One such company is Arrow Video! They have been releasing everything from cult, horror, sci-fi comedy, drama a mixed bag of everything! Well now the latest upcoming release really is giving me fits of nostalgia. It is a 5 disc Blu-ray set entitled Enter The Video Store: Empire of Screams.
During the 1980s the man at the head of independent video distribution at video stores was Charles Band. He was a producer and director that founded Empire International Pictures and Full Moon Entertainment. These 5 films are under the Charles Band banner. Let's take a look at what is included in this set.
Our Rating System:
****=Don’t Miss it!
***=Worth a look.
**=An Ok way to spend an evening.
*=You haven’t missed anything.
The Dungeonmaster (1984) A demonic wizard challenges a modern-day computer programmer to a battle of technology vs. sorcery, with the programmer's girlfriend as the prize. **
Dolls (1987) A dysfunctional family of three stop by a mansion during a storm -- father, stepmother, and child. The child discovers that the elderly owners are magical toy makers and have a haunted collection of dolls. ***
Cellar Dwellers (1988) A comic book artist Whitney Taylor is doomed to repeat history in a most grotesque way when she unleashes a demon after drawing it. **
Arena (1989) A human becomes an unlikely rising star in the biggest fighting tournament in the galaxy that's dominated by alien species. **
Robot Jox (1989) In the distant future, mankind has forsaken global wars for battles of single combat. The world has been divided into two opposing super powers, with each side represented by trained champions. **
Now when watching Charles Band produced films, you know what you are in for. There is adult language, situations, violence and some nudity. So these films are not for the kids. Viewer discretion is advised.
All five films are presented in high definition 1080p. Four feature a brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative from Arrow Video. The only one that doesn't feature this is Cellar Dwellers. But even this movie is not without a picture restoration. All of the films feature original lossless stereo audio.
Arrow Video has done a remarkable job with these film restorations. These cult classics have never looked better than they do now! Now 5 films newly restored would be more than enough for me to call this set a must own for 80s films. But Arrow Video always goes a step further in their release and they went above and beyond here to make this set something extremely special. Take a look at what is included as bonus features.
DISC ONE - THE DUNGEONMASTER
* Three different versions of the film via seamless branching: the US theatrical version (The Dungeonmaster), the pre-release version and the international version (Ragewar)
* New audio commentary with star Jeffrey Byron, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
* I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own, a new interview with star Jeffrey Byron
* Theatrical trailers
* Image gallery
DISC TWO - DOLLS
* New audio commentary by David Decoteau, Empire alumnus and friend of Stuart Gordon
* Archive audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon and writer Ed Naha
* Archive audio commentary with cast members Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Stephen Lee, Carrie Lorraine, and Ian Patrick Williams
* Assembling Dolls, a new interview with Lee Percy, editor of Dolls, Re-Animator and From Beyond
* Toys of Terror: The Making of Dolls, an archive featurette with Gordon, Yuzna, Purdy-Gordon, Williams, Charles Band and Gabe Bartalos
* Film-to-storyboard comparison
* Theatrical trailers
* Image gallery
DISC THREE - CELLAR DWELLER
* New audio commentary by special make-up effects artist Michael Deak who inhabited the Cellar Dweller creature suit, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
* Grabbed by the Ghoulies, a new appreciation of John Carl Buechler, special make-up effects artist of many Empire Pictures films and director of Cellar Dweller, by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
* Inside the Cellar, a new interview with special make-up effects artist Michael Deak
* Original sales sheet
* Original production notes
* VHS trailer
* Empire Pictures trailer reel
* Image galleries, including behind the scenes photos courtesy of special make-up effects artist Michael Deak
DISC FOUR - ARENA
* New audio commentary with director Peter Manoogian, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
* Alternative fullframe presentation
* Not His Arena, a new interview with co-screenwriter Danny Bilson
* Empire of Creatures, a new interview with special make-up effects artist Michael Deak
* Theatrical trailer
* Image gallery
DISC FIVE - ROBOT JOX
* Archive audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon
* Archive audio commentary with associate effects director Paul Gentry, mechanical effects artist Mark Rappaport, and stop-motion animator Paul Jessell
* Crash and Burn, a new interview with actor Gary Graham
Okay so Charles Band films are not Citizen Kane, Gone with the Wind or Casablanca. They were never meant to be! They were just meant to entertain and entertain they do. This is a pretty nice little collection of Empire Pictures films. Cult film fans will be in seventh heaven with this set.
Truly this box set is something that will transport the owner back in time to the days of video store browsing. I highly recommend this set for fans of 1980 Charles Band films. Head over to Amazon and pre-order your copy today.
Out of 4 film reels (4 being the best) Arrow Video's Blu-ray set of Enter the Video Store: Empire of Screams receives..
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