6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Various factions are fighting each other to gain possession of a very special statue. The statue itself is not worth much, the needles inside it are the true prize. These "golden needles" hold extraordinary and unique properties, if inserted in the right positions in a man he will gain super sexual prowess, if placed incorrectly he dies.
Starring: Joe Don Baker, Elizabeth Ashley, Ann Sothern, Jim Kelly (II), Burgess MeredithDrama | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Robert Clouse's "Golden Needles" (1974) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the disc include new audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger and Chris Poggiali as well as vintage promotional materials for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".
The gambler
Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Golden Needles arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.
The release is sourced from a very healthy new 2K master. On my system, the film had all of the proper organic qualities I wanted it to have so that it looks right. I like its rich variety of healthy colors as well, though this is the main area where some additional improvements could have been made. Why? Because even though the primary values are excellent, indoor/darker footage tends to look a tad darker than it should, which is why some black crush can be spotted. I am unsure why this anomaly keeps reappearing on new 2K masters that enter Kino Lorber's catalog, but it is there and it is easily avoidable. (You can see an obvious example in screencapture #18). The rest is great. Density levels for instance are very strong. Fluidity is impressive as well. A couple of white flecks pop up here and there, but there are no distracting large debris, cuts, damage marks, stains, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.
The audio could have used some remastering work. There are quite a few sequences -- virtually all with indoor footage -- where the upper register struggles with light buzz that overwhelms the high frequencies. The dialog is still easy to follow there, but if you turn up the volume a bit more the effect is impossible to ignore. Dynamic balance and intensity are somewhat uneven, but but this appears to be an inherited limitation.
Golden Needles might be the strangest film I have seen this year. It is unable to pick an identity and as a result looks indescribably exotic, but its stars, most of which are big-time actors, treat their characters as if they are key pieces in an entirely coherent project. The odd contrasts that emerge as a result of this discrepancy are quite amusing. I think that I enjoyed the film, but only because I could not tell how strange it can get. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from a very nice new 2K master and features a good exclusive new audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger and Chris Poggiali. RECOMMENDED, but only to adventurous collectors.
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