6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In Rome, a vagrant finds the body of a teen girl, her throat professional slashed. Police inspector Olmi uses his brutal and violent methods to follow a trail that leads him toward high government officials. When his methods leave an innocent bystander dead, the corrupt officials have an excuse to get Olmi transferred to a coastal town where the pace is slow and he has time for a romantic dalliance. Soon, Olmi discovers that fishing isn't the only local occupation, and out comes his gun and his ruthless tactics of investigation.
Starring: Maurizio Merli, Olga Karlatos, Massimo Serato, Nello Pazzafini, Mario FelicianiCrime | 100% |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Maybe it was just a bit of unintended synchronicity, but Cauldron Films included a supplement on its release of Shanghai Joe (coming out on the same day as this release) which documents the kind of odd but appealing subgenre of Eastern characters with martial arts expertise punching and kicking their way through the old west, American style (as I mentioned in the Shanghai Joe Blu-ray review, lovers of television shows like Kung Fu should find this "familiar territory"). The reason why this may be a bit of unintended synchronicity is that Cauldron's Convoy Busters, while set in "contemporary times" (in this case, the late seventies of the film's production era) and taking place in Italy, has a kind of poliziotteschi via Spaghetti Western ambience, one that is perhaps subliminally reinforced by the fact that this film's focal cop, Omli (Maurizio Merli), bears more than a passing resemblance to a certain Dirty Harry, whose starring actor of course can't help but evoke tethers to Leone-esque outings.
Convoy Busters is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Cauldron Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The back cover of this release states this features a "2K restoration from the negative". Unfortunately, this doesn't have the clarity and detail levels of Cauldron's simultaneous release of Shanghai Joe, and as can perhaps be made out in some of the screenshots I've uploaded to accompany this review, midrange to wider framings can look rather fuzzy and opaque, to the point that they can almost appear to be out of focus. Even close-ups don't offer a wealth of exceptional fine detail at times, though they're noticeably better than wider shots. Color timing seems slightly too warm to my eyes, with a noticeable pink flush to skin tones. Saturation is still quite good, especially in the more brightly lit outdoor moments, and grain, while thick (noticeably thicker than Shanghai Joe), resolves without any major issues. My score is 3.25.
Convoy Busters features Italian and English language options in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono. To my ears the Italian is the clear winner here, with a fuller bodied sound that is especially apparent in some of the lush, harpsichord infused score by Stelvio Cipriani. That said, both tracks offer generally very good fidelity and present dialogue, effects and score without any major issues. Optional English subtitles are available.
- A conversation with journalist Eolo Capacci (SD; 16:02) is subtitled in English.
- A conversation with director Ruggero Deodato (SD; 6:27) is subtitled in English.
- A conversation with director Enzo G. Castellari (SD; 22:20) is subtitled in English.
- A conversation with journalist Maurizio Matteo Merli (SD; 20:26) is subtitled in English.
- A conversation with actor Enio Girolami (SD; 15:54) is subtitled in English.
- A conversation with journalist Eolo Capacci (SD; 16:02) is subtitled in English.
- Alternate English openin credit sequence (HD; 00:59)
- Trailer - English (HD; 4:01)
- Trailer - Italian (HD; 3:50)
- Image Gallery (HD; 2:42)
It's may just slightly comical that this film's American distributors evidently wanted to cash in on Convoy, which had come out about six months before this film, especially since this story has little to nothing to do with convoys of any type. Fans of Maurizio Merli and/or Stelvio Massi should get at least some intermittent excitement out of this effort, even if it's more than a little derivative. Technical merits are decent (video) to very good) audio), and the supplements are fantastic, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
Il cinico, l'infame, il violento
1977
I padroni della città
1976
Il giustiziere sfida la città
1975
Roma drogata: la polizia non può intervenire
1975
Quelli che contano
1974
1973
Rome Armed to the Teeth / Roma a Mano Armata
1976
Catchfire
1990
Milano Rovente
1973
2010
暗戰 / Am zin
1999
2000
1963
Minagoroshi no kenjû
1967
1972
Milano trema: la polizia vuole giustizia
1973
Gli Intoccabili
1969
La via della droga
1977
Zeroka no onna: Akai wappa
1974
1969