Look, Up in the Air, It’s a Flying Swordsman Coming to Home Video This Week!

Ultimately, The Flying Swordsman plays out like a video game on steroids, and those familiar with Bushido Blade may see similarities.

The Flying Swordsman DVD
Available to pre-order on Amazon USA

Well GO USA
Release Date: Jan 9, 2024

Hidden in some secret valley are untold riches, and for The Flying Swordsman (雪山飞狐之塞北宝藏 / The Hidden Fox) to find it, he will have to defeat other treasure seekers for it! They’re all after this pirate’s bounty, as I like to call it, but for Hu Yidao (Ben Ngai-Cheung Ng) who is the sacred guardian of an iron box that contains the key to finding this place, he won’t give up those secrets easily!

Emperor Tian Guinong (Gang Wang) wants it and even tries to trick this master into giving it up. However, the people he sends die, and time passes where its legend only grows. This setup is rather mighty, because without a knowledge of this history, this film feels like every other wuxia style motion picture I’ve seen. What’s different about this work is a storytelling technique rarely used. Lots of flashbacks reveal what was, as Tao Baisui (Ray Lui) embarks on the same quest. As for what’s presented, it’s a very stylish martial arts film where the heroes and villains are very much involved in a game of hunting each other down!

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On Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem’s Home Video Release and Its Future

After watching the bonus features which comes with this release, I’ve found a reason to appreciate what the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem represents.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem 4K
Available to purchase on Amazon USA (4k, Blu-ray & DVD)

Movie review can be read here.

These days, it seems recognition of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle as a comic book series isn’t as widely recognised. And as for why director Jeff Rowe and head writer Seth Rogen do not say a thing in the home video release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem, my guess is that neither of them doesn’t want to get involved in that quagmire of talking about how the IP changed hands over the years.

Although his love began with the cartoons, I like to know if either read the comic books. Until there’s a definitive answers, what this writing team is rewriting won’t have everyone interested.

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Roger Corman’s The Terror (1963) is This Week’s Film Masters Striking Release!

Fans of E.A. Poe will enjoy counting the number of moments in this remaster of The Terror, which are designed to honor him!

The Terror and Little Shop of Horrors - Film Masters Release
Available to purchase on Amazon USA

Everything you want to know about Roger Corman‘s The Terror but were afraid to ask regarding this latest Film Masters restoration is all nicely packed into a documentary and essay included in this home video release. It’s out just in time for this film’s anniversary! What’s presented is a very clean and upgraded colour pallette to highlight this gothic work.

And to complete the analysis, it includes a bonus HD print of The Little Shop of Horrors. As a fan of the musical, to watch it in its original form made me appreciate both works! There are moments of dialogue that laid the seeds to songs like “Suddenly Seymore,” and “Dentist!”

However, this latest is all about Corman’s homage to Edgar Allan Poe. Nearly every frame pays tribute to what defines this master of macabre’s tales, and to watch it restored didn’t present a lot of flaws as I thought. While those bits are more with the narrative element, the visual one looked quite concrete! From the set designs to the tropes, it’s easy to tell. The video essay does a great job as explaining how this movie came to be, the hurdles faced (which also includes getting Karloff to agree to star in this work) and why it should be remembered as a testing ground for the still young filmmaker–who happened to think that he should take advantage of what’s available for him to use before these contracts expire. Also included in this release is Ballyhoo Motion Pictures “Hollywood Intruders: The Filmgroup Story” (part two).

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WIT Studio’s Great Pretender is Ready to Crash, Boom, Bang onto Home Video Early 2024!

Oh-oh, yes, I’m the Great Pretender, adrift in a world of my own and the anime of the same name may well explore this and more in this deluxe release!

Great Pretender Complete Series Box ArtShout! Studios
Release Date: March 12, 2024

Freddie Mercury isn’t the only person who claims to be “The Great Pretender.” In Japan, there’s an anime simply titled Great Pretender, to which his estate approved the use of his song, and as for how both relate, perhaps fans of this Netflix series can find out when it is released to home video in North America! The series isn’t presented in its entirety on Netflix as far as I can tell.

And for those screaming, “I Want It All” (like a certain Queen song, than just Freddie), it’s here courtesy of Shout! Studios.

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Diving Into Why Farscape, The Complete Series (25th Anniverary) Release Matters!

If you’re a fan like me waiting for a Blu-ray release of Farscape: The Complete Series that includes The Peacekeeper Wars as part of the package, this edition is it!

Farscape, The Complete Series - 25th Anniversary Edition
Available to purchase on Amazon USA

Shout! Factory is celebrating a milestone year of a beloved 1999-2003 sci-fi epic with an updated release which includes a brand-new featurette! Although there are varying options which edition of Farscape, The Complete Series (25th Anniversary) is best to acquire, the difference lies in how much swag one wants!

What I received for evaluation is the basic one. I didn’t really need the prism stickers, poster from industry artist Joe Corroney, and the enamel pins from Gutter Garbs (link). They would’ve been nice, but honestly I’m all out of wall space to show off my love for this show! Thankfully there’s a mid-priced set too (link). But when all I want is to revisit this world created by Rockne S. O’Bannon again, and the timing of this release couldn’t be any better!

Also, prior editions didn’t include “The Peacekeeper Wars” as part of the set. I’m glad this distributor corrected the oversight, and it’s pleasant to show this collection off on my shelf. When I’m in the mood to binge, I can watch a disc or two per day.

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When Owning Megasets Are A Must; Presenting Our 2023 Holiday Home Video Gift Guide

Sometimes, gifting that pop culture enthusiast in the family is tough, and we got our top new release picks (from this year) on what to give that person!

Godzilla Christmas Tree and Holiday Home Video Gift GuideAnyone searching for a holiday home video gift guide of the godzilla sized home box sets of beloved franchises released this year are in luck! In this year’s edition on what to give that nerd in the family, what I offer is a list of works which I think are must own over others. Most of these major releases are available to purchase now.

There’s only two which will be out very soon, so they should arrive in time for the holiday. What’s offered looks amazing for genre fans and although a few of them are repackaged material, that’s okay since I’m considering anniversary releases too.

To note, each entry is separated out into its own page (please scroll further down to find the next page markers). Presented in alphabetical order are:

ALF- The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)
Available to order on Amazon

ALF: The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) + Bundle

Love him or hate him, Alf was part of 80s pop culture!

Everyone’s favourite wise-cracking alien from Melmac, Gordon Shumway — better known to Earthlings as ALF crash-lands onto DVD in this definitive 24-disc collection. The collection includes every episode of this interstellar hit series, restored to their original broadcast length for the first time in 30 years. It also includes the 1996 film Project: ALF starring Martin Sheen, and all 47 episodes of Saturday morning’s ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales! Never has a collection been so out of this world!

This ShoutFactory.com Exclusive includes the NEW DVD release of ALF, an exclusive 18” x 24” rolled poster featuring new artwork, a retro prism sticker, a 7″ vinyl, an enamel pin set, a lunch box, and an authentic Melmac rock.

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