Hammer Horror Blu-ray Releases

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by BobbyPeru

I think I'll wait for a review before I order anything from Final Cut. The Evil of Frankenstein and Brides of Dracula look good. The Phantom of the Opera looks acceptable. But Captain Clegg is horrible with its sped up 1080i/50hz. I'll never pre-order their releases again.

Of more concern is their recent DVD only release of Doctor Blood's Coffin. It should play smoothly as it's authored progressively but is riddled with encoding errors throughout, so it judders and stutters. It was wholly unacceptable and I got a refund. Final Cut haven't even acknowledged any fault.

So while they may not be able to do much with the quality of the masters they are provided with, their quality control stinks.

[ZombieTwin2]

Got my Australian Hammer Horror Blu box-set earlier. Though collectively the selection of films aren't exactly top-tier, the packaging is very nice and the big, ugly Australian rating is on the polythene wrapping.

Though they aren't in individual cases, it does come in a nice, sturdy thick cardboard case, somewhat reminiscent of the James Bond Blu set. As well as the Blu discs, you also get two DVDs, containing all 13 episodes of The World of Hammer.

For anyone in the UK who has been hesitant about picking this up, it only cost me £31 and if you consider how much these titles are individually in the UK, it's a steal. This is probably only on offer at this price until Halloween, so you shouldn't hang around.

I have attached a picture of my set...



Kev W

[hagios]

Originally Posted by ZombieTwin2

Got my Australian Hammer Horror Blu box-set earlier. Though collectively the selection of films aren't exactly top-tier, the packaging is very nice and the big, ugly Australian rating is on the polythene wrapping.

Though they aren't in individual cases, it does come in a nice, sturdy thick cardboard case, somewhat reminiscent of the James Bond Blu set. As well as the Blu discs, you also get two DVDs, containing all 13 episodes of The World of Hammer.

For anyone in the UK who has been hesitant about picking this up, it only cost me £31 and if you consider how much these titles are individually in the UK, it's a steal. This is probably only on offer at this price until Halloween, so you shouldn't hang around.

I have attached a picture of my set...



Kev W

I also received my set yesterday in the states!

[Movie Nut]

Still waiting on my copy but now looking forward to it even more after your quick review and picture.

Thanks ZombieTwin2!

[Hard Times Chaney]

I remember watching some Hammer movies when I was younger, mostly Dracula.

Could someone give me a list of maybe 5-10 Hammer titles available that you think is essential viewing?

[Ste7en]

Ooo... can of worms. But for me it would have to be:

Dracula: Prince of Darkness
Vampire Circus
Twins of Evil
The Curse of the Werewolf
The Quatermass Experiment

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

Ooo... can of worms. But for me it would have to be:

Dracula: Prince of Darkness
Vampire Circus
Twins of Evil
The Curse of the Werewolf
The Quatermass Experiment

BIG yes to these three. Twins of Evil is absolutely my favorite of the entire Hammer series, it's so completely bonkers and fun. Vampire Circus is similarly audacious but MUCH darker. Curse of the Werewolf is one of the very few big classic ones that I'd say is absolutely essential. The other one that I think is even more deserving of that status is Horror of Dracula (just called Dracula in the UK I think??). It's often called the best Dracula movie that's ever been made, it's incredibly well-done and the final showdown has never been topped imo.

Revenge of Frankenstein and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed I'd say are the essentials from that whole line of things. Revenge is much more intelligent and compelling than Curse of Frankenstein (the first one), even though Curse is the famous one. Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed has sort of emerged as the critical favorite in the last decades, despite the rape scene that everyone agrees should not have been added.

One Million Years BC is certainly the one I've watched the most, but I was a Harryhausen/dinosaur movie nut as a kid and Raquel Welch added another level of interest once I reached a certain age!! When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth is also pretty awesome but definitely way less essential.

The Mummy is also essential, I think. Plague of the Zombies, Quatermass and the Pit, and Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde would be my last three I'd say are essential. So to summarize!

Horror of Dracula
Twins of Evil
Curse of the Werewolf
Revenge of Frankenstein
Vampire Circus
Quatermass and the Pit
Plague of the Zombies
The Mummy
Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde
One Million Years BC

Some of the other late period ones are pretty damn good and I'd recommend them too, like Taste the Blood of Dracula, Hands of the Ripper, and Blood from the Mummy's Tomb, but they're definitely not as essential. These are the Damned, The Gorgon, The Reptile, Vampire Lovers, and Paranoiac are also pretty awesome. There are a ton of duds out there, but a lot of really good ones. GENERALLY, anything directed by Terence Fisher is reliably good. Freddie Francis movies tend to be bad.

Their catalog is pretty intimidating at first. To do it methodically, I'd suggest watching the four "starter" ones (Curse of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula, Curse of the Werewolf, and The Mummy), then watch the good Dracula sequels (Brides of Dracula, Dracula has Risen from the Grave, Dracula Prince of Darkness, Taste the Blood of Dracula), then watch the good Frankenstein sequels (Revenge of Frankenstein, Frankenstein Created Woman, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell), then watch all the Quatermass movies (Quatermass Experiment, X the Unknown [close enough], Quatermass 2, Quatermass and the Pit), then watch all the scattered good ones in something approaching chronological order (all the ones I mentioned above!).

[the blob]

Plague of the Zombies
The Devil Rides Out
Quaternass & The Pit
Dracula
Curse of Franjenstein
Brides of Dracula
Dracula Prince of Darkness
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Curse of the Werewolf..

There's loads as I'd probably include the ones Ste7en mentioned not on my list. Revenge of Frankenstein, Hands of the Ripper... It goes on...

[Hard Times Chaney]

Thanks for all the tips so far. The Dracula movies are a given, Lee is by far my favorite bloodsucker. Too bad I didn't find this thread earlier, would have been great for Halloween.

[Latheofheaven]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

Ooo... can of worms. But for me it would have to be:

Dracula: Prince of Darkness
Vampire Circus
Twins of Evil
The Curse of the Werewolf
The Quatermass Experiment

Absolutely agree with these choices!

Nicely done, m8!

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Hard Times Chaney

Thanks for all the tips so far. The Dracula movies are a given, Lee is by far my favorite bloodsucker. Too bad I didn't find this thread earlier, would have been great for Halloween.

Scars of Dracula is pretty bad, Dracula AD is REALLY bad, and Satanic Rites of Dracula is one of the worst movies hammer ever made. The first five are great though (four if you don't count Brides of Dracula due to no Dracula).

[Clark Kent]

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter features the beautiful Caroline Munro.

[gitsurfer]

Lots of great suggestions here. I would add their version of Hound of the Baskervilles, though.

[Latheofheaven]

Originally Posted by gitsurfer

Lots of great suggestions here. I would add their version of Hound of the Baskervilles, though.

DITTO!

[Hard Times Chaney]

Isn't the first post in need of an update?

[ptb2010]

Kiss of the Vampire is coming to Blu Ray courtesy of Final Cut Entertainment here in the UK, though at UKP20 it is expensive for such an old movie.
Not holding out much hope as I was disappointed with their releases of Phantom of the Opera, Captain Clegg, and Brides of Dracula, and prefer the Universal DVDs of all three. They also have rights to Curse of the Werewolf so maybe that will be next.

[ptb2010]

How long do orders from Australian company take to get to the UK? Are they reliable? Sounds it.

[ptb2010]

Are any of the Blu Ray releases of Vampire Circus worth getting? There is a German, French, and American one. Which are cut, if any? Anyone have any info? Thanks.

[the blob]

Originally Posted by ptb2010

Are any of the Blu Ray releases of Vampire Circus worth getting? There is a German, French, and American one. Which are cut, if any? Anyone have any info? Thanks.

I have the U.S version and I'm pretty happy with it. Some great extras on it. It is a tad dark and the German one is supposed to be brighter but it's bare bones so that one's up to you. Both are uncut. No idea about the French but I did read in one thread somewhere about the Elephant releases not being up to scratch so I'd probably take my pick from the other two as I doubt it would be an improvement anyway.

[Simon Lewis]

Originally Posted by the blob

Both are uncut.

According to Melon Farmers, Vampire Circus was cut by the BBFC for the original cinema release and "Some cuts were subsequently restored for home video but most have been permanently lost".

"BBFC edits were made to:

the whipping scene toned down
a dagger in the face deleted from the opening scene
the forest attack by the panther
footage of the mutilated remains of the family."