Dark Force Entertainment Discussion Thread

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by JMDiaz718

Dark Force's site is down again. I’d like to order the standard Blue Monkey at $22. No need for a slipcover.

The Store is getting a major re-stocking with a bunch of great stuff we just commandeered from Code Red. Won't be any more standard Blue Monkey available. We will have the Collector's Edition with the slipcover back. We received the batch that didn't get damaged from the replicator. The store will be reopening very shortly.

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I just wish I could get a straight answer on what the audio options will be on Terror Express.

The only surviving master we received from Italy, that needed a ton of restoration, had english audio. I guess we were very lucky to even get that. I am thrilled to report after a ton of work and money we got that little gem to look pretty damn good. The Dark Forces love that movie.

[docvoltage]

Originally Posted by Dark Force

Why? Cause it's a tough business and we put out good stuff that's why. Cause we wouldn't be here going on four years if we weren't doing something right. Cause we wouldn't be at the top of the biggest blu-ray forum on the internet if we were releasing crap. As for the anger and hostility I think we are pretty calm in lieu of the amount of hostility that is constantly thrown at us. Seems there are a lot of angry and emotional people collecting videos. We do know you would never come here and call anyone a miserable prick face to face. But it's real easy to be a tough guy on the internet.

Your support of a company shouldn't be based on an attitude but on the quality of what they are selling. If you don't like that quality then don't buy it.

This stuff cracks me up.

I gotta say, every business interaction I've had with DF has been exemplary. Once something broke in the email through no fault of DF and I got prompt and very courteous customer service. I have had zero issues. So that's what I base my support on. I buy the releases I think I might like when I think the pricepoint is right, and I've been very happy with the quality and service I have received for my $$$.

The rest is window dressing from the Pro Wrestling playbook. It's called Ballyhoo, gets your name out there, and drives traffic to the site. Every boutique label needs its own identity. Marketing/image/brand. Remember Don Rickles? D*ck on stage, lovely chap at home.

I had the same experience with Bill and the old BigCartel shop. He replied to emails and always treated me right. (And the emails used proper spelling and grammar BTW.) Very different from the interactions made public.

Now I'm sure some of a person's personality shines through in these fora, but business is business. You take my money and give me commensurate product and service. Done. I vote with my wallet.

Although it is kinda cool, in a very wrong way, that one member got a death threat from a banana once...

[docvoltage]

Originally Posted by Frightener22

"BREAKING NEWS: The Leo Fong 1980 martial arts epic REVENGE OF THE BUSHIDO BLADE will be a 2K scan from the original uncut 35mm camera negative. Dark Force will transport the precious element to the lab tomorrow on this rape/revenge flick also known as THE LAST REUNION to begin the production process. The hard hitting flick also stars cult legend Cameron Mitchell (NIGHTMARE IN WAX, ISLAND OF THE DOOMED)."

You had me at Cameron Mitchell !!!

For those who haven't heard it, here's a nifty podcast about him by FOR:

https://www.facebook.com/11354494868...6748181035366/

[El_Fez]

Originally Posted by Dark Force

The only surviving master we received from Italy, that needed a ton of restoration, had english audio. I guess we were very lucky to even get that. I am thrilled to report after a ton of work and money we got that little gem to look pretty damn good. The Dark Forces love that movie.

I'm still shocked that these smaller, lesser known Italian horror flicks are turning up on Blu at all. So while multiple language tracks would be awesome, just getting it at all is a plus.

Realizing that you dont want to pin down a date, do we have a window on when "Soon" on the Coming Soon might be? I'm actually really looking forward to getting this one.

[docvoltage]

Originally Posted by Dark Force

The only surviving master we received from Italy, that needed a ton of restoration, had english audio. I guess we were very lucky to even get that. I am thrilled to report after a ton of work and money we got that little gem to look pretty damn good. The Dark Forces love that movie.

Camera Obscura released this in Italian & German 11 years ago on DVD. I thought it was a very good restoration given the materials on hand, but I'm very keen to see what your new Blu will look like. Given the dark and gritty look of the film, I hope this is going to be a substantial leap forward with extra depth in the night scenes (of which there are many).

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...or_express.htm

If you can provide a screener to DVDBeaver I bet some awesome comparison screencaps will help sell more units

[Member-222782]

I assume restoration work on the Italian stuff had been undertaken before the pandemic hit - Vinegar Syndrome has had to postpone one of their upcoming gialli twice (maybe others?) because of Italian lab closures. It's a major bummer.

[Lianzantoro]

Originally Posted by Dark Force

The only surviving master we received from Italy, that needed a ton of restoration, had english audio. I guess we were very lucky to even get that. I am thrilled to report after a ton of work and money we got that little gem to look pretty damn good. The Dark Forces love that movie.

I have no problem with this being English dub only. A lot of these European films from that era had actors speaking their lines in various different languages anyway, rendering the English dub no less valid than the Italian. Some films are actually better in dubbed English. The Story of Ricky for instance.

[darkness2918]

Hopefully whenever the store opens back up they’ll have more copies of Blue Monkey up for sale.

[nin74]

Originally Posted by Frightener22

"BREAKING NEWS: The Leo Fong 1980 martial arts epic REVENGE OF THE BUSHIDO BLADE will be a 2K scan from the original uncut 35mm camera negative. Dark Force will transport the precious element to the lab tomorrow on this rape/revenge flick also known as THE LAST REUNION to begin the production process. The hard hitting flick also stars cult legend Cameron Mitchell (NIGHTMARE IN WAX, ISLAND OF THE DOOMED)."

Nice!
Will look good with my dutch video 2000 release.

[Frightener22]

"PRODUCTION UPDATE: The HD transfer has just been completed on the 1975 thriller JOURNEY INTO FEAR and we are excited to report it is looking awesome. This long forgotten and lost gem has a stellar cast including horror icon VINCENT PRICE and Dark Force had the fortune of retrieving possibly the only surviving film element on this picture. Miraculously the 35mm print turned out to be pristine with literally no print wear! For the record we have never had a 70's flick with 35mm print master element only that has been in this good of shape. We'll have more on this exciting new release as they develop.
STAY TUNED for Dark Force Superstore grand re-opening information. THE BIGGEST EVER!"

[leoganzi]

Originally Posted by Lianzantoro

I have no problem with this being English dub only. A lot of these European films from that era had actors speaking their lines in various different languages anyway, rendering the English dub no less valid than the Italian. Some films are actually better in dubbed English. The Story of Ricky for instance.

In the case of Terror Express, the film was basically shot in Italian actually. The whole cast (Italians mostly) speaks Italian in the film, also, even Werner Pochath, a German actor, speaks Italian for his dialogue. And this film works better in Italian, so for me, it's a great disappointment that Italian audio track is missing on this film.

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by docvoltage

This stuff cracks me up.

I gotta say, every business interaction I've had with DF has been exemplary. Once something broke in the email through no fault of DF and I got prompt and very courteous customer service. I have had zero issues. So that's what I base my support on. I buy the releases I think I might like when I think the pricepoint is right, and I've been very happy with the quality and service I have received for my $$$.

The rest is window dressing from the Pro Wrestling playbook. It's called Ballyhoo, gets your name out there, and drives traffic to the site. Every boutique label needs its own identity. Marketing/image/brand. Remember Don Rickles? D*ck on stage, lovely chap at home.

I had the same experience with Bill and the old BigCartel shop. He replied to emails and always treated me right. (And the emails used proper spelling and grammar BTW.) Very different from the interactions made public.

Now I'm sure some of a person's personality shines through in these fora, but business is business. You take my money and give me commensurate product and service. Done. I vote with my wallet.

Although it is kinda cool, in a very wrong way, that one member got a death threat from a banana once...

Very intuitive post docvoltage and Dark Force does greatly appreciate your support and your general support of physical media and the cult home video world.

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I assume restoration work on the Italian stuff had been undertaken before the pandemic hit - Vinegar Syndrome has had to postpone one of their upcoming gialli twice (maybe others?) because of Italian lab closures. It's a major bummer.

Not the case at all with Dark Force. Covid has not been interrupting any of our production and restoration processes. And to answer another excellent question from docvoltage the new blu-ray we are putting out on TERROR EXPRESS is a HUGE bump up from the former DVD release. That movie is right up our alley and we made sure to go the extra mile and put in all the resources to ensure it would receive the best HD release possible from the only surviving film elements from Italy.

[Diabolik008]

Originally Posted by leoganzi

In the case of Terror Express, the film was basically shot in Italian actually. The whole cast (Italians mostly) speaks Italian in the film, also, even Werner Pochath, a German actor, speaks Italian for his dialogue. And this film works better in Italian, so for me, it's a great disappointment that Italian audio track is missing on this film.

Didn't know that.

I think it's also interesting to know which of these Italian genre films have the actors actually speaking Italian.

[docvoltage]

Originally Posted by Frightener22

"PRODUCTION UPDATE: The HD transfer has just been completed on the 1975 thriller JOURNEY INTO FEAR and we are excited to report it is looking awesome. This long forgotten and lost gem has a stellar cast including horror icon VINCENT PRICE and Dark Force had the fortune of retrieving possibly the only surviving film element on this picture. Miraculously the 35mm print turned out to be pristine with literally no print wear! For the record we have never had a 70's flick with 35mm print master element only that has been in this good of shape. We'll have more on this exciting new release as they develop.
STAY TUNED for Dark Force Superstore grand re-opening information. THE BIGGEST EVER!"

I love these 70s films where a cavalcade of old(er) name-brand actors got a paycheck and a vacation someplace warm in exchange for putting their ham-and-cheese on screen and the theater marquee.

They are rarely "good" in the conventional sense, but frequently entertaining, not least because they are great time capsules of their era, since location shooting was cheaper than renting a studio.

This one is a must-buy for me !

[docvoltage]

Originally Posted by leoganzi

In the case of Terror Express, the film was basically shot in Italian actually. The whole cast (Italians mostly) speaks Italian in the film, also, even Werner Pochath, a German actor, speaks Italian for his dialogue. And this film works better in Italian, so for me, it's a great disappointment that Italian audio track is missing on this film.

I ended up watching it in the German dub on the DVD which was nonetheless entertaining. But I usually try to watch films in their "original" language (if one exists). Thanks for that info.

When CO released the film on DVD, I remember many were disappointed that it was not English-friendly. I suspect the same reason why this will not have Italian audio: licensing rights!

If I owned a movie I would try to squeeze every dollar out of it by limiting the rights and languages and thus maximizing the number of licenses I can sell. Producers want their cash! Who is going to pay for their hookers, coke and tax shelter homes in Monaco? *

*(Disclaimer: that's a joke. Many producers are honest, hard-working people).

[leoganzi]

Originally Posted by Diabolik008

I think it's also interesting to know which of these Italian genre films have the actors actually speaking Italian.

The following titles, Argento's Five Days in Milan, The Children of Violent Rome, Short Night of Glass dolls, San Babila ore 20, etc, they all were shot entirely in Italian. Of course, some of the actors were dubbed by professional Italian voice actors, and there are many cases where some of Italian actors dubbed their own voices, too.
In the case of Argento's Five Days in Milan, which was shot in Italian, for instance, the main lead actors, Adriano Celentano and Enzo Cerusico dubbed themselves in the film and Marilù Tolo also.
And you can also hear Adriano Celentano and Ornella Muti's real voices in Il Bisbetico Domato and Innamorato Pazzo.

[mca213]

The store going to open anytime soon or do I need to spend my money elsewhere?

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by mca213

The store going to open anytime soon or do I need to spend my money elsewhere?

It's open right now.

Blue Monkey is back with Slip Cover for those wanting it.