Friday the 13th Collection

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

Credit Fangoria.com

FRIDAY THE 13TH ULTIMATE EDITION DVD COLLECTION (Paramount)

 

 

Reviewed by MICHAEL GINGOLD

 

Mike sez…

 

OVERALL RATING:

 

The FRIDAY THE 13TH film series was always a sort of ugly stepchild in the Paramount family, let out of the cellar for a few weeks every year to grab a bit of quick cash before being shuttered away again. When the movies made their first appearances on DVD, they were bare-bones releases, not the full-blooded special editions fans craved. After much hemming and hawing, Paramount Home Video’s announcement that it would issue all eight of the studio’s FRIDAY features in a boxed set was met with much enthusiasm—more than might greet the package itself.

 

To start with, none of the features has had its video or audio remastered from the previous solo releases—they’re the same pictures (1.85:1 for all but PART III, which is 2.35:1, and 16x9-enhanced), with Dolby Digital mono sound for the first film through PART V, Dolby Digital stereo for VI-VIII and an additional 5.1 Surround track on PART VII. The transfers tend toward the darkish on a couple of the movies, but for the most part they look and sound fine. The physical packaging is pretty nice too—a classy-looking box containing five individual snap cases, with two films to a disc and each of the latter sporting artwork on one side (thankfully they’re not "flippers"). The only serious disappointment here is that Paramount didn’t go the extra distance to present PART III in 3-D video.

 

That film is, however, the only one of the batch to be graced with a cast-reunion commentary, the sort that would seem to be a natural for all of these movies. Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, Larry Zerner and Jason actor Richard Brooker (whose British accent is rather startling at first), moderated by CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES author Peter Bracke, have a high old time recalling a shoot made infinitely more complicated than normal by the dimensional photography. They note problems with the camera crane that caused crew members to make up "I Hate the Louma" T-shirts, and sympathetically reveal that a stuntman had to crash through a window countless times; they also fondly acknowledge the fans they’ve encountered over the years and reveal that Stan Winston’s shop contributed to the film’s initial FX work. Despite the tech snafus, a good time was apparently had by all on the shoot, and is again here by both the performers and those who listen to this track.

 

The rest of the commentaries are provided by directors, highlighted by Tom McLoughlin’s talk on PART VI. His is a fine mix of technical detail, humility (he points out several sequences that employ the most basic rules of fear filmmaking, or "Horror 101" as he puts it) and enthusiasm for what he calls the most fun experience of his career. He discusses the use of humor that makes this one of the most entertaining FRIDAY features, and manages to namecheck influences like Frank Capra and John Ford without seeming pretentious. Like all three of the director/commentators in this set, he also points out murder scenes that got trimmed to appease the MPAA.

 

The only Jason actor to speak over his movie is, not surprisingly, Kane Hodder, who teams with director/makeup FX creator John Carl Buechler for PART VII’s commentary. As expected, the sacrifices this sequel made to the ratings board are a running theme, though rather unexpectedly, both men state that they find the truncated version of the notorious sleeping-bag murder more effective than the original, bloodier incarnation. Buechler also reveals that one effect—the dead father who revives at the climax, and was originally supposed to appear much more grotesque—was nixed not by the MPAA but by a squeamish producer. Throughout, the guys are entertaining and appreciative of their other collaborators—though some viewers might take pause when Buechler talks about actor Terry Kiser "playing the subtext" of his role and states that "repeat viewings enhance the effect" of the movie.

 

Finally, Rob Hedden contributes a decent talk over PART VIII, which winds up a balance between worthwhile production information and simple description of what’s happening on screen. A few of the points and comments he makes are puzzling: He opens by saying he wanted to do something different from the previous sequels by adding humor (guess he never saw PART VI); claims a murder-by-dart was never filmed, yet photos from this unused killing exist; and identifies Ken Kirzinger as a stunt performer without mentioning his later assuming the villainous role in FREDDY VS. JASON. Indeed, the New Line contributions to this franchise are pretty much cinema non grata among the box’s supplements.

 

The centerpiece of the fifth "Killer Extras" disc is the feature-length "FRIDAY THE 13TH Chronicles" documentary, in which a certain amount of material covered in the commentaries is restated. Fortunately, there’s plenty of good original stuff here, from original director/producer Sean S. Cunningham sharing his views on the nature of horror to PART III cinematographer Gerald Feil offering his own observations on the challenges of 3-D to Corey Feldman recalling how his PART V cameo was shot in a neighbor’s backyard on a Sunday off from shooting THE GOONIES. Feldman also contributes entertaining set tales from FINAL CHAPTER, in which he played a much larger role, and that film’s director Joseph Zito gets in a few good recollections as well. Conspicuous by their absence: producer Frank Mancuso Jr., who shepherded the whole FRIDAY franchise; Steve Miner, the only director to helm two of the movies (2 and III); any of the screenwriters save McLoughlin and Hedden, who penned their own films; composer Harry Manfredini, whose signature Jason sound effect is one of the series’ most recognizable components; and anybody connected to PART V save Feldman.

 

One complaint that devotees are sure to have is that trimmed gore footage has not been integrated back into the features. It would appear that most of the lost bloodshed only exists in workprint form, which might make their insertion awkward—but no less so than the way some of it is presented in the "Tales from the Cutting Room Floor" section. Uncut murder scenes from the first and sixth film are presented side-by-side with the sequences as they appeared in the release versions, which is not only distracting but prevents gorehounds from having a full-screen look at the trimmed footage. PART VII’s missing grue does get the screen to itself, albeit in very rough form, complete with commentary by Buechler and Hodder. Fullscreen deleted scenes from FINAL CHAPTER are included as well, though these are character rather than mayhem moments, including an amusing line foreshadowing Feldman’s self-transformation into a Jason lookalike.

 

Somewhat more satisfying is "Secrets Galore Behind the Gore," which delves into how the special makeups from the first film, FINAL CHAPTER and PART VII were created, though a good deal of this material will likely be familiar to FRIDAY diehards. This is the only place in the package where you’ll find any behind-the-scenes footage, and a few unique bits like Buechler providing a look at the dead-father creation unused in PART VII; yet there’s also a lengthy and rather gratuitous plug for Tom Savini’s makeup school (a condition of his appearance here, perhaps?).

 

"Crystal Lake Victims Tell All" is a misleading title given that a number of those interviewed for this featurette portrayed survivors of Jason’s wrath; nonetheless, Adrienne King, Lar Park Lincoln, Zerner et al. contribute fun reminiscences of how they won their roles and tales from the sets. Considering the enormous number of young actors and actresses the series chewed up, though, this segment feels a tad underpopulated, and it really might have been fun if the producers had coaxed stars-to-be like Kevin Bacon and Crispin Glover to talk about their FRIDAY experiences. "FRIDAY Artifacts and Collectibles" covers props that the filmmakers have held onto: McLoughlin has Jason’s tombstone from PART VI in his backyard (where it once scared a meter man), while Hedden held onto one of PART VIII’s hockey masks and a replica Flying-V guitar used to bash a victim’s head in. But it only briefly explores the many assorted Jason tie-ins and merchandise that have sprung up as the franchise has grown in popularity.

 

The whole set is like that—decent or better material undercut by the sense that more could have been attempted and achieved with this project. Any number of potentially interesting supplements, like footage of PART III’s original ending, Alice Cooper’s PART VI music video and Hodder’s PART VII screen test, go tantalizingly mentioned but disappointingly unseen. (And occasional gaffes—photos from the first film played over Zito’s comments, Jason sketches suggested as being from PART VII in one place and PART VIII in another—engender an unfortunate feeling of carelessness.) Given how thorough such past DVD boxes as New Line’s NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and Dimension’s SCREAM were, no one can blame FRIDAY fanatics who might find this to be less than the "ULTIMATE EDITION" it’s billed as. And if those involved make good on their suggestion (made in the very pages of Fango) that further reissues of these movies may be forthcoming, they’d better watch out; on the DVD scene, double-dippers fare about as well as skinnydippers do in Jason’s world.

 

I've been waiting for sometime for this to get released. Anyone as pumped as I am to get it?

[Guest El Satanico]

I was really looking forward to this, but the half assed "eh, horror fans will buy anything" handling of it has made me less excited.

 

Now I'm not even sure if I'll buy it. Octobber is normally loaded with horror DVDs, so I end up saying to hell with a shoddy box set.

 

I'll just hold on to hope that Paramont will let an out of house DVD studio like Anchor Bay handle the series.

[Downhome 0]

I have already paid for it in full at Blockbuster, for $26.

 

I couldn't pass at that price, and I'd rather have this set than no set.

[dubq 0]

I have already paid for it in full at Blockbuster, for $26.

 

I couldn't pass at that price, and I'd rather have this set than no set.

$26? How the fuck...?

[Downhome 0]

Misprice in their system, Blockbuster has a few of em from time to time. I don't know if all Blockbusters have the right price now, but all of the ones that I know of are like $79 now.

[dubq 0]

Misprice in their system, Blockbuster has a few of em from time to time. I don't know if all Blockbusters have the right price now, but all of the ones that I know of are like $79 now.

Damn, how'd you do that? With a preorder in person or is this through a web site?

[eiker_ir 0]

i'll be picking this set, the extras look pretty good and the price is great for 8 movies.

 

here are some reviews:

 

http://www.horrordvds.com/modules.php?name...ewreview&id=142

 

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/sh...threadid=212151

[Downhome 0]

Damn, how'd you do that? With a preorder in person or is this through a web site?

You have to go in the store and ask them to look up the price for you. If it's the price you want, you pay in FULL right then and there, keep all of your reciepts, ask for them to also give you a pink special order form, which they fill out, then you just go back to the store to pick it up once they get it in.

 

But like I said, I don't know if any Blockbusters still have this "deal".

 

I posted an entire thread about this back when I ordered mine, and I don't even know for sure if anyone replied to it or not.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

$26 DH? Damn you anyhow. I would have to agree with Satanico on the "fans by anything" theory, but like it was said before that I would rather have the set than no set at all. Plus it's been some time for me since I have sat down and watched everyone....so I am definately looking forward to that.

[Downhome 0]

If they release another box set or whatever, I'll just put this one on eBay when I hear about it, and pay for the newer one with the money I'd get from selling this one.

 

No big deal to me.

[NoCalMike 0]

This set definately seems half-assed, but then again, how realistic is it that they will go back to the drawing board to redo an ENTIRE BOX SET anytime in the near future? Ugh......I will settle for this set for now.

[Guest El Satanico]

Well I guess there's rumors that Paramount is planning to sell the rights and they released this to cash in before selling.

[Guest Staravenger]

Just pre-ordered the set on Amazon for $56 (bastards). Oh well, I figure they won't make a better set, so I'll get this now before I wait too long ad they're out of stock. (I don't feel like buying 8 seperate DVD's for $12 each)