DVD Reviews

Friday the 13th: The Ultimate Collection – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Oct 25, 2011, 14:34 GMT

"Friday the 13th": Camp Crystal Lake has been shuttered for over 20 years due to several vicious and unsolved murders. The camp\'s new owner and several young counselors are readying the property for re-opening despite warnings of a "death curse" by local residents. The curse proves true on Friday the 13th as one by one each of the counselors is stalked by a violent killer. "Part 2": Five years after ...more

Tis the season to get slashed at Crystal Lake.  Paramount has released a gift set of the Friday the 13th films of theirs (don’t expect all of the Jason movies) but the only new addition is the packaging. 

Jason Voorhees started slashing through teens at Camp Crystal Lake (well, starting with Part 2), came at you in 3D, met Corey Feldman (and Kevin Bacon!), been a McGuffin, rose from the dead, nearly met his match in a psychic teen, and ended up on Manhattan Island. 

He also went to Hell, space, and battled Freddy Krueger but those films are with another studio and do not show up in this set.  Paramount has repackaged all of their previously released deluxe editions, added a booklet and hockey mask replica, and released it just in time for Halloween. 

The films are presented in their original aspect ratios (Part 3 is 2.35:1 and the rest are 1.85:1) and are enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  Special features are detailed below:

Friday the 13th (Uncut Deluxe Edition) includes a commentary hosted by Crystal Lake Memories author Peter Bracke and features director Sean S. Cunningham, writer Victor Miller, Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, composer Henry Manfredini, and other crew members.  Next is the 16 minute “A Friday the 13th Reunion” which is a panel discussion with Savini, Ari Lehman, Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, and Victor Miller. 

The 14 minute “Fresh Cuts: New Tales from Friday the 13th” is more interviews with Savini, Manfredini, Lehman, Miller, and adds Robbi Morgan who is the first onscreen victim.  The 9 minute “The Man behind the Legacy” is a interview with Sean S. Cunningham.  The 7 minute “Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 1” is a short film that draws inspiration from the series.  Finally, you get the 2 minute theatrical trailer.
 
Friday the 13th, Part 2 includes the 11 minute “Inside Crystal Lake Memories” which is an interview with author Peter Bracke about his book inspired by the series.  The 7 minute “Friday’s Legacy” looks at horror convention footage. 

The 9 minute “Lost Tales from Camp Blood – Part 2” is the second part of the short film series inspired by the slasher films.  The 29 minute “Jason Forever” is a panel discussion with four of the actors who have played Jason, Ari Lehman, Warrington Gillette, C.J. Graham, and Kane Hodder.  Finally, you have the film’s 2 minute theatrical trailer.

Friday the 13th 3D includes the 2D and 3D versions of the film, complete with a pair of 3D glasses, and the 2 minute trailer. 

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter includes two commentaries (one from director Joseph Zito, screenwriter Barney Cohen, and editor Joel Goodman and one from fans Adam Green and Joe Lynch, the directors of horror films Hatchet and Wrong Turn 2), the 6 minute “Lost Tales from Camp Blood Part 4” continues the short film inspired by the series, 15 minutes of “slashed scenes” introduced and narrated by Zito since the audio was lost, the 11 minute “Jason’s Unlucky Day” details the making of the film, the 3 minute “Lost Ending” has Zito narrating an alternate “dream” ending for the film, the 18 minute “Crystal Lake Massacre Revisited Part 1” is a mock documentary returning to the scene of the crime, the 2 minute “Jimmy’s Dead Fuck Dance Moves” looks at Glover’s wacky dance with Zito, and the 2 minute theatrical trailer.

Friday the 13th, Part V: A New Beginning includes a commentary track with director Danny Steinmann, John Shepherd, Shavar Ross, and moderated by fan Michael Felsher.  The 7 minute “Lost Tales from Camp Blood Part 5” continues the short film.  The 10 minute “Crystal Lake Massacre Revisited Part 2” continues the faux documentary.  The 11 minute “New Beginnings” details the making of the film and you also get the 2 minute theatrical trailer.
 
Friday the 13th, Part VI: Jason Lives includes a commentary with director Tom McLoughlin, editor Bruce Green, and actor Vincent Guastaferro (“Deputy Rick Cologne”).  The 7 minute “Lost Tales from Camp Blood Part 6” continues the tale inspired by the series.  The 9 minute “Crystal Lake Massacre Revisited Part 3” also continues the faux documentary as if the events of the films actually happened.  The 13 minute “Jason Lives” chronicles the making of this entry.

The 3 minute “Meeting Mr. Voorhees” has director McLoughlin introducing the alternate ending of the film featuring Jason’s father and has storyboards as to how it would’ve been shot.  There are also 6 minutes of “slashed” scenes (extended scenes in VHS quality) and the 2 minute theatrical trailer.

Friday the 13th, Part VII: The New Blood includes a commentary with director John Carl Buechler, Kane Hodder, and Lar Park Lincoln.  The 15 minute “Jason’s Destroyer” is a making of, the 7 minute “Mind over Matter” looks at telekinesis, the 2 minute “Makeover by Maddy” has teen victims Maddy (Diana Barrows) and Robin (Elizabeth Kaitan) going out for new looks, and there are 16 minutes of slashed scenes (in pretty poor quality from a workprint) with an introduction by Buechler.

Friday the 13th, Part VIII: Jason takes Manhattan includes a commentary with actors Scott Reeves, Jensen Daggett, and Kane Hodder.  The 18-minute “New York has a New Problem” details the making of the film.  Next are 12 minutes of slashed scenes and a 5-minute gag reel.

Jason has had his ups and downs, but this new edition adds very little.  If you missed out on the deluxe editions then this does offer a cheap way to pick up the Paramount Friday the 13th films.  If you’re already a fan then you already have the contents minus the mask and booklet. 

The set probably would get a 4 star rating if it wasn’t just a repeat performance, as it sets I’d have to shoot down the middle.

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