FORBIDDEN ZONE is region free!

and i'll live with my lionsgate KING OF NEW YORK release

^
I had forgotten about the LionsGate disc, but they've ported over the commentaries and added new extras.

Forbidden Zone isn't necessarily a movie I would expect to benefit too much from a Blu-ray upgrade, but I'd still like to pick it up. It's quite the bizarre little movie.

I haven't seen either version myself, but I'm guessing that the color version would be improved by the uptick to 1080p - it sounds like there's quite a bit of striking imagery!



I just noticed that Arrow already released a steelbook of King of New York in 2008 - I hope this isn't just a repackaging, and that new exclusive extras have been commissioned. The blurb does say 'More special features to be announced!'.

<- rested and ready for you to say this about Il Conformista.

I'm pretty sure the version I saw was the color version, but I was in a particular frame of mind to enjoy this film so the details are a bit hazy. Ha, ha. It's just so low budget, though. It sort of reminds me in some ways of early John Waters films. I have no doubt that there will be some benefit with the move to Blu-ray; I'm just not sure how much. Looking forward to it regardless!

Extras for Demons:

And Demons 2:

oh shit both demons are region free? might have to get those. doubt anchor bay will get around to them any time soon.

So excited for the Demons blus

I'm definitely in for the Demons Blu-Rays...

Nice to see they ported over the AB commentaries and included a new one for the first film as well. I'm looking forward to hearing Cozzi's two discussions of the history of Italian horror films. Does anyone know anything about this Demons 3 comic?

i was browsing through movies on arrowfilms website. Im interested in buying battle royale and dawn of the dead. are they region free and how can i know if they are region free or not ? i want to make sure they play on my player.

Battle Royale is region locked now.

Noir: any idea what the audio specs are for the Demon's blurays?

I ended up pulling the trigger on Phenomena and Tenebre earlier in the week when Amazon.co.uk had them both for 8.99.

... and now I'm going to have to pre-order both Demons films.

Watch. With my luck we will have Anchor Bay announce a release. Or even better, Lustig shouting out, "We scored the rights to the remaining Argento titles!"

No, I just copied and pasted the specs. I'm glad they're including the Italian audio - I can really only tolerate dubbing with Godzilla and Spaghetti Westerns, and even then it invariably sounds ridiculous. Black Sunday is still the only dub that didn't make me laugh.

Apparently there are six unannounced titles revealed in this photo:



Two spotted on the Criterion Forum: Candyman and Fear Eats the Soul. The UK Blu-ray of Candyman looks terrible (though it only cost me six pounds) and is bare-bones, so I'd definitely double-dip on a stacked SE that included all of the extras from the US DVD SE and new material.

Candyman? I'd love the uncut version.

Ali Fear East the Soul? That would be awesome

Demons and Demons 2 are now both being released on 4/2.

I just received my copies of Phenomena and Tenebre in the mail today. I haven't even put in the discs into my player, but I'm in love with the packaging.

Now I'm tempted to purchase the remaining Argento Arrow titles despite owning the Blue Underground editions. Goddamnit!

I would see that release being region locked, seeing as how Criterion has the rights in the US...

I finally watched Phenomena and Tenebre over the past few nights. I'm confused on why Arrow gets so much love other than the fact they put together comprehensive bonus material (and the fact we all creamed our pants over their limited edition release of Battle Royale).

1. I will admit that both films look the best in any sort of presentation I've personally seen. I'm only speaking based upon Anchor Bay's original DVD releases from 1999 and the re-releases in 2008. For those of you who remember both releases, the re-releases included the same outdated (and awful) transfers just now anamorphically enhanced alongside some new bonus features.

2. There are moments of Phenomena's transfer that genuinely look fantastic. There also happens to be moments of Phenomena's transfer that questions if they shot the film with a lens that was covered vaseline due to the sometimes massive amounts of DNR applied. I couldn't tell during the opening scene of the film if I was watching a live-action movie or a messed up Monet painting. It's a very schizophrenic transfer, but again, it's the best I've ever seen the film presented.

3. For those who complained about the noise patterns on Blue Underground's release of The Cat O' Nine Tails are in for a treat with Tenebre. The entire film is plagued with it and it's an eyesore. Again, it's sadly the best I've ever seen the film presented. However Arrow, what the hell happened? Especially when there's a perfectly good transfer that exists that doesn't have the fucking issue.

4. Anchor Bay, at a time when they weren't on the map yet, put together some solid 5.1 remixes alongside their original stereo mixes for their original 1999 DVD releases (that were later used again on the 2008 re-releases). Arrow presents Phenomena and Tenebre in their original stereo (and 2.0 mono for Tenebre) mixes... and that's it. Wah-wah.

5. The bonus material looks like it was shot on some standard definition camcorder from the beginning of last decade. Seriously? Does anyone over at Arrow own any decent equipment? Christ, I could've shot (and edited) the interview footage on my iPhone using an external microphone and it probably would've came out better.

6. The second audio commentary track on Tenebre sounds like it was recorded in a shed using tin cans and string.

I paid $14 for each once all is said and done which I can't complain based upon the killer packaging and the fact these don't exist here in the states. However, I wish Blue Underground could just snatch the rights away from Anchor Bay so we can finally get a proper Blu-ray release of them here. I know Blue Underground won't give us the hours of bonus material Arrow provided, but I know they'd present the film with better audio and picture quality.

I have Demons and Demons 2 (despite the fact it's a steaming pile of shit) pre-ordered because of my love for the first film and the fact that Anchor Bay won't release it on Blu-ray while they own the rights to them. It sucks that I'm already expecting a lackluster transfer for both, but at least it'll be better than the non-anamorphic DVDs I already own. I wish we could get better transfers, but c'est la vie.

Plus each extra, even if it's only a 5-minute talking head interview, has both opening and closing credits.

Man, if only Arrow put such dedication towards their transfers, we'd have Criterion-esque releases from them.