DVD Review: Friday the 13th Trio!
From Paramount Home Entertainment
Friday the 13th: Deluxe Editions
With the new Friday the 13th film coming out, it's time to catch up on all things Jason! These teen-aimed classic horror films of the 1980's and far beyond have been released on DVD several times but something was always cut out (no machete-chopping pun intended). Hey, it's Valentine time, not Halloween you say, but a fun horror film is always good for a grab and cuddle with your honey. Check out this scary, somewhat more complete and better looking fun-retro scarefest trio.
Friday the 13th: Uncut Deluxe Edition
Okay, you know the story; bunch of teen camp counselors are partying up at Crystal Lake when they start disappearing one by one. There's that spooky story of a kid drowned in the lake way back in 1958; some say he's still out there..oooooo. So, if it's not Jason's ghost, who is running around lakeside with a very big knife, a bad attitude and a hatred of teen camp counselors? And, uh, is that Kevin Bacon as one of the teens?
This new high def version of the film looks and sounds better than all the DVDs and old Video Tapes you've seen so far!
Special Features: Some not seen before! There is some footage at a horror convention from September 13, 2008; a "Reunion" panel discussion with some of the stars (including the now grown-up kid who played the first Jason) as well as writer, make up and composer folks. The writer Victor Miller actually admits "(Director) Sean (Cunningham) called me up one day and said, 'Halloween is making a lot of money, let's rip it off,'". Wow, honesty in Hollywood? There are some fun tidbits here.
"Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th" includes interviews from the same convention but with separate cast and crew; informative stuff from composer Manfredini about his very cool score for the movie. Interesting.
"The Man Behind the Legacy: Sean S. Cunningham" is an interview with the director at his house who tells us that he was surprised the little film was such a hit and, at that time, there were no horror franchises with multiple films at all. Imagine!
There is a "Commentary" hosted by Peter M. Bracke, a horror fan and author which isn't a "real" commentary but a cobbling together of comments (not related to what is running on screen) by various filmmakers and actors. Not all that great as a true commentary but some interesting info. Last is "Lost Tales From Camp Blood: Part 1" which is a little mini-slasher film that really has nothing to do with Jason.
Wrapping Up: This original film, after the original Halloween, was one of the most influential in horror history. It launched at least 12 sequels (most pretty bad) and let filmmakers know that, if a killer character is fascinating, hey he can just keep doin' what he does best and crowds of teens will come see it. This is the best "cleaned-up" version of the film out so far so I recommend a buy for horror fans and a definite rent for the curious.
Friday the 13th: Part 2 Deluxe Edition
He's baaaaack! We've got six new counselors-in-training in a new Crystal Lake camp for Jason to attack and boy, does he! (This is the first film in which Jason is actually the killer)!
This film looks a little better on DVD but not as amazing in quality as the re-done Part 1.
Special Features: a few new since last DVD release and some old ones. "Inside Crystal Lake Memories" has horror writer and expert on these films Peter M. Bracke talking about the films in general and a little about Part 2. Okay info.
"Friday's Legacy: Horror Conventions" is more from that 2008 Scarefest convention on the Part 1 DVD. You get little comments and interviews from the same folks. Just more of the same.
Here comes "Lost Tales from Camp Blood Part II" uh, again, why is another silly little folks-being-killed-in-the-woods short film even here? Up next is "Jason Forever" with a panel from a 2004 convention with four of the actors who played Jason throughout several of these films. I found this kinda interesting. Each guy has a different take on the role. One "Jason" talks about how his son was suddenly the coolest kid at school when his pals learned that dad was the dreaded Jason. Fun, but I think on a 2004 box set of the films already.
Wrapping Up: Not as original as Part 1 but some fun/spooky stuff here. Lead actress Amy Steel is actually good but some of the others are high school play level! For horror fans, nothing much new on this film. I'd say, since it's the first film with Jason as the killer, rent it!
Friday the 13th Part 3 - 3-D: Deluxe Edition
Okay.... camp Crystal Lake now looks like it has moved to "Little House on the Prairie"! Say what? A bunch of hot teens are spending some time at one girl's family ranch which, I guess is near Crystal Lake and you know the rest....
Special Features: Okay, 3-D on TV still pretty much sucks! Tech wizards have yet to transport the new, really cool version of 3-D we've been seeing in theaters lately to the smaller screen so this just gives me a red and blue-eyed headache as pitchforks and baseball bats are obviously poked into camera. But, this is the only "feature" on this DVD except for a trailer!
Wrapping Up: This is so cheesy that it's fun! The annoying nerd guy in Part 3 is the worst ever and, hey, the Jason in this one is really frickin' scary. He's big, imposing and it's the first time he puts on that famed hockey mask! It's also the first time you really get that he is supernatural... when he won't die! The last chase/stalk of the film is really quite good! This one is worth a rental at least.
