But still, Koch Media have gone all out on this new Italo-Western Boxset with three late 60's films including one from the multitude of Django westerns that exist. Plus they have included a nice booklet (in German) and a CD of the original music from 10.000 dollari per un massacro. These highly stylized films have been transferred beautifully to the digital medium. They look quite spectacular! You should disregard the description on the outside of the box as it makes no mention of optional English subtitles - which this set most definitely does have... along with original Italian audio and an optional German DUB (and removable German subtitles).

Sergio Corbucci directed Franco Nero in the movie Django in 1966. It was so popular that dozens of incarnations surfaced in the next 10 years. The loner brooding bounty hunter with unfathomable gunslinger skill was a huge hit and numerous actors took to the role from Terence Hill to Gianni Garko (Gary Hudson). These Italian western genre films have a faithful following, and with good reason. They establish characterizations early and the plots involve vengeance, thieves and a deeply entrenched code of honor or mercenary foothold  - they express a purposeful western appeal. These three films are quintessential examples.

BOTTOM LINE: Koch Media appear to be trying to capitalize on the Django name (although we know in Germany this has a more generic term for this entire genre) - the boxset should rightly be called only "Italo-Western Film Collection'. I think this set still has good value and is exceptionally mastered. If these films had been 'essential Django' as opposed to 'quintessential spaghetti western' it would definitely be in the running for DVD Boxset of the Year. The transfers are that good.

NOTE: The Per 100,000 dollari ti ammazzo disc is labeled as 'Django - the Bastard'  (Django il bastardo) which is a totally different film with Antonio De Teffè playing Django, but in Germany Per 100,000 dollari ti ammazzo is also known by that title.