The Adventurers (2017/Well Go Blu-ray w/DVD)/Bat Pussy (1973)/Ed Wood's The Violent Years (1956/AGFA/MVD/Something Weird Blu-ray)/Essex Space Bin (2016)/The Middle Finger (2016/Troma Blu-rays)/The Sword & The Claw (1975/AGFA/MVD/Something Weird Blu-ray)/The Thingy: Confessions Of A Teenage Placenta (2013/Troma Blu-ray)

Picture: B+ & C+/B/B+/B/B/B+/B- Sound: B+ & B-/C/B/B/B/C/B- Extras: C/B/B/C/C+/B/C+ Films: B+/C-/C+/C/C/C+/C

Next up is the latest high profile Chinese action film and a group of indie releases that often barely makes the grade of B-movie...

After 5 years of prison, Master Thief Zhang Dan (Andy Lau) is released from jail and immediately he is back on the job with the score of a lifetime. However, to Detective Pierre (Jean Reno), he knows that Zhang is still up to no good and has plans to catch him in the act. As Zhang gathers his new crew, he realizes he will have to up his game in order to get the goods and stay ahead of Detective Pierre in The Adventurers (2017).

Zhang is a thief, the best there is and he is not only into priceless artifacts, but to him the greater the challenge the more he enjoys scoring the prize, but French Detective Pierre knows Zhang is too smart and too good to have of given up ...even after serving 5 years of prison. Pierre knows the heist is still on and continues to follow and chase after Zhang all over Europe. When Zhang is betrayed by his own teacher/mentor, Pierre has no choice but to trust Zhang to help him recover the treasure and even up the score.

This movie was in the cat and mouse mode with non-stop action, between a charming thief and the no nonsense cop, with an impossible heist to beat high tech security and out smart an army of security guards. Can thief gets a chance at redemption and becomes the hero to save the day and rescue the girl?

The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image uses various HD cameras including a 6K Ultra HDD unit and the results are consistently impressive, as is the multi-language DTS: X 11.1 (DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 7.1 for older systems) mix that delivers fine sonics throughout without fail. Not a bad combination. Extras include making of the movie and trailers.

Possibly the first (superhero or not) comic book porn parody ever maybe, Bat Pussy (1973), has been remastered (for some odd reason) in 2K high definition from the original 16mm film elements. This movie is so bad, there are no credits to the filmmakers responsible (or were they dodging a DC Comics' lawsuit)!

This dim-witted porn parody centers around Bat Pussy (played by Dora Dildo) who hangs out in her 'bat-cave' (which is actually an outhouse) 'fighting' sexual schemes in Gothum City. Then there's a hard to watch sex scene between a man and a wife that leaves much to be desired. Made for shock value more than eroticism, this isn't a film that you should recommend to anyone.

The 1080p high definition transfer on both films captures the original 1.33:1 original aspect ratio in a bookended 1.78 X 1 frame and an English DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Mono lossless track. Seeing that the film was shot on a shoestring and went missing for some time and has been restored from the only surviving print, there's a lot of film grain and artifacts, and audio that cuts in and out. Otherwise, it looks and sounds as good as it can.

Ed Wood, known infamously as 'the worst filmmaker of all time' returns to the silver screen with The Violent Years (1956), which was directed by William Morgan. These 'Untamed Girls of the Pack Gang' burst onto the screen in this then modern female driven crime thriller.

Filled with Ed Wood's over the top dialogue, the story follows Paula Perkins (Jean Moorhead) who has plenty of money and a seemingly perfect life on the surface. But this good girl has definitely gone bad as she secretly lives a double life as the gang leader of rabid (and sexy) female thieves. These girls attack young men, steal sweaters, money, you name it! Can they be stopped before they perform another 'man attack?' You'll have to watch and see.

Presented in 1080p from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, the black and white image looks fantastic (surprisingly for the budget) on Blu-ray disc with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Mono lossless track, this is no doubt the film has ever looked. I especially like the jazzy '50s soundtrack that gives the film a lot of personality. It's too bad there isn’t a version of Plan 9 or some of Ed Wood's other work on Blu-ray releases like this but hopefully some day.

Special Features include...

Audio Commentary track with filmmaker Frank Henenlotter and Ed Wood biographer Rudolph Grey

Gutter-noir trailers from the Something Weird vault

Memorabilia scrapbook

Bonus movie: Anatomy of a Psycho (1961), in 1080p from a new 2K scan from an original theatrical print

Reversible cover art

The Violent Years is a fun little genre film that's worth revisiting on disc.

Troma presents the British comedy Essex Space Bin (2016) which is directed by David Hollinshead and Philip Thompson. While shot on a shoestring, the film features a hilarious performance by Joerg Stadler as a hopeless woman whose does everything in her power to open up a portal to another dimension. Set in her hometown of Essex, Great Britain, the film is silly and doesn't take itself seriously and will surely entertain fans of British humor.

The film also stars Emily Wyatt, Phelim Kelly, and Rodrig Andrisan.

Presented in 1080p high definition with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a nice sounding 5.1 track, the film looks and sounds fine on the Blu-ray format, but isn't necessarily a game changer. The colors are nicely balanced and the film is surprisingly well shot considering its budget.

Special Features include...

Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 Trailer

Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Vol 2 Trailer

Radiation March

and Troma Now.

In a different kind of superhero parody than Bat Pussy that only Troma could deliver, The Middle Finger (2016) is a silly superhero origin story movie from Ireland. Directed by Seamus Hanly the film follows the story beats of a superhero film only with an unusually silly twist in that Dennis (Hanly) is stuck in a costume outfitted with a giant hand giving the middle finger as the head piece.

The film stars Seamus Hanly, Rebecca Dore, Rose Henderson, Matthew Kelly, and Iseult Casey.

Similar to the plot of Green Lantern, Hanly is an awkward teen until he is gifted alien superpowers and forced to fight crime. Unsure of how to use his newly gifted powers, The Middle Finger must become the hero that he is meant to be.

Presented in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound mix, both of which are up to standards with the Blu-ray format. Shot on a shoestring budget, the film is interestingly shot and lit considering its limitations.

Special Features...

"Making of the Helmet" featurette

Director's Commentary

Outtakes

Music Videos

Trailers

As silly as it sounds, The Middle Finger is for those seeking Troma-riffic thrills and is nothing noteworthy.

Natuck Baytan's 1975 grindhouse flick, The Sword and the Claw, is a Turkish sword and saddle genre film that's perfect popcorn munching entertainment. This is one of those movies that's so bad it's good, with some decent production and set design despite its obvious budgetary restraints. The adventure flick is part Conan, part revenge thriller, and part kung-fu comedy.

The Sword and the Claw stars Cuneyt Arkin, Bahar Erdeniz, Barbara Lake, and Charles Garret.

Also known as Kilic Aslan, the film begins with a king robbed of his hands and murdered, while his baby son (and obvious heir to the kingdom) is hidden in the forest. Much like Tarzan, he is raised by animals and becomes a vicious fighting machine. As an adult he uses his beastly strength and claw-like hands to take revenge against the new king and his armies as they seek to destroy him.

Presented in 1080p high definition with a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio and a DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 lossless track, the film looks more beautiful than it sounds. The dubbing is pretty bad and poorly performed, which takes away a bit from the image of the movie, which I'm sure is intentional. I kind of like the orchestral score, which is loud and in the center of the mix. The 4K scan from the only existing 35mm print in existence, this rare bloodbath is worth a watch in this new release.

Special Features include...

Face-smashing action trailers from the AGFA Distribution vault

Bonus Movie: Brawl Busters (1981), a new 2K scan from an original theatrical print

Reversible cover art with illustration by Alexis Ziritt (Space Riders).

Finally, our last entry should appeal to you if as before & above, you're a fan of Troma and their bizarre library of gross-out horror. The newest addition to the Troma-riffic library, The Thingy: Confessions of a Teenage Placenta (2013) may be up your alley. Centering around a female bodybuilder who gives birth to a living placenta, the typical questions of parenthood comes to light such as religion and morality. As outrageous as it likely gets, The Thingy is a good movie to watch with a group of people that like films such as Brain Damage or early Peter Jackson flicks.

The Thingy stars Pascal Maetens, Karel Vingerhoets, and Celine Verbeeck.

Presented in 1080p high definition with a widescreen presentation of 2.35:1 and a 5.1 surround sound mix, the film looks and sounds fine for Blu-ray considering the shoe string budget that it was shot on. Some scenes are a bit too dark, particularly the birthing sequence, but all in all there isn't much grain and the 'shot on video' look works for a film of this nature.

Special Features include...

Intro by Lloyd Kaufman

Deleted Scenes

Theatrical trailer

Featurette "Am I Really That Ugly?"

Featurette "Ham", Radiation March, Troma Now Xtreme Edition, Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 Theatrical Trailer, Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Volume 2 Theatrical Trailer.

- Ricky Chiang (Adventurers) & James Lockhart

https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/