Universal Classic Monsters the Essential Collection Blu Ray Review
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray |
| | Video Codec: MPEG-four AVC, MPEG-iv MVC Resolution: 1080p Aspect ratio: ane.85:1, i.37:1, 1.36:ane, 1.35:1 Original attribute ratio: i.2:1, 1.37:i, 2.00:1 Audio Dracula English: DTS-Hard disk drive Master Audio ii.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit) Dr�cula Spanish: DTS-HD Principal Audio 2.0 Mono 7 more titles (more) Dracula English: DTS-Hd Master Sound 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-chip) Dr�cula Castilian: DTS-Hard disk drive Main Audio 2.0 Mono Frankenstein English language: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit) The Mummy English: DTS-Hard disk drive Main Audio two.0 Mono The Invisible Man English: DTS-Hard disk drive Principal Sound 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-flake) The Helpmate of Frankenstein English language: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono (48kHz, 24-bit) The Wolf Man English: DTS-HD Master Sound 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit) Phantom of the Opera English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono Creature from the Black Lagoon 3D English language: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit) (less) Subtitles Discs Blu-ray 3D Blu-ray Disc 8-disc gear up (8 BD-50) Packaging Playback | | Price Listing price: Amazon: $61.24 (Save 1%) New from: $46.50 (Save 24%) In stock now, FREE aircraft  You salvage at least $21.64 by buying this box ready instead of the individual titles. Rating
3547 ratings 92% north/a |
| Overview | Blu-ray review | Screenshots | (25) | Packaging | User reviews | (5) | Region coding | News | Forum | |
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection
(1931-1954)
Run into private titles for their synopses.
For more nigh Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Drove and the Universal Archetype Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray release, see Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray Review published past Kenneth Brown on September 28, 2012 where this Blu-ray release scored iv.0 out of 5.
Directors: James Whale
, Karl Freund, Arthur Lubin, Jack Arnold, George Waggner, Tod Browning
Writers: John L. Balderston, Garrett Fort, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Hamilton Deane, Robert Florey
Starring: Dwight Frye, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Claude Rains, Edward Van Sloan, Mary Gordon
Producers: Carl Laemmle Jr., George Waggner, William Alland, Tod Browning
This Blu-ray packet includes the following titles, see individual titles for specs and details:
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Drove Blu-ray Review
The first of many box sets worth calculation to your collection this fall...
Reviewed by Kenneth Brown, September 28, 2012
Take a moment and imagine what modern horror would be without Universal Pictures. Without founder Carl Laemmle and his vision for the future of cinema, or his son Carl Laemmle Jr., who inherited the keys to the studio kingdom in 1928, when talkies were quickly displacing silent films and promising groundbreaking new strides in moviemaking and the movie-going experience. Without early on horror pioneers like Tod Browning, James Whale, Karl Freund, George Waggner or Jack Arnold. Without iconic fauna actors Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Claude Rains, Lon Chaney, Jr., Elsa Lanchester or Ben Chapman. Without Dracula, the indispensable 1931 archetype that left a more lasting marking on vampire movies and lore than whatever other vampire moving picture before or later (save Nosferatu). Or Frankenstein, which pushed boundaries, shocked audiences and has been received with overwhelming enthusiasm ever since. The Mummy, bold in its temper and unforgettable in its tragic romance. The Invisible Man, which features some of the most amazing special effects and peradventure one of the most unnerving depictions of mounting madness of the era. The Bride of Frankenstein, a complex, wickedly funny, altogether unpredictable sequel that in many regards surpasses its predecessor. The Wolf Man, a one time-spooky grapheme drama that examines the frailty of man and the beast within. Phantom of the Opera, though more a twisted love story than a traditional horror picture, a pic that nevertheless caused some theaters to stock smelling salts in in the event that a moviegoer fainted upon the removal of the Phantom'southward mask. Or Animal from the Black Lagoon, which frightened audiences above the h2o and beneath with a scaly monster unlike any they had seen before. Needless to say, modern horror, and actually the genre in whole, would be completely different than what nosotros know.
The 8-disc Universal Classic Monsters: Essential Collection box gear up features all eight films; nine when you include Dr�cula, a Spanish-language version of Dracula that was shot simultaneously to the Lugosi picture, admitting with an entirely unlike cast. For the purposes of this review, I'll be highlighting the video and audio scores for each private disc, discussing the set's packaging, and outlining the special features included. More than thorough and detailed reviews of each disc tin can be found by visiting each title'south individual listing:
- Disc 1: Dracula (1931)
Disc 1: Dr�cula (1931)
Disc 2: Frankenstein (1931)
Disc three: The Mummy (1932)
Disc four: The Invisible Man (1933)
Disc v: The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Disc 6: The Wolf Homo (1941)
Disc 7: Phantom of the Opera (1943)
Disc 8: Creature from the Blackness Lagoon (1954)
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras
The Universal Archetype Monsters: Essential Collection comes packaged in an understated simply handsome box set (measuring 7" h x 5�" west x 1�" d) with a sturdy outer sleeve that houses a tome-like DigiPak (with one page devoted to each picture show) and a copy of "The Original House of Horror," a 48-page booklet. The discs themselves slide inside of each DigiPak page -- something that volition be a sticking point for some since yous have to grasp the border of a disc to remove it from its snug hideaway -- but I didn't run across any bug. Yes, individual disc hubs would have been preferred to the Alien and Star Wars-mode page sleeves. It isn't a deal breaker by any means, though, and whatever irritation had faded the moment I slid the first disc into my Blu-ray player.
Disc i: Dracula and Dr�cula- Dracula: The Restoration (HD, 9 minutes): "The whole point of the procedure is to not let the viewer know we were hither." This expect at the restoration of the movie from its original nitrate film and sound elements is an essential i. Every catalog release -- every single one -- should merit a featurette of this sort, if only to demonstrate how challenging restorations are approached and what techniques are employed to preserve, restore or remaster private films. It needn't be long, just as informative and layman-friendly as this one.
- Dr�cula (1931) Spanish Version (Hd, 103 minutes): Lupita Tovar Kohner provides an introduction (SD, four minutes) to the Castilian version of the film, which features a different cast rather than a simple dub, and was shot simultaneously with the English-language version.
- Audio Commentaries: Two audio commentaries are included: a traditional production overview with film historian David J. Skal, who reads from prepared notes, and author and Dracula: Expressionless and Loving It screenwriter Steve Haberman, who also reads his unabridged commentary. Both are worth listening to, if only for the sheer value of the data provided, but both are dry, wooden experiences more akin to book-on-tape motion picture essays than engaging sound commentaries.
- Alternating Score Track (HD, 74 minutes): Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet provide an alternating (and highly effective) music track for the motion picture, which is ironically more of what mod filmfans might expect from the largely scoreless classic picture show. Purists may cramp, just it'due south a fun marriage of the new and the onetime; the only downside being that it's presented via a 192kbps Dolby Digital stereo mix.
- The Route to Dracula (SD, 35 minutes): Carla Laemmle (niece to Universal founder Carl Laemmle) hosts this trip back in fourth dimension and behind the scenes of Dracula, complete with interviews with pic historians, modern filmmakers, and other notable horror notables, as well as clips from a number of films it influenced.
- Lugosi: The Dark Prince (SD, 36 minutes): An in-depth wait at the life, career and vampiric contribution of Bela Lugosi, the intense, magnetic actor who divers the horror star of the early 1930s.
- Dracula Archives (SD, 9 minutes): Flick posters, entrada fine art, production stills and other images.
- Trailer Gallery (SD, 6 minutes): Dracula, Dracula's Daughter, Son of Dracula and Business firm of Dracula.
- Monster Tracks (Hard disk drive): A standard trivia track rounds out the package.
- The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Fabricated a Monster (SD, 45 minutes): Picture historian David J. Skal hosts this lengthy wait back at Mary Shelley's original volume, the development and departures of James Whale'southward archetype 1931 adaptation, the influence the film has had on cinema, and more.
- Karloff: The Gentle Monster (SD, 38 minutes): With an ability "to lure them inside," Boris Karloff carved out a unique, hard-working Hollywood life and career, and injected something into the horror pic that pushed the fledgling genre well into the modern-monster age.
- Universal Horror (SD, 95 minutes): Filmmaker and part-time narrator Kenneth Branagh guides horror fans on a journeying through Universal's horror canon, touching on all of the movies included in the Classic Monsters collection, and some that are non.
- Audio Commentaries: Picture show historian Rudy Behlmer reads from a prepared essay throughout the duration of the movie, while historian Sir Christopher Frayling, while apparently relying on notes of his ain, breaks costless of his prepared materials to forge a more conversational commentary. There'southward value in the get-go, but there's value, a more fascinating dissection and an effortlessness to the 2nd.
- 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics (HD, 9 minutes): Rather than a Frankenstein-axial restoration featurette, like the i that accompanies Dracula, this is a general catch-all. It'south appreciated, but not nearly as revealing.
- Boo!: A Short Moving picture (SD, 10 minutes): A 1932 parody short from writer/director Albert DeMond.
- Frankenstein Archives (SD, 9 minutes): Picture show posters, campaign art, production stills and other images.
- Trailer Gallery (SD, 8 minutes): Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Ghost of Frankenstein, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Human and Firm of Frankenstein.
- Monster Tracks (Hard disk): A standard trivia track rounds out the bundle.
- Mummy Beloved: A Horror Tradition Unearthed (SD, 30 minutes): Another Horror Classic documentary, ported from the previously released Mummy DVD. This one looks at the then-timely entreatment of the picture, its unique spin on the monster movie, its product and reception, and Boris Karloff'south performance as a more sympathetic creature than audiences were used to.
- He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Fine art of Jack Pierce (SD, 25 minutes): Oft-overlooked makeup primary Jack Pierce was responsible for creating the look of Universal's early lineup of monsters; characters whose appearances would get on to become as iconic equally the films in which they were featured.
- Audio Commentaries: Ii commentaries are available. Celebrated makeup artist Rick Bakery, filmmaker Scott Essman, screenwriter and pic historian Steve Haberman, collector Bob Burns and sculpture studio possessor Brent Armstrong sit down downwardly together for the offset, with Haberman dominating the give-and-take (and providing the near information about the production) and Bakery showing upwardly afterwards in the track. The 2d is a solo track with picture show historian Paul G. Jensen, who reads prepared notes that amount to a dense Mummy essay.
- 100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era (HD, ix minutes): Universal founder Carl Laemmle and his vision for the future of cinema. A century later, that vision still resonates.
- Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy (SD, 8 minutes): Meet the men who gave the Mummy life.
- The Mummy Athenaeum (SD, 10 minutes): Movie posters, campaign art, production stills and other images.
- Trailer Gallery (SD, vi minutes): The Mummy, The Mummy'south Hand, The Mummy's Tomb, The Mummy'southward Ghost and The Mummy'south Curse.
- Now Y'all See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed (SD, 35 minutes): The Invisible Man is put nether the microscope in this Rudy Behlmer-hosted documentary pulled from the previously released DVD. Behlmer and other film historians and guests (histrion Ian McKellen among them) weigh in on the movie and its production (tidbits include H.G. Wells' insistence that Universal stick to his volume more than the studio had with Island of Lost Souls), likewise as its themes, characters, performances, frights, practical effects and, of course, the monster of a man at the heart of the tale.
- Audio Commentary: Another Behlmer commentary, some other undeniable thorough but unmistakably stocky reading of a pre-written, 71-infinitesimal picture essay. With so much information to share, it's no wonder Behlmer jotted it all down ahead of time. It'due south simply a shame he reads verbatim rather than referring to notes. Some freedom would make for a more than passionate, personable commentary.
- 100 Years of Universal: Unforgettable Characters (Hd, 8 minutes): A who'southward who of Universal'due south well-nigh recognizable, in some cases immortal characters. And non only archetype horror characters either.
- Production Photographs (SD, 5 minutes): Movie posters, campaign fine art, production stills and other images.
- Trailer Gallery (SD, 4 minutes): The Invisible Man Returns and Invisible Agent.
- She'southward Alive! Creating the Bride of Frankenstein (SD, 39 minutes): Howling and Gremlins filmmaker Joe Dante hosts this Helpmate of Frankenstein postmortem, which analyzes the complexities of the film, the ultimatum-driven casting of Elsa Lanchester, the return of Boris Karloff, the ascent of Dr. Pretorious, the manner in which director James Whale approached the sequel, the makeup and production design, the groundbreaking emergence of a female horror icon, and essentially everything a fan could desire to know about the honey Frankenstein followup.
- Audio Commentary: Motion picture historian Scott MacQueen gets a lot of mileage out of the essay he reads aloud, dry as his commitment may be. Pauses are frequent but MacQueen unravels the mysteries and nuances of the film, its horror and one-act, its unique place amongst early on horror classics, and much, much more.
- 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics (HD, 9 minutes): Rather than a Helpmate of Frankenstein-centric restoration featurette, like the 1 that accompanies Dracula, this is a general catch-all. It's appreciated, only non nearly as revealing.
- The Bride of Frankenstein Archive (SD, 13 minutes): Moving picture posters, campaign art, production stills and other images.
- Trailer Gallery (SD, 7 minutes): Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Ghost of Frankenstein and House of Frankenstein.
- Monster by Moonlight (SD, 33 minutes): An American Werewolf in London director John Landis hosts this extensive retrospective with an initially cheesy charm that thankfully doesn't interfere with the proceedings. The history, development, product and sequels of The Wolf Human being are examined at length, both the movies that inspired it and its impact on horror movie theater are detailed, and every fan, no matter how well versed in Wolf Man lore and legend, will come away having learned something about the film that will enrich their next viewing.
- Pure in Center: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr. (SD, 37 minutes): The life and career of Wolf Human being actor Lon Chaney, Jr., the son of a silent moving-picture show star who went on to play multiple beasts in the Universal monster pantheon. This is a fascinating documentary, though, more so than the usual bio piece. Tragedy, obstacles, tribulation and bittersweet success dot his days equally a kid, teen and, somewhen, a struggling actor. How has his story not been adapted for the big screen?
- He Who Made Monsters: The Art and Life of Jack Pierce (SD, 25 minutes): Oft-overlooked makeup master Jack Pierce was responsible for creating the look of Universal'due south early lineup of monsters; characters whose appearances would go along to go as iconic as the films in which they were featured.
- Audio Commentary: Film historian Tom Weaver departs role from the commentary pack, relying on notes but non ever reading them outloud. It allows a bit of sense of humour and personal asides to creep in, too as Weaver'southward enthusiasm for the film and era, and that makes all the difference. The film is still given the historian'southward full attention and the particulars of its production and behind-the-scenes drama are nevertheless brought to lite, but his is a breezier, more entertaining commentary than many of the tracks in the Universal Classic Monsters set.
- From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth (SD, x minutes): Breaking down The Wolf Homo and its entreatment.
- 100 Years of Universal: The Lot (HD, 9 minutes): The Universal backlot in all its celebrity.
- The Wolf Man Archives (SD, 7 minutes): Movie posters, entrada art, production stills and other images.
- Trailer Gallery (SD, ix minutes): Werewolf of London, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula and She-Wolf of London.
- The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked (SD, 51 minutes): Film historian Scott MacQueen hosts this glimpse behind the curtain of Phantom of the Opera, several picture show adaptations and incarnations of the Phantom introduced over the years (chief among them the 1925 silent era version), the troubled early screenings of the 1943 version, its eventual success and, along the way, the particulars of its evolution, casting, product, and legacy
- Audio Commentary: MacQueen sits down to record a solo commentary also, even though, comprehensive as it is, his overview of the film amounts to a by-the-numbers reading of a series of notes. Listening to the track certainly isn't a waste of time, mind you lot. It just would have been more than involving if delivered with less rigidity.
- 100 Years of Universal: The Lot (Hard disk, ix minutes): The Universal backlot in all its glory.
- Production Photographs (SD, 6 minutes): Picture show posters, campaign art, production stills and other images.
- Theatrical Trailer (SD, two minutes)
- Back to the Black Lagoon (SD, twoscore minutes): Film historian David J. Skal hosts, the Gill Man rampages, and Beast from the Black Lagoon is dissected, from its inspirations to its development, scripting, production, special furnishings, makeup and more than.
- Audio Commentary: The last of the Essentials commentaries passes the mic to motion picture historian Tom Weaver, who reads from pre-prepared notes and breaks free from his script to interject additional comments, observations and Creature factoids. Weaver does a fine job of painting a full, complete moving-picture show of the path to the Black Lagoon, equally well as its shoot, release, sequels and legacy.
- 100 Years of Universal: The Lot (Hd, 9 minutes): The Universal backlot in all its glory.
- Product Photographs (SD, 11 minutes): Movie posters, campaign art, product stills and other images.
- Trailer Gallery (SD, vii minutes): Beast from the Black Lagoon, Revenge of the Creature and The Creature Walks Among Us.
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation
The Universal Classic Monsters: Essential Drove isn't perfect. Non every motion-picture show is a tried and true classic, argue will rage about horror greats that were left behind, not every video presentation or DTS-Hard disk drive Principal Audio Mono mix is platonic, and the bulk of the special features have been ported over from the previously released DVDs. Nevertheless, the Essential Collection is a Blu-ray essential. Universal has put considerable effort into restoring and revitalizing each film, and while there's room to nitpick, it's hard to focus on little flaws when the whole of the package is then expert. If you have any love for Gold Age horror classics, add together this one to your cart or wish list postal service haste.
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Show more titles »« Prove less titles
Like titles suggested past members
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray, News and Updates
• Amazon Blu-ray Bargain of the Week: Battlestar Galactica and Univers...
- Apr 12, 2015
Amazon's Blu-ray Bargain of the Week affects Universal Domicile Entertainment's releases of Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series and Universal Archetype Monsters: The Essential Collection. Through April 18th, Amazon is offering each packet for 70% and 64% off their ...
• This Calendar week on Blu-ray: October 28-November four - October 26, 2014
For the week of October 28th, Scream/Shout Manufacturing plant is bringing Nightbreed: The Managing director's Cut to Blu-ray. Other titles include Kino and Mario Bava's sci-fi chiller Planet of the Vampires, Lionsgate's release of Life of Crime, and Criterion's essential The Complete ...
• Amazon Blu-ray Bargain of the Week: Universal Classic Monsters & The... - April half-dozen, 2014
Amazon's Blu-ray Deal of the Calendar week affects Universal Studios Home Entertainment'south Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection and Dreamworks Animation's The Croods & Turbo Blu-ray bundle. Through April 12th, Amazon is offering the titles for 64% and 60% ...
» Show more than related news posts for Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray
Get Daily Blu-ray Deals |
| Testify new deals » |
Trending Blu-ray Movies
| 1. | Spider-Homo: No Style Habitation 4K |
| 2. | Spider-Homo: No Manner Home 4K |
| 3. | Spider-Man: No Way Home |
| 4. | RoboCop 4K |
| v. | Spider-Man: No Style Home 4K |
| half-dozen. | Spider-Human: No Way Domicile 4K |
| 7. | Heavy Metal 4K |
| 8. | The Batman 4K |
| ix. | The Batman 4K |
| ten. | RoboCop 4K |
| 11. | Scream 4K |
| 12. | Scream 4K |
| 13. | Expiry on the Nile 4K |
| xiv. | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein 4K |
| 15. | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 4K |
Trending in Theaters
| 1. | Death on the Nile |
| 2. | The Batman |
| 3. | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 |
| 4. | Everything Everywhere All at Once |
| 5. | Ambulance |
| six. | 10 |
| seven. | Morbius |
| eight. | Turning Crimson |
| ix. | The Lost City |
| 10. | Moonfall |
| eleven. | The Contractor |
| 12. | The Outfit |
| xiii. | Infinite Storm |
| 14. | All the Sometime Knives |
| fifteen. | Jackass Forever |
| xvi. | Domestic dog |
| 17. | The Worst Person in the World |
| 18. | The Adam Projection |
| 19. | Last Looks |
| 20. | Amanuensis Game |
| 21. | Blacklight |
| 22. | Ally Me |
| 23. | Uncharted |
| 24. | The Requin |
| 25. | Gold |
| 26. | RRR |
| 27. | The Called-for Body of water |
| 28. | The Devil You Know |
| 29. | WarHunt |
| 30. | Aline |
| 31. | Ted K |
| 32. | The Long Night |
| 33. | Panama |
| 34. | Gagarine |
| 35. | Barbarians |
| 36. | Umma |
| 37. | The Cursed |
| 38. | Alice |
| 39. | Later on Yang |
| 40. | The Exorcism of God |
| ane. | Spider-Human being: No Way Habitation |
| ii. | Spider-Homo: No Fashion Home 4K |
| 3. | The Batman 4K |
| 4. | The Batman |
| 5. | Jackass Forever |
| half-dozen. | Sing 2 |
| seven. | Spider-Man: Homecoming / Far From H... |
| eight. | Close Encounters of the Third Kind 4K |
| 9. | Heavy Metal 4K |
| ten. | Uncharted |
| » Come across more top sellers | |
| one. | The Batman 4K |
| 2. | The Batman |
| 3. | Uncharted |
| 4. | Moonfall 4K |
| 5. | Doc Who: Eve of the Daleks & Leg... |
| vi. | Moonfall |
| 7. | X |
| eight. | Belle |
| 9. | Lawrence of Arabia 4K |
| 10. | Domestic dog |
| » See more pre-orders | |
| 1. | Spider-Homo: Homecoming / Far From H... $30.45, Salve 46% |
| 2. | Close Encounters of the Third Kind 4K $13.33, Salve 57% |
| 3. | Spider-Man: Far from Abode $11.48, Save 56% |
| 4. | Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Gri... $9.99, Save 47% |
| 5. | Moonfall $nineteen.96, Save 50% |
| 6. | Harry Potter: Consummate 8-Film Colle... $42.99, Save 57% |
| 7. | That '70s Show: The Complete Series $37.99, Salve 62% |
| eight. | Spider-Man: Far From Home 4K $fifteen.99, Relieve 48% |
| ix. | Spider-Man: Homecoming $9.99, Save l% |
| 10. | iv Film Favorites: Batman Collection $nine.99, Save 60% |
| » Come across more deals | |
Source: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Universal-Classic-Monsters-The-Essential-Collection-Blu-ray/35661/
0 Response to "Universal Classic Monsters the Essential Collection Blu Ray Review"
Post a Comment