Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (1931-1954)

[madlost1]

Originally Posted by LucasM2012

I think I've seen a couple people here mention getting films from Amazon.fr. Do region-free blu-rays from France have french for the navigation menus (and French as the default language), or is there something built into the players that compares the language set in your player to those in the disc and provide the appropriate on-screen and film language that way?

I'm getting a tad more anxious about possibly getting the French release, since someone posted here that the UK coffin set sold out within basically 3-4 days of being officially on sale. [i.e. I don't feel I have much of a luxury waiting til they come out and someone receives and reviews their set to decide]

Thank you very much for any information!

Usually on Universal titles before it even gets to the main menu it will ask you what language you want to use.

[LucasM2012]

Originally Posted by madlost1

Usually on Universal titles before it even gets to the main menu it will ask you what language you want to use.

Thank you! I'd best quickly order my French blu-rays soon (or would that be bleu-ray in France? )

[slick1ru2]

Decided to watch the Wolfman, the new one from 2010, since my UK set has yet to arrive. This is one of those movies where they try too hard unfortunately. Anyway, seems that the streaming Lon Chaney Jr Wolfman is no longer available. Not surprised but this is the first time I have watched it since the I got it when it was released and I knew it was a limited time feature. They have a nice extra, The Wolfman Unleashed, which has some absolutely stunning stills from the old monster movies. It will have to do until I get my set this week. Can't wait!

[Forever Knight]

Dracula, Frankenstein, and Wolf Man are done. I really appreciate and understand the importance of these movies right now. These are the innovators. I'm pumped for Mummy and Lagoon the most.

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

Decided to watch the Wolfman, the new one from 2010, since my UK set has yet to arrive. This is one of those movies where they try too hard unfortunately. Anyway, seems that the streaming Lon Chaney Jr Wolfman is no longer available. Not surprised but this is the first time I have watched it since the I got it when it was released and I knew it was a limited time feature. They have a nice extra, The Wolfman Unleashed, which has some absolutely stunning stills from the old monster movies. It will have to do until I get my set this week. Can't wait!

I just got a good deal off ebay with this movie and Van Helsing for $10 on Blu. The only new gen stuff I've seen is the Mummy trilogy.

[RipleyLV426]

Think i read that UPS and FedEx deliver today...is royal mail sent through one of these or just regular mail? Hope its the former.

EDIT: Darn, found out it's USPS...guess no Monsters tonight

[Dex Robinson]

Originally Posted by slick1ru2

Decided to watch the Wolfman, the new one from 2010...

The original WOLFMAN and the WOLFMAN remake have one thing in common: ridiculous father/son casting!

All of the individual actors are terrific but, seriously? Lon Chaney jr. as the son of Claude Rains? Benicio Del Toro as the son of Anthony Hopkins?

Uh, yeah...I see the family resemblance.

[Rich1983]

I don't think Dracula is slow at all. Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan really carry the film with their performances. The atmosphere is outstanding.

As far as the original Wolf Man and the remake, the original is an undisputed classic. The remake is a very good remake and probably the best werewolf film since An American Werewolf in London and The Howling.

On a whole, this box set is absolutely amazing. I have watched Dracula and Frankenstein and their quality absolutely blew me away. After seeing them one hundred times on VHS and DVD, I felt like I saw them for the first time all over again.

I am going to watch The Mummy right now.

[EddieLarkin]

I'd say Dracula is fast paced. It only lasts 75 minutes! Spanish Dracula is the slow paced one, despite having no extra scenes, it some how lasts an additional half hour. It does have some great extra moments though:

Van Helsing and Juan discussing killing Lucia after they leave the crpyt. The 3 brides mysteriously appearing in the background before attacking Harker. And Dracula doesn't interrupt them! Just lets them have their way. And Dracula about to bite Eva just before she's saved by the sun.

In some regards it's easily superior, but its really bogged down by the dialogue scenes, which are really drawn out compared to the English version. And has been mentioned plenty, Lugosi, Frye and Van Sloan are irreplaceable. Although I do prefer Tovar over Chandler.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Rich1983

As far as the original Wolf Man and the remake, the original is an undisputed classic. The remake is a very good remake and probably the best werewolf film since An American Werewolf in London and The Howling.

You never saw Dog Soldiers, did you?

The Wolfman remake was ten-thousand kind of awful.

[nycomet]

Originally Posted by Rich1983

I don't think Dracula is slow at all. Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan really carry the film with their performances. The atmosphere is outstanding.

As far as the original Wolf Man and the remake, the original is an undisputed classic. The remake is a very good remake and probably the best werewolf film since An American Werewolf in London and The Howling.

On a whole, this box set is absolutely amazing. I have watched Dracula and Frankenstein and their quality absolutely blew me away. After seeing them one hundred times on VHS and DVD, I felt like I saw them for the first time all over again.

I am going to watch The Mummy right now.

PLEASE STOP!

You're giving me a stiffie and my UK coffin is still in transit!!!

Seriously, I agree with you 100 percent. Dracula is not slow at all.

[Sons Of Sparda]

Originally Posted by nycomet

PLEASE STOP!

You're giving me a stiffie and my UK coffin is still in transit!!!

Seriously, I agree with you 100 percent. Dracula is not slow at all.

Did not need to know that but thanks anyway.

[Sons Of Sparda]

Still waiting on my UK coffin set also. Sechuled delivery date was today but with today being columbus day that is not going too happen. Delivery dates are only estimates anyway and could take somewhat longer depending on many factors.

[Canoli]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the US and UK set in terms of video and sound? Are the films in PAL format on the UK set?

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by Canoli

Can anyone tell me the difference between the US and UK set in terms of video and sound? Are the films in PAL format on the UK set?

Content is identical besides the missing commentary on Dracula. Everything is playable on Region A/US players. The packaging is different. I prefer the look of the UK one personally.

[Sons Of Sparda]

Originally Posted by Canoli

Can anyone tell me the difference between the US and UK set in terms of video and sound? Are the films in PAL format on the UK set?

It is completely region free. Already confirmed. I believe the UK set is missing one of the extras from the US set. Forget which one it was.

[Maggot]

Originally Posted by dsman71

Dracula wasnt considered slow in the 1930s, it was scary , tame by todays standards. It is a very creepy methodical film that you have to be in the right mood to watch,something to lay down curl up on a grey day or at night...
More Lugosi try to Return of the Vampire and Mark of the Vampire...

Yea, I watched it the other night and it was great for its time, but compared to Coppola's vastly superior Dracula, it is VERY, VERY tame. I loved it non-the-less, you just have to put yourself into those times when watching it. Like any other movie from decades ago, you have to do that. I'm looking forward to watching the others.

[charlieray1]

Originally Posted by Maggot

Yea, I watched it the other night and it was great for its time, but compared to Coppola's vastly superior Dracula, it is VERY, VERY tame. I loved it non-the-less, you just have to put yourself into those times when watching it. Like any other movie from decades ago, you have to do that. I'm looking forward to watching the others.

You're right about putting yourself into the time a film was made -- if you are willing to work with them a bit older films can be wonderful.

Gotta disagree about Coppola's version. It's fun -- watched it again just the other day -- but "vastly superior"? Not for me. Lugosi's version is tame -- even for for it's time -- but I'll take his other-worldly strangeness over wild histrionics anytime. The Coppola version is soooo over the top that I end up enjoying more for its crazy style than for the content.

Although I think Lugosi gave the best ever interpetation of the count, there still hasn't been a really good faithful film of the novel. Coppola has all the characters, but he tacks on the love story, and the tone is way wrong. For example, Hopkins's Van Helsing is crazy acting and flamboyant -- miles from the thoughtful scholar he was written as.

There are lots of interesting/good versions, but none have been quite like the book.

[Canoli]

Ok so I just found a listing for the coffin set on Amazon US to be released on 10/23.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...w_bottom_links

[Dex Robinson]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Interesting, but that just looks like the UK set for a $30-40 markup. There;s nothing else I can see to indicate it will be the US release.

Yeah. It's the UK release.

It's shown as an import and the releasing studio is listed as "Ais" who bring in a lot of UK imports.

[madlost1]

Originally Posted by Sons Of Sparda

It is completely region free. Already confirmed. I believe the UK set is missing one of the extras from the US set. Forget which one it was.

I beleive a commentary is missing from Dracula.

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