Top 10 Discs Of 2013: Number 6. Dead Of Night. BFI.

The last three surviving episodes of the BBC Dead Of Night series have long been prime candidates for unnerving slices of small-screen terror, so thanks to the BFI for bringing them to DVD for first time viewers and those of us who were lucky enough to catch the original broadcasts. Don Taylor's 'The Exorcism' gave me nightmares for months afterwards, and it's true to say fragments from the broadcast have stayed with me down the years.

You can read my review of this DVD by clicking HERE

Top 10 Discs Of 2013: Number 7. Invasion Of The Bodysnatchers. Arrow Video

Widely touted as one of the best remakes of all time, Philip Kaufman's 1978 film is more a re-imagining of Don Siegel's original, and scores highly in practically all departments. I was particularly pleased when I learned Arrow Video were to release this as a special edition Blu-ray and delighted with the image quality and also the supplementary features package.

You can read my review of the disc by clicking .HERE

Top 10 Discs of 2013: Number 8. Betty Blue. Second Sight

Jean-Jaques Beineix's timeless classic appears on the Second Sight Blu-ray in two versions: the original theatrical cut which I saw during its UK cinema run, and the more powerful 3 hour director's cut which I caught several years later.
A superb transfer, and the hour long documentary, 'Blue Notes And Bungalows', make this an absolutely essential purchase for all those who fell in love with the film.

You can read my review by clicking .HERE

Top 10 Discs Of 2013. Number 9. Black Sabbath. Arrow Video

One of Mario Bava's finest films gets royal treatment here, courtesy of a splendid transfer and an excellent audio commentary track from Tim Lucas. There's also a featurette showing the differences between the Italian and AIP versions. Highly recommended for Bava buffs and newcomers who have yet to discover the maestro's brand of other-worldly magic.

You can read my review of this disc by clicking HERE

Arrow Video will be releasing further titles from Mario Bava's filmography in 2014.

Wonderland: Top 10 Discs of 2013. Number 10

I would have loved to be able to do a top 10 theatrical releases but, unfortunately, my health does not permit cinema visits. So, I thought I'd compile a list of my favourite discs from last year. I've taken a number of factors into account, including the quality of the film, the Blu-ray transfer and the extras. I hope you will take the opportunity to check out any you have yet to see.
This list is not in order of preference, so let's start with today's selection.

Me And You (Artificial Eye)

A beautifully directed adolescent drama, from the great Bernardo Bertulucci.

You can read my review by clicking HERE

Blu-ray Review: Big Trouble In Little China

Big Trouble In Little China was shot during the Autumn of 1985, released the following year and turned out to be a box office flop. Originally conceived as a western, Big Trouble eventually emerged as a high octane Martial Arts themed ride, with a satisfying dollop of Chinese supernatural lore thrown into the mix. The studio really wanted their own version of Indiana Jones. Instead, they got John Carpenter's most entertaining film, with more bang for your buck than the aforementioned hero and his quartet of films.
Big Trouble takes place in San Francisco's Chinatown district as Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) sees his 'Pork Chop Express' truck go missing and becomes embroiled in the darkest kind of Chinese magic.
The beautiful Miayo Yin (Suzee Pai) arrives at the airport to meet her intended - Wong Chi, played by Dennis Dun - who has just lost yet another game of chance to the streetwise Burton. The green-eyed Maiyo is snatched by Chinese street punks before she can even embrace her beloved, and eventually ends up in the underground lair of David Lo Pan (James Hong)who needs to marry a green-eyed girl in order to break an ancient curse and become permanent flesh and blood once again.
Aided by tour operator Egg Shen(Victor Wong), lawyer Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall) and assorted Martial Arts experts, Burton and Wong venture into a shadowy world of Chinese black magic, aiming to rescue Maiyo and claim back the 'Pork Chop Express'.

John Carpenter had always longed to do a film with a strong Martial Arts theme, and Big Trouble marks a wholly successful entry into this field, making the most of an energetic cast who clearly relish their excursion into Chinese mythology. Burton's wisecracking rough and ready hero really hits all the right notes, while Pai, Cattrall and Kate Burton's newshound on the trail make for an appealing trio of green-eyed ladies who enjoy the frantic efforts of the men around them. The combat scenes are beautifully choreographed and staged, benefiting from sumptuous stage sets that combine to make Big Trouble so visually splendid and damnably entertaining from the word go.
Of course, various influences take root here; my own favourite being a nod to the underwater sequence in Dario Argento's Inferno which can be seen around the 39th minute mark.

So, why did Big Trouble fail at the box office? One possible reason is that it was released just 16 days before James Cameron's Aliens when expectation was at fever pitch for this follow-up to Ridley Sctott's original. Happily, Big Trouble has taken off on home video through various formats to become a cult classic, and I welcome its UK Blu-ray release from Arrow Video.

Arrow's Blu-ray exhibits excellent colour reproduction, with the sets and costumes looking splendid, while detail is very strong. Fans of this film should be delighted with this presentation and will doubtless enjoy the bounty of supplementary material, which begins with around 80 minutes of interviews. Here, Carpenter, Russell, Dean Cundey, producer Larry Franco, actor and choreographer Jeff Imada and visual effects producer Richard Edlund. JC kicks things off with an informative chat, recalling his love of Martial Arts movies and the unhappy experiences with Big Trouble that prompted him to turn his back on the studio system. Kurt Russell's contribution reveals the special bond he has with his director and recalls his casting of the lead role in 'Elvis' and some hilarious anecdotes drawn from the filming of Big Trouble. Cundey, Imada,Franco and Edlund chat about life on the other side of the camera, including the lowdown on set design, choreographing fight scenes, FX and design, Carpenter's breakthrough with Halloween and how and why the plug was pulled on Carpenter directing Firestarter.

Next up are eight deleted scenes, with some available on transfers of Betamax worktapes, while others are presented as workprint or videotape, allowing the viewer to check out one or both. Highlights include a rare moment of dialogue from Miayo Yin; some priceless Burton wisecracks and some background info on Grace Law.There's also an extended ending to enjoy, with Burton taking care of one last piece of business.

A 7 minute vintage featurette follows, with Russell, Carpenter, Dennis Dun, Cattrall, James Hong and costume designer April Ferry talking about the making of Big Trouble, while music videos, trailers and a valuable isolated score round off the package. There's also a rollicking commentary track with Carpenter and Russell who recall the fun, frustrations and satisfaction they experienced with this film., and when Carpenter talks about the importance of casting the right people, you just know that with Big Trouble he got everything right.

Big Trouble In Little China is a Region B release, coming as a standard case or a gorgeous steelbook and is out now.

The Ballad Of Joe Strummer : Rope And A Double-Bill To Die For

Originally titled "Rent-A-Riot", the second album by The Clash was released on 10th November 1978 and was called "Give 'Em Enough Rope". After their astonishing debut album, their difficult follow-up gave them the chance to cement their reputation as one of our top bands of the moment. As far as I'm concerned, the album delivered in spades, but many people I spoke to felt the sound to be sanitised, pointing the finger squarely at producer Sandy Pearlman. The album peaked at number 2 in the UK album charts, ensuring a successful outcome for the band, though Joe Strummer suffered as a result of Pearlman's involvement. Pearlman was no fan of Strummer's vocals and made sure Topper's drums were mixed louder on the whole album.
"Give 'Em Enough Rope" spawned two chart singles in "English Civil War" and "Tommy Gun" - the latter dealing with terrorism, reflecting the bands political focus, and kicked off with one of the most dynamic opening tracks you could wish for with "Safe European Home". This would go on to be a live favourite with fans and was joined by the intensely moving "Stay Free"; the swagger of "Last Gang In Town" and the immense "All The Young Punks" with lyrics that would stay with you for ever.
The album was voted 'Album Of The Year' by Rolling Stone and Time magazines and by influential UK music paper Sounds, and deservedly so, showing the band could evolve while staying true to their roots.

The recording sessions for the album also realised some terrific tracks that would grace both vinyl and concert halls in the future. "White Man In Hammersmith Palais" (in my view, their finest hour), "Pressure Drop" and "The Prisoner" were just a few of the songs recorded during the Rope sessions and showed their output to be fiercely creative.
I spent a fortnight with the album rarely off my turntable, growing to love the songs and eagerly awaiting the 24th day of that very same month when The Clash would return to the Kings Hall Derby with The Slits and The Innocents as support bands. I'm ashamed to say I missed The Innocents, due to time spent in the bar trying to spy anyone from Ashbourne who could give me a lift home, but made bloody sure I got out in time to see The Slits who were simply magnificent. I can see Budgie now, pounding the skins with Tessa providing solid backing while Ari prowled the stage and Viv layed down her wonderful skeletal guitar. The hall was naturally packed for their set, and expectations went even higher as the lights dimmed and The Clash took the stage. Late again, but I had a lift home so I could enjoy the night without the prospect of kipping out under the stars as I did a year earlier.
Beginning with the already classic "Safe European Home", The Clash tore the place up, with "Police And Thieves" and "Pressure Drop" rubbing shoulders with the more frantic "White Riot" and "Janie Jones" and "Career Opportunities" inducing mass pogoing from the front to the back of the hall. As always, I departed from the frenzy down the front and moved to the balcony to watch the band for a couple of numbers and Strummer's stage presence seemed to energize the crowd, making us think that whatever the New Year had in store, we could handle it.
It seemed the band were at the height of their powers, and I was simply drooling at the thought of what was next on the agenda. As it turned out, London was calling.