Thursday, March 28, 2024

Blue Underground Announces the release of Goodbye Uncle Tom (1971) on 4K/Blu-ray!

Blue Underground Presents the Cult Classic
GOODBYE UNCLE TOM (1971) 
on Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray
4/23/24

Label: Blue Underground 
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated 
Duration: English Version (123 Mins), Italian Version (136 Mins) 
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 1.0; Italian DTS-HD MA 1.0 with Optional English Subtitles 
Video: 2160p Ultra HD Widescreen (2.40:1), 1080p HD Widescreen (2.40:1) 
Directors: Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi

On April 23rd, Blue Underground releases Goodbye Uncle Tom, one of the most graphic and notorious films ever made, on Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-Ray.

Originally released in 1971, Goodbye Uncle Tom is an Italian mondo-docudrama based on true events about the rise and revolt of slavery in America.

Directors Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi (Mondo Cane) used period documentation and historical accounts to recreate the antebellum south and the horrors of the slave trade. The film was so shocking in its detailed look at the atrocities of slavery that distributors in the US forced Jacopetti and Prosperi to cut it and radically re-edit the film before release.

Even in its truncated form, Goodbye Uncle Tom created a stir amongst critics. Roger Ebert called it, “… the most disgusting, contemptuous insult to decency ever to masquerade as a documentary.” while Pauline Kael said, “the most specific and rabid incitement to race war," and The Detroit Chronicle hailed it as "a graphic, moving, nerve-paralyzing film."

Goodbye Uncle Tom can now be seen more than five decades after its initial release in both its original uncut Italian version, alongside its drastically different English version, both fully restored in 4K from their original camera negatives. Includes a bonus Blu-ray disc with a wealth of supplemental features that give context to the staggering and violent look back at this horrific chapter of American history.

The 4K UHD and Blu-ray Extras special features include feature-length documentaries; never-before-seen interviews with writers/directors Gualtiero Jacopetti, Franco Prosperi, composer Riz Ortolani and others; rare behind-the-scene footage; English and Italian trailers; still galleries, including Giampaolo Lomi’s behind-the-scenes photos; a bonus CD of the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Riz Ortolani; and a collectible booklet.

Special Features: 
Disc 1 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
- English Version (123 Mins.)
- English Trailer
Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:
- Italian Version (136 Mins.)
- Italian Trailer
Disc 3 (Blu-ray) Extras:
- THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOCKING: GUALTIERO JACOPETTI – A feature-length documentary by Director
Andrea Bettinetti (94 Mins.)
- THE GODFATHERS OF MONDO – A feature-length documentary by Director David Gregory (89 Mins.)
- Goodbye Cruel Mondo - Interviews with Writers/Directors Gualtiero Jacopetti & Franco Prosperi, and
Composer Riz Ortolani (20 Mins.)
- Behind-the-Scenes 8mm Footage with Audio Commentary by Production Manager Giampaolo Lomi (50 Mins.)
- Mondo Mercenaries - Interview with Author & Academic Mark Goodall (27 Mins.)
- Abjection Under Authoritarianism - Interview with Professor Matthew J. Smith (20 Mins.)
- Extensive Still Galleries, including Giampaolo Lomi’s Behind-the-Scenes Photos
Disc 4 (CD):
- GOODBYE UNCLE TOM Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Riz Ortolani
- BONUS! Collectible Booklet with new essay by Dan Madigan

Sell Points:
- STRICTLY LIMITED EDITION – ONE PRESSING ONLY!
- One of the most shocking and controversial films of all time, now on Blu-ray and UHD for the first time ever!
- WORLD PREMIERE! New 4K 16-Bit Restorations of both the English and Italian Versions from their original
negatives
- Blu-rays feature 1080p HD Resolution and newly restored DTS-HD Master Audio
- Bonus Blu-ray Disc with over 5 hours of Extras, including 2 feature-length documentaries and NEVER-
BEFORE-SEEN interviews with Gualtiero Jacopetti, Franco Prosperi, and Riz Ortolani!
- Deluxe packaging includes embossed slipcover, reversible sleeve with alternate artwork, and collectible booklet
- National Print Advertising and extensive Online Exposure
- From acclaimed documentary filmmakers Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi (MONDO CANE, AFRICA
ADDIO)
- Features a sweeping score by Academy Award nominee Riz Ortolani (MONDO CANE, CANNIBAL
HOLOCAUST)
- Controversial and shocking documentary in the tradition of MONDO CANE, AFRICA ADDIO, and FACES OF
DEATH
- #2 on Gene Siskel’s list of “10 Sickest Films of 1972” - Chicago Tribune

Film Reviews:
- “INCREDIBLE… You Will Not Believe What You’re Watching! It Makes ROOTS Look Like An Episode Of
THE JEFFERSONS!” – Shock Cinema
- “An All-Time Great Gut-Busting Flick!” – The Amsterdam News
- “The Most Shocking Of The Series… Banned In Several Countries For Obvious Reasons!” – DVD Talk
- “They Have Finally Done It: Made The Most Disgusting, Contemptuous Insult To Decency Ever To
Masquerade As A Documentary!” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

AMELIE (2002) (SPHE Steelbook Blu-ray Review with Screenshots).

AMELIE (2002)

Label: SPHE
Region Code: A
Rating: R
Duration: 121 Minutes 45 Seconds
Audio: French DTS-HD MA 5.1 with Optional English Subtitles 
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1) 
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta, Serge Merlin, Jamel Debbouze, Claire Maurier, Clotilde Mollet, Isabelle Nanty, Dominique Pinon, Artus de Penguern, Yolande Moreau, Urbain Cancelier, Maurice Benichou

Synopsis: Bursting with imagination and having seen her share of tragedy and fantasy, Amélie is not like the other girls. When she grows up, she becomes a waitress in a Montmartre bar run by a former dancer. Amélie enjoys simple pleasures until she discovers that her goal in life is to help others. To that end, she invents all sorts of tricks that allow her to intervene incognito into other people's lives, including an imbibing concierge and her hypochondriac neighbor. But Amélie's most difficult case turns out to be Nino Quicampoix, a lonely sex shop employee who collects photos abandoned at coin-operated photobooths.

Jean-Pierre Jeunet's fantastical tale of an imaginative but lonely young woman named Amélie (Audrey Tautou, A Very Long Engagement) who lives in the fantastical Montmartre district of Paris is a pastiche of cinematic perfection, who on the day of Diana, Princess of Wales tragic death discovers a small tin full of childhood memories hidden away inside the wall of her apartment, it having been left there decades ago by a small boy who lived there once. She gets the idea to track down the boy, now a grumpy adult who has forgotten the magic of childhood, to anonymously return his youthful memorabilia. She is so satisfied by the amount of joy that her act of anonymous kindness brings to him that she sets about to anonymously influence the lives of those around her, and in the process finds her own happiness in kindred spirit Nino (Matthieu Kassovitz, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets), a lonely young man who works at a sex shop and keeps a scrapbook of torn photos he collects from the trash bins near and around the automated photo booths of Montmartre. 

Full of fantastic, whimsical imagery and inventive lensing by cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel (Across the Universe) that creates an eccentric bubble world on cobblestoned streets of the Montmartre district of Paris, as seen through the eyes of shy-girl Amélie, populated by interesting characters that include reclusive artists Raymond Dufayel (Serge Merlin, The City of Lost Children) with brittle bone disease that is obsessed with recreating a Renoir painting, her widowed father who becomes a bit of a recluse himself after the death of his wife, and budding an unlikely romance between her her hypochondriac co-worker Georgette (Isabelle Nanty) and with the stalker-ish love-spurned Joseph (Dominique Pinon, The City of Lost Children), and takes the bitter edge away from her widowed concierge Madeleine Wallace (Yolande Moreau, Micmacs) whose late-husband left her for another woman years earlier. Not all of her adventures are altruist or well-intentioned, as she execute a series of pranks on mean-spirited produce-salesman Collignon (Urbain Cancelier, A Very Long Engagement) who verbally regularly abuses good-natured assistant Lucien (Jamel Debbouze). 

It's a beautiful, kind and warm-hearted tale of love and fantasy anchored by the breakout performance from its star Audrey Tautou, and the imaginative visuals of director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel. It's just a film that brings a smile to my face every time I watch, and with no 4K UHD in sight this new Blu-ray will do nicely with a strong A/V presentation and a host of extras, including a new 5-min interview with Jeunet and a wealth of archival extras, plus attractive Steelbook packaging. 

Audio/Video: 
Amélie (2002) arrives on Blu-ray from SPHE in 1080p HD widescreen (2.35:1), there's no new information supplied with this release to indicate a new restoration, but there's at least one recent interview with director Jean-Pierre Jeunet saying that it was restored by Sony, so it;s ambiguous. Not having my 2011 Lionsgate Blu-ray available for comparison, a casualty of the "who the fuck did I loanthat to?" it's hard to say for certain how much of an improvement this might be, but just taken on it's own merits this Sony Blu-ray looks terrific.  Grain is well managed and nicely resolved, the source looks terrific with just a few minor specks here and again. Colors look marvelous, the film is bathed in gorgeous greens, red and amber swatches, nicely infused, black levels are rock solid, and depth and clarity please. Fine detail and textures in close-ups also are very pleasing, and the disc is well-authored without any noticeable compression issues to draw the eye away from the excellent HD presentation.  

Audio comes by way of French DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround with optional English subtitles, it;s a nicely immersive track that pulls you right into the fantastical world of Amelie's Montmartre world. The French language audio is clean and well-balanced, while the wonderful score from Yann Tiersen (Good Bye Lenin!) which adds another layer of the fantastic to the visuals also sounds great in the mix. 

Extras include over 90-minutes of archival extras from past releases that explore the making of the film, plus a brand new interview with the director by way of the 5-min Jean-Pierre Jeunet Looks Back, wherein the director recalls some fun anecdotes about the making of the film, it's brief but he packs in a lot of fun memories about it, with some memorable props from the film in the background

The single-disc Blu-ray release arrives in a Limited Edition Steelbook featuring the original movie poster artwork on the front, it's has an attractive metallic finish to it, on the backside is an image of Audrey Tautou as Amélie whimsically reading Nino's scrapbook in bed, while the inner artwork features an exterior shot of the Café des 2 Moulins in Montmartre. 

Special Features:

- NEW! Jean-Pierre Jeunet Looks Back (Blu-ray Exclusive) (5:00) 
- Audio Commentary with Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- The Look of Amélie (12:47) 
- Q&A With the Director (24:36) 
- Q&A With the Director and the Cast (5:55) 
- An Intimate Chat With Jean-Pierre Jeunet (20:48).
- Fantasies of Audrey Tautou (2:07) 
- Cast Auditions (6:28) 
- Home Movie: Inside the Making of Amélie 12:45) 
- Storyboard Comparisons (0:57) 
- The Amélie Scrapbook
- Trailer (1:11) 

Screenshots from the SPHE Blu-ray: 














































Buy it: 
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Wednesday, March 27, 2024

AVAILABLE NOW! Severin Unleashes Legendary Martial Arts Mayhem with the Loaded 8-Disc ENTER THE CLONES OF: BRUCEPLOITATION, VOL. 1, Featuring 14 Classic Films, 24+ Hours of Bonuses and More!



SEVERIN UNLEASHES LEGENDARY MARTIAL ARTS MAYHEM WITH
THE GAME OF CLONES: BRUCEPLOITATION COLLECTION, VOL. 1

THE COLLECTION -- 7 DISCS + A LIMITED EDITION WEBSTORE EXCLUSIVE DISC -- INCLUDES 14 RESTORED BRUCEPLOITATION CLASSICS WITH 100 PAGE BOOK, 24+ COMBINED HOURS OF SPECIAL FEATURES PLUS THE AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY
ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE

THE GAME OF CLONES COLLECTION Widely Available on May 21
for $199.95 srp Exclusively on SeverinFilms.com NOW;

ENTER THE CLONES Also Available as Standalone Blu-ray on May 21 & Via Digital Platforms on April 30

“Many films tried to capitalize on the popularity of Bruce Lee.
Some amped up the craziness as far as it would go. Others played it straight, delivering seriously good films. At its best, Bruceploitation was some of the most uninhibited and exciting martial arts cinema of the age.”
- Den Of Geek

Hours after Bruce Lee’s death, Bruceploitation was born. And for the next 10 years, talented martial artists were enlisted to mimic iconic aspects of Lee’s life, style and mannerisms. Fueled by equal parts deception and demand, these films instead created one of the most wildly entertaining sub-genres in movie history. THE GAME OF CLONES: BRUCEPLOITATION COLLECTION, VOLUME 1 now presents 14 of the very best – and frequently very bizarre – films starring Bruce Li, Bruce Le, Dragon Lee, Bruce Liang and more, all restored for the first time ever from original film elements.

Each of these 14 Bruceploitation classics – THE CLONES OF BRUCE LEE (1980), ENTER THREE DRAGONS (1978), ENTER THE GAME OF DEATH (1978), GOOD BYE, BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST GAME OF DEATH (1975), THE DRAGON LIVES AGAIN (1977), BRUCE AND THE IRON FINGER (1977), CHALLENGE OF THE TIGER (1980), CAMEROON CONNECTION (1984), SUPER DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY (1974), THE DRAGON LIVES (1976), THE DRAGON, THE HERO (1980), RAGE OF THE DRAGON (1980), THE BLACK DRAGON VS. THE YELLOW TIGER (1974), and the never-before available THE BIG BOSS PART II (1976) – also feature exclusive bonus programming that includes all-new interviews, audio commentaries and revealing featurettes, as well as a 100-page Bruceploitation book filled with essays, posters, rare photos and more.

In the “fascinating gem of a documentary” (Culture Mix) ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE, director David Gregory tracks down the surviving Bruces – along with martial arts legends, producers, directors, distributors, historians and more – to reveal the entire shocking and bittersweet saga behind a celluloid phenomenon that still refuses to die. Gregory – whose award-winning documentaries include LOST SOUL: THE DOOMED JOURNEY OF RICHARD STANLEY’S ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU and BLOOD & FLESH: THE REEL LIFE & GHASTLY DEATH OF AL ADAMSON – now examines this fascinating phenomenon via interviews with Bruce Li, Bruce Le, Bruce Liang and Dragon Lee; martial arts legends like Angela Mao, David Chiang, Phillip Ko and Sammo Hung; and the producers, directors, distributors and experts – along with copious clips from the films themselves – that for the first time reveal the history, controversy and legacy behind one of the most bizarre genres in movie history. The documentary will also be available on all leading digital outlets on April 30, and as a standalone Blu-ray on May 21.

THE GAME OF CLONES: BRUCEPLOITATION COLLECTION, VOLUME 1

Blu-ray: $199.95srp
Catalog #: SEV15660BR


Disc 1:
ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE (2023)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Co-Executive Producer/Director David Gregory, Co-Producers Frank Djeng, Vivian Wong And Michael Worth And Director Of Photography Jim Kunz
- Working At Shaw Brothers – Outtakes With Godfrey Ho, David Chiang, Yasuaki Kurata, Lee Chiu, Lo Meng, Mars And Phillip Ko
- Bruce Lee And I – Outtakes With Sammo Hung, Phillip Ko, Yasuaki Kurata, Mars, Angela Mao, Andre Morgan, Lee Tso Nam And More
- The Lost World Of Kung Fu Film Negatives – Outtakes With Godfrey Ho, Joseph Lai, Angela Mao, Lee Tso Nam And Film Preservationists
- Bruce's Hong Kong – Location Tour With Frank Djeng
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Trailers

Runtime: 94 mins
Audio: Stereo Audio / English Subtitles, Chinese Subtitles, French Subtitles
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Disc 2:
THE CLONES OF BRUCE LEE (1980)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Michael Worth And Frank Djeng, Co-Producers Of ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE; Bruce Lee Historian Brandon Bentley; Chris Poggiali, Co-Author Of These Fists Break Bricks; Matthew Whitaker, Co-Host Of The Clones Cast; Action Film Historian Mike Leader; Stunt Coordinator/Author John Kreng; And Rick Benn, Brother Of Actor Jon T. Benn
- The Big Boss Remembered – Interview With Actor Jon T. Benn
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 90 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

ENTER THREE DRAGONS (1978)

Special Features:
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Disc 3:
ENTER THE GAME OF DEATH (1978)

Special Features:
- Partial Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Scene Specific Commentary With Actor Chi Ling Chiu
- Kung Fu Movie Hustle – Interview With Chi Ling Chiu
- Talking A Good Game – Roundtable Discussion With Martial Artists/Kung Fu Film Experts Tatevik Hunanyan, John Kreng, Ron Strong And Michael Worth
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 90 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

GOODBYE, BRUCE LEE: HIS LAST GAME OF DEATH (1975)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Frank Djeng, Co-Producer Of ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE, With Contributions From Chris Poggiali, Co-Author Of These Fists Break Bricks
- The Last Kung Fu Picture Show – The Bay Area's Movie Theater Era
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Radio Spot
- Trailer

Runtime: 83 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Disc 4:
THE DRAGON LIVES AGAIN (1977)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Michael Worth And Frank Djeng, Co-Producers Of ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE
- Deleted Scenes From French Version
- Audio Essay By Cult Cinema Critic Lovely Jon
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 91 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

BRUCE AND THE IRON FINGER (1979)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- My First Bruceploitation – Roundtable Discussion With Martial Artists/Kung Fu Film Experts Tatevik Hunanyan, John Kreng, Ron Strong And Michael Worth
- Deleted Scenes
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
- U.S. Trailer
- Hong Kong Trailer

Runtime: 89 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Disc 5:
CHALLENGE OF THE TIGER (1980)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth And Film Historian C. Courtney Joyner
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 89 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

CAMEROON CONNECTION (1984)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Writer/Criterion Reflections Podcast Host David Blakeslee
- Lights... Cameroon... Action! – The Life And Films Of Alphonse Beni
- 2022 Q&A With Alphonse Beni At Cine Club N'Kah
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth

Runtime: 91 mins
Audio: French Mono / English Subtitles
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Disc 6:
SUPER DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY (1974)

Special Features:
- Partial Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
- TV Spot
- Trailer

Runtime: 93 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

THE DRAGON LIVES (1976)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Actress Caryn White Stedman And Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Audio Interview With "He’s A Legend, He’s A Hero" Songwriter Anders Gustav Nelsson
- The Taiwan Connection – Interview With Caryn White Stedman
- Bruce Biopics – Roundtable Discussion With Martial Artists/Kung Fu Film Experts Tatevik Hunanyan, John Kreng, Ron Strong And Michael Worth
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
- TV Spots

Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Disc 7:
THE DRAGON, THE HERO (1980)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Director Godfrey Ho And Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Godfrey, The Hero – Interview With Director Godfrey Ho
- Deleted Scenes
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

RAGE OF THE DRAGON (1980)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth With Contributions From Chris Poggiali, Co-Author Of These Fists Break Bricks
- Kung Fu Theaters – Roundtable Discussion With Martial Artists/Kung Fu Film Experts Tatevik Hunanyan, John Kreng, Ron Strong And Michael Worth
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 90 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Disc 8 (Limited Edition Bonus Disc)
THE BIG BOSS PART II (1976)

Special Features:
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 91 mins
Audio: Cantonese Mono / Burned-In English Subtitles, Burned-In Chinese Subtitles
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

THE BLACK DRAGON VS. THE YELLOW TIGER (1974)

Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Actor/Director/Bruceploitation Expert Michael Worth With Contributions From Actor Clint Robinson
- Severin's Kung Fu Theater With Michael Worth
- Trailer

Runtime: 88 mins
Audio: English Mono / Closed Captions
Region: Free
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

SINGLE DISC: THE CLONES OF BRUCE

Blu-ray: $29.95srp
Runtime: 94 mins
Audio: Stereo Audio / English Subtitles, Chinese Subtitles, French Subtitles
Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1