'Friday' films new and old slash their way onto DVD
Talk about scary.
This week's DVD lineup includes no less than four "Friday the 13th" flicks, which makes it a bloody great week for fans and an, um, interesting one for reviewers. Let's take a look, starting with the 2009 remake:
"Friday the 13th" ("Killer Cut" edition) - This year's "Friday the 13th" is a decent stand-alone update of the franchise but it doesn't really make a case for additional chapters. I liked how the filmmakers smoothed out the fuzzy origin of Jason Voorhees, the hockey-mask-wearing serial killer with mommy issues who became a pop icon in the 1980s. I also liked how they made Jason smarter and meaner than he's been in a long time. (Derek Mears, the actor who plays Jason, deserves praise for conveying the rage inside the character, despite the fact that his face is covered throughout.) The story, though, feels too familiar; once again, sexed-up young people vacation near Jason's home in the woods, only to be killed one by one. Yawn. Plus, why do the characters have to be such obnoxious dolts?
The "Killer Cut" edition of the DVD apparently offers a longer cut, though because I didn't see the theatrical version, I can't tell you what's new. The film looks great, and it's accompanied by a nice making-of featurette and some additional scenes. The Blu-ray adds additional featurettes. (R; Warner Home Video, $28.98 or $35.99 for Blu-ray)
"Friday the 13th" (Deluxe Editions) - Also out this week are new editions of three vintage "Friday" installments: "Part IV: The Final Chapter," "Part V: A New Beginning" and "Part VI: Jason Lives." For low-budget films made 20 or more years ago, they all look and sound fantastic on these DVDs, but do they hold up as movies?
"The Final Chapter" (1984): The "Friday" with the most inaccurate title in history is also one of the best of the series. Strong acting, excellent kills and a whacked-out ending featuring a young Corey Feldman going toe-to-toe with Jason make this a gory winner. Two commentaries, a fun but brief making-of and deleted material round out the DVD package.
"A New Beginning" (1985): This one's a disaster from start to finish - neither funny nor scary, though it tries hard to be both. Even the kills are weak, apparently due to some heavy MPAA-mandated edits. Notable extras include a making-of and a commentary with director and cast.
"Jason Lives" (1986): The franchise gets back on track with this chapter, which adds some clever, self-aware humor; the "Scream" movies that came a decade later clearly took a page from it. Extras include a commentary, making-of and deleted scenes.
Overall, this is a nice collection for both casual and die-hard "Friday" fans. (R; Paramount, $16.99 each)
"Transformers: The Complete First Season" (25th Anniversary Edition) - For our non-Jason release of the week, we have the animated series that prompted millions of youngsters to beg their parents for "Transformers" toys, turning them into a pop phenomenon that's still going strong a quarter-century later. Looking at this show today, it's clear the creators' main goal was to sell toys, not tell compelling stories. The plots are goofy and simple, the animation cheap and clunky (pretty typical of the 1980s). But the show has a charming energy, and the stellar voice cast - which includes veteran talents Peter Cullen, Corey Burton and Casey Kasem - really sells the action. The episodes, all of them restored to their full broadcast length, look and sound great. Extras include a brief but interesting glance back at the series, vintage Hasbro toy commercials, even a Transformers magnet! A commentary or two would have provided the perfect final touch, but this is solid. Roll out! Note: Shout! Factory has announced that a complete-series package will debut at the San Diego Comic-Con next month. (NR; Shout! Factory, $29.99)