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THE BLOODY JUDGE (Blue Underground):
It was a huge year for Jess Franco fans and this was Blue Underground’s
most significant contribution. The longest, most colorful and best of all
versions of this Witch Hunt gem, the DVD is overflowing with worthwhile
extras and informative Tim Lucas penned liner notes.
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BLUE SUNSHINE (Synapse): Synapse
Films gives Jeff Lieberman’s LSD freakfest the kind of attention it always
deserved with this shining double platter release. There’s some brilliant
stuff here outside the movie, including the cool Lieberman short film “The
Ringer” and a full soundtrack CD. Nice one, Don!
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DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS
(Cult Epics): What in the world? Thank you Cult Epics for rescuing this
“lost” gem from the celluloid scrapheap--a truly beautiful and lyrical
slice of bygone era regional American Horror. Even better, this film has
a great dark sense of humor.
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DORIANA GREY (VIP): One of Franco’s
best gets a face slappingly pristine restoration by Erwin Dietrich. The
quality of the transfer on this thing is enough to make you weep!
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EMMANUELLE IN AMERICA (Blue
Underground): The filthiest of all “Emmanuelle/Emanuelle” movies--and arguably
the most entertaining. Presented here fully uncut and lovingly remastered,
to a standard that I’m sure surpasses any original theatrical screenings.
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MONDO CANE COLLECTION (Blue
Underground): This jawdropping eight-disc set--I know, I’m still trying
to comprehend its size too--floored me the moment it arrived in my hands.
Everyone responsible for its existence should be beyond proud with the
end result. If you’re reading this and don’t own a copy yet, what the hell’s
wrong with you?
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ROSSA VENEZIA (X-RATED): The
most underrated of all Germany’s neo-horror’n’sex filmmakers, Andreas Bethmann,
here gives the world what it’s always needed--a 155 minute genuine Porno-Giallo,
complete with cameos by Jess Franco and Lina Romay--don’t worry, they keep
their clothes on! Released as part of a huge--I mean it, the box is like
2ft. by 1ft.--four-disc set, you get a XXX t-shirt, a plot-less hardcore
version of the movie, a plot-only version of the movie, a disc of extras
and the full blown 155 minute hardcore’n’all version. Fantastic!!!
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SEVEN WOMEN FOR SATAN (Mondo
Macabro): This sadist Euro-Sex creation completely blind-sighted me, packed
to the rafters with *cough*cough* arousing scenes of Sadean nakedness and
pumping Prog-Rock, what’s not to like? Mondo Macabro does it again!
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A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD
(Image): Yep, another Franco makes my list--I said it was a great year.
This time it’s a Franco approved version of his magnificent and thoughtful
ode to death and dying. The film has never looked better and once again
Tim Lucas provides some appropriate and informative background info.
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WOMEN IN CELLBLOCK 9 (VIP):
Franco piles on more bare-ass and perversion than you can imagine in this,
one of his meanest and nastiest Women-In-Prison flicks. Again, this was
restored to a ridiculous level by Erwin Dietrich and the folks at VIP.
HONORABLE
MENTIONS
ALUCARDA
(Mondo Macabro)
ASSAULT
ON PRECINCT 13 (Image)
BABA
YAGA (Blue Underground)
BLOODLETTING
(Tempe)
BONE
(Blue Underground)
BRUTES
AND SAVAGES
(Synapse)
CAPTAIN KRONOS, VAMPIRE HUNTER
(Paramount)
THE CHEERLEADER COLLECTION
(Anchor Bay)
DAY
OF THE DEAD (Anchor Bay)
DEAD
AND BURIED (Blue Underground)
DEATH
WALKS AT MIDNIGHT (Mondo Macabro) (UK)
THE
EMMANUELLE COLLECTION (Anchor Bay)
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (MGM)
FASSBINDER'S BRD TRILOGY
(Criterion)
GOD
TOLD ME TO (Blue Underground)
HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS (Chimera)
THE LIVING CORPSE (Mondo
Macabro)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO
TOWERS (Extended Edition) (New Line)
THE MEATRACK/STICKS AND STONES
(Image/Something Weird)
NAKED LUNCH (Criterion)
OLGA'S
HOUSE OF SHAME / OLGA'S DANCE HALL GIRLS / WHITE SLAVES OF CHINATOWN
(Something Weird/Image)
THE
OMEGA MAN (Warner)
Q
THE WINGED SERPENT (Blue Underground)
REVENGE
OF THE NINJA (MGM)
THE
ROMAN POLANSKI COLLECTION (Anchor Bay) (UK)
SALON
KITTY (Blue Underground)
SCARFACE
(tricked-out, ghetto fabulous imitation red-satin and money-clip boxed-set
version only) (Universal)
SNUFF
(Blue Underground)
SPACE
IS THE PLACE (Plexifilm)
THE
SPAGHETTI WESTERN COLLECTION (Blue Underground)
THE TENANT (Paramount)
THE THIRSTY DEAD / SWAMP OF
THE RAVENS (Something
Weird/Image)
VAMPYRES
(Blue Underground)
YOKAI
MONSTERS trilogy (AD Vision)