Beloved the world over, Troma’s top figurehead – The Toxic Avenger – became an unexpected box office sensation back in 1984 and it was only a matter of time before the slime-fighting superhero made a carnage-packed comeback. So it was then, that fans of the uniquely Lloyd Kaufman brand of blood, boobs and biceps were treated to THE TOXIC AVENGER II (1989) – in which the screen’s favourite mop-wielding mutant transplants himself to Japan to cripple an international crime syndicate. Once again joining our pollution-pummelling green-gargantuan is his blind girlfriend Claire (played by cult sensation Phoebe Legere) whilst eagle-eyed, video-era addicts might also recognise a cameo from future action movie hero Michael Jai White!

As with 88 Films’ acclaimed release of the original TOXIC AVENGER, this fantastic follow-up flick hits UK BluRay in a stunning new re-mastered edition with plenty of mind-polluting extra features. Choice cuts include an audio commentary with Lloyd Kaufman, retrospective critical thoughts from Fangoria’s Michael Gingold, an interview with co-star Lisa Gaye, behind-the-scenes footage, trailers for all four TOXIE titles and much, much more. Debuting on British shelves this coming Monday – 17^th November – and with a suggested RRP of £19.99, THE TOXIC AVENGER II is a must-have for anyone who likes their motion pictures to walk a fine line between trash and treasure.

Also debuting on 17^th November is Sherilyn Fenn’s kit-shedding classic TWO MOON JUNCTION (1988), a racy VHS-era romp in which the TWIN PEAKS star, and former PLAYBOY cover girl, is seduced by a handsome lothario from the wrong side of town. What follows is class warfare, conflicted emotions and plenty of chances to discover if Fenn really is a genuine blonde! Crammed with clothes hitting the floor, garish lighting and gregarious moments of fleshy-exposition, TWO MOON JUNCTION has already made its mark on a stunning 88 Films’ BluRay. However, this classic slice of softcore has now been made available on DVD due to the demands of Fenn-fans across the UK.

Finally, in anticipation of 88 Films’ forthcoming release of ZOMBI HOLOCAUST (1980), we are proud to release the first poster image of the new, specially created documentary EATEN ALIVE: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ITALIAN CANNIBAL FILM. The documentary will, of course, focus on spaghetti splatter's most controversial movie genre. Instigated by Umberto Lenzi's Thai-set THE MAN FROM DEEP RIVER (1972), and reaching a notorious peak with Ruggero Deodato's horrifying CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980), the form would eventually fade from view with such lesser known romps as AMAZONIA (1985) and MASSACRE IN DINOSAUR VALLEY (1985). More recently, with the Hollywood-made WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (2007), and Eli Roth's THE GREEN INFERNO, terrifying tales of meat-munching tribes have made their return to the big screen. As such, the time is ripe to share some of the true stories behind the making of some of shock cinema's most stomach turning shockers.
With EATEN ALIVE! THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ITALIAN CANNIBAL FILM, High Rising Productions and 88 Films turn the camera upon such groundbreaking filmmakers as Lenzi, Deodato and MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD's Sergio Martino. Also participating are LAST CANNIBAL WORLD actress Me Me Lai, in her first ever recorded interview, CANNIBAL FEROX's main man Giovanni Lombardo Radice and perennial Euro-horror veteran Robert Kerman. Offering a critical perspective are respected journalists John Martin and Kim Newman, author Mikel Koven, academic Shelagh Rowan Legg, director Luigi Cozzi (CONTAMINATION) and Italian genre scholar and screenwriter Antonio Tentori (CAT IN THE BRAIN).

EATEN ALIVE! THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ITALIAN CANNIBAL FILM is the "one that goes all the way" - probing into the facts behind the legends and revealing how a trend that has fascinated, and revolted, viewers in equal measures first came to prominence. From the exotic locations to the most controversial aspects of these frequently censored eat-a-thons - everything is explored, including - of course - the idiosyncratic identity of ZOMBI HOLOCAUST itself: a bizarre blend of native fry-up and living dead delirium!

Back in August we speculated on whether Studio Ghibli, the legendary animation studio behind films like Spirited Away, Grave of the Fireflies and My Neighbor Totoro, might be closing its doors due to financial difficulties. Now in an interview with the LA Times, the studio’s most vaulted director Hayao Miyazaki has announced that Ghibli is in fact shuttering.

“At this point, we’re not making a new film. I think we will not be making any feature films to be shown in theaters. That was not my intention, though. All I did was announce that I would be retiring and not making any more features.” Miyazaki said, deepening the blow by reiterating that he would be retiring as well.

With that news, that officially makes The Wind Rises, released wide at the start of 2014 in the US, is indeed Miyazaki’s last movie, and that Studio Ghibli’s When Marnie Was There will likely be its last.

Thankfully though, Miyazaki is taking the Soderbergh-lite route, finding the time to work on a manga inspired by Akira Kurosawa about a 16th Century samurai.

“It’s something I wanted to do when I was a student,” Miyazaki told the LA Times. “It’s about samurai in the 16th century, wearing full armor, battling it out with each other. I was very dissatisfied with the way that era was depicted in fiction and film, so I wanted to draw something that would reflect the way I thought that era should look. … The great director Akira Kurosawa filmed his films in large, open spaces like golf courses, and there weren’t those large, open spaces in Japan.”

Miyazaki also just received an honorary Oscar as part of the Governor’s Awards. John Lasseter honored him at the ball just this past weekend. Watch his speech below.

Source: Sound On Sight

Sounds of Sputnik (aka Roman Kalitkin) redefines his listeners’ expectations of Russian music by tastefully mixing post-rock, shoegaze, dream pop, and noise. With a love for The Jesus and Mary Chain, Ride, Sonic Youth, Happy Mondays, and Slowdive, these bands have exerted their influences over Kalitkin’s own compositions, forged through twenty years spent in various post-punk, alternative and shoegaze bands.

New Born is Sounds of Sputnik's debut album, loaded with reverb-soaked distorted guitars, penetrating drums, and thick bass, all underpinning the ethereal vocals of Shauna McLarnon of Ummagma, the Canadian-Ukrainian duo who also co-wrote, produced and recorded this album. 

Released on UK label Ear to Ear Records, this project represents a heartfelt attempt to create something of beauty in the face of the hostility currently occurring between Ukraine and Russia.

‘New Born’ is rooted in a shared love of melodic dream pop, post-rock and shoegaze, with aspects of Lush, Curve, My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver blended with Hammock, Cocteau Twins and The Twilight Sad to create remarkable ‘dream noise’.

The track ‘Overdrive’ features powerhouse drums by Graham Bonnar (Swervedriver, Brian Jonestown Massacre), whose signature sound rings through no less than on Swervedriver’s ‘Son of Mustang Ford’ or ‘Rave Down’. New Born also boasts several legendary guests, with remixes from Malcolm Holmes (OMD), psych rock producer Fran Ashcroft (Damon Albarn, Lords of Acid), Russian producers Morozov and Oleg Mezherovsky, and Brazil’s Mind Movies. British producer Marc Joy (Primal Scream, Oasis, Bernard Butler of Suede, Mike Peters of The Alarm, Golden Fable) provides mastering support.

Who are Ummagma?

This duo emerged on the music scene by releasing two LPs (Ummagma & Antigravity) in 2012, followed by 3 more releases on Emerald & Doreen Recordings. The band has enjoyed a full-page feature in Rolling Stone Russia, won Alternative Eurovision competitions for 2 years in a row (Amazing Radio & Pure 107.8 FM), and received 2 awards at the 2013 Australian Independent Music Video Awards. That’s not the only feather in Ummagma’s cap, as they’ve caught the attention of Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) and Malcolm Holmes (OMD), who have both remixed tracks for release this winter.

After seven bloody, sexy and most particularly exciting seasons the curtain falls for one of the most controversial and acclaimed series in recent years. Sookie and Co can now find eternal rest , though that might not be so easy for a vampire. The seventh season of True Blood is available on Blu -ray ™ and DVD from 10 December and is the ultimate culmination of this acclaimed HBO - series.

The fans need not despair, as the Complete Collection takes a nostalgic trip to Bon Temps. Relive all your favorite moments from the series , and enjoy the abundance of extras!

SYNOPSIS SEASON 7

The spectacular end of this sexy, terrifying and entertaining series from Alan Ball starts this season with a bloodthirsty war between vampires and the residents of Bon Temps. Some characters are doomed and other games with death. True Blood ends after seven seasons in style, with a stunning and highly goodbye.

BONUS MATERIALS

True Death: The Final Days on Set ( BD)
True Blood: A Farewell to Bon Temps (BD, DVD)
Audio Commentaries (BD, DVD)

Dicte Season 2: DVD release on November 25

The sequel to the successful first season with Iben Hjejle as Dicte Svendsen

Based on the character from the crime novels by bestselling author Elsebeth Egholm ( Those Who Kill )

With Iben Hjelje ( Dicte , High Fidelity ), Lars Brygmann ( Borgen ) , Dar Salim ( The Bridge ), Lærke Winther ( Those Who Kill )

In Dicte 2 we follow again the charming crime journalist Dicte Svendsen during her work and leisure in Aarhus.

The second season brings you another typical Scandinavian strain complemented with a good dose of humor and emotion.

Technical data 4 DVD box :

Denmark , 2014 | Duration: 10 x 45 min | Language: Danish | Subtitles: Dutch

Format: 16: 9 | Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1