Reviewing films slightly off the beaten path
With Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday, New Line Cinema took over the Friday the 13th franchise. The results are pretty bizarre. The film was released with a new 2K scan in the deluxe box set from Shout! Factory.
The Thin Man introduced the world to married sleuths Nick and Nora Charles. Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammett, the film is a pitch perfect blend of comedy and mystery that still holds up wonderfully. Warner Archive have given the film a Blu-ray release.
The WInd Rises is a beautifully written and directed film from master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. The film may take place during some of the hardest times for the world, but the central story is focused on selfless love and the desire for artistic expression. Shout! Factory have given the film a pristine release.
Beat the Devil – starring a cavalcade of stars (Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Gina Lollobrigida) – has been rescued from public domain hell by Twilight Time with a definitive 4K scan.
Double Dragon is a train wreck, but it is also an incredibly entertaining relic from the Video Game adaptation boom of the Nineties. MVD Rewind has gone above and beyond to provide a definitive edition of the film.
Pump Up the Volume was a clarion call to Generation X advocating self expression and how voices can change society. The film feels somewhat dated viewed thirty years later, but the revolutionary ethos remains the same. Warner Archive have given the film a Blu-ray release.
Shock Treatment is at once an effective thriller and a clever social commentary. Alain Delon and Annie Girardot are both great in their roles. The film benefits from lush cinematography by Jacques Robin. Severin Films have released the film on Blu-ray.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan was the final film of the Paramount era. It has moments of greatness, and a unique visual style, but the finale is totally nonsensical. Shout! Factory has released the film in their deluxe box set!
Luigi Bazzoni’s film The Fifth Cord ranks as one of the greatest Giallo films ever made. Franco Nero is as cool as they come. The Arrow Video Blu-ray is essential viewing.
