Since the high-definition flood gates opened up for martial arts enthusiasts several years ago now, hundreds of releases remastering vintage Hong Kong fare have cropped up both here and internationally, preserving not just long-time classics but loads of titles unfamiliar to even hardcore genre fans. One of the most satisfyingly curated collections, Arrow’s SHAWSCOPE box-sets, now ventures into slightly more “niche” territory with 
of their celebrated series, newly released this month on Blu-Ray.
Once again featuring a ten-disc Blu-Ray anthology in a hardbound, elongated box with glossy liner notes and loads of special features, this “Shawscope” moves on from the Shaw Brothers’ celebrated series of martial arts vehicles, period “wuxia”-set stories and later kung fu action-adventures. Instead, the mystical and supernatural take center stage as we move into 16 later Shaw films produced from the late ‘70s into the 1980s and the end of the studio’s run.
Here’s a capsule look at each included title and its corresponding special features:
-The most visible title in the box is surely SUPER INFRAMAN (91 mins., 1975-76), a bat-bleep crazy sci-fi super-hero adventure – the studio’s first such sojourn into the genre – which even Siskel & Ebert managed to celebrate a few times on their series over the years. Arrow’s Blu-Ray offers a 2K restoration of the OCN (2.35) with an English dub, Cantonese or Mandarin audio; it also includes seamless branching so fans can watch the US release version “Infra-Man” with its “Stereo-Infra-Sound” surround. Commentary by Frank Djeng and Erik Ko is included plus an interview with star Bruce Le, trailers, and a video essay by Steven Sloss.
-Disc 2 houses OILY MANIAC (90 mins., 1976), a folk horror tale that updates a Malaysian legend, and BATTLE WIZARD (80 mins., 1976), a mix of martial arts elements with more outlandish fantasy components. Both feature new 2K restorations from their OCNs with Mandarin audio and English subtitles; “Battle Wizard” also contains an English dub while fresh commentaries are served up by Ian Jane and Jonathan Clements, respectively.
-Disc 3 pairs up Shaw’s horror hit BLACK MAGIC (98 mins., 1975) and its sequel BLACK MAGIC PART 2 (93 mins., 1976), both from director Ho Meng-Hua. 2K restorations again adorn each picture with Mandarin audio, English subtitles, as well as English dubs. An alternate U.S. opening for Part 2 is included along with new commentaries on each film by James Mudge (the original) and Samm Deighan (sequel).
-Disc 4 kicks off with director Kuei Chih-hung’s HEX (97 mins., 1980) as well as his even gorier follow-up, BEWITCHED (108 mins., 1981), each restored in 2K with Cantonese and Mandarin audio plus newly translated English subtitles and a commentary on “Bewitched” by James Mudge.
-Disc 5 finds Chih-hung lightening up a bit, mixing comedy with the supernatural in HEX VS. WITCHCRAFT (101 mins., 1980), which the director followed with the more outwardly comic HEX AFTER HEX (106 mins., 1982). Both have been restored in 2K here with Cantonese/Mandarin audio and English subtitles (there’s also an “additional Mandarin voiceover clip” for “Hex Vs. Witchcraft”).
-Disc 6 pairs Chor Yuen’s BAT WITHOUT WINGS (95 mins., 1980), a martial arts/horror mash-up, and BLOODY PARROT (96 mins., 1981), Hua Shan’s genre blender which also throws in action-adventure into its heady brew. 2K restorations from their OCNs are included here plus Mandarin soundtracks, English subtitles, and commentaries on each picture by Samm Deighan.
-Disc 7 brings together more comedy with horror and martial acts action in Lau Kar-Wing’s THE FAKE GHOST CATCHERS (103 mins., 1982), paired up with Lung Yi-sheng’s DEMON OF THE LUTE (107 mins., 1983). Cantonese and Mandarin audio adorn both films with English subtitles, 2K restorations on each, and a commentary on “Lute” from Frank Djeng.
-Disc 8 offers viewers SEEDING OF A GHOST (90 mins., 1983), a gore-fest (considering its peers) from director Richard Yeung Keun, as well as PORTRAIT IN CRYSTAL (83 mins., 1983), Hua Shan’s mystical tale starring Pai Paio. Cantonese and Mandarin audio are included once more with English subtitles and a commentary on “Ghost” from James Mudge.
-Finally, the set is capped with TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR (97 mins., 1983), which tosses sci-fi zaniness into a cinematic mash-up that provides the ideal end to this anthology. Arrow’s Blu-Ray offers Cantonese and Mandarin audio, English subtitles, a new 2K restoration from the OCN, a seamless branching option so the viewer can choose to watch the Cantonese version with a bonus scene from the Mandarin version included, interviews with both director Alex Cheung and scholar Victor Fan, and a fresh commentary by Frank Djeng.
Disc 10 is a bonus disc sporting a 1972 French TV documentary on the Shaw Brothers, “Hong Kong: The Show of Mister Shaw’; a video essay on Hong Meng-hua by Grady Hendrix; newly filmed appreciations of “Super Inframan” by Leon Hunt, Luke White and Kim Newman, “Bat Without Wings” by Wayne Wong, “Demon of the Lute” by Luke White, and that picture and “Battle Wizard” by Victor Fan. A full run of trailers, many of them reportedly unseen in the U.S. before this release, round out the disc.
In addition to Arrow’s deluxe packaging, a full color book boasts extensive liner notes by Ian Jane with a plot synopsis, production history, and trivia (including soundtrack notations) on each picture, along with additional essays by David West and Jonathan Clements. There’s also a bittersweet look at the end of the Shaw Brothers’ legacy from Grady Hendrix, one which closes the door on their history and likely (?) provides a fitting conclusion to Arrow’s curated Blu-Ray anthologies of the studio’s productions.
Though I wouldn’t say this is as essential a release as the three prior “Shawscope” sets in terms of quality, which is more varied here and may not appeal to the same martial-arts fanbase, it’s nevertheless as thoughtfully produced and satisfying on its own level.
Additional martial arts mayhem – of a more contemporary variety – can be found with Eureka’s TRIPLE THREAT: THREE FILMS WITH SAMMO HUNG. This Blu-Ray anthology serves up new 2K restorations (2.35/1.85) of the original HK theatrical versions of THE MANCHU BOXER (86 mins., 1974), one of the earliest Hung vehicles; PAPER MARRIAGE (92 mins., 1988), which pairs Hung as a Chinese boxer living in the U.S. when he’s paid to marry a HK immigrant (Maggie Cheung); and SHANGHAI, SHANGHAI (87 mins., 1990), with Sammo essaying a gangster who gets in the way of a young man (Yuen Biao) looking for his police officer brother in the city.
In addition, there are extended international versions of “Manchu Boxer and “Shanghai, Shanghai,” also newly restored in 2K, and mono soundtracks for all (“Paper Marriage” also has an English dub, as do the theatrical versions of “Manchu Boxer” and “Shanghai, Shanghai.”). Commentaries are offered on each picture involving HK cinema experts like Frank Djeng, Michael Worth, Arne Venema and Dommie Ting, plus an interview with “Paper Marriage” director Alfred Cheung, a collectible slipcover, and writing by critic James Oliver.
New From Severin: It was one of the defining films of “soft core” erotica produced in the 1970s, launching its star into international fame and igniting a series of pictures that continued for decades. The picture, of course, is EMMANUELLE, and the original French series entries featuring Sylvia Kristel are now remastered in 4K as part of Severin’s superlative box-set SAGA EROTICA: THE EMMANUELLE COLLECTION.
This spectacular 11-disc set offers both 4K UHD and Blu-Ray presentations of the three films that made Kristel a star: the original 1974 EMMANUELLE (93/94 mins.), the immediately produced sequel EMMANUELLE 2 (91 mins., 1975), and 1977’s GOODBYE EMMANUELLE (98 mins.), which is framed here as the end of the initial series trilogy (though Kristel would appear, sporadically, in later sequels). As a bonus, Severin has thrown in the very first film featuring the character, I, EMMANUELLE (98 mins., 1969), an Italian production starring Erika Blanc in a much darker (and rarely-circulated) take on the material, based on Emmanuelle Arsan’s memoir.
All films have been scanned from their original camera negatives, offering raised depth, texture and color, which moved from the first installment’s 1.66 to the widescreen trappings of 2.35 for its even lusher sequels. Enhancing the material is Francis Lai’s lovely score for the second film, one included as a bonus CD in Severin’s box-set (Gianni Ferri’s score for “I, Emmanuelle” is also housed on its own disc). Italian and English dubs are included on all three films with optional English subtitles, along with a Director’s Cut of the original (in addition to its theatrical edit), and hours upon hours of extras.
These include a 2000 documentary shot by Alex Cox and copious interviews spread across the first film’s multi-disc treatment. “Emmanuelle 2” sports a commentary with Elizabeth Purchell and Gillian Wallace Horvat, interviews with director Francis Giacobetti and others, while a 128-page booklet houses essays and artwork designed by Sylvia Kristel herself. It’s impossible not to believe this beautifully designed package – one of the year’s best physical media releases – won’t be fully satisfying for series fans.
Also New From Arrow: Mostly viewed, initially anyway, as a fad that’s become an unlikely, long-running franchise in all sorts of media, from comics to cartoons and big-screen features, the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES are back – the boys’ first feature-film incarnations at least – in the form of a deluxe, limited-edition Arrow 4K UHD box-set.
These New Line/Golden Harvest productions bring Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael to life – in all their karate-kicking and pizza-chomping glory – in the form of Jim Henson Shop-created suits that are a bit plastic but workable enough that they satisfied young audiences throughout a trio of films produced from 1990 through 1993, by the time the group’s popularity had dimmed just a bit.
Included herein are the original TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (94 mins., 1990, PG), Steve Barron’s box-office smash which was quickly followed by the vastly inferior TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE (89 mins., 1991, PG), and the more enjoyable of the two sequels, TEENAGE MUTANT NINNJA TURTLES III (96 mins., 1993, PG), which sends the group back in time to feudal Japan.
These pictures offer modest charms and work best if you watched and enjoyed them years back, most obviously if you were a kid at the time and hold some nostalgia for the treatment of the characters and level of humor contained within..
Arrow’s 4K UHD (1.85) presentations (from the OCN on TMNT and the respective 35mm interpositives on the sequels) offer nice grain and warm colors with Dolby Vision HDR grading. Special features in the hardbound box, with each film contained in its own separate case, include the following:
-The original TMNT offers an alternate “warrior” sound mix plus its original Dolby Stereo mix (both in DTS MA) plus a new Dolby Atmos version. New commentaries include Steve Barron plus podcaster Dave Baxter, with fresh interviews counting Barron, stars Robbie Rist, Brian Tochi, Ernie Reyes Jr., Ken Scott, Judith Hoag, producer Simon Fields, 2nd unit director Brian Henson and fellow puppeteer Rob Tygner. There are also new featurettes looking at the NYC and North Carolina shooting locales and an alternate UK version with some “unique footage prepared for censorship reasons.” An alternate ending from the VHS workprint and alternate Korean footage round out the disc plus trailers and an image gallery.
-TMNT II features original 2.0 and 5.1 DTS MA soundtracks; a new commentary with director Michael Pressman; new interviews with composer John du Prez, mold shop supervisor Kenny Wilson, and editor Steve Mirkovich. An archival 1991 Making Of is also tap plus the trailer.
-TMNT III again highlights 2.0 and 5.1 DTS MA sound options; a new commentary with director Stuart Gillard; exclusive interviews with stars Sab Shimoto and Vivian Wu; an alternate UK opening; and trailers, booklet notes, reversible sleeves featuring each film’s original theatrical art, character cards, stickers, and a foldable mini-poster.
THE HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS (111 mins., 1976; Arrow) should be of chief interest for fans of the Itallian “giallo,” Pupi Avati directed this tale of psychological – and literal – terror when art restoration expert Lino Capolicchio contemplates whether a long-dead artist has returned from the grave while he works on his painting the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.
The movie’s vivid use of Technicolor gets a major boost in HDR10 from the OCN (1.85) in this Arrow 4K UHD restoration, sporting PCM Italian mono sound with English subtitles. Extras include new commentaries from Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson on one track and Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth on the other. There’s also Federico Caddeo’s feature-length documentary on the production, featuring cast/crew members; visual essays by Chris Alexander and Kat Ellinger; trailers; and Arrow’s customary limited-edition hardbound packaging with a collector’s booklet featuring critical essays and original production notes.
Also available in a new Arrow 4K UHD is a 1983 film chronicling the birth of hip-hop, WILD STYLE (82 mins., R). Director Charlie Ahearn and artist Fred Brathwaite went uptown to capture a new underground art movement that counted graffiti, rap and breakdancing among its many diverse components. Documentary and fictional elements intertwined in this effort, which features talents like Lee Quinones, Grandmaster Flash and many others, providing a unique chronicle of an art form in its earliest stages before it became a phenomenon coast to coast.
Arrow’s Limited Edition includes a 4K UHD (Dolby Vision HDR, 1.37) from the original 16mm negative with a new commentary with Jeff Mao and Andrew Mason to go along with an archival commentary with Ahearn and Brathwaite and new interviews featuring Ahearn, Brathwaite and Chris Stein. A special features Blu-Ray includes “The Origin Story” sporting Lee Quinones and Brathwaite; a separate talk with Quinones; archival footage from the movie’s 1983 Japanese tour; two panel discussions from its 40th anniversary; featurettes from its various anniversary shows; outtakes; archival featurettes; and a limited-edition exclusive CD with audio outtakes, interviews, alternative mixes, radio spots, and a “Megamix” by Jorun Bombay.
ELEVEN DAYS, ELEVEN NIGHTS 2 4K UHD/Blu-Ray (92 mins., 1991; 88 Films): Softcore auteur Joe D’Amato’s sequel brings back young Sarah (Kristine Rose) who here becomes an improbable executor to her ex-lover’s (James Jackson) will – meaning she has to sleep her way through the fam (just in time for Thanksgiving!) to find out which one is most deserving of the inheritance. For fans of the genre, “Eleven Days, Eleven Nights 2” gets the job done with soft-focus cinematography that looks nicely detailed (and then some) in 88 Films’ Dolby Vision HDR transfer (1.66) on UHD with PCM mono audio. Extras include a commentary from Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti, interviews with dubbing director Mark Thompson Ashworth, composer Piero Montanari, and historian Pierpaolo De Sanctis. There are also alternate Italian credits, a reversible sleeve, and a copy of the Blu-Ray also on-hand.
Also new from 88 Films is a Special Blu-Ray edition of ROSA (97 mins., 1986), an appealing, contemporary vehicle for Hong Kong star Yuen Biao. Here, Baio plays a cop with a hot-tempered partner (Lowell Lo) working a case with the girlfriend of a mysterious informant who’s since gone missing. Stunts, romance and some action work mix in this Sammo Hng production, restored in a 2K Blu-Ray (1.85) from 88 sporting a limited-edition hardbound box with a 40-page booklet, O-ring and collectible postcard, plus an English dub or the original, subtitled Cantonese audio. Supplements include commentaries by HK experts Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto, plus David West; and interviews with director Joe Cheung and Benz Kong. English credits, an image gallery and the original trailer round out another superb genre release from 88.
Also New & Noteworthy
GABBY’S DOLLHOUSE: THE MOVIE Blu-Ray (98 mis., 2025, G; Dreamworks/Universal): Easy-going feature adaptation of the hit series for young kids utilizes the same formula as the show, with young Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner), a cat enthusiast, getting into magical animated adventures once she puts on her cat ears. The show transitions into animation and the mix, along with fun songs, is perfect for its target demographic; the movie, meanwhile, ratches the silliness up one additional notch after wild cat lady Vera (Kristen Wiig) takes off with Gabby’s dollhouse. It’s silly, G-rated fun that ought to play even better on video than it did theatrically, and Universal’s Blu-Ray (2.39, 7.1 TrueHD) includes a number of fun featurettes, commentary, and a Digital HD code.
ROBIN AND THE HOODS DVD (100 mins., 2024, Not Rated; Shout! Factory): The legend is reconfigured as a modern day kid’s parable when a female Robin leads her gang of “Hoods” against a greedy developer looking to take their play land in order to construct an entertainment complex for their town. Phil Hawkins’ picture includes appearances from Naomie Harris and Gwendoline Christie and debuts this week on DVD (2.35, 5.1/2.0) from Shout!
DELINQUENT SCHOOLGIRLS Blu-Ray (89 mins., 1975; VCI): Exploitation madness ensues when a group of insane asylum escapees pick the wrong crowd to fool after they they run into an all-girls school where the ladies know karate. This drive-in favorite has been restored in 4K from the OCN in VCI’s new Blu-Ray, complete with commentary by actor Bob Minor and moderator Elijah Drenner, plus trailers and a “Psychtronica: Dive Into Cult Cinema” featurette.
NEXT TIME: Warner Archive December wrap including TOM & JERRY’s Blu-Ray box! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!