Bad
Ronald
(1974/Lorimar/Warner Archive Blu-ray)/Mandy
(2018/RLJ Blu-ray)/Queen
Of Outer Space
(1958/Allied Artists/Warner Archive Blu-ray)/Scarlet
Diva (2000/Film Movement
Blu-ray)/Schlock
(1973/MVD Visual/Arrow Blu-ray)
Picture:
B/B+/B/B/B+ Sound: C+/B+/C+/B/B+ Extras: D/B+/C+/B/B
Films: B-/C+/C/B/B
PLEASE
NOTE:
The Bad
Ronald
and Queen
Of Outer Space
Blu-rays are now only available from Warner Bros. through their
Warner Archive series and can be ordered from the link below.
Up
next are five of the wilder, sometimes wildest, genre films around.
We are revisiting three of them as well...
We
start with a new upgrade for Buzz Kulik's Bad
Ronald
(1974), a film with an interesting story and constant following, made
more interesting by the fact that it is one of the most popular TV
movies of all time, especially from the early days of such
productions. Warner Archive discovered this in the best way possible
when they issued the Lorimar Television telefilm on DVD and it sold
like crazy. We reviewed that DVD here...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8994/Bad+Ronald+(1974/Warner+Bros.+Archive+Collectio
Now
they have issued it on Blu-ray and it is a huge improvement in
playback. I was not impressed with the DVD transfer, though even
that looked better than the YouTube clip and tapings from on-air
showings. However, this was shot on 35mm film like all Lorimar
productions and as expected, this looks great! Several TV movies
Blu-rays (Dan Curtis' Dracula,
Dark
Night Of The Scarecrow,
Duel
(all reviewed elsewhere on this site), Night
Stalker,
Night
Strangler,
Trilogy
Of Terror)
have already demonstrated that the makers of TV movies were shooting
the professionally as if they might be seen on a big screen, even if
they did not necessarily make it to one (some saw European theatrical
releases, et al). Blu-ray and their large, loyal have more than
vindicated these often highly underrated works.
With
the great cast and performances clearer than ever, you can really
appreciate how good the work is here and there are three ways you can
take the film: 1) you don't get it or care, 2) as the serious drama
about pain and loss it is with creepy twists and/or 3) some parts
that can be taken as unintentionally funny due to the age of the
film, including that such voyeuristic thrillers where not as common
then or some of this becomes a bit campy. No matter, it is a
well-made film that can go more than a few rounds with similar such
releases of the last 30 years or so and is a must-see for all serious
movie, TV, thriller and horror fans.
The
1080p 1.33 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer (centered in a
1.78 X 1 frame rarely shows the age of the materials used, with color
and some detail better than even I expected. The
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Mono lossless mix of the old TV mono is
also warmer and a bit clearer that the lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
on the DVD. It is a simple soundtrack, but the Fred Karlin music
score holds up well and enhances the narrative well.
There
are sadly again NO extras, but maybe if Warner Archive starts making
4K Blu-rays...
Nicolas
Cage gives an incredible performance in one of the year's best films,
Mandy
(2018), directed by Panos Cosmatos, who has a bright filmmaking
future ahead of him. The film starts out a tad slow but around the
middle of the second act picks up and doesn't let you go until the
final scene. Both a love story and a revenge story, Mandy
also features a final haunting score by Oscar nominated composer
Johann Johannsson (Sicario,
The
Arrival).
Mandy
also stars Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Bill Duke, and Richard
Brake.
1983
A.D. Red Miller (Cage) and Mandy Blood lead a simple life together
as outsiders but are soon met with a tragic end when they are visited
by a cult of sadist bikers. At the head of the cult is Jeremiah
Sand, a man who challenges Red and the two must face off in a life or
death duel.
The
film is presented on Blu-ray disc with a 2.40:1 widescreen aspect
ratio and a sharp DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix. The
film looks as good as it can in the 1080p format and I'm anxiously
awaiting the 4K release. The film has very unique and stylish
cinematography that gives it a surreal and otherworldly feel...
almost as if you were seeing this film in a dream.
Special
Features include...
Behind
The Scenes Featurette
Deleted
and Extended Scenes
Mandy
is much more than an art film but a truly enjoyable cinematic ride. I
would definitely recommend it to genre fans!
As
campy and hilarious as ever, Edward Bearns' Queen
Of Outer Space
(1958) is back after a decent DVD release, has been issued in an
upgraded Blu-ray disc by Warner Archive with Laurie Mitchell in the
title role and Zsa Zsa Gabor as the 'brilliant' scientist committed
to keeping her in power and their world superior to all others. We
originally laughed until our stomachs hurt when we covered the DVD
edition at this link...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12748/Il+Sorpasso+(1962/Criterion+Blu-ray+w/DVD)/Que
I
have to give Allied Artists credit for putting out the effort and
money to imitate MGM's Forbidden
Planet
(1956,
reviewed elsewhere on this site and also issued by Warner years ago
on Blu-ray) in look, uniforms (did they rent them?) and color. Then
it gets wackier, as you could imagine. No matter how bad it gets,
and it does get awful, you cannot stop watching, laughing and/or be
stunned that you are actually watching something a company actually
spent money on and expected to be a hit. It was a big undertaking
for the newly minted company early on, but shows their intent to
compete as best they could with the big studios and definitely with
the smaller competition. Gabor passed away since we last reviewed it
and it certainly captures her at her early best.
So
better playback is the top reason to get this and the
1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image might have some slight
flaws at times and slight color variation, but the transfer shows how
impressive the color cinematography really is. From the DeLuxe lab,
it is worthy of the MetroColor on Forbidden
Planet
(which was also issued in other color print formats including Ansco
and DeLuxe, believe it or not) continues the striking similarities.
DVD simply cannot capture the more advanced color schemes, but
Blu-ray can and so it is one of those great cases that unless you've
seen it in a good film print, it is like never having seen it before.
The
DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Mono lossless mix is a nice improvement
over the lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono on the DVD, warmer and a little
fuller for a better idea of the original theatrical mono sound. You
can ever hear Gabor's iconic voice better!
Extras
repeat the feature length audio commentary track by film scholar Tom
Weaver with Mitchell and an Original Theatrical Trailer. Fun
release!
Asia
Argento's first feature film exposes the dark side of the film
industry and is no doubt a brave subject for her to tackle right out
of the gate. Semi auto-biographical, The
Scarlet Diva
(2000) is a hypnotic piece of filmmaking that is at times sexy and
other times cringe-worthy. This film is non-rated and tackles some
dark and heavy subjects and doesn't shy away from drug abuse,
violence, and nudity.
Now
with the #Metoo movement is making headlines (and we won't go into
Argento's accounts), what I can say is that this film is perhaps
becoming even more relevant with age. I saw it for the first time
back when it came out on DVD and have to say that this presentation
is much improved. Film Movement Classics really has done a fine job
with this new and detailed release.
The
film also stars Daria Nicolodi, Selen, Jean Shepard, Herbert Fritsch,
Joe Coleman, and Vera Gemma.
Presented
in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and
a nice sounding English LPCM 2.0 track, both of which are a vast
improvement over the dated standard definition DVD version. Now
since this is a true independent film, it was shot on MiniDV Standard
Definition, which wasn't a crazy notion at the time (you'll remember
28
Days Later
was also shot on this way outdated format amongst other films). In
this regard, this is the definitely the best that this film can look
here in upscaled HD.
Special
Features...
Two
audio commentaries by Asia Argento - the original commentary from
2002 and an updated commentary (2018)
Looking
into the Eye of the Cyclops with Joe Coleman featurette
On-camera
interview with Asia Argento
The
Making of Scarlet Diva featurette
2018
theatrical re-release trailer
Original
release promos
Full
color insert booklet with a new essay by Kier-La Janisse
and
Reversible Cover Art
I
am a fan of Asia Argento's and defiantly think this is her best work.
However, it's not exactly an easy watch.
A
LOVE STRANGER THAN KING KONG!
John
Landis (An
American Werewolf in London,
The
Blues Brothers)
is known for his sharp cinematic style and witty humor. His first
film, Schlock
(1973), shows the promise of the great director to come with its
unique blend of horror and comedy. Teaming up with SFX mastermind
(then rookie) Rick Baker, the two created Schlocktropus - an ancient
ape-man that was frozen for 2 million years and has now found himself
in modern day (the 1970s). As the monster rampages and kills several
people, he stops and falls in love with a blind woman.
The
film stars John Landis, Harriet White, Saul Kahan, Joseph Piantadosi
and a fun cameo by the late and great Forrest J. Ackerman of Famous
Monsters of Filmland Magazine.
Carrying
a brand of humor that could be best compared to the work of Mel
Brooks, this comedy is a great time capsule piece and available for
the first time on Blu-ray in this awesome new edition from Arrow
Video that's definitely worth picking up.
Remastered
in 4K from the original camera negative, the film is presented in its
original 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio and clear sounding English
lossless LPCM Mono mix. The print has been nicely restored and has
barely shown age thanks to the good people at Arrow Video, using the
master that debuted overseas.
Special
Features include...
Audio
commentary by writer/director John Landis and makeup artist Rick
Baker
New
video interview with author and critic Kim Newman
Birth
of a Schlock,
a 2017 video interview with John Landis
Archival
video interview with cinematographer Bob Collins
1972,
1979 and 1982 US theatrical trailers
US
radio spots
Reversible
sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham
Humphreys
and
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new
writing on the film by Joe Bob Briggs.
For
more on
the film, try this link...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/15189/Bloodthirsty+Trilogy+(1970+-+1974/MVD/Arrow+B
To
order either of the
the Warner Archive Blu-rays, Bad
Ronald
and Queen
Of Outer Space,
go to this link for them and many more great web-exclusive releases
at:
http://www.wbshop.com/
-
Nicholas Sheffo (Bad,
Queen)
and James
Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/