Hellraiser BD Reviews

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Forever Knight

Rocky's pics don't look too bad. I got a 50" HDTV so I am hoping that will make a difference from what you were talking about with it looking better on your bigger tv.

Yes. It will look great. I have watched the Hellbound Blu-ray THREE times already. Normally I can't stand watching something over and over, but I have a history of loving this movie and I have been waiting since 2009 for its Blu-ray release. I think it's one of the most underrated, genius films ever -- buried underneath a dumpster of flaws and bloody body tissue is a landmark horror film about human identity. They should re-release it again someday and really restore the whole thing, but honestly, this Blu-ray really captures the movie for what it's always been - what it originally was, I think. There's something about the mixture of color and sound offered here that really psychologically plays on you and makes the film feel epic. I also love in a way how the Blu-ray is bare bones except for a few old school horror movie trailers that play before the menu screen even comes up -- including one of Hellraiser. It really gives you the feeling that you're watching an old VHS tape version of Hellbound, which is how I first experienced it in the 1980's. So it's got this whole nostalgia meets modern times thing going on for it.

[Forever Knight]

Good to know. Yeah, Looking over ur pictures again and I can't say it's dissapointing. I've seen worse.

[RockyBalboa]

Those pictures don't even do it justice. For one, they were taken by a camera phone. Two, it was before I noticed my TV's picture was set at "Game" mode instead of "Movie" mode. Three, I didn't choose the best moments to take captures of. On your 50" TV, it's going to look really nice. It's not going to be HD quality you'd wanna write home about, but it's fitting for the movie and it should satisfy.

[Forever Knight]

It's still one of my fav horror films of all time and it's one of those rare times where the sequel beats the original.

[horizonline]

I'm waiting for something like a Avatar and Hellraiser two pack.

[Post Prod]

I was on a forced vacation because of Star Wars arguments.

I can get any grabs from this you guys want when I'm home.


channard.

[Show spoiler]

[RockyBalboa]

This is the trailer for Hellbound that comes with the Blu-ray as a special feature:

Hellbound: Hellraiser II German trailer -- Youtube

Remember, I said it was rare and I didn't think I had seen it before -- well, it's because it's a German trailer. Only, unlike the one found on Youtube, they speak in English on the Blu-ray. And the trailer shows parts of deleted scenes.

So, that's actually a pretty cool special feature, if you ask me. Not much and still barebones, but it has one little neat thing.

I wonder if that gives us reason to believe that the film source for the movie is the same as the German Blu-ray?

[hk3cx]

i want to know why its looks worse on your 32 inch compared to your bigger hdtv?

just asking because i have 32inch in my room , also how big is your tv?

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

Still talking to myself, I see.

I watched Hellbound on Blu-ray again. On my 32" HDTV, it looks like hell. On my bigger TV, it looks fantastic. Absolutely do NOT miss buying this Blu-ray. It looks very HD on my bigger TV. In fact, I now think it's one of my favorite Blu-rays that I own. There are actually a lot of details to be seen in this version -- I think the first time I watched it, I was more convinced it was gonna be bad, so I might have overlooked some stuff. You can see little hairs on people's arms, the bandages used to cover up Skinless Julia look very detailed and white, her skinless body glistens and shines, colors are deep and nice. Blacks are very dark. This Blu-ray makes the film look even scarier. I don't know why so many people think it sucks. Maybe they're watching it on smaller TV's -- if you look at it on my smaller TV, yeah, it looks similar to the DVD. But on the bigger TV, I feel like I'm at the movies watching it in 1988. So, it definitely looks HD and I now highly recommend it. I gave it 3/5 on my official review for PQ -- I'd honestly bring it up to 4 right about now. They did a good job. I'm relieved I didn't change my mind and cancel the order for this Blu-ray.

Perhaps the reason the film looked bad on the 32" TV is because I had the picture setting on that TV set for sports. When I switched it to "movie", the film looks a lot better.

[Forever Knight]

My copy came into my shop today but I won't be traveling that far for one blu-ray, so I'll hold out until next friday when the rest of my orders arrive.

[Atari Charles]

So about 6 months back I purchased Hellraiser I on Blu-ray release by Anchor Bay. Yes a great release with extras. So I was very happy with this release especially the $10 price

So yesterday I noticed Hellrasier II on blu-ray released by Image. The Midnight Madness text on the top of the case made me weary. But due to this being bought for me as a gift, I took the plunge. I also noticed Image had also released Hellraiser I on blu-ray. Oh where or where was the Anchor Bay release?

Well as the Cenobites like to make people who open the cube to suffer. I am wondering if the CEO of Image is Leviathan and their film transfer team are Cenobites. Because with this transfer, my suffering was legendary. My eyes burned as if the sun itself was implanted in my retinas. Yes, sad to say, the Image transfer was disappointing.

After doing to internet research, I cam across this very interesting and informative thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1357772

So the Image releases of both Hellraiser I and Hellraiser II are barebones with no real extras. I have not watched the Image release of Hellraiser so I can not overly comment on Image's HR I. But the Image Blu-ray release of Hellraiser II had dust specs galore in certain scenes as well as some minor film damage. The Image HR II film transfer is okay but only a slight step up from DVD. I found it kind of blurry, grainy, and dusty compared to the Anchor Bay Hellraiser I. Still the HR II Image blu-ray release is still okay 5/10, but not worth the $20 price tag.

The Anchor Bay blu-ray release of Hellraiser I looked good to me and had some good extras. So if you are going to buy Hellraiser I on blu-ray, get the Anchor Bay release!

As for Hellraiser II, unfortunately for the time being, has only been released by Image. Too bad really. Again the link has much more info and is really a good read.

Thoughts?

[Beast]

This is already known and being discussed in the Hellraiser BD thread as well as one other.

By the way... grain is not a bad thing. So I wouldn't include grain in the list of defects.

[hk3cx]

lol that was a little dramatic but yeah i have alot bad reviews for hellbound, i do have the hellraiser blu and i thought it looks really good especially the when pinhead is in but some parts then look awful and way too grainy, they could actually make this more clear and sharper if they wanted

[Post Prod]

Originally Posted by Beast

This is already known and being discussed in the Hellraiser BD thread as well as one other.

By the way... grain is not a bad thing. So I wouldn't include grain in the list of defects.

In this case it's not a good thing.

[wesslan]

Check this out

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/79785

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by wesslan

Check this out

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/79785

That Cenobite looks like he's having a good time.

Wow, the image transfer looks like crap compared to the HDTV version, actually the Image Blu Ray looks like a DVD. I hope Pinhead tears their soul apart.

[Deciazulado]

Hellraiser Blu-ray Review

[Hellraiserfan]

I was wondering if any of you other hardcore Hellraiser fans could tell me if either of the two releases for the first film on Blu-ray have the extended sequence of Frank being resurrected? I know that some versions released in the past on VHS and DVD were edited versions.

[redrunner97]

Even though this and the other Lakeshore blu-rays from Anchor Bay are OOP, I have gotten them all for under 5 bucks on Amazon (not including shipping). Heathers was only 2 dollars, used. Hellraiser used was 4, and Children of the Corn was sealed and 4 dollars!

And the used blu's were practically in pristine condition. They only needed a case replacement.

If you don't wanna settle for those icky Image releases, theses are great and super cheap new/used from 3rd party sellers.

[Fadeaway189]

Does anyone have the italy import of hellraiser 1, 2, and 3 pack? If so how is the picture and is is in english?

[crazy.karl]

Originally Posted by Fadeaway189

Does anyone have the italy import of hellraiser 1, 2, and 3 pack? If so how is the picture and is is in english?

I don't have them right now (planning on getting that box set for Part III), but there's comparison available on Caps-A-Holic. You can choose between the IT and US release to compare.

The Italian release does have an English track, but the disc is Region B Locked. The US release has more bitrate btw.

http://www.caps-a-holic.com/hd_vergl..._button=Search