About those new HERCULES Blu-rays from Artus Films…

I got the new Blu-rays of HERCULES (1958) and HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959) last week. They are combo Blu-ray and DVD. The packaging for both is stellar and the HERCULES package includes an amazing booklet. The packaging/booklet: 10 out of 10.

With that being said, there’s nothing else worth mentioning. The prints on those Blu-rays are identical to the problematic Japanese Blu-rays. Well, they’re not Japanese but those prints first appeared in Japan and have basically been the same prints recycled ever since. I already wrote extensively about those Japanese BDs and I have nothing else to add. It’s a major disappointment but not unexpected. There were rumours that the Artus Films’ prints were from Britain but this was obviously false.

So, to recap: the Japanese BDs were first with these blah HD prints. Then came copies from a RAI HD streaming service. Then I recently got the Spanish Blu-ray of HERCULES UNCHAINED and now I have these two. They’re all the same. It seems I’m repeating myself. As a collector, I’m ok with having these and I’m aware people in France won’t buy the Japanese BDs but also as a collector,  I’m over it. I’m not buying anything related to the two Steve Reeves classics unless they’re clearly different/better prints.

New (old) stuff…

I purchased 2 DVDs and 1 Blu-ray from Spain. 2 very good purchases. One meh.

 

Chelo Alonso and Mark Forest in SON OF SAMSON

The SON OF SAMSON (1960) Blu-ray is excellent and has the English audio. Grainier and slightly darker than the KINO LORBER US Blu-ray release.

Steve Reeves in THE GIANT OF MARATHON

THE GIANT OF MARATHON (1959) DVD is disappointing. It’s in widescreen but 4:3 format, which means those black bars above and below the dark and murky widescreen image. Spanish audio only.

The biggest surprise was the HERO OF BABYLON (1963) DVD, titled as EL SACRIFICIO DE LAS ESCLAVAS. The quality is excellent. Best copy of this movie anywhere and I have a lot of versions of this title. Italian and Spanish audios only.

Geneviève Grad (above) and Gordon Scott (below) in HERO OF BABYLON (1963)

A new HERCULES UNCHAINED Blu-ray…

Someone told me about a new Blu-ray of HERCULES UNCHAINED available in Spain (it’s actually not new…it was released one year ago but never heard of it). And yes it is available. It’s not a hoax. I haven’t heard anything about it and my expectations are pretty low (I expect it to be the same as the Japanese BD) but I bought it anyways. I will have a review of it once I get my hands on it.

AMAZON Spain

Update on the HERCULES / HERCULES UNCHAINED Artus Films Blu-rays…

It seems that Artus Films got a hold of better prints than the first time they tried to get HERCULES (1958) and HERCULES UNCHAINED (1959) released a couple of years ago. These prints are from the UK. So a French distributor will release Blu-rays of these films in French and not English from prints from the British Film Institute?

Here’s a screenshot of the information at a movies forum.

New batch of German Blu-rays… (updated – June 10)

A new batch of German Blu-rays, released late last fall up to this month, are now or will be available. Here’s a quick list:

HERCULES AGAINST THE MONGOLS

One of my favourite PEPLUM was released late last year on Blu-ray. It stars Mark Forest, Jose Greci, Ken Clark and others. There are three different covers to choose from. The German audio is out of sync. No English audio. Nice print. The audio, well, the less said the better… HERCULES AGAINST THE BARBARIANS is set to be released soon with…English audio?

Amazon.de

Mark Forest, Ken Clark, Howard Ross and Nadir Moretti.

 

TIGER OF THE SEVEN SEAS

Fun movie starring Gianna Maria Canale that’s on Blu-ray. Will have to buy this one.

Amazon.de

 

79 AD: THE DESTRUCTION OF HERCULANEUM

Starring Brad Harris. A great looking film on DVD. I can’t wait to see this one in HD. Hopefully, there won’t be any cut. Available May 31 June 14.

Amazon.de

 

FIRE OVER ROME

A usually rare PEPLUM gets the Blu-ray treatment. It stars Lang Jeffries. It’s  a great copy.

Amazon.de

Moira Orfei and Vladimir Medar

 

Updated

THE MASKED MAN AGAINST THE PIRATES

This colourful Swashbuckler starring George Hilton and Tony Kendall is now available on Blu-ray, with 2 different editions. The regular one is more expensive than the Mediabook with two discs. Hmm…

Amazon.de

New X accounts…

I created two new X (aka Twitter) accounts. Mae sure to follow them.

SEMIRAMIS X account

Queens of PEPLUM cinema!

 

MEN OF PULP X account

New AI generated retro images of Men’s Magazines of the past. Totally new recreations and also vintage covers, including PEPLUM stuff.

 

Old X (Twitter) accounts:

PEPLUM TV X account

X account associated with PEPLUM TV blog.

 

MACISTE X account

Dedicated to Heroes (and villains) of PEPLUM cinema.