HAMMER HORROR: 8-Film Collection from Universal!

[hammerman2]

I have 7 of these movies on Blu already.
It will be important to find out which versions are included on the US set.
The UK Brides of Dracula was too severely cropped at 2:1.
I don't mind whether movies are 1.66,1.75 or 1.85 because there's very little between them but a crop to 2:1 is way too severe.
The German Brides is fine and less cropped.

The UK Kiss of the Vampire is a mess of mush so I would certainly hope a new source is used for that one.
The others (apart from Nightmare) are already available with acceptable results and of course both the UK and German releases of Curse of the Werewolf include a substantial 45 minute documentary which even includes audio input from Oliver Reed so that is an essential companion for Curse on Bluray and it would make the release a lesser one if Universal don't include it. Even with 2 movies on a BD50 there would be enough space

[RalphoR]

Did this set just go up $1?? Thank goodness I pre-ordered when it was $42

[Jobla]

That's probably a deal-breaker for some of us.

[sa5150]

Has anyone caught the back artwork . Same as the Airport 4 movie collection . HD picture and Movie theater quality sound (How generic) Caps look just like the German copies from anolis , Not very promising .

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by sa5150

Has anyone caught the back artwork . Same as the Airport 4 movie collection . HD picture and Movie theater quality sound (How generic) Caps look just like the German copies anolis Not very promising .

What?

[Rory]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

What?

I think what he means is don't expect to be blown away by the 1080p transfers offered.

Guess what? I'm not!

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Rory

I think what he means is don't expect to be blown away by the 1080p transfers offered.



Guess what? I'm not!

I dunno, he said something about caps.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by sa5150

Has anyone caught the back artwork . Same as the Airport 4 movie collection . HD picture and Movie theater quality sound (How generic) Caps look just like the German copies anolis Not very promising .

Those aren't caps, they are old publicity stills, so to try and evaluate PQ from that is pretty futile.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

Those aren't caps, they are old publicity stills, so to try and evaluate PQ from that is pretty futile.

Yes sorry about that, there stills not caps . hard to get past the giant HD picture and Movie theater quality sound logo . That is just ridiculous sounding !

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by sa5150

Yes sorry about that, there stills not caps . hard to get past the giant HD picture and Movie theater quality sound logo . That is just ridiculous sounding !

Once you made a fool out of yourself, maybe just drop it instead of keeping on at being pointlessly negative about the release.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

Once you made a fool out of yourself, maybe just drop it instead of keeping on being pointlessly negative about the release.

made a fool out of my self over this .(are you bored or another one of those ocd's) I could give a rats ass about this .

[babybreese]

What's worse is the bit about the films coming from the 40's & 50's when they are all from the 60's.
D'oh!

[Rory]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

Once you made a fool out of yourself, maybe just drop it instead of keeping on at being pointlessly negative about the release.

Being negative is not pointless. It often saves you from naivete and bitter disappointment. I like to go by the old adage "hope for the best, but expect the worst" (also a good Mel Brooks song).

I doubt Universal has done a major restoration on any of these titles, so most likely these are going to be HD scans of the same elements used in the previous DVDs. I say that not knowing for sure that'll be the case, and hoping that it isn't, but again, expecting the worst, the worst being that these HD transfers will be nice but not spectacular.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by Rory

Being negative is not pointless. It often saves you from naivete and bitter disappointment. I like to go by the old adage "hope for the best, but expect the worst" (also a good Mel Brooks song).

I doubt Universal has done a major restoration on any of these titles, so most likely these are going to be HD scans of the same elements used in the previous DVDs. I say that not knowing for sure that'll be the case, and hoping that it isn't, but again, expecting the worst, the worst being that these HD transfers will be nice but not spectacular.

The DVDs looked pretty good and if Brides (which is my favourite Hammer film) gets an HD upgrade of that master it will still look better than the previous Blu-ray releases.

I'm good with "nice".

[Partyslammer]

Originally Posted by babybreese

What's worse is the bit about the films coming from the 40's & 50's when they are all from the 60's.
D'oh!

This lazy graphic design and lack of accuracy in the description doesn't exactly instill confidence that Universal is going to do these films any sort of justice in this package.

[babybreese]

They even goofed a title in the description....THE EVIL OF DR. FRANKENSTEIN.

Still, an inside source ( mentioned at DVD Savant ) says there is a possibility this set will include new transfers....fingers crossed.

[Todd Tomorrow]

I don't care if a drunk they dragged in from the street wrote the cover notes as long as the films look and sound decent. People are already fretting and whining about this and that but for the price, 8 vintage Hammer films on Blu strikes me as a good deal.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

I don't care if a drunk they dragged in from the street wrote the cover notes as long as the films look and sound decent. People are already fretting and whining about this and that but for the price, 8 vintage Hammer films on Blu strikes me as a good deal.

I remember being excited last year when they surprisingly announced Silent Running, Adromeda Strain, and Journey to the Far Side of the Sun. It was supposed to be "new Universal". Three sci-fi films, and I expected great new transfers (why else announce them out of the blue in a relatively barren release slate?). What we got was garbage.

I think caution is prudent. $43 ends up not looking like a great deal if they are 8 transfers that look like Andromeda Strain.

I'm genuinely excited for the Monsters Legacy sets, I have confidence they will be great. Their price is great too. This one? I'm not so sure about. I could see them half-assing it just to get it out the door. If the rumors of new masters come true, then it could be a great release. But it's wait and see at the very least IMO.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

I remember being excited last year when they surprisingly announced Silent Running, Adromeda Strain, and Journey to the Far Side of the Sun. It was supposed to be "new Universal". Three sci-fi films, and I expected great new transfers (why else announce them out of the blue in a relatively barren release slate?). What we got was garbage.

I think caution is prudent. $43 ends up not looking like a great deal if they are 8 transfers that look like Andromeda Strain.

I'm genuinely excited for the Monsters Legacy sets, I have confidence they will be great. Their price is great too. This one? I'm not so sure about. I could see them half-assing it just to get it out the door. If the rumors of new masters come true, then it could be a great release. But it's wait and see at the very least IMO.

Indeed, wait and see before trashing a release. Sometimes I get the feeling some people get some weird kick out of pronouncing doom on releases weeks or months before they come out. Obviously if the reviews say that this is "garbage" nobody will force anybody to buy this. That's why we frequent sites like this.

BTW I have the German Blu of The Andromeda Strain and the UK one of Silent Running and they may not be the most amazing of releases but they look far from garbage to me.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by babybreese

What's worse is the bit about the films coming from the 40's & 50's when they are all from the 60's.
D'oh!

[Show spoiler]

Read it again. They never implied the films included are from that period, but rather they are giving an overview of the history of Hammer films studio in general and how they were able to scare audiences, and connecting that history to the included films. It's a poorly worded blurb to be fair, but it's not inaccurate.