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reconredneck's Reviews
<< 1 2 3 4 5 ... 7 >>
 
This collection of four movies featuring the monster Gamera includes Gamera: The Giant Monster, Gamera vs. Barugon, Gamera vs. Gyaos, and Gamera vs. Viras.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Mill Creeks Gamera Volume 1
on May 17, 2014
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
This review will compare the new Mill Creek Gamera Blu-ray collection against the 4 year old Shout Factory DVD collection.
EQUIPMENT USED FOR COMPARISON
Samsung BD-E5900 vs. Oppo 981HD up-conversion player.
PQ - Millcreeks Blu-ray is considerably clearer and brighter than the Shout Factory DVD's regardless of the fact that Mill Creek crammed 4 films onto 1 Blu-ray it still comes out on top. Colors are deeper and subtitles are crisp and clear.
I ran DVD vs. Blu-ray side by side and it was very clear to me that Mill Creeks Gamera collection is far superior to that of Shout Factory visually speaking of course.
*** winner Mill Creek ***
AQ - Shout Factory released all the English dubs that were used in the American versions and could be toggled back & forth between dubs while also offering a very clear mono Japanese soundtrack. Mill Creeks decision to only offer the original Japanese soundtrack without the English dubs falls back on their decision to cram 4 films onto 1 disc which is a shame. Japanese with English subtitles are the only option on Mill Creeks Gamera collection yet the mono track is very clear which is no surprise since the stock used in Mill Creeks release are the very same ones used in Shout Factories Gamera collection. Shout factory came out on top due to the english dubs offered.
*** winner Shout Factory ***
Extra's - very sparse on both releases only offering up film trailers.
*** no winner ***
If it were not for the fact that Mill Creeks Gamera collection was priced so cheaply I would recommend those of you that have the Shout Factory set to skip it altogether since I hate the double-dip.... Yet the picture quality is such a large step up on the Mill Creek set that I must recommend this product to those of you that already have a set of Gamera DVD's these Blu-rays trump them in video clarity, color & contrast. I will still keep my Shout Factory set since watching those English dubs bring back warm & fuzzy creature feature memories from my childhood.
Mill Creek Gamera Volume 1 is thereby recommended!
What's great about it: PQ Outstanding - Original Japanese Mono Soundtrack
What's not so great: 4 films 1 Blu-ray disc.. Extra's sparse. No English Dubs..
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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Gamera: Ultimate Collection 2
2.5 out of 5(2)
 
 
 
Gamera: Trilogy (2 Disc)
4 out of 5(3)
 
 
 
 
 
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4 out of 5
4
Mill Creeks Gamera Volume 2
on May 17, 2014
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
This review will compare the new Mill Creek Gamera Blu-ray collection against the 4 year old Shout Factory DVD collection.
EQUIPMENT USED FOR COMPARISON
Samsung BD-E5900 vs. Oppo 981HD up-conversion player.
PQ - Millcreeks Blu-ray is considerably clearer and brighter than the Shout Factory DVD's regardless of the fact that Mill Creek crammed 4 films onto 1 Blu-ray it still comes out on top. Colors are deeper and subtitles are crisp and clear.
I ran DVD vs. Blu-ray side by side and it was very clear to me that Mill Creeks Gamera collection is far superior to that of Shout Factory visually speaking of course.
*** winner Mill Creek ***
AQ - Shout Factory released all the English dubs that were used in the American versions and could be toggled back & forth between dubs while also offering a very clear mono Japanese soundtrack. Mill Creeks decision to only offer the original Japanese soundtrack without the English dubs falls back on their decision to cram 4 films onto 1 disc which is a shame. Japanese with English subtitles are the only option on Mill Creeks Gamera collection yet the mono track is very clear which is no surprise since the stock used in Mill Creeks release are the very same ones used in Shout Factories Gamera collection. Shout factory came out on top due to the english dubs offered.
*** winner Shout Factory ***
Extra's - very sparse on both releases only offering up film trailers.
*** no winner ***
If it were not for the fact that Mill Creeks Gamera collection was priced so cheaply I would recommend those of you that have the Shout Factory set to skip it altogether since I hate the double-dip.... Yet the picture quality is such a large step up on the Mill Creek set that I must recommend this product to those of you that already have a set of Gamera DVD's these Blu-rays trump them in video clarity, color & contrast. I will still keep my Shout Factory set since watching those English dubs bring back warm & fuzzy creature feature memories from my childhood.
Mill Creek Gamera Volume 2 is thereby recommended!
What's great about it: PQ Outstanding - Original Japanese Mono Soundtrack
What's not so great: 4 films 1 Blu-ray disc.. Extra's sparse. No English Dubs..
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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Gamera: Ultimate Collection 1
4.3 out of 5(25)
 
 
 
Gamera: Trilogy (2 Disc)
4 out of 5(3)
 
 
 
 
 
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When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James' true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
No Glory In War!
on March 18, 2013
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
This not your standard by the numbers war film, Hurt Locker is a very disturbing look into the Iraqi war involving engineers from a demolitions group that face death on a day to day basis. These Unsung hero's of a senseless war expose themselves to IED's in war torn cities of Iraq. Jeremy Renner is just such one of the newly arrived demolitions engineers to his unit in Iraq and immediately alarms his fellow soldiers with his haphazard style of disarming hidden caches of explosives designed to kill American soldiers.
It is obvious that Sergeant First Class William James (Renner) has emotional as well as mental issues causing him to act out in irrational ways in dealing with his fear of death almost like he is tempting fate, purposely exposing himself to danger just to spite the enemy while also getting a rise out of his unit.
This film was nominated for 9 academy awards, taking 6 of those 9 for good reason. To my recollection this really is the first serious film dealing with the Iraq war in a fashion that shows all that this fable called glory in conjunction with war is nothing more than fallacy.
I recommend this film for all the very young due to gore, language & depictions of violence.
Video - Excellent 10/10 absolutely demo material. Blacks solid, colors accurate. No filtering.
Audio - Excellent 10/10 panning, discrete sounds, no surging, crystal clear dialog. Bass is deep this is what HD Sound should sound like!
Supplements - Are a bit light but adequate for me.
Audio Commentary with Director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal
The Hurt Locker: Behind the Scenes (HD, 12:30)
Image Gallery (HD, 23:30)
If you haven't seen a great war film since Blackhawk Down then buy this Bluray you will not be disappointed!
What's great about it: Great Action/Acting/HD Video/HD Audio is top notch!
What's not so great: Light on Supplements.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5 out of 5
5
H.P Lovecrafts Campy Horror Classic!
on February 10, 2013
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
I would call this film a modern take on the Frankenstein films. Re-Animating the dead with less than successful results, namely the resurrection of corpses that come back with very evil intentions. I don't want to give up too much of the storyline but I will say this film, tho sharing the same premise as some older horror film classics it is quite unique in its own way. It's almost borderline a zombie film where re-animation comes at a price as re-animated subjects attempt to consume living humans without the contamination factor that most zombie films present by transfer of fluids. I must warn all that this film is quite graphic by nature, it not only has loads of gore, blood, dismemberment's and viscous attacks by the re-animated but also has graphic nudity intended for adults.
The storyline is engineered intelligently with acting by competent actors raising the bar compared to similar films of the same genre it is quite compelling & will entertain those fans of horror who do not mind an over-the-top gory experience.
Video - Codec: VC-1 (29.97 Mbps) I liked what I saw visually here with a beautiful render of a film that has never really been eye popping in past releases. Granted the director used soft focus but one will see improved facial features revealing detail while showing no signs of DNR smearing. The only thing that disappointed me was Image Entertainments choice in ratio's using Aspect ratio 1.78:1
instead of the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 cropping is never a good thing even if it appears 16:9 I would have rather had black bars with all digital information intact. Colors are beautiful, reds, greens & blacks are deep and gorgeous.
Audio - DTS-HD MA 5.1 sounded decent but not immersive since its original mono soundtrack can only go so far in the world of HD sound. Even so this HD sound track is healthy you will especially notice the beautiful Richard Band music score in all its Psychotic greatness!
Sups - A good supply of supplements have been included on this 50 GB Blu-Ray disc as follows:
1. "Re-Animator Resurrectus" (68:38): This documentary is all you could ask for from a Re-Animator making-of. All of the key participants are interviewed, and perhaps because the film was independently produced, they are sometimes surprisingly frank about the challenges of the production.
2. Interview with Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna (48:47): An informal and fond conversation between the director and producer of Re-Animator.
3. Interview with Writer Dennis Paoli (10:40): The film's scribe speaks intelligently about Lovecraft and the origins of the movie.
4. Interview with Composer Richard Band (14:42): The first of two pieces with Band, this one focuses more on the film's production and post-production.
5. Music Discussion with Composer Richard Band (16:28): This second piece with Band covers the film's music itself, dissecting some key cues in dramatic and musical terms.
6. Interview with Fangoria Editor Tony Timpone (4:34): Timpone, an early advocate of Re-Animator, recalls seeing it in 1985 and writing about it in Fangoria.
7. Deleted and Extended Scenes (26:06): Some interesting stuff here, including some footage that would indicate the story had once gone in a very different direction.
8. Trailers and TV Spots
Again you will not want to sit down with your family and watch this film it is very gross with explicit female nudity. But for the hardcore Adult Horror fan that has never had the pleasure, they will surely watch this slick Lovecraft horror gem, again & again! - Highly Recommended.
What's great about it: Excessive Gore, Humor, Acting
What's not so great: Warning: Not For Children or the Very Squeamish!
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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Monty Pythons Opus!
on February 3, 2013
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
What can one say about this film, it is so weird and off the cuff crazy it might be the most difficult review I have ever had to do. Monty Python, a British troupe of Comedians from the 60's into the 70's employed British humor so dry it brought a tear to my eye with this being some of the funniest off the wall Brit wit you will ever see as Python takes you on a Quest for the Holy Grail!
This films greatness is only magnified by the superb acting and comical timing of Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese & Michael Palin. This team went on to create one of the most epic Britcom shows (Monty Python's Flying Circus) ever produced by the BBC. In this film you will witness classic scene's based loosely (and i do mean that) on the life & times of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
If you are a fan of British humor & have never witnessed the spectacle of " Monty Pythons Holy Grail" then you owe it to yourself to buy this Blu-ray and dive into its lunacy with no reservations, you will become a knight that says " Ni ! " or you can boil my bottom!
Video - Looks superb, never better! Colors burst, clarity is startlingly accurate. Blacks are rich & deep without the use of filtering or enhancements this is a pure film, clean without meddling you will really treasure this copy of this film classic! What really stood out in my mind were the reflections and colors of the metals from King Arthur's crown to the Black Knights dark Armour just looked fantastic.
Oh & the shrubberies looked very shrubbery!
Audio - DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack extracts as much dynamic frequencies it possibly could but don't expect it to sound like today's standard HD this is a mono extract so don't expect miracles but it does sound better than I have ever sampled it. What does stand out was the bass tonal qualities from the boot stomping dance in the halls of Camelot to the thundering's of God above you will notice much more bass response this time around.
SUPPLEMENTS -
Scintillating Audio Commentary — Directors Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam host a terrific commentary for anyone interested in the film's production. My favorite anecdote is probably about how they accidentally dyed the living killer bunny permanently red.
Even More Revealing Audio Commentary — John Cleese, Eric Idle, and Michael Palin are on this one. It's fascinating to hear Cleese talk about the co-directors' differing styles of direction. Apparently, Gilliam was more focused on the technical aspect rather than the comedy.
Quest of the Holy Grail Locations (SD, 47 mins) — Terry Jones and Michael Palin buy a copy of their own script to tour around Scotland "England 932 AD".
Lego Knights: (SD, 2 mins) — The Knights of the Round Table sequence, recreated in LEGO form. Sweet.
Special Japanese Version (SD, 9 mins) — Two scenes dubbed into Japanese, which re-translated English Subtitles.
How To Use Your Coconuts (An Educational Film) (SD, 3 mins) — A silly instructional piece about how to get the most horse out of your coconuts.
BBC Film Night on Location (SD, 17 mins) — A 1974 episode where the BBC chronicles intercuts interviews with on set footage.
Three Songs to Sing-Along (SD, 5 mins) — Now you'll know all the words to Knights of the Round Table, Sir Robin, and the Monks' Chant.
Cast Directory Photo Gallery (HD) — This is a pretty awesome feature where you can see the small Python troop in the vast number of characters they each play.
US 2001 Re-Release Trailer (HD, 3 mins).
The Knights of Ni Highly Recommend this film so do yourself a favor and " Run Away!" hurry buy this Blu-Ray!
What's great about it: Knights who say Ni! - English pig dogs- Cocunut Horses!
What's not so great: The French stole the Holy Grail! The violence inherent in the system!
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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5 out of 5
5
Bridge On The River Kwai Remastered
on January 16, 2013
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
This is a great, great film. Very realistic War film dealing with the building of the railroad between Burma & China. The Japanese Imperial Armies treatment of prisoners was quite brutal with many a allied soldier dying along the way. The Japanese expected the project to take 5 years to complete but that was before they realized they had a free labor source, with the use of POW's the rail line was laid in 16 months.
Starvation, overloading of work, dismal or absent accommodation and sanitation, and the individual viciousness of Japanese and Korean engineers and guards, took their expected toll. Disease (predominantly dysentery, malaria, beriberi and cholera), brutality (69 men were beaten to death by their guards) and 12 to 18 hour daily work shifts made for a high death rate. In fact, the work went on 24 hours a day with the aid of oil pot lamps and bamboo/wood fires that were kept burning all night long. When looking down on the work area at night it looked like working in the “jaws of hell” - thus the workers gave it the name “Hellfire Pass”. While this film focuses on the building of one bridge on their route to China it still shows realism of the brutality in a realistic manner.
This is a film all young people should watch to show them that there is no Glory in war only hardship and death.
Video - This is a completely remastered image that has not been cropped as in past releases. The edges have been reincorporated giving this Blu-Ray that extra wide ratio. The Colors are neutral as one would expect a jungle to appear. Flesh tones are healthy and look natural. This is the clearest copy I have ever had the pleasure to watch, blowing the DVD out of the water!
Audio - A DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit) is very front heavy with little going on in the rear fields, still, this soundtrack is very robust and sounds excellent. I had no problems hearing dialog and could not hear hiss, pops or abnormal inconsistencies in this soundtrack. Not bad considering the source was in mono.
Extra's - This Blu-Ray package does not contain the extra's disc that the " Collectors Edition" did so you get a few extra's but not all the trimmings. Heres a list of what you will find on this single disc set.
1.Making of the Bridge On The River Kwai
2.The Steve Allen Show (with Alec Guinness & William Holden)
3.The Bridge narration featuring William Holden
4.Rise And Fall Of A Jungle Giant
5.USC Short Film featuring William Holden
6.An Appreciation by filmmaker John Milius
7.Photo Gallery
8.Bridge Trailers
9.Previews
10.Crossing The Bridge: Picture-In-Graphics track
11.BD-Live Capable.
With a great starring cast, impeccable image quality, sound with great clarity and a decent amount of extra's I definitely recommend this Blu-Ray package!
What's great about it: Acting - Cinematography - Image - Sound
What's not so great: No Extra's Disc
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5 out of 5
5
Groovy!
on January 12, 2013
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
This is the best Evil Dead has ever looked. The image is bright, clean full of detail and has a film like texture. Anchor bay cleaned up the film source without relying on DNR.
The audio is a TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack and it sounds very clean and strong.
This is the version to buy if you do not care about the special features disc found on the special edition Blu-Ray set.
What's great about it: Best Image Ever, 5.1 HD Soundtrack, 1.37:1 or 1.85:1 versions
What's not so great: No special features bonus DVD
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Old-School Horror Thrills!
on September 30, 2012
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
Victor Salva must have frequent nightmares to create such an evil character such as " the Creeper," I mean talk about an iconic nemesis that stalks humans once every 23rd spring comes to life and consumes human body parts that it needs or likes. It had been quite a long time since a truly original horror concept came to fruition with production companies churning out sequel after sequel of Friday the 13th & Freddy Krueger movies then out of the darkness comes " Jeeper's Creeper's" an original American horror classic! Talk about a breath of fresh air, this film delivers the thrills & chills in the style of Old-School classics from the 70's & 80's with a competent back-story that makes the viewer have empathy for the lead characters before diving into the action. No spoilers here, this is a film with a heart & it clearly knows where it is going & what it is... from the word go!
VIDEO (MPEG-4 AVC Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1 50GB Blu-ray Disc)
I was disappointing by the Blu-Ray image presented here with my Standard DVD via Oppo Upconversion player almost matching the Jeepers Creepers Blu-ray version. The HD image is soft with blacks looking less than rich, at times looking gray/black, definitely some crushing going on in darker scenes. Colors have little pop, then again this is a Horror film that is supposed to look grungy but I feel poor filming to be more the culprit than the former.
AUDIO (English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
The highpoint of this Blu-ray presentation has to be the audio, with discrete sounds in the rear fields and the creepy musical score thundering the plot along. I found myself jumping a few times due to the cross fading & rear ambient sounds sneaking up from behind. This soundtrack is not perfect but it still scores high with clarity at high volumes with little in the way of hiss. A very competent 5.1 soundtrack that will send shivers down your spine!
Extra's
Audio commentary by Victor Salva
Behind the Peepers - The making of Jeepers Creepers
Deleted & Extended Scenes
Photo Gallery
Trailer
FINAL THOUGHTS
My recommendation is as follows: If you have the DVD with a decent Up-Conversion player hold off, wait for a remastered version. If not go ahead and buy this Blu-ray, its a minor bump up in Video quality but the audio is where this disc shines!
P.S. forget IMDB's 5.9 score that site has become a joke, this film should be rocking a 7.5 minimum but you can't tell that to the Michael Bay, FX mind numbed robots!
What's great about it: Suspenseful Storyline, Iconic Nemesis, Musical Score = Creepy!
What's not so great: Soft Average Blu-Ray Image. No DVD
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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5 out of 5
5
Buy This, If You Love " Brains! "
on September 30, 2012
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
A zombie flick from the 80's... How can we go wrong? Dan O'Bannon the co-writer of " Alien " directs this amazingly humorous take on the Zombie genre way before we chuckled at films like " Shaun of the Dead."
I must say firstly, I am an avid fan of this genre.. Maybe I can chock this up to being a teenager when this film hit the scene making this more near & dear to my heart but I truly feel that this film has something for all ages, except the very young.
Usually I like my " End of the World" zombie flicks to stay on track with a serious tone, but this is one of those films that mesh Horror, Zombies & Humor together brilliantly with great performances from old-school stalwart performers, Clu Gulager, James Karen & Don Calfa! Even the teen actors performed admirably as the punk rockers, preps & new wavers who as a crew end up in an old forgotten cemetery, where all the fun begins.
I see " The Return of the Living Dead " as nothing short of a classic horror film from the 80's, back before CGI took over with Zombies that have more character, individualism & believability with movements that appear more human, since that's exactly whats under the makeup! Just a fun movie to watch, so grab this Blu-Ray, get the popcorn popping & hold on for a fun scary time!
Video (AVC@24MBPS 1.85:1 enhanced. 25GB Single Layer)
In all honesty the video picture presented is only average as far as high definition is concerned. The image is soft but varies from scene to scene. Colors are good but not excellent. Indoor darker shots grain is prevalent, blacks could be better with crushing visible. Flesh tones are really good showing alot of detail that will not be scene in standard DVD versions. Is this a step up from standard? Yes but only barely, if someone has an excellent up-conversion DVD player they might want to sit this one out & wait for the 3rd HD reissue. If you do not own this on DVD, then step up!
Audio (5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio - 2.0 Mono)
Originally in Mono the DTS-HD Master 5.1 Audio is nice, but front heavy with few attempts at ambient rear field sounds. Mainly the Musical tracks command the rear field, but hiss or distortion were not present, very clean sounding.. Also a 2.0 English & French soundtrack is included on this disc.
Extra's (480i unless noted)
“Return of the Living Dead: The Dead Have Risen” is a 20 ½-minute reminiscence by the stars of the film looking back on its fame and success.
“The Decade of Darkness” is a 23 ½-minute discussion of the horror movie explosion of the 1980s with film historians, directors like John Landis and Joe Dante, and Elvira (cracking wise) offering opinions on their favorite films, directors, and stars.
“Designing the Dead” finds director Dan O'Bannon and production designer William Stout discussing their careers and in particular their work on this film. The featurette runs 13 ½ minutes.
Two theatrical trailers are available for viewing, both in 1080p. The “bloody” one runs 1 ¼ minutes while the “bloodier” one runs 2 ¾ minutes.
For a bit of fun, the viewer can turn on the zombie subtitle stream which offers translations of the zombies’ moans and groans and growls when they appear on the screen.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Bottom Line is if you have this on DVD & are pleased with the Standard image up-converted onto your wide screen then give it some time & I think we will see a re-issue of this film with a newly remastered print, revealing much more detail then what is presented on this Collector's edition, because the soft focus might disappoint most videophiles but to the average Blu-Ray viewer i highly recommend this release you will love this Zombie Classic!
What's great about it: A perfect mesh of Zombies, Horror and Comedy!
What's not so great: Front Heavy 5.1 - Soft Image - No DVD Copy
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
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Friday The 13th Uncut "?"
on September 14, 2012
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
Movie ****4 Star
No!.. " Friday The 13th " is not where the slasher Genre started, if you want to get technical " Psycho " could be considered the seed that got the slasher genre growing, some older folks can probably come up with an even older slasher film. " Halloween " which preceded FT13th most likely carries the most influence & most fans will tell you this was the one that really shaped the future of slasher films.
Even on Disc 2 Side 2 of this 2 disc set the FT13th crew plainly states that the film was created to capitalize on the momentum that " Halloween " created, in other words, to cash in on the horror slasher film with a clone styled in the manner of "Halloween!" Is that to say " Friday The 13th " is just a cheap rip off...Heck No! It does things very well & in some cases actually set the ground rules for films such as " Scream. "
" Friday The 13th " was a very well made film with a capable crew with a very respected special effects department that had most of their work censored before this film was ever distributed by over-zealous ratings board. But I am here to tell you this film is fun to watch just to see the slasher genre before the genre was realized.
UNCUT? *1 Star
They put back in 1 throat slashing scene & decide to deceptively call this edition uncut? haha.. nice one! hence a ****star rating. Maybe some day they will decide to go and find footage that was censored & never seen by the general public, then and only then will it truly be uncut!
VIDEO *****5 Star
Excellent rendering! I mean this will blow die-hard fans out of the water, excellent! Beautiful colors that pop.. Depth in the backgrounds that up until this release were fuzzy backdrops, this new master squeezed every drop of detail now showing viewers depth of field never seen in past offerings. Darker scenes are now viewable. I can remember Vhs & Dvd versions being so dark & over-contrasted it was just about futile trying to watch night time segments.
AUDIO ***** 5 Star
This remastered soundtrack is very capable & sounds great.. Now don't think this is going to become a demo disc since the mono origins of the soundtrack are not expansive or deep, but what has been done here is a great example of how much clarity can be obtained from these older mono sound tracks then mixing them together with higher quality music tracks into surround gives it new life without the pops & hiss of older releases. Trust me a lot of care was taken on this Blu-Ray!
EXTRA'S ****4 Star
Audio Commentary - Recorded for a 2004 International DVD release of the film (via Warner Home Video), this spliced-together track features director Sean Cunningham, editor Bill Freida, composer Harry Manfredini and stars Adrienne King and Betsy Palmer, and is hosted by "Crystal Lake Memories" author Peter M. Bracke. Since said author is me, I can't be objective about this commentary other than to say it is the best commentary ever. Though the editing is sometimes choppy (hey, I didn't do it), the track is quite packed with stories and background on the late '70s film scene that spawned 'Friday the 13th,' while the wealth of participants also staves off boredom. Plus, the host has a really sexy, deep voice. Again, greatest commentary ever!
Featurette: "Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th" (HD, 14 minutes) - The first of four new featurettes, this retrospective piece features interviews with screenwriter Victor Miller, composer Harry Manfredini, make-up artist Tom Savini, and cast members Robbi Morgan, and Ari Lehman. This is designed to compliment the "Crystal Lake Chronicles" featurette found on the 2005 DVD (which is also included here as an extra, see below), so there is surprisingly little repetition. Odd-and-end production stories are shared, Manfredini talks at length about the music, and the cast reflects on the surprise success of the film.
Featurette: "The Man Behind the Legacy: Sean S. Cunningham" (HD, 9 minutes) - Though absent from the making-of featurette, the man responsible for the entire 'Friday the 13th' legacy participates in this "day in the life of" visit to his production offices. Cunningham continues to play an active role in the franchise (having served as producer on the last four 'Friday' flicks, including the upcoming remake), and with surprising candor, shares his thoughts on the film that shocked everyone with its success. He also gives us a tour of some 'Friday' memorabilia, as well as visits with his son, Noel, who appeared in the original 'Friday' and co-produced the recent 'Jason X.'
Featurette: "Cast Reunion" (HD, 24 minutes) - Filmed at a Friday the 13th reunion convention held last year, this filmed panel features King, Manfredini, Lehman, Miller, and Palmer. This covers a good deal of similar ground as the commentary and featurettes, so though fresh to this Blu-ray, fans may find a bit of deja vu here.
Featurette: "Secrets Galore Behind the Gore" (HD, 10 minutes) - The last of the main featurettes, this is a largely a one-on-one with Savini as he shares with us all the tricks that went into creating the film's now-famous make-up illusions. There's no real behind-the-scenes footage here (as it was not a common practice to film such things back in 1980), but some rare stills and Savini's thorough explanations flesh things out nicely.
Featurette: "Crystal Lake Chronicles" (SD, 20 minutes) - The longest of the pieces is actually carried over from the previous DVD release, and features then-new interviews with Cunningham, King, Palmer, Lehman, and Savini. Again, there is some repetition here with the other featurettes, though it compliments "Fresh Cuts" nicely as it fills in the basics of 'Friday the 13th's creation and details further stories from the production.
"Lost Tales from Camp Blood - Part 1" (HD, 8 minutes) - Not deleted scenes or excised gore, this is a pretty odd, newly-shot "murder scene." Featuring nubile actors playing camp counselors and mouthing silly dialogue, all ending in a creative death, this is an odd one. ("Part 2" of these scenes can be found on the DVD re-issue of 'Friday the 13th Part 2,' though that title is not being released on Blu-ray).
Theatrical Trailer (HD) - Finally, we have the film's original theatrical trailer.
Lastly let me tell you all something, there is a lot of prejudiced against "Friday The 13th" from professional movie critics claiming this is not worthy but I know these critics are wrong & millions of film goers proved them wrong just by the amount of ticket sales this & its sequels produced. "Friday The 13th" took what "Halloween" presented & made it into slasher film law ...thus shaping the slasher genre for years to come! I recommend this Blu-ray for fans of the genre but cannot recommend it to be viewed by small children.
What's great about it: Outstanding Video & Audio
What's not so great: Ratings Board Censored Friday The 13th To Death!
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Friday the 13th, Part 3 3D [With Two Pairs of 3D Glasses] [Blu-ray] [1982]
5 out of 5(3)
 
 
 
Friday the 13th, Part 2 [Blu-ray] [1981]
5 out of 5(1)
 
 
 
 
 
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reconredneck's Review Comments
 
Overall4 out of 54 out of 5
Friday The 13th Uncut "?"
By reconredneck from Atlanta
Movie ****4 Star
No!.. " Friday The 13th " is not where the slasher Genre started, if you want to get technical " Psycho " could be considered the seed that got the slasher genre growing, some older folks can probably come up with an even older slasher film. " Halloween " which preceded FT13th most likely carries the most influence & most fans will tell you this was the one that really shaped the future of slasher films.
Even on Disc 2 Side 2 of this 2 disc set the FT13th crew plainly states that the film was created to capitalize on the momentum that " Halloween " created, in other words, to cash in on the horror slasher film with a clone styled in the manner of "Halloween!" Is that to say " Friday The 13th " is just a cheap rip off...Heck No! It does things very well & in some cases actually set the ground rules for films such as " Scream. "
" Friday The 13th " was a very well made film with a capable crew with a very respected special effects department that had most of their work censored before this film was ever distributed by over-zealous ratings board. But I am here to tell you this film is fun to watch just to see the slasher genre before the genre was realized.
UNCUT? *1 Star
They put back in 1 throat slashing scene & decide to deceptively call this edition uncut? haha.. nice one! hence a ****star rating. Maybe some day they will decide to go and find footage that was censored & never seen by the general public, then and only then will it truly be uncut!
VIDEO *****5 Star
Excellent rendering! I mean this will blow die-hard fans out of the water, excellent! Beautiful colors that pop.. Depth in the backgrounds that up until this release were fuzzy backdrops, this new master squeezed every drop of detail now showing viewers depth of field never seen in past offerings. Darker scenes are now viewable. I can remember Vhs & Dvd versions being so dark & over-contrasted it was just about futile trying to watch night time segments.
AUDIO ***** 5 Star
This remastered soundtrack is very capable & sounds great.. Now don't think this is going to become a demo disc since the mono origins of the soundtrack are not expansive or deep, but what has been done here is a great example of how much clarity can be obtained from these older mono sound tracks then mixing them together with higher quality music tracks into surround gives it new life without the pops & hiss of older releases. Trust me a lot of care was taken on this Blu-Ray!
EXTRA'S ****4 Star
Audio Commentary - Recorded for a 2004 International DVD release of the film (via Warner Home Video), this spliced-together track features director Sean Cunningham, editor Bill Freida, composer Harry Manfredini and stars Adrienne King and Betsy Palmer, and is hosted by "Crystal Lake Memories" author Peter M. Bracke. Since said author is me, I can't be objective about this commentary other than to say it is the best commentary ever. Though the editing is sometimes choppy (hey, I didn't do it), the track is quite packed with stories and background on the late '70s film scene that spawned 'Friday the 13th,' while the wealth of participants also staves off boredom. Plus, the host has a really sexy, deep voice. Again, greatest commentary ever!
Featurette: "Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th" (HD, 14 minutes) - The first of four new featurettes, this retrospective piece features interviews with screenwriter Victor Miller, composer Harry Manfredini, make-up artist Tom Savini, and cast members Robbi Morgan, and Ari Lehman. This is designed to compliment the "Crystal Lake Chronicles" featurette found on the 2005 DVD (which is also included here as an extra, see below), so there is surprisingly little repetition. Odd-and-end production stories are shared, Manfredini talks at length about the music, and the cast reflects on the surprise success of the film.
Featurette: "The Man Behind the Legacy: Sean S. Cunningham" (HD, 9 minutes) - Though absent from the making-of featurette, the man responsible for the entire 'Friday the 13th' legacy participates in this "day in the life of" visit to his production offices. Cunningham continues to play an active role in the franchise (having served as producer on the last four 'Friday' flicks, including the upcoming remake), and with surprising candor, shares his thoughts on the film that shocked everyone with its success. He also gives us a tour of some 'Friday' memorabilia, as well as visits with his son, Noel, who appeared in the original 'Friday' and co-produced the recent 'Jason X.'
Featurette: "Cast Reunion" (HD, 24 minutes) - Filmed at a Friday the 13th reunion convention held last year, this filmed panel features King, Manfredini, Lehman, Miller, and Palmer. This covers a good deal of similar ground as the commentary and featurettes, so though fresh to this Blu-ray, fans may find a bit of deja vu here.
Featurette: "Secrets Galore Behind the Gore" (HD, 10 minutes) - The last of the main featurettes, this is a largely a one-on-one with Savini as he shares with us all the tricks that went into creating the film's now-famous make-up illusions. There's no real behind-the-scenes footage here (as it was not a common practice to film such things back in 1980), but some rare stills and Savini's thorough explanations flesh things out nicely.
Featurette: "Crystal Lake Chronicles" (SD, 20 minutes) - The longest of the pieces is actually carried over from the previous DVD release, and features then-new interviews with Cunningham, King, Palmer, Lehman, and Savini. Again, there is some repetition here with the other featurettes, though it compliments "Fresh Cuts" nicely as it fills in the basics of 'Friday the 13th's creation and details further stories from the production.
"Lost Tales from Camp Blood - Part 1" (HD, 8 minutes) - Not deleted scenes or excised gore, this is a pretty odd, newly-shot "murder scene." Featuring nubile actors playing camp counselors and mouthing silly dialogue, all ending in a creative death, this is an odd one. ("Part 2" of these scenes can be found on the DVD re-issue of 'Friday the 13th Part 2,' though that title is not being released on Blu-ray).
Theatrical Trailer (HD) - Finally, we have the film's original theatrical trailer.
Lastly let me tell you all something, there is a lot of prejudiced against "Friday The 13th" from professional movie critics claiming this is not worthy but I know these critics are wrong & millions of film goers proved them wrong just by the amount of ticket sales this & its sequels produced. "Friday The 13th" took what "Halloween" presented & made it into slasher film law ...thus shaping the slasher genre for years to come! I recommend this Blu-ray for fans of the genre but cannot recommend it to be viewed by small children.
Customer Avatar
reconredneck
Atlanta
Correction!
September 14, 2012
I misstated this package contains 2 discs, I was in error all extras are on the main disc of this 1 disc package... esssh getting old sux!
0points
1of 2voted this comment as helpful.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
A movie that should never have been remade.
By VOSuperhero from Dallas, TX
Let's face it. Total Recall should have never been remade. All together now. "Total Recall should have never been remade."
There. Now that's out of our system. Paul Verhoeven made a movie that was much closer to the original Philip K. Dick story, "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale," except Verhoeven brought the Mars revolution to the forefront.
This, the original version (and only version if it were left up to me), has been cleaned up and looks pretty good, although not great, when compared to other movies from the early 90s that look much better.
The sound is more lively than previous versions of the movie, and the dialogue is perfectly mixed.
Some cool new extras are added in this "Mind-Bending Edition." Previously omitted featurettes are included, along with a couple new extras, including a conversation with director Paul Verhoeven, an awesome visual effect featurette, and an obligatory comparison featurette that is only 5 mins long.
Bottom line, it's the original. It's Arnie. Sharon Stone. The deliciously evil Ronny Cox (who was the OCP baddie Dick Jones in Verhoeven's classic, RoboCop), and the always entertaining Michael Ironside (see also Top Gun, Starshop Troopers, and video game fans will recognize his voice from the Splinter Cell video games).
Total Recall is considered by most to be a 'thinking man's sci-fi" title, as is Gattica, Dark City, Minority Report, Solaris (the original, non-Clooney version), and the pièce de résistance, Blade Runner. I love it because under the action, there's a soul. Just like in the others of it's kind, no matter the science in the fiction, it is usually the humanity that's the most fascinating part of these stories.
Customer Avatar
reconredneck
Atlanta
Nice review!
September 16, 2012
Glad to see a considerate review instead of the usual vague 1-liner postings that this board usually entertains... great job!
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
This two pack for fans of kaiju monster Godzilla offers a double feature of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and Godzilla vs. Mothra.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Follow-up to Biollante
By Dval from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Giant Monster
Length: 101 minutes/ 102 minutes
"When a mysterious U.F.O. is seen flying over Tokyo, tension mounts until the craft's occupants reveal themselves to be friendly aliens form the 23rd century who have come to warn mankind that Godzilla will soon awaken and wreak havoc upon the Earth unless he is destroyed. Meanwhile, a double threat arrives in the form of King Ghidorah, Godzilla's flying three-headed arch rival. The suspense builds to terrifying levels as the alien's sinister mission on Earth is gradually revealed and Godzilla must wage a solo battle against these evil forces who want to destroy mankind."
"After a series of earthquakes unearths a gigantic orb, a trio of Japanese explorers is dipatched to the mysterious Infant Island to investigate. There they discover the island's sole inhabitants, miniature twin women whose duty is to protect the mammoth ball, the egg of Mothra! When the explorers attempt to bring the egg back to the mainland, a furious Godzilla awakens from the depths and attacks the party, causing the egg to hatch and forcing its newborn larvae to fend off the gigantic monster. With such a powerful foe to reckon with, has Godzilla finally met his match?"
More Godzilla films on Blu-ray!!! I can finally start throwing away the old VHS tapes which are probably already degrading! This twin movie pack features Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah and Godzilla vs. Mothra which should really be called Godzilla vs. Battra.
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah is the direct follow-up to Godzilla vs. Biollante where Godzilla has been in a slumber deep in the Pacific Ocean after his last fight with the monster as well as the bacteria that was eating away at him. While the aliens succeed in getting rid of one Godzilla, they're responsible for the creation for another which is even bigger and stronger than the previous as well as much more violent. King Ghidorah is beheaded which gives rise to the creation of Mecha King Ghidorah!
Godzilla vs. Mothra is the next continuation wherein mankind continues to pollute and destroy the planet which is causing earthquakes, typhoons, and landslides. In the midst of this, Mothra's egg is revealed which also signals the rebirth of the dreaded Battra who destroyed the advanced civilation on Earth over 10,000 years ago! In the midst of their battle, an even more fearsome foe in Godzilla surfaces to continue his rampage and destruction.
Both movies look great on Blu-ray! Love the remastering of both even though they're over 20 years old now. Nice, crisp coloring and detail. Not really a noticeable loss of anything in being fitted to the 16:9 format instead of the old 4:3 aspect ratio. Soundtracks are just as good as ever thanks to Akira Ifukube. The English dubs have always been questionable at best, but I didn't mind listening to them at all.
I ordered all of the double packs and I'll be ordering all of the single releases once I finish up with them! Fantastic movies to watch especially with the release of the new Godzilla movie about to hit theaters this week! Enjoy!
Customer Avatar
reconredneck
Atlanta
Proper Aspect.
May 16, 2014
These films in the past being presented in 4:3 box were actually cutting the ends off a 2.35:1 Toho widescreen production. I am hoping that these releases do not try to enhance the original toho resolution of 2.35:1 by removing the black borders which in the end snip off the outer edges of the box and remove visual information.
16:9 with the 2.35:1 ratio will give you a more complete video presentation than will 4:3 which was devised because television viewing area's were not wide screen and by doing so cut out the widest viewing area's of the film.
Glad to see these being released with both Japanese & English soundtracks without attempting or forcing mono soundtracks into surround which rarely goes well.
I liked your review, very good.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
reconredneck's Questions
 
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reconredneck's Answers
 

I WANT TO REPLACE A DELL DEMISION 5150 MODEL WITH NEW TOWER. CAN IT BE DONE USING MY EXISTING MONITOR AND KEYBOARD. IF SO, WHAT 8GB MEMORY MODEL ?

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE NEW TOUCH SCREEN IS THE WAY TO GO, BUT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH MY EXISTING SET UP.
If you can afford it, go with an Asus desktop computer they blow Dell out of the water. More powerful, more quiet with more options. My suggestion is the Asus Desktop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive
Model: M70ADUS003S
SKU: 4485357
Currently $1,109.99
Yes your monitor will plug right into this fine Asus computer and you will never go back to Dell again after experiencing this powerhouse that is whisper quiet & produces little heat from its enclosure.
My parents were hardcore Dell fans and paid $4000 for their last computer over 10 years ago, finally they listened to me since I build my own computers from custom parts & they bought this Asus desktop and love it with this system costing them less than half of what they paid for their Dell 10+ years ago.
Oh yes it comes with an Asus mouse & keyboard.
11 years, 10 months ago
by
reconredneck
   Atlanta
 
Xbox 360
Xbox 360
 

how come my ip address fails everytime when i try to hook up to live even though i have high speed internet

i have everything needed to hook up to live like ethernet cord but when i go to hook up it up my ip adress always fails
Check your firewall and if you have one put your xbox 360 outside the firewall (
DMZ). Most routers have firewalls as part of its hardware. Some modems also have firewalls, this includes dsl & cable modems.
17 years, 5 months ago
by
reconredneck
   Atlanta