Friday the 13th: The Complete Collection (WB)

[Blu-Dre]

Originally Posted by HarrisonJohn

They can do it 80s style.... sort of a "lost" Friday the 13th movie... look how well Eli Roth's fake trailer for Thanksgiving captured bad early 80's slasher movies.

With Platinum Dunes in charge I would never expect Friday the 13th to return to its gritty roots. It will be overly glossy and filmed in Texas again (Which is all wrong for a New Jersey setting, I know, I live here.) I enjoyed the remake primarily for Derek Mears' take on Jason, but I had major issues with Shannon & Swift's script (the same with FvsJ.) In both films they make too many huge jokey plays on the things that are par for the course in F13 (namely sex and drugs and Jason's hockey mask) instead of just making them par for the course. And Steve Jablonsky will never give Jason a screechy strings/blaring horns score like Manfredini did. In my opinion, Jablonsky's score for the remake was bland, aside from the four note opening theme.

But, I will give PD another shot, because I think they did a better job all around with their second shot at Leatherface in TCM: The Beginning. Eli Roth and Adam Green would also probably go the jokey route if they were given the shot at Jason. My number one choice for directing and heading the make-up efx would be Robert Hall (Laid To Rest I & II, Fear Clinic), because he is a huge Friday fan and would no doubt deliver a gritty, down and dirty Jason film with top notch gore effects.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Rich1983

Yeah, because a tree branch and Steve Christy's ball huggers really add a lot to the plot and the over all experience of the film.

Seriously.

But that's one single frame. The point is that that same amount of cropping happens throughout the entire film, cutting into foreheads, closeups, etc.

It's just not cool to be cropping into a picture unless it's specifically meant and intended to be displayed cropped. Studios have certainly made mistakes with cropping before - look what happened to the original DVD run of the Back to the Future trilogy - it was recalled due to incorrect cropping. They corrected it in V2 and Blu-ray.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by balthazar_bee

As I understand it, every transfer of the unrated cut anywhere, ever, has been cropped like the current blu-ray. This may go back as far as the days of international laser disc releases.

I think I'd prefer the theatrical cut under the circumstances, but really, the cropped version doesn't look cramped. If anything, much of the time, the framing looks more deliberate...less amateur hour?

Am I rationalizing? Maybe. It's still a terrific looking transfer.

Anyway, as I've said and will go on saying, we're getting the exact same discs of the first three and remake and FvsJ as have already been released, and the rest of the set is going to be four year old masters (that will probably still look pretty good) with negligible effort expended.

No unrated cuts (except perhaps 9), no authentic 3-D.

Interesting. This is why it would be great to get both the theatrical and unrated versions, which we should be getting anyways. I have tons of discs with both theatrical and unrated versions included. If the framing is that different between versions, then we should get both versions - unrated gives a few extras seconds of gore but a rather large amount of cropping, the theatrical version offers the original framing with more information. Everyone would be happy if they had a choice of which version to see. I'd still like to hear definitively what the reason for the cropping is.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by leem6453

I watched Part 2 (blu-ray) with my son last night. It was his first time viewing. He said he likes that "80s" feel that the older movies have. You just can't replicate that today. He really enjoyed it.

That's awesome! Glad to hear some young people do appreciate the feel of these 70's/80's films. As you said, you just can't pull that feeling off today, though Super 8 did a pretty solid job trying to replicate the feel.

[Vixen of the Night]

Originally Posted by Forever Knight

Anyone above the age of 16 should not be scared of a Jason film.

I'm double the age listed and still am scared of Jason! Now sure I wasn't scared of him in Freddy vs Jason or Jason X. But the rest of the series. I find him a scary mother****er and have to close my eyes at some points since he creeps me out. I even have nightmares once in awhile with him in it chasing me and it's terrifying since there is no escape in the dreams.

[therock666]

would like to see this sold in stores like the hocky mask dvd reissue a few years back still need word about Jason goes to hell if it will be unrated though

[Rich1983]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dre

With Platinum Dunes in charge I would never expect Friday the 13th to return to its gritty roots. It will be overly glossy and filmed in Texas again (Which is all wrong for a New Jersey setting, I know, I live here.) I enjoyed the remake primarily for Derek Mears' take on Jason, but I had major issues with Shannon & Swift's script (the same with FvsJ.) In both films they make too many huge jokey plays on the things that are par for the course in F13 (namely sex and drugs and Jason's hockey mask) instead of just making them par for the course. And Steve Jablonsky will never give Jason a screechy strings/blaring horns score like Manfredini did. In my opinion, Jablonsky's score for the remake was bland, aside from the four note opening theme.

But, I will give PD another shot, because I think they did a better job all around with their second shot at Leatherface in TCM: The Beginning. Eli Roth and Adam Green would also probably go the jokey route if they were given the shot at Jason. My number one choice for directing and heading the make-up efx would be Robert Hall (Laid To Rest I & II, Fear Clinic), because he is a huge Friday fan and would no doubt deliver a gritty, down and dirty Jason film with top notch gore effects.

I liked Jablonski' score, but it should have been accompanied by Manfredini music, the way Fred Mollin incorporated his own themes into Manfredini's music in The New Blood.

My first director of choice for the next Friday the 13th would be Alexandre Aja. Haute Tension is probably the best original slasher film in years, and Pihrana 3D shows how great he handles blood and guts, and he is not afraid to deliver the women!

Originally Posted by mar3o

Seriously.

But that's one single frame. The point is that that same amount of cropping happens throughout the entire film, cutting into foreheads, closeups, etc.

It's just not cool to be cropping into a picture unless it's specifically meant and intended to be displayed cropped. Studios have certainly made mistakes with cropping before - look what happened to the original DVD run of the Back to the Future trilogy - it was recalled due to incorrect cropping. They corrected it in V2 and Blu-ray.

Good point, but if there is one thing I learned about the internet over the last fifteen years, is that people like to blow things out of proportion and create issues to complain about, like little old ladies.

I have been watching the Friday the 13th Uncut Blu-ray since it came out, and I have never ever noticed that difference while watching the film. Most of the time, when the film is in motion you don't even notice stuff like that. It is only when you look at images like the ones provided and then people who never even noticed it prior join the uproar banwaggon.

Originally Posted by mar3o

That's awesome! Glad to hear some young people do appreciate the feel of these 70's/80's films. As you said, you just can't pull that feeling off today, though Super 8 did a pretty solid job trying to replicate the feel.

I'll second that. We need more youngsters like that who actually have some taste in entertainment.

[HarrisonJohn]

there's still some scary/ creepy moments in F13 movies....
the canoe jump in 1 still gets people
Jason in the dream sequence in 3
Jason running up the stairs behind Trish in 4

[Blu Myers]

Originally Posted by HarrisonJohn

there's still some scary/ creepy moments in F13 movies....
the canoe jump in 1 still gets people
Jason in the dream sequence in 3
Jason running up the stairs behind Trish in 4

Don't forget " Charles Manson Jason jumps through the window" in Part 2.

[Rich1983]

Originally Posted by HarrisonJohn

there's still some scary/ creepy moments in F13 movies....
the canoe jump in 1 still gets people
Jason in the dream sequence in 3
Jason running up the stairs behind Trish in 4

Plus, in Friday the 13th Part 2, the cop sees Jason run into the woods. Then later on in that same movie, Jason sits up in the bed exposing himself to Vicky. What about Jason jumping out of his newly dug grave to grab Tommy in Jason Lives? Those have a certain creep factor.

[mar3o]

Part 3 scared me silly when I saw it on cable for the first time way back in the 80's on HBO when I was 13. I was actually scared to take a shower that night - I still remember it.

[HarrisonJohn]

Originally Posted by Rich1983

Then later on in that same movie, Jason sits up in the bed exposing himself to Vicky.

[hobgoblin]

Originally Posted by Rincewind78

ooh!! I want this Loved the classic Friday films since I was a kid.
and do hope it is region free! there may be a UK a release, but I haven't heard anything yet. Luckily enough I'm planning a holiday to Boston in April next year, so if no UK release, I will pick it up then

I emailed Warner Brothers UK about this. Their response:

I’m sorry but unfortunately there are currently no scheduled dates for a blu-ray release here in the UK.
However, it is possible there could be a release in the future as the catalogue is currently under review.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by hobgoblin

I emailed Warner Brothers UK about this. Their response:

At least you got a coherent response.

[Blu Myers]

Originally Posted by zbinks

I think a vintage Friday the 13th could be filmed today, but the filmmakers would need to adhere to a set of rules.

• Stick with natural looking actors and actresses, preferably unknowns.
  
  This should be a general rule for most horror movies. For relatability, these films need people that you could theoretically come across in everyday life. In this case you want a cast that looks like it might actually go camping, not a cast that looks like it just got done at a photoshoot for the latest designer clothing line. Since this is an 80's series, you'll need to stick with 80's hairstyles and wardrobes.
  
  
• Cut back on the production values.
  
  High production values are a hindrance to this type of movie. At least since Jason Goes to Hell, the films have been overproduced in that the films have something of an unnatural appearance and look a little too "Hollywood". Artificial lighting should be kept to a minimum. If at all possible, shoot on film stock that would be comparable to 80's film stock to give it the right appearance.
  
  
• Keep the effects practical.
  
  The originals didn't need CGI, neither should the new films.
  
  
• Bring on the conversion vans, the old VW bugs, and boxy station wagons.
  
  Leave the Escalade at home.
  
  
• Take your characters seriously.
  
  No hipster irony. The series has always been loaded with stereotypical characters, but the last few films have ratcheted the stereotypes up to the point of being a parody.
  
  
• Respect your antagonists' motives, characteristics and existing backstory.
  
  The last few films have made further attempts to flesh out Jason's character, add to his backstory or explain why he is what he is, and it's just become a complicated mess. Jason is not a kidnapper and does not keep souveneirs of his killings. He does not have a fortress hidden in the woods. He's a boy that drowned. His mother tried to avenge his death and had her head cut off, and somehow he witnessed this event and is now enacting his revenge. Trying to add to the how's and the why's of his existence at this point merely strips away the mystique that is crucial to the character. He is what he is, let it be.

Nice post. Sadly today's studio heads aren't smart enough to realize that this formula works.

[OneWayFilms]

Friday the 13th are best from the first film through pt 4: The Final Chapter. Everything else afterwards is (pardon the pun) .....OVERKILL!

All these versions of Jason coming back to life, paranormal activity or Jason in outer space is just LUNACY.

Pt one is my personal favorite, because it's actually his

[Show spoiler]MOTHER

and that makes it very realistic.

[Slasherob]

Originally Posted by leem6453

Nice post. Sadly today's studio heads aren't smart enough to realize that this formula works.

You need to see either of Ti West's most recent films, House of the Devil or the Innkeepers.

Especially House of the Devil captures the feel amazingly although these are not slashers....

The movie Sleeper (a slasher) came out a few years ago trying to do the same with not as effective results.

[Kaiju]

Originally Posted by Slasherob

You need to see either of Ti West's most recent films, House of the Devil or the Innkeepers.

Especially House of the Devil captures the feel amazingly although these are not slashers....

Indeed.

[bigdaddyhorse]

Originally Posted by zbinks

I think a vintage Friday the 13th could be filmed today, but the filmmakers would need to adhere to a set of rules.

• Stick with natural looking actors and actresses, preferably unknowns.
  
  This should be a general rule for most horror movies. For relatability, these films need people that you could theoretically come across in everyday life. In this case you want a cast that looks like it might actually go camping, not a cast that looks like it just got done at a photoshoot for the latest designer clothing line. Since this is an 80's series, you'll need to stick with 80's hairstyles and wardrobes.
  
  

I'll add/include if you are setting in the 80's, normal girls didn't have boob jobs, tattoos or any piercings besides ears. Big fake boobs were expensive and reserved for rich or famous women back then, certainly no teen camper had em. Same goes for dudes, one tattoo made a bad-ass back then, so if you're sleeved, you're out! These things stand out even more than clothes and hair to me.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyhorse

I'll add/include if you are setting in the 80's, normal girls didn't have boob jobs, tattoos or any piercings besides ears. Big fake boobs were expensive and reserved for rich or famous women back then, certainly no teen camper had em. Same goes for dudes, one tattoo made a bad-ass back then, so if you're sleeved, you're out! These things stand out even more than clothes and hair to me.

Good points. These and the other ideas posted above are the kinds of things that the studios don't even think about when making films now, even when they're set back then. These are the kinds of things that really stand out and take you out of the film. I mentioned Super 8 above as doing a great job of getting the feel of the 80's down, but they also made some errors involving when things came out, like Walkmans and Rubik's Cubes.