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- Review count67
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- First reviewApril 19, 2008
- Last reviewJuly 11, 2014
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- Average rating4.5
- Review comment count3
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- First review commentSeptember 14, 2012
- Last review commentMay 16, 2014
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Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
If you grew up in the 60's or 70's you remember that late Saturday nights meant it was " Creature Feature " Night. And one film that was played again & again was the 50's Scifi classic " The Day the Earth Stood Still " appearing consistently as a fan favorite.
Now if you are the film viewer who needs consistent action and FX, then maybe this is not for you, but if you prefer a great script with believable effects kept to a minimum with capable actors then this is your cup of tea.
VIDEO
This original film classic now comes to us on the Blu-ray format with outstanding results with a outstanding MPEG-4 AVC 1080p picture in the correct 1.37:1 aspect ratio on a 50GB disc. Contrast is impeccable with depth startling clear without filtering, which will make the purists out there, extremely pleased.
AUDIO
A beautiful 5.1 DTS - HD MASTER AUDIO lossless soundtrack has been included, with amazingly deep bass and expansive channel separation. I was in disbelief that an old mono soundtrack could be livened up to this extent. But they have done a remarkable job raising the sound to this level. Also included for the Purist is a 1.0 Dolby Mono track which sounds incredibly clear.
EXTRA FEATURES
- Create Your Own Score
- Gort Command
- Commentary By Director Robert Wise
- Featurettes The Mysterious Melodious Theremin
The Making Of The Day The Earth Stood Still
A Brief History Of Flying Saucers
Now if you are the film viewer who needs consistent action and FX, then maybe this is not for you, but if you prefer a great script with believable effects kept to a minimum with capable actors then this is your cup of tea.
VIDEO
This original film classic now comes to us on the Blu-ray format with outstanding results with a outstanding MPEG-4 AVC 1080p picture in the correct 1.37:1 aspect ratio on a 50GB disc. Contrast is impeccable with depth startling clear without filtering, which will make the purists out there, extremely pleased.
AUDIO
A beautiful 5.1 DTS - HD MASTER AUDIO lossless soundtrack has been included, with amazingly deep bass and expansive channel separation. I was in disbelief that an old mono soundtrack could be livened up to this extent. But they have done a remarkable job raising the sound to this level. Also included for the Purist is a 1.0 Dolby Mono track which sounds incredibly clear.
EXTRA FEATURES
- Create Your Own Score
- Gort Command
- Commentary By Director Robert Wise
- Featurettes The Mysterious Melodious Theremin
The Making Of The Day The Earth Stood Still
A Brief History Of Flying Saucers
If you are a Scifi fan you will love this Blu-ray, it has it all.. Great Film, Excellent Picture, Superb Sound & re-playability. Buy this classic Today!
What's great about it: No attempts at filtering - Great HD sound - Classic 50's SciFi
What's not so great: Gort Command! the game is very cheezy
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
(Flick) I will not bother to go here, since most of you have seen this film and most likely can read the characters lines better than they can. Its classic Romero, enough said.
(VQ) This is the best, you will ever see DOTD on video. This Blu-ray exploits some of the cheesier aspects of the zombies makeup (or lack of) than any release but at the same time the colors have been corrected and look more balanced than ever before. Don't get me wrong this version can not be considered demo material but for a film on a 70's budget, it looks darn good!
Encoded using the AVC MPEG-4 codec process at 1080P making this the clearest most detailed version ever. Blacks are dead (no-pun) on without crushing or grayish tones in darker colors. Facial features & hair show a considerable amount of detail with artifacts keep at a minimum.
Encoded using the AVC MPEG-4 codec process at 1080P making this the clearest most detailed version ever. Blacks are dead (no-pun) on without crushing or grayish tones in darker colors. Facial features & hair show a considerable amount of detail with artifacts keep at a minimum.
(AQ) The uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround track (48 kHz/16-bit/4.6 Mbps) on this disc highlights recording problems inherent to the source material. It's head & shoulders above the lossy Digital Dolby tracks included in the past.
(Sups) Most of what you will find here has been ported over from " DOTD Ultimate Edition, but what was most upsetting was that " Document of The Dead " was not included, which should be seen at least once by every DOTD fan, So don't get rid of your Ultimate copy, just yet if Document is important to you.. The extras included are included in standard resolution which should not be happening since most of you are upgrading from standard Def & are paying to see HD.
If by chance you are new to DOTD, just keep in mind that this was filmed on a shoe-string budget, but if you can get beyond the cheesy zombie makeup you will see what others before you have come to understand.
" It doesn't take a 100 million dollars to make a great movie. A cohesive script & capable unknown actors can make a blockbuster ".
Take it from a guy who has watched this more times than I care to make known.
" It doesn't take a 100 million dollars to make a great movie. A cohesive script & capable unknown actors can make a blockbuster ".
Take it from a guy who has watched this more times than I care to make known.
What's great about it: High-Definition Picture, 5.1 PCM Surround Sound.
What's not so great: " Document of the Dead " not ported over from the Ultimate Edition
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two [7 Discs] [Blu-ray]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/efd6e466-9453-4b74-a642-027e6dcfca1a.jpg)
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
I am truly enjoying the 2nd Season of Star Trek with its hiDEF picture and 7.1 DTS Master Audio soundtrack, it is truly an amazing remaster by CBS.. With that said, I have also noticed a drop in quality from Season 1 and according to the information I found in an old Star Trek Book, it was because of the Budget being cut in half. funding restraints requiring less to be spent on lighting and camera work, which definitely affects the overall quality of the visuals in this 2nd season.
Even so, some of Star Treks TOS most memorable episodes are enclosed in this Blu-Ray Treasure box, as with the introduction of the newest crew member Pavel Chekov and Spocks Family members are first seen.
Sound Quality remains about the same with an excellent 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix..
The Extra's are numerous and include Billy Blackburn's Treasured On the Set - Behind the sceen movies.
If you are a Trekkie Fanatic, this 2nd Season is a must have!
Even so, some of Star Treks TOS most memorable episodes are enclosed in this Blu-Ray Treasure box, as with the introduction of the newest crew member Pavel Chekov and Spocks Family members are first seen.
Sound Quality remains about the same with an excellent 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio mix..
The Extra's are numerous and include Billy Blackburn's Treasured On the Set - Behind the sceen movies.
If you are a Trekkie Fanatic, this 2nd Season is a must have!
What's great about it: Quality Episodes - 2nd season solidifies the crew (add Pavel Chekov)
What's not so great: Budget drops, so does quality lighting which affects VQ
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
I have watched this movie since childhood and seen it in every inclination from Vhs, Beta to Laserdisc. I thought there is no way that this film is ever going to look any better than it does, on Dvd. ----- Boy, was I wrong!
-- Now on Blu-ray, I have to say, I don't think its ever looked better on any release. --
This Technicolor marvel looks breath-taking on my Lcd with crystal clear clarity, deep rich colors and depth that will have you looking beyond the characters and searching backgrounds for new visuals. Now I know how Technicolor was meant to be seen !
I do not kid when I tell you that you will be startled as Dorothy opens the front door to her home and the viewer goes from sepia-tone to Technicolor richness with its newly remastered frames will leave the viewer quite pleased.
Sound has been remastered, but not overdone with a fresh 5.1 Dolby TrueHD soundtrack that is as clear as a bell, with stable dialog, no surging and discrete surround sound that has taken this release to new heights, from the standard 5.1 Lossy sound..
Also Included is the original 2.0 analog soundtrack for the purists out there.
Extra's are enormous.. so much so that I have only covered about 25% of them.
Extra's are enormous.. so much so that I have only covered about 25% of them.
I especially enjoyed the inviews with the surviving Munchkins.. The documentary on Victor Fleming was very informative with some really great background materials I never knew about this great director (directed " Gone With The Wind ") that proves he is one of the greatest ever!
I was thrilled, when I opened up the collectors watch box, thinking it would be some cheesy looking toy, but to my surprise, was of nice quality with a rectangular chrome frame with a jade green band, with the Oz characters in the watch face and a very nice bezel.
The Wizard of Oz book included in the set, is finely made with some beautiful background photos and information about production, including costs and details of this fabulous creation.
The Wizard of Oz book included in the set, is finely made with some beautiful background photos and information about production, including costs and details of this fabulous creation.
I really am impressed with this box set (my first) of the Wizard of Oz Ultimate Collectors Edition. And must stress that until you have seen this Blu-ray you really haven't seen the movie, the way Victor wanted you to see it, in all its Technicolor Glory..
What's great about it: Visual Clarity - Technicolor at its best - TrueHD soundtrack - Extra's Galore!
What's not so great: Price
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
Once in a while, a film comes along that combines all the qualities that make a blockbuster classic.. " GoodFellas " is definitely one of these films, with a cast to die for, a storyline that combines just about everything. Drama, Horror, Romance, Action & Crime all rolled up into some of the most beautiful cinematography Hollywood has to offer. Martin Scorsese's abilities shine in this masterpiece of film engineering and this Blu-ray only highlights the sheer genius of this fine director.
synopsis - Martin Scorsese explores the life of organized crime with his gritty, kinetic adaptation of Nicolas Pileggi’s best-selling Wiseguy, the true-life account of mobster and FBI informant Henry Hill. Set to a true-to-period rock soundtrack, the story details the rise and fall of Hill, a half-Irish, half-Sicilian New York kid who grows up idolizing the “wise guys” in his impoverished Brooklyn neighborhood. He begins hanging around the mobsters, running errands and doing odd jobs until he gains the notice of local chieftain Paulie Cicero (Paul Sorvino), who takes him in as a surrogate son. As he reaches his teens, Hill (Ray Liotta) is inducted into the world of petty crime, where he distinguishes himself as a “stand-up guy” by choosing jail time over ratting on his accomplices. From that moment on, he is a part of the family. Along with his psychotic partner Tommy (Joe Pesci), he rises through the ranks to become Paulie’s lieutenant; however, he quickly learns that, like his mentor Jimmy (Robert DeNiro), his ethnicity prevents him from ever becoming a “made guy,” an actual member of the crime family. Soon he finds himself the target of both the feds and the mobsters, who feel that he has become a threat to their security with his reckless dealings. Goodfellas was rewarded with six Academy Award nominations including Best Picture; Pesci would walk away with Best Supporting Actor for his work.
Video - Superb 1.85:1 aspect ratio 1080p/VC-1 encode on a BD-50 dual-layer disc. Colors are gorgeous, with lifelike clarity that looks amazingly true! This PQ is about as good as it gets and all will be pleased with this excellent picture.
Audio - When GoodFellas was released on HD-DVD its audio was encoded using the Dolby Digital-Plus Lossy encode. Now on Blu-ray, we get a Digital Dolby 5.1 encode that is very good, but a DTS-HD Master audio track, would have been more proper. GoodFellas sound is encoded at 640kpbs bitrate with dialog sounding adequate, with the fronts & center being heavily used, since this is mainly a dialog driven soundtrack.
Extras - 2 commentaries by Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino and Frank Vincent, screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi, producers Irwin Winkler and Barbara De Fina, cinematographer Michael Ballhaus and editor Thelma Schoonmaker. - second commentary, dubbed "The Crook and The Cop." Henry Hill and FBI agent Edward McDonald - 29-minute "Getting Made" cast commentary, featuring new interviews with Liotta and Bracco - 8-minute "Workaday Gangster," which features a new interview with Hill on life as a mobster - "Paper is Cheaper Than Film" storyboard-to-film comparison, which features Scorsese's pencil-drawings of many of the key scenes in the film.
GoodFellas is a masterpiece of Movie Making and hands down one of the all time best Mob films ever put to celluloid.. Martin Scorsese's fine direction and the combined talents of Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta & Paul Sorvino have created a film for the ages!
What's great about it: Superb Acting...Engrossing Story...Great Cast...One of Hollywoods Greatest films!
What's not so great: No Lossless Audio
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Freddy vs. Jason [Blu-ray] [2003]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/4e57aa95-8335-4a1e-ac36-07fc3a3b3694.jpg)
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
Movie - Rumored and anticipated for years, the two biggest icons of the slasher genre finally meet in Freddy Vs. Jason, the eighth entry in the Nightmare on Elm Street saga and the 11th film in the Friday the 13th series, though with Jason X taking place in the future, it should be noted that the events of this film take place after the ninth film Jason Goes to Hell and is banished there for eternity.
Freddy devises a plan to manipulate Jason into continuing his work, hacking up the teenagers of Elm Street. All goes well at first until Jason realizes he's been duped by "the dream master" and is none too pleased. Coaxed by surviving teenagers Will (Jason Ritter), Lori (Monica Keena), and Kia (Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland), Jason and Freddy descend upon Crystal Lake for a one on one battle royal.
Freddy devises a plan to manipulate Jason into continuing his work, hacking up the teenagers of Elm Street. All goes well at first until Jason realizes he's been duped by "the dream master" and is none too pleased. Coaxed by surviving teenagers Will (Jason Ritter), Lori (Monica Keena), and Kia (Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland), Jason and Freddy descend upon Crystal Lake for a one on one battle royal.
Video - New Line Home Video gives us a spiffy remastered Blu-ray picture that is very pleasing to the eye. Stylized blue tint is the word in this release but never takes away from the image quality. Colors especially reds jump out of the image with just a hint of grain that is never intrusive. Overall New Line has hit this one out of the ball park in relation to the image quality this release offers.
Audio - A Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is included and does a decent job of channel seperation, with discrete sounds being used effectively in the rear soundfield. Levels are excellent without surging, with dialog crystal (lake) clear! A very balanced soundtrack.
Extra's - Picture-in-Picture (12 minutes) - "Terror Trivia Track". - Featurette: "Hacking Back/Slashing Forward" (HD, 10 minutes) - Featurette: "The Seven Best Kills" (HD, 22 minutes ) - Sneak Preview (BD-Live). Finally with most of the Extra's offered in HD, I think this is a must-have for any Horror Fan.
Movie ***
Video ****1/2
Audio ****
Extras ****
Video ****1/2
Audio ****
Extras ****
What's great about it: Very Good Picture Definition..Dolby TrueHD Sound
What's not so great: Acting..Plot..
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Johnny Depp stars as a book dealer who must locate the remaining copies of a demonic manuscript.
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
Johnny Depp excels in developing his characters & really this is where his career started to make in-roads into the realm of genius!
Movie: Depp plays Dean Corso, a less than ethical rare antique book dealer, who is hired to find and examine extremely rare copies of a 17th century book on the occult titled " The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows ". Corso is given an offer he cannot refuse ($$$) & he is off to Europe to find the surviving copies with specific instructions to find any variations of the text or engravings.
After being pursued, attacked, seduced & robbed Corso realizes that this book has more than just monetary value & begins to become entangled in the pursuit of Satanic powers & Occult rituals.
The ending will leave you guessing and requires quite a bit to the imagination..
The ending will leave you guessing and requires quite a bit to the imagination..
Video: The Ninth Gate picture is just average, when compared to other Blu-rays. I saw no background depth while actors remained in focus, possibly just the filming style, but does not enhance this Blu-ray in any way.. Colors are neutral, but look natural to the film. Fleshtones look accurate. Nothing really jumps out at you with this release, but it is head and shoulders above standard Dvd.
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, is always nice to have included but does not benefit this soundtrack much, since its mainly dialog driven. Dialogue is crisp and clean with Pans transitioning smoothly, even tho the soundfield is a bit front-heavy but ultimately immersive, and dynamics are solid.
Extras: Theatrical Trailer - Audio Commentary - Featurette - Storyboard Selections - Gallery of Satanic Drawings -
I thoroughly enjoyed " The Ninth Gate " & it still remains one of my all time Johnny Depp films..
P.S. Check out Johnny Depp in his 1994 film " Ed Wood "....Brilliant!
What's great about it: Engaging Story..Superb Acting..it's Finally on Blu-ray! $9.99 unbeatable deal!
What's not so great: Ambiguous ending...Blu-ray image is average.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Mist [Blu-ray] [2007]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8506d492-60f7-4431-b1c4-2b12bb1211f1.jpg)
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
If you were raised back in the day when Creature Feature was prevalent on public TV, then you will agree " The Mist " parallels the old 50's style monster movies. The story, acting and FX were quite good, with some very good performances from the cast.
synopsis - David Drayton (Thomas Jane) is an artist living with his wife and son in small town, USA.
Following a terrible thunderstorm that knocks out the power and uproots a decades-old tree that falls through the home, David, his son Billy (Nathan Gamble), and next door neighbor with whom David is at-odds, Brent (Andre Braugher), head to the local Supermarket to pick up a few supply's, during the shopping spree an unusual fog comes rolling in on the town.
At this point terror ensues as people in the parking area begin to scream in terror... Something is terribly wrong in the mist!
The survivors hold up inside the market, only to find, the biggest danger is a pseudo holy roller preaching that the mist is a result of Gods anger and creates havoc by turning the survivors against one another.
In the final moments escaping survivors give the viewer an ending that is as shocking as it is controversial.
Following a terrible thunderstorm that knocks out the power and uproots a decades-old tree that falls through the home, David, his son Billy (Nathan Gamble), and next door neighbor with whom David is at-odds, Brent (Andre Braugher), head to the local Supermarket to pick up a few supply's, during the shopping spree an unusual fog comes rolling in on the town.
At this point terror ensues as people in the parking area begin to scream in terror... Something is terribly wrong in the mist!
The survivors hold up inside the market, only to find, the biggest danger is a pseudo holy roller preaching that the mist is a result of Gods anger and creates havoc by turning the survivors against one another.
In the final moments escaping survivors give the viewer an ending that is as shocking as it is controversial.
video - 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode (2.40:1) ratio. This is a very fine transfer to Blu-ray on a BD-50 dual-layer disc. The black and white version is supplied on a BD-25 single layer disc. Colors are true to life with clarity and good definition with no filtering noted grain is minimal.
audio - presented in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround (48khz/24-bit) this is a very solid encode into hidef with good use of satellites. Discrete effects are effective in the rear zones. Mark Isham's score sounds fantastically creepy and Dialogue is clean and intelligible, without surging.
extra's - All are presented in hidef which is the way it should be, even the trailer. commentary by Frank Darabont - When Darkness Came: The Making of The Mist - Featurettes (Monsters Among Us: A Look at the Creature F/X) - Deleted Scenes - Theatrical Trailers HD..
If you enjoy good horror movies like I do, I think you will really enjoy this rare treasure in the Scifi/Horror Genre..
What's great about it: Great HiDef video - Dolby TrueHD soundtrack - Black & White copy
What's not so great: Jogging into the Mist!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Mask [Platinum Series] [WS] [Blu-ray] [1994]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/72ea45be-9656-498f-90ee-bb33ddeac6e1.jpg)
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
I think the mask is hilarious! Jim Carey exceeds in his lunacy to the point of brilliance.. This is why Jim was a huge star in the 90's with his off the wall antics that will have you in stitches.
Video - A single-layer 1080p VC-1 1.85:1 transfer Looks amazingly clean with minimal grain or artifacts. Colors jump off the screen and image detail is crisp with no hint of filtering. Blacks are deep and rich and flesh-tones are dead on!
Audio - New Line has included a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack that is top notch! This is darn near reference quality material here, with equalization and channel mixing at near perfection levels, surrounds get a good workout with some nice discrete effects in the rears. All in all a very nice mix with punch!
Extra's - Include Audio commentary with Director Chuck Russell - Return to Edge City (The Mask project documentary) - Introducing Cameron Diaz - Cartoon Logic (origins of The Masks gags) - What Makes Fido Run (training the Masked Dog) - Additional scenes with commentary with Chuck Russell
Conclusion - This is a really great comedy and this Blu-ray does it complete justice! I highly recommend it.
What's great about it: It's A Blast! Excellent HD Video & Audio
What's not so great: this release? are you kidding?
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
1
Beetlejuice is funny but this blu-ray is horrid!
on August 23, 2009
Posted by: reconredneck
from Atlanta
I love Tim Burton movies and Beetlejuice is my favorites! I have owned this on Laser, Dvd and now Blu-ray.. I was really disappointed in this new release, with its soft grainy picture and bland HD soundtrack.
Video - Jez! where to start.. The image is very soft with little definition, colors are off especially flesh tones. Blacks are crushed and the image has little depth with grain prevalent throughout. At times I thought I was watching a SD copy!
Audio - A Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is included, but its a mess. I actually had a lot of bass coming thru my center channel. The bass that did make its way to my Sub was muddy and not well defined. It almost sounds like a mono source was used in the encode.
Extra's - you get some Beetlejuice cartoons and a cd sampler of Elfman's soundtrack, what a way to round out a stinker of a release!
I must reiterate that I love this film and have waited for it to reach a reasonable price ($9.99) but even at this price, it was too much for what is being offered!
I hope that Warner Home Video does a re-master of this film soon and gives it the respect it deserves, instead of this near SD quality Blu-ray!
What's great about it: The cast, storyline Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin & Geena Davis
What's not so great: Horrible video encode, Lifeless HD soundtrack
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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reconredneck's Review Comments
Overall
4 out of 5
4 out of 5Friday 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.
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.
" 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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Overall
5 out of 5
5 out of 5A 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.
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.
![Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah/Godzilla vs. Mothra [Blu-ray]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
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 5
5 out of 5Follow-up to Biollante
By Dval
from Clarksville, TN
Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Giant Monster
Length: 101 minutes/ 102 minutes
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!
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.
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.
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.
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