By MICHAEL GINGOLD
After giving his Super-8 zombie epic THE DEAD NEXT DOOR its hi-def disc debut, J.R. Bookwalter and Tempe Digital are doing the honors with his follow-up feature, ROBOT NINJA. Read on for the complete details and first look at the cover art, plus a trailer.
Released on VHS in 1989 by Cinema Home Video and out of print since, ROBOT NINJA will be showcased in a three-disc Blu-ray/DVD/CD set. The movie tells of a comic-book artist (Michael Todd) who turns vigilante, donning the costume and blades of his creation to bloodily battle crime. Co-starring Linnea Quigley and BATMAN’s Burt Ward, it has been given a 2K scan and restoration from the original negative, and will be presented in a pair of 1080p HD transfers—one in the original 4:3 aspect ration, and another cropped to 16×9 widescreen. The Blu-ray will include a new DTS HD-MA 5.1 Surround remix and a DTS HD-MA mix of the original 2.0 stereo; the DVD will feature the original Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo mix, a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround remix and the Dolby Digital 2.0 German-dubbed stereo mix. The special features are:
Disc 1 (Blu-ray)
- 2018 production commentary (participants TBA)
- Cast and crew interviews
- Still galleries (including all original artwork by David Lange)
- THE ROBOT NINJA 2014 fan film by Johnny Dickie
- Optional English subtitles
- Tempe Digital trailers
Disc 2 (DVD-9)
- 1989 VHS release version in 4:3 original aspect ratio (standard definition)
- 2018 audio commentary by writer/director J.R. Bookwalter
- Audio commentary by Doug Tilley and Moe Porne of No-Budget Nightmares Podcast
- Behind-the-scenes footage
- 1989 original VHS release trailer
- Optional English subtitles
- Tempe DVD trailers
Disc 3 (CD)
First time on CD! Original motion picture soundtrack with complete score by J.R. Bookwalter plus songs by J.R. Bookwalter, Foxx, Argus and Rodney Shields
Packaging
- Slipcover with vintage artwork by David Lange (first 500 units only)
- Reversible wrap with newly commissioned artwork by David Lange and original 1989 Cinema Home Video VHS artwork
- Eight-page color booklet with liner notes and behind-the-scenes photos (first 1,000 units only)
- First 1,000 units numbered and autographed by writer/director J.R. Bookwalter
An Indiegogo campaign has been launched here to support the project and offer pre-orders for the disc set, along with other perks including T-shirts, a comic-book adaptation, a screenplay book and more. Pre-orders are set to ship in late 2018, and the restoration will also have limited theatrical release this fall.
