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Quentin Tarantino crowned Sergio Corbucci as the second-best director of Italian westerns, but our vote goes to Sergio Sollima — this is the most satisfying Spaghetti oater outside of the Leone corral. In his first starring role, Lee Van Cleef is lawman Jonathan Corbett, who pursues Tomas Milian’s killer into Mexico for an American millionaire. Political screenwriter Franco Solinas helped cook up the story, which pitches frontier ethics against ‘establishment’ corruption. The two-disc special edition presents the show in 4 versions, if we count a clever English-Italian language hybrid.

The Big Gundown

Region B Blu-ray

Powerhouse Indicator

1967 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 110, 90, 95 min. / La resa dei conti / Street Date February 13, 2023 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £22.99

Starring: Lee Van Cleef, Tomas Milian, Walter Barnes, Nieves Navarro, Gérard Herter, Manolita Barroso, Robert Camardiel, Ángel del Pozo, Luisa Rivelli, Luis Barboo, Benito Stefanelli.

Cinematography: Carlo Carlini

Set decorators: Carlo Leva, Carlo Simi, Nicola Tamburo

Costumes: Carlo...

Frank Perry’s version of the shootout at the O.K. Corral shapes up as a fine western and an even better drama — the revisionist angle is supported by an excellent script and thoughtful, challenging characterizations. Tombstone’s frontier folk are dirty, vulgar and corrupt, but Stacy Keach and Faye Dunaway generate a rough-hewn romantic harmony. Harris Yulin’s Wyatt Earp is a revelation as well — if this were modern times Earp would get a lock on city hall politics and go into the land development racket. The beautifully filmed movie looks terrific on disc. Alex Cox delivers a solid audio commentary as well.

“Doc”

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 96 min. / Street Date March 23, 2021 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95

Starring: Stacy Keach, Faye Dunaway, Harris Yulin, Mike Witney, Penelope Allen, Antonia Rey, Denver John Collins, Penelope Allen, Luis Barboo.

Cinematography: Gerald Hirschfeld

Film Editors: Alan Heim, Juan Serra

Production...

A middling entry in the genre of blow-it-up big action spectacles, Paul Wendkos’ Spain-filmed western gives us all the excitement promised by the poster, but with some cardboard characters and lumpy storytelling. George Peppard is on the job, however, and once again proves he can carry a big picture, flaws and all.

Cannon for Cordoba

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1970 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 104 min. / Street Date October 31, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: George Peppard, Raf Vallone, Giovanna Ralli, Don Gordon, Pete Duel, Nico Minardos, John Russell, John Larch, Gabriele Tinti, Francine York, Lionel Murton, Hans Meyer, Aldo Sambrell, Luis Barboo.

Cinematography: Antonio Macasoli

Film Editor: Walter A. Hannemann

Special effects: Emilio Ruiz del Río

Original Music: Elmer Bernstein

Written by Stephen Kandel

Produced by Vincent M. Fennelly

Directed by Paul Wendkos

While providing backing for independent writer-producers like Billy Wilder, Walter Mirisch also shepherded various less ambitious war movies and westerns,...

Stars: Lina Romay, Jack Taylor, Alice Arno, Monica Swinn, Jess Franco, Luis Barboo, Jean-Pierre Bouyxou, Raymond Hardy, Anna Watican | Written and Directed by Jess Franco

Countess Irina Karlstein (Lina Romay) is as beautiful as she is deadly. She is a bloodthirsty vampire of course. However, unlike most who have fallen foul to the curse, she doesn’t revel in her acts of fatal lust. Her hunger for genuine love is just as strong as the hunger for the bloody stuff (as well as some of the other bodily fluids available.). Her quest for both finds her returning to her ancestral home. Unfortunately, her insatiable hunger claims many victims. From her gardener (Roger Germanes) to the local dominatrix (Monica Swinn), no one is safe. With an inquisitive forensic pathologist by the name of Dr. Roberts (Jess Franco himself) and his blind sidekick Dr. Orloff (Jean-Pierre Bouyxou) on her case, you’d...

Rank the week of August 2nd’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Rio

(DVD & Blu-ray | PG | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #3463

Times Ranked: 1625

Win Percentage: 52%

Top-20 Rankings: 16

Directed By: Carlos Saldanha

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg • Anne Hathaway • Leslie Mann • Jemaine Clement • Jamie Foxx

Genres: Adventure • Adventure Comedy • Animal Picture • Animation • Comedy • Family

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Soul Surfer

(DVD & Blu-ray | PG | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #6816

Times Ranked: 243

Win Percentage: 55%

Top-20 Rankings: 5

Directed By: Sean McNamara

Starring: Helen Hunt • Craig T. Nelson • Dennis Quaid • AnnaSophia Robb • Kevin Sorbo

Genres: Drama • Family Drama • Sports Drama

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The Final Destination

(DVD & Blu-ray | R | 2009)

Flickchart Ranking: #5287

Times Ranked: 5225

Win Percentage: 31%

Top-20 Rankings: 2

Directed By: David R. Ellis

Starring:

Genres: Horror

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The Perfect Game

(DVD & Blu-ray | PG | 2009)

Flickchart Ranking: #13940

Times Ranked: 28

Win Percentage: 61%

Top-20 Rankings: 0

Directed By: William Dear

Starring: Clifton Collins, Jr. • Cheech Marin • Moisés Arias • Jake T. Austin...