime is something that Kinji Fukasaku would return to throughout his career. And though he began his career with four crime films that starred Shin’ichi ‘Sonny’ Chiba, there is little in these initial offerings that resemble his crime films from his peak period in the 1970s. In his early forays into crime cinema, Kinji Fukasaku created films similar to Nikkatsu's productions. By the time he made Wolves, Pigs & Men, he was ready to venture outside of the already established formula, resulting in a film that foreshadows where he would go with crime cinema in the 1970s.

Wolves, Pigs & Men is a story about three brothers; the oldest brother, Kuroki, is a yakuza yes man; the middle brother, Jirō, is a troublemaker who recently spent 5 years in prison; and the youngest brother, Sabu, was forced to take care of their ailing mother, who passed away. After years of not seeing each other, Jirō comes up with a plan to rob the clan that Kuroki works for, and he enlists Sabu and his friends to help him pull off the job. What should have gone off without a hitch quickly spirals out of control when Sabu, who does not trust his brother, hides the money and drugs.

Though honor and loyalty are the backbone of yakuza cinema, in Wolves, Pigs & Men, it's honor and loyalty not to the yakuza but to your family and where you come from. The dysfunctional family, where no one trusts each other, puts the loyalty of the three brothers to the test. And despite Kuroki’s best efforts to look out for his two brothers, they see him as an outsider who betrayed them. Jirō is a loner, always looking out for himself, while Sabu’s friends are his new family.

Throughout Wolves, Pigs & Men Kinji Fukasaku explores classism and the desire to escape where one came from. Though all three brothers desire to leave their lives growing up and living in the slums, only Kuroki is ashamed of where he came from. Unlike Kuroki, his brothers, when faced with giving up their ideals, decide it's better to die than give in.

The performances are excellent, especially Ken Takakura (Abashiri Prison) in the role of Jirō and Kin'ya Kitaôji (Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Deadly Fight in Hiroshima) in the role of Sabu. Ken Takakura portrays a self-assured character who rarely allows someone to get the drop on him. Kin'ya Kitaôji portrays a jaded character whose anger at the world clouds his judgment. Both of these actors deliver masterclass performances in which they fully immerse themselves into character. Despite portraying a character that is difficult to sympathize with, Rentarô Mikuni (Vengeance Is Mine) in the role of Kuroki is this Wolves, Pigs & Men's most underrated performance.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Wolves, Pigs & Men do not excel. Its narrative quickly draws you in with a stylized opening sequence that does a superb job laying out all the three brothers' backstories. Also, despite being a film about organized crime, the yakuza’s presence is minimal. Wolves, Pigs & Men’s grimy locations are the opposite of the visually appealing locations that one expects from a yakuza film. Not to be overlooked when discussing Wolves, Pigs & Men is its unflinching in your face, moments of torture. Ultimately, Wolves, Pigs & Men is an early masterpiece from Kinji Fukasaku that's a must see if you're a fan of yakuza cinema.

Wolves, Pigs & Men gets a first-rate release from Eureka Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Bloodbath at the House of Death – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: UK, 1984
Director: Ray Cameron
Writers: Ray Cameron, Barry Cryer
Cast: Kenny Everett, Pamela Stephenson, Vincent Price, Gareth Hunt, Don Warrington, John Fortune, Sheila Steafel, John Stephen Hill, Cleo Rocos, Graham Stark, Pat Ashton, David Lodge

Release Date: August 20th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 92 Minutes 2 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $44.98

"A group of six scientists have assembled to test the apparent abundance of supernatural goings-on at the secluded Headstone Manor. No sooner have they set up all of their ghost-catching gadgetry than the hauntings begin: from randy spirits to unexplained manifestations, all the signs of the afterlife incarnate are present. But when members of their party start winding up deceased, it becomes clear that these undead souls aren’t very friendly, and all the while the foggy grounds of the manor are being traversed by another mysterious figure..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

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

Bloodbath at the House of Death comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39 GB

Feature: 25.1 GB

Outside of a few very minor blemishes, the source looks excellent. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5

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

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, U.S. theatrical trailer (1 minute 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), UK theatrical trailer (2 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Running the Bloodbath: A Look Back at the Making of a Cult Classic (22 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with producer Stuart D. Donaldson (16 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Barry Cryer titled Crying with Laughter (27 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historians and writers Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons, reversible cover art and a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 5,000 units).

Summary:

Kenny Everett and his frequent collaborators, Ray Cameron and Barry Cryer, conceived Bloodbath at the House of Death as a starring vehicle for him. Bloodbath at the House of Death is Ray Cameron’s only theatrical film that he directed.

Scientists go to the haunted manor, where 18 people were murdered years before, to investigate its unusually high levels of radiation.

There is nothing remotely scary in Bloodbath at the House of Death; it is a parody of notable horror films that relies entirely on humor. Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Carrie, The Shining, and An American Werewolf in London, and several Vincent Price films, are just a few of the films that are parodied. Bloodbath at the House of Death’s humor comes from sight gags and absurd dialog, like characters constantly repeating how each of the 18 murdered died.

When it comes to the performances, they are all overflowing with enthusiasm. The main attraction Kenny Everett portrays Dr. Lukas Mandeville, a scientist with a German accent that brings back memories of Peter Sellers Dr. Strangelove. His comedic timing is flawless, and the way he maximizes his character's prosthetic leg is pure comedy gold. The most surprising performance is Vincent Price (House of Wax) in the role of Sinister Man, the leader of alien satanic monks. His character has the most memorable lines, and his pitch-perfect deadpan delivery makes their double meaning all the more funny.

From a production standpoint, Bloodbath at the House of Death is a film that achieves its goals. The well-constructed narrative moves at breakneck momentum towards a very satisfying finale. Those who appreciate humor without boundaries should thoroughly enjoy Bloodbath at the House of Death, despite some of the humor being dated. The humor doesn't rely on your familiarity with the films being parodied. Ultimately, Bloodbath at the House of Death is a divisive film that you either dislike or thoroughly enjoy.

Bloodbath at the House of Death gets an excellent release from Vinegar Syndrome that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

To Kill with Intrigue – 88 Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1977
Director: Lo Wei
Writer: Gu Long
Cast: Jackie Chan, Hsu Feng, Jeong Hee, Shin Il-Ryong, George Wang, Chan Wai Lau, Chan San Yat, To Wai Wo, Yuen Biao, Chin Yuet Sang

Release Date: June 17th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 107 Minutes 14 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Theatrical Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English, LPCM Stereo Cantonese, LPCM Alternate Japanese Theatrical Mono Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK)

"Shot in South Korea, when the country was still a curious entity to the West and under tyrannical one-party rule, To Kill with Intrigue highlights a fast-paced tale of doomed romance and revenge that gives Chan’s token stunts and chopsocky mayhem plenty of space to showcase themselves!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4.5/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Brand new 4K remaster from the original negatives."

To Kill with Intrigue comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 89.2 GB

Feature: 81 GB

The source looks excellent; it is a massive improvement over the 88 Films 2018 Blu-ray release. Flesh tones look correct, color saturation, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

To Kill with Intrigue comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.2 GB

Feature: 34.6 GB

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

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Alternate Japanese Theatrical Mono Mandarin), 4/5 (LPCM Theatrical Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English, LPCM Stereo Cantonese)

This release comes with four audio options, a LPCM theatrical mono mix in Mandarin, a LPCM mono mix in English, a LPCM stereo mix in Cantonese, and a LPCM alternate Japanese theatrical mono mix in Mandarin. 88 Films previous Blu-ray release all of the audio tracks were DTS-HD; this time around they are all LPCM, and both DTS-HD 5.1 audio tracks have been dropped from that release, while this release adds a LPCM alternate Japanese theatrical mono mix in Mandarin. Though the Cantonese audio track sounds similar to the one used for their 2018 Blu-ray release, the two mono audio tracks sound cleaner, and their range is greatly improved. That said, the LPCM alternate Japanese theatrical mono mix in Mandarin is the strongest audio track. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language tracks and a second removable English subtitle for Mandarin text when watching the English language track.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an audio commentary with Hong Kong film expert Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a lobby card gallery, a behind the scenes stills gallery, Japanese theatrical opening credit sequence (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English with Japanese text and removable English subtitles), Japanese TV spot (14 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), Japanese teaser (50 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), Japanese theatrical trailer (2 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 17 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles),  From the Lo Wei Vaults - Alternate Korean Footage (16 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Korean with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Hong Kong Cinema Expert Rick Baker titled Intriguingly Jackie (20 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto.

Other extras include reversible cover art, A3 fold-out poster (limited to the first pressing), a double walled slipcase (limited to the first pressing), and a 32-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Lo Wei - The (Other) Million Dollar Director written by David West, and archival images.

Summary:

Lo Wei directed To Kill with Intrigue. He is most remembered for directing two Bruce Lee films, The Big Boss and Fists of Fury. He collaborated with Jackie Chan on six films.

The narrative revolves around the lone survivor of a massacre at the hands of the Killer Bees clan, whose leader spares his life and forces him to suffer for as long as he lives.

The two main characters, Lei Shao-feng and Ding Can-ren, are both driven by revenge. In the case of the former, her revenge was against Lei Shao-feng’s father. When Ding Can-ren kills Lei Shao-feng’s family, he continues the cycle. Despite revenge being central to the story that unfolds, the result is a film that is much more than a by-the-numbers revenge-themed martial arts film.

Besides revenge, love also plays a role in the story at hand. Lei Shao-feng, in the opening moments, chases away Chin Chin, his pregnant girlfriend, who reluctantly ends up in the arms of his close friend Chen Chun. And Ding Can-ren, who spares Lei Shao-feng’s life, falls in love with him.

To Kill with Intrigue was an early role for Jackie Chan (My Lucky Stars) that was designed to make him the next big star in martial arts cinema. Unfortunately, it is yet another early role for Jackie Chan that does not play to his strengths. Lei Shao-feng, the character he portrays, is a brooding character whose personality is the polar opposite of most of the characters he portrays. The other performance of note is Hsu Feng’s (The Fate of Lee Khan) portrayal of Ding Can-ren, the leader of the Killer Bees. Her martial arts skills are on par with all of her male counterparts.

The deliberate-paced narrative can be quite moving at times; unfortunately,  the melodramatic moments are often the culprits responsible for the dragging narrative. Fortunately, when it comes to the action sequences, these always deliver, and they are To Kill with Intrigue’s most durable asset. The most memorable moment is a training sequence with Lei Shao-feng and Ding Can-ren. Ultimately, To Kill with Intrigue may not be one of Jackie Chan’s better films, but it is still a solid martial arts film that works as well as it does because of its two leads, Jackie Chan and Hsu Feng.

To Kill with Intrigue gets a definitive release from 88 Films, 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 MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Bahía blanca – Severin Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain, 1985
Director: Jesús Franco
Writer: Jesús Franco
Cast: Eva León, Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Trino Trives, Analía Ivars, Tony Skios, José Llamas, Juan Soler, Ángel Ordiales, Flavia Mayans, Juana de la Morena, Jesús Franco

Release Date: June 26th, 2020
Approximate running time: 98 Minutes 20 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: OOP

"When a battered corpse washes ashore in a small Spanish fishing village, the local community of prostitutes, mobsters and lawmen will begin to seethe with lust, vengeance and murder." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "now scanned in 4K from Spanish, French and German release prints to create the longest and most comprehensive version known to exist."

Bahía blanca comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23 GB

Feature: 20 GB

Though some source debris remains, the bulk of this transfer is in good shape. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, and image clarity is strong. Unfortunately, when it comes to the darker scenes, image clarity is rarely optimal, and grain looks very thick. That said, the image does retain an organic look.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish with removable English subtitles. Outside of some minor hiss, this audio track is in good shape: dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a locations featurette titled In The Land of Franco Part 4 (17 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Spanish with non-removable English subtitles), and an interview with Stephen Thrower, author of Murderous Passions and Flowers of Perversion titled Bay of Jess (18 minutes 53 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

The mid-1980s were a transitional period for Jess Franco; the type of films that he preferred to make, horror mixed with eroticism, were no longer viable. With his options limited, Jess Franco would venture off on his own with his production company, Manacoa Films. That brings us to Bahía Blanca, a murder mystery that's dripping with enough melodrama that it almost veers into Telenovela territory.

The narrative revolves around two sisters who live by themselves on a small island where a man’s body is found. Not believing that his death is an accident, the sheriff opens an investigation. Will the sheriff find the killer, or will he meet a similar fate?

The first thing that I noticed while watching Bahía blanca was how cohesive the narrative is. There are no strange detours or dreamlike logic that Jess Franco employs in some of his films. Also, besides a well-constructed straightforward narrative, Bahía blanca has an ample amount of backstory, arguably more than any other Jess Franco film.

No matter how limited his resources were, throughout his career, Jess Franco always drew from a sizable collection of frequent collaborators. Two notable cast members are Antonio Mayans (Cries of Pleasure) in the role of the sheriff and Lina Romay (Female Vampire) in the role of a mentally challenged woman who lives with her sister on the island. That said, the most memorable performance is Eva León, who portrays a prostitute who runs a bar on the island where she lives with her sister. Though she made a few films with Jess Franco, she’s most remembered for her numerous collaborations with Paul Naschy.

Bahía blanca is drastically different from the type of films that Jess Franco is known for. Sex and violence are two staples of Jess Franco’s cinema; Bahía blanca only sparingly exploits these elements. When it comes to picking visually arresting locations, this is an area where Jess Franco always delivered. That said, despite being known for his leisure pacing, Bahía blanca is slow-moving even by his usual standards. Ultimately, Bahía blanca is a by-the-numbers whodunit that lacks the spontaneity that’s synonymous with Jess Franco’s most celebrated films.

Severin Films gives Bahía blanca its best home media release to date.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Italian Connection: Limited Edition – Raro Video UK (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1972
Director: Fernando Di Leo
Writers: Fernando Di Leo, Augusto Finocchi, Ingo Hermes
Cast: Mario Adorf, Henry Silva, Woody Strode, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Franco Fabrizi, Femi Benussi, Cyril Cusack, Sylva Koscina, Lara Wendel

Release Date: August 26th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 37 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"the New York mob dispatch two hitmen (Henry Silva, The Boss and Woody Strode, Once Upon a Time in the West) to apprehend pimp Luca Canali (Mario Adorf, Milano Calibro 9), who they believe to have stolen a shipment of heroin. The local mob also join the hunt, but despite being outnumbered Luca refuses to go quietly and fights back against his pursuers, leading a thrilling series of chases and shootouts, and a trail of bloody destruction." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “2020 4K restoration of the original negative".

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

Disc Size: 36.5 GB

Feature: 27.7 GB

This brand new restoration looks excellent; it's a massive upgrade over Raro’s 2012 Blu-ray release. That release was one of Raro’s worst-looking Blu-rays; this new organic-looking transfer will come as a revelation when compared to that release. Colors have never looked better; image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Italian), 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Italian and a LPCM mono mix in English. Though both audio tracks sound clear and balanced, the English-language track has some minor background hiss. Included are English subtitles for the Italian language track and English SDH subtitles for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include archival documentary The Roots of the Mafia  (20 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay narrated by Howard S. Berger titled ...And a Tiny Bullet for a Tiny Kitten (47 minutes 2 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, and a 24-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Transatlantic Traffic and The Italian Connection written by Austin Fisher.

Summary:

Directed by Fernando Di Leo, a filmmaker who is most known for his work in the Poliziotteschi genre. Notable films he directed are To Be Twenty, Slaughter Hotel, and Caliber 9. The Italian Connection (also known as Manhunt) is the 2nd film, which makes up a trilogy of films known as the Milieu Trilogy. The other two films are Caliber 9 (also known as Milano Caliber 9) and The Boss (also known as Wipeout!).

The narrative revolves around two American hitmen who go to Milan to teach a lesson to a small-time pimp who is accused of stealing heroin from the mafia.

You can always count on a sensational opening sequence when it comes to Fernando Di Leo crime films. Case in point: The Italian Connection’s pre-credit opening, which does an excellent job establishing tone and setting the foundation for the events that unfold. From there, the narrative does a superb job building momentum via a series of tension moments, which lead to a phenomenal finale.

Though The Italian Connection has all of the core elements that made Caliber 9 an extraordinary film, the result is a film that’s more stripped down than its predecessor. The narrative keeps things simple; it's a cast-and-mouse game between the two hitmen and an ever-resourceful pimp, whose survival instincts are superior to trained killers. And when he proves too difficult to pin down, those trying to kill him go after the people he cares about.

Casting wise, The Italian Connection is filled with recognizable films like Henry Silva (The Manchurian Candidate) and Woody Strode (Once Upon a Time in the West) in the roles of the two hitmen. And what makes their performances so damn enjoyable is how polar opposite their characters are. As amazing as their performances are, they still take a backseat to Mario Adorf’s (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) portrayal of a pimp named Luca. Instead of portraying a by-the-numbers pimp, his character's connection with his daughter and wife humanizes him in a way that other similar characters are devoid of.

From a production standpoint, The Italian Connection is a film that delivers and then some. Its well-constructed narrative moves at a brisk momentum that ensures there is never a dull moment. When it comes to the action sequences, they are all top-notch, and despite there being a few violent sequences, most of these are brawls, then out and out bloodletting. Also, The Italian Connection sets itself apart from its contemporaries with the way it uses humor. Ultimately, The Italian Connection is another exemplary crime film from Fernando Di Leo.

Raro Video UK gives The Italian Connection its best home media release to date, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Love on Delivery – Vinegar Syndrome Archive (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1994
Director: Lee Lik-Chi
Writer: Vincent Kok
Cast: Stephen Chow, Christy Chung, Ng Man-tat, Ben Lam, Philip Chan, Joe Cheng, Jacky Cheung, Joey Leung, Billy Chow, Paul Chun, Vincent Kok 

Release Date: August 20th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 33 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $44.98

"Ho Kam Ngan, a lowly food delivery boy, falls madly in love with a beautiful woman named Lily. The only problem is, a brutish Judo instructor named Black Bear (who also has eyes for Lily) embarrasses Ngan in front of her by making him look like a coward. Vowing to win over Lily's affection, Ngan begins learning martial arts from a supposed kung-fu master who is secretly just scamming Ngan out of his money. To make matters worse, Lily's old boyfriend returns and challenges Ngan to a martial arts tournament to prove who is the better man. Believing he is actually learning real kung-fu, Ngan accepts the fight and now must defend his honor to prove he is worthy of Lily's love." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

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

Love on Delivery comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34 GB

Feature: 27.5 GB

In the last 20 minutes, debris and other imperfections are more prominent; that said, the bulk of the source looks great. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, and black levels are strong. 

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD 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 video essay by film historian and author Grady Hendrix titled Hong Kong's Greatest Comedian (20 minutes 18 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for film clips), a video essay by author and podcaster Mike White titled The Collaborations of Stephen Chow & Lik-Chi Lee (14 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with director Lee Lik-Chi titled A Day on the Gold Coast with Lee Lik-Chi (20 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary martial arts film historian Frank Djeng and film producer F.J. DeSanto, reversible cover art, a bottom loading VHS inspired slipcase, and a 24-page booklet with an essay titled Love on Delivery written by Nick Newman.

Summary:

Lee Lik-Chi directed Love on Delivery. He's most known for his collaborations with Stephen Chow. Their notable collaborations are The Magnificent Scoundrels, Flirting Scholar, From Beijing with Love, and King of Comedy.

The narrative revolves around a cowardly delivery boy who gains courage by dressing up like Garfleid.

Love on Delivery is considered a transitional film for Stephen Chow; in his previous films he was heroic and had superior fighting skills. This time around, he’s an ordinary man who lacks courage and confidence. When forced into a fight, he doesn't prepare, knowing he'll be unable to get ready in time. Instead, his martial arts teacher has him work on defensive moves to prolong the fight.

When one thinks of a martial arts protagonist, you don't expect to see them spending more time getting beaten up than displaying his fighting skills. Fortunately, the lack of focus on martial arts set pieces is not a negative, since Love on Delivery shifts its focus towards psychail comedy bits. The humor comes from absurd, exaggerated moments that resemble a live-action cartoon. Notable moments include a scene that parodies The Terminator: a character accidentally gets dog shit on his hands, and a martial arts move from falling down a flight of stairs.

Once again, Stephen Chow is in fine form, as he steals every moment he’s in. His comedic timing is flawless, and his onscreen chemistry with Ng Man-tat is Love on Delivery’s greatest asset. Another performance of note is Christy Chung’s (The Medallion) portrayal of Lily, the woman who the protagonist falls in love with. The most surprising aspect of her performance are the moments where she’s on the receiving end of the psychical humor.

Despite taking a familiar formula, an underdog who overcomes insurmountable odds, Love on Delivery ultimately succeeds because of its outside of the box approach. And nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to its anti-training sequences, where the protagonist does nothing to improve himself. And though the fight sequences are well executed, they always take a backseat to the humor. Ultimately, Love on Delivery is peak Stephen Chow, making it a must-see for fans of Stephen Chow.

Love on Delivery gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer