Universal Classics Monsters: The Essential Collection

[Philly Q]

Originally Posted by dsfan1

I contacted Amazon France about the book and received the following email:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for contacting Amazon.fr.

After having researched the item "Coffret Monsters - 8 films [Blu-ray]" and it's details, I confirm you that the book that is included with the coffin is in English.

Please note that the technical details are available on the DVD details page (under "Détails sur le produit"). This will give you all the information on the DVD of your choice.

We do appreciate that sometimes the amount of information we display may make it difficult to make a purchasing decision unless you already know something about the item. Our editorial staff are constantly working on increasing the information we provide about each item as it becomes available to us.

Thank you for choosing Amazon.fr.

I already have the France Coffin version preordered.

Thanks for that info!

Does seem rather strange, though, doesn't it?

I've pre-ordered the UK set (non-coffin) anyway, since the price is so good, but still considering the French set now....

[dsfan1]

Originally Posted by Philly Q

Thanks for that info!

Does seem rather strange, though, doesn't it?

I've pre-ordered the UK set (non-coffin) anyway, since the price is so good, but still considering the French set now....

You're welcome!

I was going to ask if the menus are in English but thought they wouldn't know the answer. Anyway, I hope if they are in French, it will be easy to navigate.

I just love the little details of the French Version over the UK. For instance, Frankenstein's hand breaking through the coffin lid, and the Blu-ray banner in red. I am sure most people think it is silly to pay more for little things like that, but I am a huge fan of these movies.

[olympiano]

I'll be going with the regular UK edition. I'm past the stage of spending an extra £8 on a cardboard coffin that I'll end up hiding somewhere.

The French one is appealing though and the separate cases look really good.

[Philly Q]

Originally Posted by dsfan1

I was going to ask if the menus are in English but thought they wouldn't know the answer. Anyway, I hope if they are in French, it will be easy to navigate.

I would guess the disc will have multiple menus in different languages and you'll either be able to choose or it'll default to English based on your player settings.

[Extra-Terrestrial]

Originally Posted by dsfan1

You're welcome!

I was going to ask if the menus are in English but thought they wouldn't know the answer. Anyway, I hope if they are in French, it will be easy to navigate.

I just love the little details of the French Version over the UK. For instance, Frankenstein's hand breaking through the coffin lid, and the Blu-ray banner in red. I am sure most people think it is silly to pay more for little things like that, but I am a huge fan of these movies.

If you look at the 'Slip' picture when looking at the French version within this site( for a bigger picture), it shows a side view with the Coffin open to show how it all fits together. I like that each movie has it's own individual slim case with artwork!

[dsfan1]

Originally Posted by Extra-Terrestrial

If you look at the 'Slip' picture when looking at the French version within this site( for a bigger picture), it shows a side view with the Coffin open to show how it all fits together. I like that each movie has it's own individual slim case with artwork!

Yes! I love the fact that each disc has its own case! The picture doesn't show the case art, but by the looks of the spine, I would guess it's the original artwork (I hope).

[dsfan1]

Originally Posted by Philly Q

I would guess the disc will have multiple menus in different languages and you'll either be able to choose or it'll default to English based on your player settings.

That makes sense! I hadn't thought of that.

[paper tiger]

I'm still going with the UK Limited Edition Coffin edition.

However I just got the US basic edition in my Gold Box today, bringing it down to $108. Still almost $50 more than the UK coffin set, even after shipping.

To me, it is the clear choice to get the UK coffin set no matter where you live.

[communichaoz]

wow! that is a high price to pay for a standard edition.
The UK coffin edition looks great and is afforadble in my book. If for some unforeseen reason I don't like it I can always easily get rid of it and get the french edition a month later. Though I do like the covers of the french edition it does make the whole package bulkier.

[Bugs]

Tough choice for me. I really want the French edition for the individual cases with original artwork, but the price of the UK edition is very enticing.

$85 for the French coffin
$63 for the UK coffin
or
$111+tax for the standard US release (ain't gonna happen)

Decisions, decisions...

[*PREACHER*]

Bit the bullet, cancelled my U.K.
Going with the France version...ooh..la..la

[communichaoz]

So this is how I'm dealing with this double coffin mess. I pre ordered both. but that was when the french edition was publicised before the english one. But I'm inclining to cancel the french one for the following reasons:
- the english version is cheaper.
- I find the english edition more stream lined. I like the folding disc book format, it's space efficient and the artwork in it looks good.
- The poster cards will be satisfying me enough as far as original artwork is concerned.
- I can do without 8 extra boxes inside a box packaging (if they were steelbooks I might have had to reconsider ).
- If I don't like the english one I can always get the french one and keep the one I like the most.

[MacEachaidh]

I'm hesitating on buying any of them, for the sole reason that I'm wondering if, once Universal has gauged the market with this release and got a few coins in the coffers, we'll see the collected creature packs start appearing, with all the other films for each Monster, like we had on DVD.

I don't really mind if I miss out on one of the coffins. I can't imagine the basic set is going to go away if I wait a while.

[Philly Q]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I'm hesitating on buying any of them, for the sole reason that I'm wondering if, once Universal has gauged the market with this release and got a few coins in the coffers, we'll see the collected creature packs start appearing, with all the other films for each Monster, like we had on DVD.

I think we probably will see that.... and I'll do exactly what I did last time, buy this initial release and then buy all the individual "Legacy Collections" (or whatever they decide to call them).

I might as well just send Universal the cash now, up front....

[communichaoz]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I'm hesitating on buying any of them, for the sole reason that I'm wondering if, once Universal has gauged the market with this release and got a few coins in the coffers, we'll see the collected creature packs start appearing, with all the other films for each Monster, like we had on DVD.

Of course that is going to happen. There is always a few new special limited editions for every popular movie. look at blade runner for instance. Jaws is probably gonna get that as well in a year, also indiana jones, E.T. is already getting different versions and other will down the line.
But you don't know how long you'll need to wait to see those editions come out and will they be worth it.
I just want the movies. If the packaging is nice and doesn't cost too much extra then that's a nice plus! but I'm not a collector or into overpriced trinkets they might throw into a release.

[MacEachaidh]

True, communichaoz, but I didn't mean just different editions of these same films — I meant Blu-ray releases of the other later films (like House of Frankenstein, Dracula's Daughter or Werewolf of London) that appeared on DVD in the Legacy Collections (thanks for the reminder, Philly Q, I'd forgotten what they were called )

I do love these films, like so many others here. I just don't want to feel maneouvered into buying them twice.

[FelixFlankin]

For the French coffin release, are the cases actual Blu-ray cases or something else? As the images seem to contradict each other slightly.

[Extra-Terrestrial]

Originally Posted by FelixFlankin

For the French coffin release, are the cases actual Blu-ray cases or something else? As the images seem to contradict each other slightly.

Don't know what you mean but by the looks of it, I would say that they're either Carboard boxes or thin amaray cases like my X-Men Ultimate Collection.

[tenderheartbear]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

True, communichaoz, but I didn't mean just different editions of these same films — I meant Blu-ray releases of the other later films (like House of Frankenstein, Dracula's Daughter or Werewolf of London) that appeared on DVD in the Legacy Collections (thanks for the reminder, Philly Q, I'd forgotten what they were called )

I do love these films, like so many others here. I just don't want to feel maneouvered into buying them twice.

Half of them never even got DVD releases in the UK, to be honest I'm not sure how likely Blu-ray releases would be for a lot of the sequels.

As far as I know, none of the sequels to The Mummy or The Invisible Man got DVD releases did they? Universal even stopped releasing their Legacy Collection special editions after The Wolf Man (which only got one because of the remake) because of poor sales.

Unfortunately, some of the Universal Horror classics are now under different distribution here, The Black Cat and The Raven by Second Sight, Revenge of the Creature from Final Cut and Tower of London from Optimum.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by Extra-Terrestrial

If you look at the 'Slip' picture when looking at the French version within this site( for a bigger picture), it shows a side view with the Coffin open to show how it all fits together. I like that each movie has it's own individual slim case with artwork!

Here's the same pic a bit larger.

[Show spoiler]