Archive for the ‘New Releases’ Category

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Guilty Pleasures 1980s Collection Classic US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated rated for:

Promotional Material

ANGEL (1989, Rated R, 93 Mins) Orphaned, 15-year-old Molly Stewart (Donna Wilkes) is a sweet looking honor student at a private girl’s school by day, but by night she works the streets of Hollywood as a prostitute named Angel. When a deranged serial killer who preys on hookers starts murdering her friends from the boulevard, Angel takes off on a personal quest for vengeance.

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN (1985, Rated PG, 87 Mins) Janey (Sarah Jessica Parker) is a shy good girl. Lynne (Helen Hunt) is a cool rock chick. But when the two friends scheme to get Janey on television’s biggest after-school dance show, they find themselves on a wild adventure.

FRATERNITY VACATION (1985, Rated R, 94 Mins) Fraternity men Mother (Tim Robbins) and Joe (Cameron Dye) have their sights set on a sun-soaked bikini-fest down Palm Springs way. They’re just hoping that Wendell (Stephen Geofferys), the ultimate nerd whose father is paying for the trip, won’t spoil the fun.

TUFF TURF (1985, Rated R, 112 Mins) Morgan Hiller (James Spader), recently transplanted from an East Coast prep school where he was a known troublemaker, hopes to make a fresh start at his new school in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, he gets off on the wrong foot when he breaks up an attempted mugging by Nick Hauser (Paul Mones) and his gang, the Tuffs.

REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS (1986, Rated R, 94 Mins) Voluptuous Jenny Williams (Linda Carol), a young first-time offender, learns the hard way that the rules of the outside world don’t apply at this reform school.

NIGHT PATROL (1984, Rated R, 85 Mins) Good-hearted but inept cop Melvin moonlights as a stand-up comedian. Billing himself as The Unknown Comic, he wears a bag over his head to boost his courage and protect his career on the police force. Melvin is already having enough trouble maintaining his double identity when a joke-cracking thief commits a series of crimes while wearing Melvin’s trademark bag over his head.

SOUL MAN (1986, PG-13, 105 Mins) Mark Watson (C. Thomas Howell) has been accepted to Harvard Law School, but his dreams are dashed when his parents withdraw financial support. In desperation, Mark chemically darkens his skin and wins a full scholarship intended for black students.

BLACK MOON RISING (1986, Rated R, 100 Mins) Master thief Sam Quint (Academy Award? winner Tommy Lee Jones), hired by the government for a high-level job, hides a computer disc containing vital evidence in a sleek experimental supercar known as The Black Moon.

Once cut by the BBFC. Passed 18 after  BBFC cuts of 40-45s for 1986 Thorn-EMI VHS and 1986 cinema release. Cuts were to the brutal beating of Tommy Lee Jones by a gang of thugs.Passed 15 uncut with previous cuts waived for an unreleased 2009 Lionsgate video

See further details: Melon Farmer’s Film Cuts: Black Moon Rising

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Good Day Hard Blu ray A Good Day To Die Hard is a 2013 USA action thriller by John Moore.
With Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb
The R rated Theatrical Version was cut for a 12A but restored to an uncut 15 for home video. There is also an Extended Version with a longer car chase.

UK: The Extended Cut was passed 15 uncut for strong language and violence for:

  • UK 2013 [Theatrical + Extended] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon released on 10th June 2013.

UK: The US Theatrical Version was passed 15 uncut for strong language and violence for:

  • UK 2013 [Theatrical + Extended] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon released on 10th June 2013.
  • UK 2013 [Theatrical only] R2 DVD at UK Amazon released on 10th June 2013.

There is also a US release

UK Censorship History

 

UK: Passed 12A for strong language and violence after advised category cuts were implemented for:

  • UK 2013 cinema release

The BBFC commented:During post-production, the distributor sought and was given advice on how to secure the desired classification. Following this advice, certain changes were made prior to submission

This work was originally seen for advice in an unfinished form. The company was advised that the film was likely to receive a 15 certificate but that their preferred 12A classification could be achieved by making a number of cuts to both language and visuals. When the finished version of the film was submitted for formal classification, edits had been made:

  • to reduce the number of uses of strong language (both fuck and motherfucker) and
  • to reduce sequences of bloody violence, including blood sprays when characters are shot in the head, and punches to restrained individuals.

The formal submission was consequently rated ’12A’.

UK:  The US Theatrical Version was passed 15 uncut for strong language and violence for home video.
Promotional Material

Iconoclastic, take-no-prisoners cop John McClane, for the first time, finds himself on foreign soil after travelling to Moscow to help his wayward son Jack. With the Russian underworld in pursuit, and battling a countdown to war, the two McClanes discover their opposing methods make them unstoppable heroes.

Special Features:

  • Feature–Theatrical and on Blu-ray the Extended Versions
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Making It Hard To Die
  • Anatomy of a Car Chase
  • Two of a Kind
  • Back In Action
  • The New Face of Evil
  • Pre-Vis Segments
  • VFX Sequences
  • Storyboards
  • Concept Art Galleries
  • Theatrical Trailers
  • Audio Commentary by Director John Moore and First Assistant Director Mark Cotone
  • Maximum McClane
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See CARA Rating Bulletin [pdf] from filmratings.com

hobbit unexpected journey

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a 2012 USA/New Zealand fantasy adventure by Peter Jackson.
With Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage. IMDb The Extended Version was rated PG-13 For extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence, frightening images and fleeting nudity.

Note that the ‘fleeting nudity’ is new for the extended version. The Theatrical Version was rated PG-13 For extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence and frightening images.

Director Peter Jackson previously confirmed that the extended edition will be released and will feature 20 to 25 additional minutes. This leads up to a final running time of roughly 189 or 194 minutes for the first film.

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Burning Collectors Edition BluRay Blu ray The Burning is a 1981 US/Canada slasher by Tony Maylam
With Brian Matthews and Leah Ayres. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb

US: uncut and MPAA Unrated (but labelled R Rated) for:

  • US 2013 Shout! Factory RA Blu-ray at US Amazon released on 21st May 2013.

Reviews

  • See review from horrortalk.com : ” The Burning has developed a cult following for three reasons. First, the film is awesome.”
  • See article from dvdtalk.com : “what does make the film work are the gore effects by Tom Savini who really delivers the goods this time out”

UK Video Nasty

 

Passed X (18) after 10s of BBFC cuts for 1981 cinema releaseThorn EMI initially released the video uncut. They then tried to replace rental videos with the BBFC cut version but most shops stuck with the uncut version. The uncut version of the video was banned as a video nasty in October 1983. It remained on the list throughout the scare

Re-released after 19s of BBFC cuts in 1992 by Thorn/EMI

BBFC Cuts waived for the 2002 Vipco R2 DVD

The US Theatrical Version was cut by 1:01s for an R Rating. This version was also released on US VHS. DVD versions are unrated but still have an R Rating on the packaging.

Summary Review : Must Have

A former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement.

I personally love the killer in the woods slashers the best and this is the perfect premise. This film starts as a flashback “of course”… The kids at a summer camp play a trick that goes terribly wrong on Cropsy the mean spirited grounds keeper and he is burned beyond recognition,

Flash back to the woods “summer camp ” Cropsy returns to the scene of the crime to wreak havoc and spill PLENTY of blood. I personally don’t see why they didn’t make a sequel, Cropsy and his garden shears are scarier than Jason and his machete any day as far as I’m concerned.

This is a MUST HAVE for slasher fans.

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Awful Dr Orloff Limited Uncut The Demon Doctor is a 1962 Spain/France horror thriller by Jesús Franco.
With Conrado San Martín, Diana Lorys, Howard Vernon. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDbGermany: Uncut for:

  • 2013 ELEA-Media Limited Edition R2 DVD via UK Amazon [English audio] released on 15th April 2013

Censorship History

The film was widely distributed in a cut European Version.

The BBFC further cut the European Version by 37s. The BBFC commented: Cuts required to protracted scenes of sexualised violence against women

The uncut version turned up on German DVD in 2013 and it runs about 10 minutes longer the the European Version.

Summary Notes: Classic

Dr. Orlof, a former prison doctor, abducts beautiful women from nightclubs and tries to use their skin to repair his daughter’s fire-scarred face. He is assisted by Morpho, a deformed monstrosity who delights in biting his victims. However a young police inspector and his ballerina girlfriend are onto his sadistic practices.

In the European version, there’s a few [breast] shots here and there. Hysterically awful at times but so lovable as a relic of a bygone genre. The music is a cacophonus clanging that just adds to the lurid aura of Morpho stalking the women as his master waits nearby. Delicious b&w photography is preserved wonderfully on DVD.

This movie is a CLASSIC of its genre and a must have for collectors.

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Deranged Blu ray Roberts Blossom Deranged [Previous Cuts Waived] is a 1974 Canada/USA crime horror by Jeff Gillen and Alan Ormsby.
With Roberts Blossom, Cosette Lee, Leslie Carlson. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb

UK: Passed 18 uncut for strong violence with previous BBFC cuts waived for:

  • UK 2013 Arrow (RB) Blu-ray/(R2) DVD Combo at UK Amazon released on 12th August 2013

Censorship History

UK 1975: Passed X (18) after BBFC cuts for UK 1975 cinema release UK 1998: Passed 18 after 18s of BBFC cuts for UK 1998 Exploited VHS. Cut to remove shots of bloodstained breasts from the gutting of a woman’s body during the climax of the film.

US: The cut US R Rated version omits a scene of Ezzra Cobb scooping out a corpse’s brains with an ice cream scoop.

Promotional Material

Real-life Wisconsin serial killer Ed Gein inspired many distinguished films, including Psycho , The Silence of the Lambs and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre , but none is quite as disturbing as Deranged .

Roberts Blossom gives an alarmingly convincing performance as rural eccentric Ezra Cobb, whose mother’s death unhinges him to the point where he not only lovingly preserves her corpse in the living room but also goes out to find ‘friends’ to keep her company not all of whom are dead when he finds them! Perversely, Ezra’s more worried about what mother would say about his various activities than he is about the prospect of being found out. Indeed, like Gein, he’s cheerfully open about his activities when visiting friends, but no-one believes him.

Like Carnival of Souls and The Honeymoon Killers , this is one of American horror cinema’s great one-offs, an eerie, genuinely unsettling but also darkly comic experience.

Special Features:

  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of the unrated version, featuring the infamous brain-scooping scene , available uncut in the UK for the first time!
  • Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • Audio commentary with special effects artist Tom Savini
  • Introduction to the film by Savini
  • A Blossoming Brilliance: Scott Spiegel ( Intruder, Evil Dead II ) speaks about Deranged star Roberts Blossom and the lasting legacy of this gore-soaked gem
  • Ed Gein: From Murder to Movies – Laurence R. Harvey ( The Human Centipide II ) discusses the lurid legacy of the Wisconsin serial killer and the secrets of portraying a cinematic psychopath
  • Original Trailer
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh
  • Collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Stephen Thrower, author of Nightmare USA , and an archive interview with producer Bob Clark by Calum Waddell, illustrated with original archive stills and posters
  • And more to be announced!
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Good Day Hard Blu ray A Good Day To Die Hard is a 2013 USA action thriller by John Moore.
With Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb
The R rated Theatrical Version was cut for a 12A but restored to an uncut 15 for home video. There is also an Extended Version with a longer car chase.UK: The Extended Cut was passed 15 uncut for strong language and violence for:

  • UK 2013 [Theatrical + Extended] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon released on 10th June 2013.

UK: The US Theatrical Version was passed 15 uncut for strong language and violence for:

  • UK 2013 [Theatrical + Extended] RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon released on 10th June 2013.
  • UK 2013 [Theatrical only] R2 DVD at UK Amazon released on 10th June 2013.

There is also a US release

UK Censorship History

 

UK: Passed 12A for strong language and violence after advised category cuts were implemented for:

  • UK 2013 cinema release

The BBFC commented:During post-production, the distributor sought and was given advice on how to secure the desired classification. Following this advice, certain changes were made prior to submission

This work was originally seen for advice in an unfinished form. The company was advised that the film was likely to receive a 15 certificate but that their preferred 12A classification could be achieved by making a number of cuts to both language and visuals. When the finished version of the film was submitted for formal classification, edits had been made:

  • to reduce the number of uses of strong language (both fuck and motherfucker) and
  • to reduce sequences of bloody violence, including blood sprays when characters are shot in the head, and punches to restrained individuals.

The formal submission was consequently rated ’12A’.

UK:  The US Theatrical Version was passed 15 uncut for strong language and violence for home video.
Promotional Material

Iconoclastic, take-no-prisoners cop John McClane, for the first time, finds himself on foreign soil after travelling to Moscow to help his wayward son Jack. With the Russian underworld in pursuit, and battling a countdown to war, the two McClanes discover their opposing methods make them unstoppable heroes.

Special Features:

  • Feature–Theatrical and on Blu-ray the Extended Versions
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Making It Hard To Die
  • Anatomy of a Car Chase
  • Two of a Kind
  • Back In Action
  • The New Face of Evil
  • Pre-Vis Segments
  • VFX Sequences
  • Storyboards
  • Concept Art Galleries
  • Theatrical Trailers
  • Audio Commentary by Director John Moore and First Assistant Director Mark Cotone
  • Maximum McClane
Read more Hammer Films at MelonFarmers.co.uk

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Evil Frankenstein Double Play Blu ray The Evil of Frankenstein is a 1964 UK horror film by Freddie Francis
With Peter Cushing and Peter Woodthorpe. YouTube icon BBFC link IMDb

UK: Passed 12 uncut for moderate horror and violence with previous BBFC cuts waived for:

  • UK 2013 Final Cut (RB) Blu-ray/(R2) DVD Combo at UK Amazon released on 22nd July 2013

UK Censorship History
UK: Passed X (16) after BBFC cuts for:

  • UK 1964 cinema release

BBFC cuts:

  • The murder of the Burgo-master was toned down

UK: Passed 12 uncut for moderate horror and violence with previous BBFC cuts waived for:

Summary Review: A Monstrous Continuity Error

Penniless, Baron Frankenstein, accompanied by his eager assistant Hans, arrives at his family castle near the town of Karlstaad, vowing to continue his experiments in the creation of life. He requires the services of a mesmerist, Zoltan, to successfully animate his monster. The greedy and vengeful Zoltan secretly sends the monster into town to steal gold and punish the burgomaster and the chief of police, which acts lead to a violent confrontation between the baron and the townspeople.

The film’s version of the Monster is noted for resembling Universal Pictures’ famous Frankenstein series of the 1930s and 1940s, including the flat-headed look of Jack Pierce’s monster make-up. Earlier Hammer Frankenstein movies had studiously avoided such similarities for copyright reasons but a new movie distribution deal with Universal helped provide some latitude.

While loved by some, others regard the film as a less-than-satisfactory entry in the horror studio’s run of Frankenstein films. The Evil of Frankenstein is considered by most fans to be a one off from the series proper, rather than part of the actual continuity, partly because of its stylistic differences from the other films, and partly because Frankenstein’s thawed out original monster and the circumstances of its creation bear no resemblance to the creature from The Curse of Frankenstein.

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Repo Man Criterion Collection Blu ray Repo Man is a 1984 US Sci-Fi comedy action film by Alex Cox.
With Harry Dean Stanton, Emilio Estevez and Tracey Walter. YouTube icon IMDb

US: Uncut and MPAA R Rated

  • US 2013 Criterion [Uncut + Melon Farmers TV Version] RA-Blu-ray at US Amazon released on 16th April 2013
  • US 2013 Criterion [Uncut + Melon Farmers TV Version] R1 DVD at US Amazon released on 16th April 2013

The Melon Farmers TV Version is the legendary variant, prepared by Alex Cox for a BBC showing which incorporates deleted material and surreal overdubs in place of profanity. In particular, ‘melonfarmers’ for ‘motherfuckers’

There was a recent UK release on the Masters of Cinema label

Promotional Material

A quintessential cult film of the 1980s, Alex Cox’s singular sci-fi comedy stars the always captivating Harry Dean Stanton (Paris, Texas) as a weathered repo man in desolate downtown Los Angeles, and Emilio Estevez (The Breakfast Club) as the nihilistic middle-class punk he takes under his wing. The job becomes more than either of them bargained for when they get involved in reclaiming a mysterious—and otherworldly—Chevy Malibu with a hefty reward attached to it. Featuring the ultimate early-eighties L.A. punk soundtrack, this grungily hilarious odyssey is a politically trenchant take on President Reagan’s domestic and foreign policy.

Features:

  • New high-definition digital restoration, approved by director Alex Cox
  • Audio commentary featuring Cox and other cast
  • Interviews with Cox, Richardson, and Zamora and more cast
  • Deleted scenes
  • The complete “cleaned-up” television version of the film, prepared by Cox
  • Trailers
  • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Sam McPheeters and more
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Evil Dead 2 Blu ray Bruce Campbell Evil Dead II is a 1987 US horror video by Sam Raimi
With Bruce Campbell and Sarah Berry. YouTube icon IMDbUK: Passed 15 uncut for strong bloody horror for:

  • UK 2013 Studiocanal RB Blu-ray at UK Amazon released on 15th April 2013

Reviews

Censorship History

US: From IMDb. The film was cut in a failed attempt to get an R Rating. The full version of the film is considered lost, but nonetheless behind-the-scenes photo and video of some scenes have been found and are included on laserdisc and DVD editions:

  • As Henrietta is in her rocking chair while the professor is reading the incantations, she rocks into the light, which reveals her demonic eyes. Linda’s severed head throws up black bile on Ash when it’s trapped in the vice (which is why black slime suddenly appears around her mouth in the final scene).
  • A gorier version of Ash cutting off his hand with a hatchet rather than the usual chainsaw. During the “blood flood” the blood not only changes to black, but to red, green, and orange. This scene was altered in theatres in an attempt to get an R-rating, which the film never received.
  • After hitting the possessed Ed with the axe, the scene continues as a “half-headed” Ed runs after them and eventually is chopped to pieces. The body parts flop on the floor.
  • A possessed Ash eating a squirrel as he runs after Annie.

UK: Passed 18 after 2s of BBFC cuts for:

  • UK 2000 Universal VHS
  • UK 1999 BMG VHS
  • UK 1987 Palace VHS
  • UK 1987 cinema release

See pictorial cuts details from movie-censorship.com . BBFC cuts:

  • We don’t see Ash (Bruce Campbell) being kicked in the head by Jake. This has been cut from 2 scenes

UK: Passed 18 uncut with previous cuts waived for:

  • UK 2001 Momentum R2 DVD

UK: Passed 15 uncut for strong bloody horror for:

  • UK 2008 Optimum RB Blu-ray
  • UK 2008 Optimum R2 DVD

Summary Review: Hands Off

In this sequel to The Evil Dead , a young couple chance upon the same remote Tennessee cabin as in the original, unleashing the forces of evil with horrific consequences for themselves and their friends. The only survivor, Ash (Bruce Campbell, who also starred in the first film), deranged after having to dismember his possessed, dead girlfriend, fights back with a chainsaw.

Raimi and company (armed with a bigger budget and over the top special effects) bring us the second instalment of the Evil Dead series.

This film focuses more on black humor and camp instead of shock and horror. Technically this film is far superior to the one that was released a few years back and in many ways it’s a better film.

A fun movie. Highly recommended!