Blu-Ray News #129: Missing In Action (1984).

Directed by Joseph Zito
Starring Chuck Norris, M. Emmett Walsh, James Hong

I worked in video stores all through college, and if I had a nickel for every time I handled a VHS or Beta (or even laserdisc) copy of Missing In Action (1984), well, I wouldn’t have needed to go to college.

So I’m happy to see that Shout Factory’s Collectors’ Edition Blu-Ray of the picture is keeping the original poster art. It holds more memories for me than the movie itself. And while I’m more of a Code Of Silence (1985) man, Missing In Action deserves the Grade A treatment Shout Factory will give it — yeah, I know, it’s a Cannon film. Looks like Shout Factory’s still adding to their list of goodies. I’m stoked about this one.

This is the newest film to be covered on this blog — it’s been pre-1980 till now.

Blu-Ray News #114: White Line Fever (1975).

Directed by Jonathan Kaplan
Starring Jan Michael Vincent, Kay Lenz, Slim Pickens, L.Q. Jones, Don Porter, R.G. Armstrong, Dick Miller

Growing up in the South in the 70s, White Line Fever (1975) was a very big deal. It seemed like every kid I knew was crazy about either White Line Fever or Jaws (1975) — or they hated their moms for not letting them see them.

Jonathan Kaplan was clearly (and admittedly) inspired by Sam Peckinpah here, and it shows, especially in the cast: Slim Pickens, L.Q. Jones and R.G. Armstrong. This thing was a huge hit, with every redneck kid in the fifth grade wanting a Ford cabover truck like Jan Michael Vincent’s Blue Mule.

Mill Creek’s bringing it to Blu-Ray as part of its Payback Time Triple Feature. The other two are Chuck Norris in Silent Rage (1982) and Blind Fury (1989) with Rutger Hauer. I worked in a few video stores in college back in the 80s. If I had a nickel for every time someone rented Silent Rage, I’d be trying to buy that Bullitt Mustang from the previous post.

Not sure why, but the CED Videodisc seemed like the perfect image for this post.