Revenge of the Ninja - Fullscreen!
 

I've been waiting for some quality releases of Sho Kosugi films on DVD and this one flew under my radar as I found it by chance at Circuit City. However, my excitement abated when turning it around I saw the dreaded fullscreen listed with nothing else. Why in the hell would MGM do this when they've been releasing cult titles in OAR for a few years now? Suffice it to say, I did not buy it. I suppose I'll have to sucumb and buy it eventually, but I'm damn pissed. I checked IMBD to check it's aspect ratio but there was nothing there. Anybody know? Their other Kosugi release is also pan and scam.

I wish it was OAR as well, but since it is an all-time favorite and the only version I've ever seen is the vhs, it wasn't an issue for me. Also, it's the uncut version with more blood and gore in some scenes.

I know I'll end up picking it up, but it is rather odd that they would release it uncut but not in OAR. I'm guessing we're not going to see any word from MGM on this one anytime soon. :)

The reviewer at dvdmaniacs.net (Ian Jane, who also reviews stuff here) seems to think it's not a pan and scan, but an open matte presentation.

It's listed as likely being open matte at dvdcompare.net as well. Not as good as OAR, but better than pan & scan at least.

That softens the blow a bit, then.