DVD / Blu-ray Hit List - June 14, 2011

Another Tuesday has arrived so that means another batch of new DVD and Blu-ray releases!  After the exciting debut of Super 8 this past weekend in theaters, what better way to kick off a new week then with some flicks to watch in the comfort of your home.  That said, we have another modest week of releases but there’s no shortage of variety in this bunch so let’s take a closer look at the latest hitting store shelves and online retailers this week:

“Gordon’s War” / “Off Limits” (Action-Packed Double Feature) -- Our good friends at Shout! Factory have another bargain double feature for movie lovers this week.  Gordon’s War stars Paul Winfield as Gordon who after spending four years in Vietnam as a Green Beret returns home to Harlem to fight a war on his home turf.  Drugs and prostitution have overrun his old neighborhood along with his wife overdosing and it’s about time for a clean up.  Along with former army friends, Gordon is set to take on the Mob to bring corruption down before the whole city is taken over.  Off Limits stars Willem Dafoe and Gregory Hines who are military cops in 1968 war-torn Saigon.  When a series of prostitutes with children from American fathers begin turning up dead, the case no one wants falls into their laps.  Things are never what they seem and a twisted trail of clues send the duo into the back alleys of war to put a stop to this killer before he strikes again.  I can’t get enough of these action packed double features courtesy of Shout! Factory.  They manage to unearth these forgotten gems from yesteryear and pair them up with another suitable feature at reasonable prices.  Currently, Amazon.com has this title available for a mere $8.99, if that doesn’t scream bargain then I don‘t know what does. 

“The Image” (Blu-ray) -- Synapse Films will be releasing, as hailed by critics, one of the best erotic films ever made.  Presented in a new remastered high definition transfer from the original 35mm camera negative.  The Image details the sadomasochistic relationship between a man, a young girl and an older woman.  Based on the classic novel L’ Image from Catherine Robbe-Grillet (under the pseudonym of Jean de Berg) the film stars Carl Parker, Marilyn Roberts and Mary Mendum.  This film certainly will have a divided audience but is certain to provide a very unique viewing experience especially due to the subject matter that many choose to shy away from.  The Image will be presented uncut, uncensored and will also be available on a DVD edition.  Early reviews of the disc praise The Image for the best presentation of a classic erotic film ever on the Blu-ray format since it was launched.  Consider that a bonus and count me in for this one!

“Crash and Burn” / “Robot Wars” (Giant Robot Double Feature) -- While not being the biggest fan of Charles Band, I have decided to pick this double feature up since Shout! Factory has picked up distribution rights for it.  Crash and Burn takes places in the year 2030 where the powerful conglomerate known as Unicom is running the governmental show.  A group of rebels surface to bring down Unicom while battling Synthoid, a human like robot programmed to kill those who pose a threat to the organization.  Sounds a bit like The Terminator, doesn’t it?  Then again, when have I ever hated on B-movies ripping off other films?  I welcome it!  Robot Wars focuses on a group of thugs who hijack the last mega-robot on Earth, MRAS-2, and threatens to unleash destruction against the people of the Eastern Alliance.  The only way to stop impending doom is to reach MEGA-1, a robot hidden under the city.  It’s up to a pilot, his engineer and a bright archaeologist to revive MEGA-1 and save the day.  Like I mentioned before, while not being a giant Charles Band fan, I’m willing to take a chance on a bargain double feature especially when it’s coming from the best DVD distributors in the biz.  In a summer that has a new Transformers sequel on the way as well as the Hugh Jackman starring Real Steel, why not add a little B-movie robot fun to the mix?  This release was clearly timed to coincide with the blockbuster robot films of the summer and for that, I say well played Shout! Factory.