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

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by Cat III

Good job, you looked at the first title in my collection. As far as B&W movies I own, I have 12 Angry Man, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Diabolique, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, High and Low, Island of Lost Souls and Dr. Strangelove.

8 out of 153? Only 1 movie from the first fifty years of moviemaking? I looked at the first page of titles on your list and it looked like the typical choices of a twenty year old kid, not a cinephile. No offense. There's nothing wrong with that if you're a twenty year old kid, but you still should realize there's a lot more to being a film fan than just the obvious current stuff.

[vaati64]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

The price should have been an immediate hint that it was a DVD.

Ah damn, you're right! I didn't see where it said DVD

[Akijama]

No "The Mummy","The Wolf Man" and "The Invisible Man"?

Excited to see Creature on that list,though

[RickER]

Originally Posted by bigshot

8 out of 153? Only 1 movie from the first fifty years of moviemaking? I looked at the first page of titles on your list and it looked like the typical choices of a twenty year old kid, not a cinephile. No offense. There's nothing wrong with that if you're a twenty year old kid, but you still should realize there's a lot more to being a film fan than just the obvious current stuff.

The list of Blu-rays one could buy that are black & white and made in the fist 50 years of film is kind of short.

It is very easy to only own current movies on Blu. I looked at your collection bigshot, and CATIII. Both of you guys own some great movies. Human Centipede 1 or 2 wouldn't be on my list! But, I am sure I own plenty of movies that many fellow members would question.

Full disclosure, I am not 20, but I have kids that are, and they hate most of the movies I own. I had to tell my son the 1968 Planet of the Apes was made in the 80s before he would watch it.

Oh, and he did love it!

Unfortunately my kids will never watch a Universal Horror film because of the black and white...where did I go wrong!

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by vaati64

Stupid question, but is this perhaps said boxset?



Classic Monsters Spotlight Collection DVD

Sure looks like it, but I hope not. Why did they stick a crappy 1950s "Creature From the Black Lagoon" on there with those other 1930s classics. And they were supposed to include the Spanish Dracula. It also should have contained "The Mummy" instead of Creature. This is very disappointing if that's it. What were they thinking?

Edit: Nah...that's a DVD, not a BD. Hope they don't use the same titles for the BD.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by MykeHavoc

Woah, woah, woah...what?! Invisible Man was made right at the apex of classics under the Laemmle regime. Wolfman I can understand (although I personally still love it very much) and perhaps Creature, but Invisible Man is the tour-de-force performance of Claude Rains career, and Whale's direction is right at the quality of Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. I'd go so far to say that Invisible Man is probably my favorite of the Universal clan.

To suggest that Son of Frankenstein is of superior quality makes my head explode from confusion. Everything from Dracula's Daughter onward suffers from sequelitis. Fun monster movies, but certainly not great films.

I didn't mean to imply that Son of Frankenstein was a great film, but it was still with Karloff and as such, kind of constitutes an original trilogy, so I figured, "what the hell..throw it in". All the Frankenstein films after that were incredibly bad, especially those with Glenn Strange. I think one of the reasons I like "Son of..." now is because Mel Brooks satirized so much of it in "Young Frankenstein". When I look at the dartboard scene now in "Son of...", it makes me laugh out loud.

But fine...I'll go for "Invisible Man" in the set instead of "Son of..."

[Adcatalano]

Originally Posted by bigshot

8 out of 153? Only 1 movie from the first fifty years of moviemaking? I looked at the first page of titles on your list and it looked like the typical choices of a twenty year old kid, not a cinephile. No offense. There's nothing wrong with that if you're a twenty year old kid, but you still should realize there's a lot more to being a film fan than just the obvious current stuff.

And why do you think you can make assumptions about the way a complete strangers feels for and/or treats films? What does it matter when/where/how a movie was made for who made, just the appreciation one gives it, whether it be an impossibly large cannon or a niche genre? The age of the viewer, along with the age of the movie, are completly irrelevant and are only used for prejudiced opinions

No offense to you, sir, I hope you can understand. I, for example don't have the financial means, nor the personal want for a completist guide of the history of cinema. I made a choice in wanting a fantastic horror library, but that shouldn't diminish my potential stature as a "cinemaphile" (not that I use that particular verbage), which it is why my opinion is that we should not judge the people based on their collections

[MykeHavoc]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

I didn't mean to imply that Son of Frankenstein was a great film, but it was still with Karloff and as such, kind of constitutes an original trilogy, so I figured, "what the hell..throw it in". All the Frankenstein films after that were incredibly bad, especially those with Glenn Strange. I think one of the reasons I like "Son of..." now is because Mel Brooks satirized so much of it in "Young Frankenstein". When I look at the dartboard scene now in "Son of...", it makes me laugh out loud.

But fine...I'll go for "Invisible Man" in the set instead of "Son of..."

I think Ghost, House and Meets the Wolfman are all grade A monster movie fun. I figure Son is on the same tier; like 3 out of 5 stars by my estimation.

I'd of course love an obnoxiously huge set with all the films and sequels (like the new Bond set) but if we have to pick the definitive films that represent the genre as a whole and offer the greatest quality, its always gonna come down to Drac, Frank, Bride, Wolf, Mummy, Invisible and Creature (and A+C Meet Frank for the comedy side).

[Rich1983]

I am a huge fan of the Universal Monsters. I feel that they all need to be on Blu-ray. I think all six Legacy Collections need to be on Blu-ray NOW.

[Atreyu]

Originally Posted by Rich1983

I am a huge fan of the Universal Monsters. I feel that they all need to be on Blu-ray. I think all six Legacy Collections need to be on Blu-ray NOW.

Ditto!!!!!!

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Originally Posted by Adcatalano

And why do you think you can make assumptions about the way a complete strangers feels for and/or treats films? What does it matter when/where/how a movie was made for who made, just the appreciation one gives it, whether it be an impossibly large cannon or a niche genre? The age of the viewer, along with the age of the movie, are completly irrelevant and are only used for prejudiced opinions

No offense to you, sir, I hope you can understand. I, for example don't have the financial means, nor the personal want for a completist guide of the history of cinema. I made a choice in wanting a fantastic horror library, but that shouldn't diminish my potential stature as a "cinemaphile" (not that I use that particular verbage), which it is why my opinion is that we should not judge the people based on their collections

That's exactly why I deleted everything from the "collection" I'd started here. I know what I like, why I like it, and how much I like it. I don't expect anyone to understand my personal choices via typing on the 'net. And I don't look through other folks' collections here, either. I have zero interest.

Not trying to sound antisocial.......just sayin' that I think the collection setup on this site is a pretty useless "benefit" to me. Who cares what movies that guy or gal over there has? Not me. Not at all.

[MykeHavoc]

Originally Posted by Lemmy Lugosi

That's exactly why I deleted everything from the "collection" I'd started here. I know what I like, why I like it, and how much I like it. I don't expect anyone to understand my personal choices via typing on the 'net. And I don't look through other folks' collections here, either. I have zero interest.

Not trying to sound antisocial.......just sayin' that I think the collection setup on this site is a pretty useless "benefit" to me. Who cares what movies that guy or gal over there has? Not me. Not at all.

I could care less what others think of my stuff. I just keep track because I like to have a record on hand whenever I need it, even if I'm not home. I also like to keep track of how many titles I have so I can give an accurate estimate conversationally.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by Lemmy Lugosi

That's exactly why I deleted everything from the "collection" I'd started here. I know what I like, why I like it, and how much I like it. I don't expect anyone to understand my personal choices via typing on the 'net. And I don't look through other folks' collections here, either. I have zero interest.

Not trying to sound antisocial.......just sayin' that I think the collection setup on this site is a pretty useless "benefit" to me. Who cares what movies that guy or gal over there has? Not me. Not at all.

I do the collection thing to keep track because i sometimes buy something i already have!

You can make your collection private if you want, no need to delete it to make it not visible.


Now I can't wait to get my grubby hands and add Univeral classic monsters Blu-rays to mine since it's been such a long, long, long time since I saw them in 35mm. How could i've ever misplaced you. How a misss yooou. So many years Oh, oh - George Harrison

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by RickER

The list of Blu-rays one could buy that are black & white and made in the fist 50 years of film is kind of short.

i have quite a few movies made before the fifties on bluray, Chaplin, Keaton, silent films... King Kong, Lady Vanishes, etc.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

I didn't mean to imply that Son of Frankenstein was a great film, but it was still with Karloff and as such

I think it's a great film. The cast can't be beat... Karloff, Lugosi, Rathbone... And the production design and sets are spectacular. That's the best spooky castle ever committed to film. I don't know what else one would want in a Universal horror.

[MykeHavoc]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I think it's a great film. The cast can't be beat... Karloff, Lugosi, Rathbone... And the production design and sets are spectacular. That's the best spooky castle ever committed to film. I don't know what else one would want in a Universal horror.

A wee bit more depth would've been nice. Its great for all the things you mentioned, but its far more hollow then the previous 2 films.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by Adcatalano

And why do you think you can make assumptions about the way a complete strangers feels for and/or treats films?

Because he invited us to look at his collection and reviews to show he was a sophisticated cineaste and justify his blanket dismissal of Dracula.

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by MykeHavoc

A wee bit more depth would've been nice. Its great for all the things you mentioned, but its far more hollow then the previous 2 films.

It has depth, just not focused on the monster. Son of Frankenstein is about Lugosi's vendetta, rather than the creation of the monster. Perhaps it isn't as unique a situation as the first two movies, but Lugosi plays it for all it's worth.

[DNinja]

Hopefully Universal doesn't go overboard with the DNR like they usually do. I've been buying older films lately and would love to add these to my collection if they do them justice. I mentioned the rumor about this set to my dad and he got all excited about seeing the Creature From the Black Lagoon in HD. I can't wait to see an official announcement for these.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

I didn't mean to imply that Son of Frankenstein was a great film, but it was still with Karloff and as such, kind of constitutes an original trilogy, so I figured, "what the hell..throw it in".

"I withdraw what I said, Boris! Akhhh... khhaah.. khaahh..."