MovieChat Forums > American Ninja (1985) Discussion > (UPDATE) U.S. Blu-Ray release (1-4): com...

(UPDATE) U.S. Blu-Ray release (1-4): coming 8/16/16

posted 9 years ago by NinjaFOXForce
31 replies | jump to latest

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelDudikoff.official/posts/1180286125320980:0

Michael Dudikoff via his Facebook page confirms he is recording a new commentary for a future bluray release.

Courtesy of Olive Films (I knew it), are American Ninjas 1-4 in seperate special editions, street date is, 8/16/16

http://cityonfire.com/american-ninja-blu-ray-1-2-3-4-olive-films-trilogy-saga/

Here's the link to Amazon it you feel like preordering.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Ninja-Blu-ray/dp/B01G3MHKPG?SubscriptionId=AKIAIY4YSQJMFDJATNBA&tag=bluray-016-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01G3MHKPG&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I'm sure there will be a sale for these titles during its first week of release.

Btw, it seems once again American Dragons (1993) will not be offered a seperate release with the other films from, Olive Films.

The War has only begun, will you defend your destiny?

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] bad_habitt 9 years ago

Awesome!!!

I hope this will be a feature length commentary track. I'm not exactly sure what "filming new commentary" means, but I hope it will be an audio commentary.

Thanks so much to everyone involved in this!

Signature - To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] bad_habitt 9 years ago

Do you guys think its Kino Lorber who is releasing the disc? I'm hoping they get someone from the music editing department to do an interview on how the same film music was edited over and over again but still worked perfectly and in-sync with each scene.

To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] NinjaFOXForce 9 years ago

Rumor has it may be either Olive Films or Shout! Factory.

The War has only begun, will you defend your destiny?

[–] bad_habitt 9 years ago

Based on.... ?

I hope its Shout Factory, they will at least include some good features. I think it's most likely Kino Lorber.

[–] NinjaFOXForce 9 years ago

Based on?.....

It was confirmed by a rep from Kino Lorber on the Blu-Ray.com message boards that they don't have the rights to the American Ninja series. That's where I got my confirmation from; when he mentioned either Olive Films or Shout Factory!

The War has only begun, will you defend your destiny?

[–] bad_habitt 9 years ago

Interesting.

[–] NinjaFOXForce 9 years ago

The wait is driving me crazy, ill settle for single releases or a box-set.

The War has only begun, will you defend your destiny?

[–] Slavic 9 years ago

For those who can't wait for American Blu-Ray release or not sure if the British 88 Film blu-ray release will play for them. I gotta give a shout out, it plays just fine on North American blu-ray player (for me it's Samsung player) and PS4! The disc is not region locked. I just bought it myself and it plays without any problem on both devices.

[–] NinjaFOXForce 9 years ago

Thanks for the heads up buddy, Ive been holding on to my HDTV Rips for quite some time.

The War has only begun, will you defend your destiny?

[–] bad_habitt 9 years ago

There are threads on this board that explicitly state the release of American Ninja on 88Films UK BluRay label.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Still no new news on this release.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Is it possible that Dudikoff's picture was actually in reference to the interview he did for the 88FILMS UK release of the BluRay? It's surprising no announcement of any kind has been made in regards to the USA Region 1 release.

[–] NinjaFOXForce 8 years ago

Bump.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Awesome - but if it doesn't include new commentary by Dudikoff, I don't think I'm gonna buy it.

Signature: To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Separate special editions? No BoxSet? I'm not sure if I will buy all of these. If they have new commentaries then yes, if not, then I won't.

Signature: To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

I think it's fair to say there is no new commentery track, I think Michael just meant he is filming a new interview. Clearly there is no need to light someone when they're recording a commentery track in a sound studio!!!

[–] chanbara 8 years ago

Thanks for the heads up.

I'm glad they're releasing the films separately as the first one is the only one I like.

I assumed the extras on a US release would be the same as the UK 88 Films one,
but looking at the specs I'm not so sure...

http://cityonfire.com/american-ninja-blu-ray-1-2-3-4-olive-films-trilogy-saga/

American Ninja (pre-order)
Audio Commentary with director Sam Firstenberg
“A Rumble in The Jungle” – The Making of American Ninja: Featuring interviews with director Sam Firstenberg, actors Michael Dudikoff and Judie Aronson, Screenwriter Paul De Mielche and Stunt Co-ordinator Steve Lambert
Theatrical Trailer
Optional English SDH subtitles

Interestingly, they only list Sam Firstenberg as being part of the Audio Commentary. I really hope that's true and it's a completely NEW commentary and that they don't just use the commentary he did with that ego-maniac Steve Lambert. Would love to hear Firstenberg speak un-interrupted and without Lambert's tall tales and flat-out lies.

But since it seems likely that the documentary "A Rumble in The Jungle – The Making of American Ninja" is just a re-titling of "Ninja Gaijin: Remembering a Classic Cannon Franchise", I suspect all of it is in fact the same as the 88 Films release was.

Guess I'll have to wait and see.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Olive films they have stated its all new extras filmed for this release.

I would laugh if it was re-edited footage of the 88 Films release.

Signature: To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] chanbara 8 years ago

Olive films they have stated its all new extras filmed for this release.

That sounds good, but I wonder if "all new" just refers to Region 1 (North America)? It seems the same people are involved in the "A Rumble in The Jungle" documentary that were in the "Ninja Gaijin" one, so...

I'll be satisfied if only the Firstenberg commentary is brand new.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Umbrella Entertainment who currently hold the distribution rights to the NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER SEQUELS have recently asked what films fans would like them to release.

Please post on their May 30th post and request "Please release NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER 2,3 and KING OF THE KICKBOXERS on BluRay".

https://www.facebook.com/UmbrellaEnt/?rc=p

Simply copy and paste what I wrote in quotes.

WE Need support from the film community to get these released. Please do your part and post on their May 30th Facebook post.

Thanks in advance for any of your help.

[–] chanbara 8 years ago

The first review is out:
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/American-Ninja-Blu-ray/93657/#Review

It looks like the 2 major extras are brand-new and not just copied over from the UK releases.

I'm beyond thrilled to learn that the audio commentary is brand spanking new and does not include Lambert. Finally we can learn some TRUE facts about the production, not a bunch of tall tales and BS.

I'm intrigued about the part of the Audio Commentary that the reviewer says discusses "the choreography of various actions sequences and Sho Kosugi's involvement". To my knowledge the great Sho Kosugi was not involved in any way with this film as he left Cannon after Ninja III: The Domination. I suspect it must be related to his influence on Sam Firstenberg when they worked together on Revenge of the Ninja and Ninja III and how he taught him everything he knew about ninja history, ninja mythology, ninja techniques, etc... He's stated something to that effect on a couple of occasions in the past.

Looking forward to getting my Blu-ray.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Probably.

To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

I can't believe they didn't get Dudikoff on the commentery. My feeling is that a lot of the same ground will be covered. The casting process was already discussed on the 88 films documentary. The choreography part could be interesting, but it was already covered in sufficient detail by the first commentery. The real interesting part would have been to listen to Dudikoff discuss his experiences during the different scenes.

I guess the new produced extras for part 3 and 4 will be the most interesting part of the new extras.

To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] chanbara 8 years ago

The choreography part could be interesting, but it was already covered in sufficient detail by the first commentery.

It was covered in largely FICTIONAL detail by Lambert on the 88 Films commentary. This time we should get the TRUTHFUL details.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Unless they legitimately forget who did what because they all wore identical costumes, and because its more interesting to know how they did what they did, than who did what, since film is a collaborative en-devour, which requires the contribution of everyone involved.

Signature: To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] chanbara 8 years ago

Unless they legitimately forget who did what because they all wore identical costumes, and because its more interesting to know how they did what they did, than who did what, since film is a collaborative en-devour, which requires the contribution of everyone involved.

It's not simply about who did what in costume. It's about not making up BS stories to make yourself look all-important like giving YOURSELF multiple FALSE credits (fight choreographer, second unit director, fight double), without even mentioning the people who really did this work on the film.

Film is indeed a collaborative endeavor, but you wouldn't know that listening to Steve "Look at me, I did pretty much everything in this movie" Lambert. I look forward to hearing Firstenberg speak about the film and give us non-embellished non-boastful non-lies-filled details, something he was unfortunately not able to do on the one completely dominated by Lambert on the UK commentary.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

I have a feeling we are going to get much of the exact same stories and commentary. They should have got Dudikoff on this one. I wonder why he didn't join Sam on the track, he joined him on Avenging Force and it was great!

To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] chanbara 8 years ago

I just finished listening to the commentary on the new Olive Films release and it is nothing short of FANTASTIC! It’s everything I hoped for and more. It’s done in a kind of interview style with Elijah Drenner asking director Sam Firstenberg about aspects of the production and Firstenberg talking at lengths about absolutely everything. Lots of great behind the scenes insight into the production, much of it new. Firstenberg is a jovial person who doesn't put on airs and listening to him is a real delight. And without Lambert continuously interrupting him and talking over him in order to brag about things he did and DID NOT DO that was constant on the 88 Films commentary, we really get to hear about a lot of what went into REALLY putting this film together.

Firstenberg, as I expected, gives full props to fight choreographer Mike Stone and Dudikoff's fight double Richard Norton numerous times (something he was not allowed to do in the 88 Films commentary because Lambert falsely took credit for their work). He also mentions Sho Kosugi's substantial influence on him when they worked together, which was great to hear and explains why this film feels much more like the previous Cannon Ninja films starring Sho, than the sillier cartoony sequels do.

He also talks about pretty much everyone else that helped make the movie, including the other cast members and a lot of the staff, and gives the appropriate credit to Lambert as stunt coordinator and stunt man. None of Lambert's lies from the 88 Films commentary are repeated.

I only wish we could get a similar Lambert-Free Firstenberg rectification commentary for the first 2 ninja movies directed by Firstenberg that starred the great Sho Kosugi, "Revenge of the Ninja" and "Ninja III: The Domination". Both of those films' Region 1 Blu-ray releases unfortunately were also dominated by Lambert and peppered with his numerous tall tales and flat out lies.

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

Well I'm happy for you that you enjoyed it. Seems like you got the commentery experience that you wanted. It's good to hear that there is new information on this track and not just rehashes.

To any BluRay/DVD distribution company: please release No Retreat No Surrender sequels on BluRay!

[–] bad_habitt 8 years ago

The new commentery makes you realize just how strange of a production this really was. For example they were running against the clock the whole time trying to fill in for the release of Chuck Norris' Invasion USA. They had 4 editors cutting the movie in post production. Apparently the credited editor was actually the chief supervising editor. That just really blew my mind because it seems like a such an important detail that was never mentioned in the previous interviews on the previous discs.

My favorite part of this film is the score and the music editing, which again was not mentioned at all. It seems like however that they needed something akin from a temp music track from the composer (since the film had such a rushed post production process). I'm guessing they never had time for a composer to properly sit down and score the film. Instead, they just asked him to record 30 minutes of music that consisted of suspense, romance and action, and also used existing music and queues from the cannon library.

They certainly didn't interview anyone from the music editing department, but I think we can draw our own conclusions as to why it panned out the way that it did.