New Blu-ray Reviews

Shawscope Volume Three Blu-ray Movie  

The One-Armed Swordsman / Return of the One-Armed Swordsman / The New One-Armed Swordsman / Lady Hermit / Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan / The 14 Amazons / The Magic Blade / Clans of Intrigue / Jade Tiger / The Sentimental Swordsman / The Avenging Eagle / Killer Constable / Buddha's Palm / Bastard Swordsman | Limited Edition / Blu-ray + CD

Arrow | 1967-1983 | 14 Movies | 1444 min | Not rated | Dec 03, 2024 | Jeffrey Kauffman

No synopsis for this title.

Action / Adventure / Crime / Drama / Fantasy / History / Mystery / Martial arts / Foreign / Period

The One-Armed Swordsman Blu-ray Movie  

Du bi dao / Duk bei do / 獨臂刀

Arrow | 1967 | 116 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

After a martial arts protege suffers the avulsion of one of his arms, he demonstrates why the Chinese words for "crisis" and "opportunity" are the same, developing himself into a one-armed, one-man destruction machine. This dark, intense film, produced by the legendary Shaw Brothers, is considered an early classic of the martial arts genre.

Action / Drama / Martial arts / Foreign

Return of the One-Armed Swordsman Blu-ray Movie  

Du bi dao wang / Duk bei do wong / 獨臂刀王

Arrow | 1969 | 106 min | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

Jimmy Wang Yu is back as one-armed hero Fang Kang, who just wants to lead a quiet life ƒ until the Eight Demon Swordsmen wonÍt take ñnoî for an answer. ThatÍs their mistake: Fang takes them all on, and more, in this fight-filled, action packed adventure which clearly proves that one arm, attached to the right hero, is better than sixteen.

Action / Adventure / Martial arts / Foreign

The New One-Armed Swordsman Blu-ray Movie  

Xin du bi dao / Sun duk bei do / 新獨臂刀

Arrow | 1971 | 98 min | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

Lei Li lost his right-arm in a sword duel with the master of a martial arts school, long ago. Now, he is able to defend himself well with just his left arm, and kung fu techniques. That he proves with just the help of his friend Chung-Chieng, when he crosses his path with a beautiful girl in need, Pao Chiao. Even against impossible odds, he will prove a great warrior.

Action / Drama / Martial arts / Foreign

The Lady Hermit Blu-ray Movie  

Zhong Kui niang zi / 鍾馗娘子

Arrow | 1971 | 105 min | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

From the vaults of the Shaw Brothers hails a film that showcases the legendary wuxia masters' talent like a blood-soaked prize. In a performance celebrated as her magnum opus, Cheng Pei-Pei (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) memorably demands body parts from her foes in a vengeful rage. Cheng is the Lady Hermit: a paragon of poise and stealth, in hiding for years, plotting revenge ever since her injurious run-in with the sinister Black Knight. Shih Szu (Shaolin Handlock) is a lethal go-getter with wicked bullwhip skills who begs Cheng to teach her, hoping to slay the demon herself. The Black Knight's days are numbered as the Lady Hermit and her protege perfect the technique to take him down - one called the Flying Tiger.

Action / Drama / Martial arts / Foreign

Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan Blu-ray Movie  

Ai nu / 愛奴

Arrow | 1972 | 91 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

In what is regarded as one of the most outrageous and taboo-smashing Shaw Brothers classics, sweet young Ai Nu (Lily Ho) is abducted and sold to the popular Four Seasons brothel run by lusty madam Chun Yi (Betty Pei Ti), who falls for her nubile charge and entrusts her with a number of martial arts secrets like "Ghost Hands," which allows a fighter to plunge into an opponent’s chest. Soon murder erupts within the brothel, and a policeman must race against time to prevent a vicious revenge plot from reaching its blood-spattered conclusion.

Action / Drama / Martial arts / Foreign

The 14 Amazons Blu-ray Movie  

Shi si nv ying hao / 十四女英豪

Arrow | 1972 | 125 min | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

The cast of The 14 Amazons is a veritable "who's who" of the golden age of Shaw Brothers swordplay adventures, and was not only a major box office hit (ranking 4th for 1972), but also a top prize winner, including Best Support Actress for Lisa Lu, a special citation for outstanding lead female performance for Lily Ho, Best Director for Cheng Kang, and an award for Honorable Mention for Drama.

Adventure / Drama / History / Foreign

The Magic Blade Blu-ray Movie  

Tian ya ming yue dao / Tin ngai ming yuet do / 天涯明月刀

Arrow | 1976 | 101 min | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

Two rival swordsmen, the heroic Fu Hung Hsieh and the wealthy Yen Nan-Fei, must team up to prevent the legendary Peacock Dart from falling into the hands of Mr. Yu and his evil criminal underworld. Traps, poisons, and double-crossings are everywhere in this spooky swordplay thriller from the Shaw Bros. Studio.

Action / Drama / Martial arts / Foreign

Clans of Intrigue Blu-ray Movie  

Chu Liu Xiang / 楚留香

Arrow | 1977 | 102 min | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

After three Clan leaders are assassinated, Kung Nan-Yen accuses Master Thief Chiu Liu-Hsiang as being the only man capable of the murders, but generously allows him one month to clear his name.

Action / Adventure / Crime / Mystery / Foreign

Jade Tiger Blu-ray Movie  

Bai yu lao hu / 白玉老虎

Arrow | 1977 | 105 min | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

The son of a martial arts clan leader embarks on a tragic journey full of intrigue to avenge his father, who was killed by a rival, treacherous clan, on the day of his wedding ceremony.

Action / Adventure / Martial arts / Foreign

The Sentimental Swordsman Blu-ray Movie  

Duo qing jian ke wu qing jian / 多情劍客無情劍

Arrow | 1977 | 96 min | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

The Sentimental Swordsman epitomizes the lone, virtuous, heroic swordsman with a twist. The Oedipus complexed swordsman played by the popular Ti Lung, is a hero with weaknesses; he drinks, thereby losing his girlfriend via tricked honor. It's finally payback time.

Action / Adventure / Martial arts / Foreign

The Avenging Eagle Blu-ray Movie  

Leng xue shi san ying / 冷血十三鷹

Arrow | 1978 | 92 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

Ku Feng raises orphans to be his personal killers; but one orphan starts to question his role in life. This leads to his becoming a marked man. Joined by a lone warrior; the pair go to stamp out the plague that the King Eagle has unleashed on the world.

Action / Adventure / Drama / Martial arts / Foreign / Period

Killer Constable Blu-ray Movie  

Wan ren zhan / Man yan jam / 萬人斬

Arrow | 1980 | 96 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

Righteous constable Leng Tian-Ying has a fearsome reputation of killing criminals without remorse. But after being assigned to track a gang that robbed the imperial treasury, he comes to find that his reputation is being used against him.

Action / Adventure / Drama / Foreign

Buddha's Palm Blu-ray Movie  

Ru Lai shen zhang / Yue Loi sun jeung / 如來神掌

Arrow | 1982 | 93 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

The Buddha's Palm, a technique by which an ordinary hand is transformed into a formidable force. Ku, a blind recluse living in a cave, knows its secret, which proves to be as much a blessing as a curse as it attracts all manner of mayhem.

Action / Fantasy / Martial arts / Foreign

Bastard Swordsman Blu-ray Movie  

Tian can bian / Tin cam bin / 天蠶变

Arrow | 1983 | 89 min | Not rated | No Release Date | Jeffrey Kauffman

Hsu Shao-chiang stars as a veritable "Spider-Swordsman" - master of the "Silkworm Style" - in this eye-filling, mind-bending martial arts phantasmagorical which truly warrants the description: "unforgettable."

Action / Mystery / Foreign

Drag Me to Hell 4K Blu-ray Movie  

Collector's Edition / 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Shout Factory | 2009 | 1 Movie, 2 Cuts | 99 min | Unrated | Oct 29, 2024 | Brian Orndorf

Christine Brown is on her way to having it all: a devoted boyfriend, a hard-earned job promotion, and a bright future. But when she’s forced to make a tough decision that evicts an elderly woman from her house, Christine becomes the victim of an evil curse. Now she has only three days to dissuade a dark spirit from stealing her soul before she is dragged to hell for an eternity of unthinkable torment.

Horror / Thriller / Dark humor / Supernatural

Gushing Over Magical Girls: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie  

魔法少女にあこがれて / Maho Shojo ni Akogarete

Sentai Filmworks | 2024 | 325 min | Rated TV-MA | Dec 03, 2024 | Neil Lumbard

Utena was obsessed with her city's Magical Girls, so when she was offered the chance to become a MG herself, she agreed without reading the fine print and now she's an EVIL magical girl in a scandalously brief costume, who has to fight her beloved heroines! And even more embarrassing? It seems Utena's MG obsession was nowhere near as innocent as she'd believed, and her relationships with Magical Girls take on a very twisted turn once her inner kinks are set free and she can TOUCH them! It's the wildest, weirdest, and absolutely perviest anime ever as Utena & Co. get their freaky wicked on in the uncut, Ultra Gushing Edition of Gushing Over Magical Girls!

Action / Adventure / Anime / Comedy / Fantasy / Erotic / Comic book / Foreign

Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor - Season 1 Collection Blu-ray Movie  

Sentai Filmworks | 2007-2008 | 650 min | Rated TV-14 | Dec 10, 2024 | Neil Lumbard

It would be hard to find a more pathetic scumbag than Kaiji Ito, who’s spent his life gambling, drinking, and running up massive debts. Unfortunately, Endo the Loan Shark has no trouble finding Kaiji himself, and to pay back an impossible debt, our human cockroach of a hero’s only hope is to risk life, limb, and freedom on a night on an infamous gambling ship. If Kaiji miraculously succeeds, his debts could be cleared… but Kaiji is just a pawn in a bigger, rigged, and even deadlier game where the real players are all betting against him becoming Kaiji the Ultimate Survivor!

Anime / Drama / Psychological thriller / Comic book / Foreign

The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie  

Sentai Filmworks | 2023 | 300 min | Rated TV-14 | Nov 19, 2024 | Neil Lumbard

Wataru Sajo has had feelings for Aika Natsukawa since they were in middle school together, but nothing he did ever seemed to impress her. Finally, he faced reality and moved on to build a life without her. Except… even though he’s been making different friends and keeping his distance, Aika keeps blundering back into his life! Is it intentional? Does she not understand that she said “no” too many times? Has his absence made her heart grow fonder? Or is she just as confused as he is? Life’s a great big mystery and love is even more perplexing in The Dreaming Boy Is a Realist!

Anime / Comedy / Romance / Foreign

The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie  

ひきこまり吸血姫の悶々 / Hikikomari Kyūketsuki no Monmon

Sentai Filmworks | 2023 | 300 min | Rated TV-14 | Nov 05, 2024 | Neil Lumbard

Komari Gandesblood is NOT your typical vampire. She’s weak, can’t use magic, dislikes blood, and prefers to hide in her room and pretend that the rest of the world isn’t there. Unfortunately, as a Vampire of Important Parentage and her father’s daughter, she’s been assigned to the job she’s least suited for: leading one of her nation’s armies! Can Komari and her obsessive new maid Villhaze convince her new battalion of bloodthirsty brutes into believing that she’s their fearless leader and totally in command? Probably not, but maybe blood will tell in The Vexations of a Shut-In Vampire Princess!

Anime / Comedy / Fantasy / Foreign