Friday The 13th SEs/Box Set Info Coming on September 19th!? - Page 9

Michael Elliott · 03-23-2004, 01:23 AM

RYAN----Interesting post. I agree that the 5.1 tracks really aren't needed. Last year I went through the 8 Paramount discs within a couple days and IMO, none of them need any work when it comes to the V/A. Part 4 has one horrid looking scene (the shower scene) yet it's weird because THE PROWLER (directed by the same guy) has one bad looking scene and it takes place in the shower.

As I said earlier, extras mean nothing to me so I'm happy with what I've got. However, I will buy whatever is released. I'm going to be buying the extras because I'm a die-hard fan. Had I been a lesser fan I'd certainly skip these upgrades. As for being uncut, I've still got my doubts. "Some" footage has been found but this could just lead to more controversy. For years (decades really) there have been rumors about what was cut and what wasn't. Since this hasn't actually been seen, we're going on mainly rumors so if we get uncut versions, the edits could be as small as what we saw in part 1. I've seen part 7 uncut and there is a major difference there so that would be a big change. The DVD of part 5 and I think 3 feature a few extra seconds so it'll be interesting to see how much more is out there.

I'm currently holding onto my current discs because I'm worried that these "director's cuts" might hurt the actual films. I don't mind them putting the gore back in but I really hope they don't add anything just to make it "uncut". Meaning, I hope something filmed for television isn't just thrown in for a fake uncut release (ala what people buy on Ebay). My favorite of the series is part 6 and rumor has it that this was filmed in different versions. I personally love the rather non-violent version out there now and personally, I'd hate to see this thing as some bloodbath because it could take away the film as I know it.

I think another thing to keep in mind is that it might not be possible for uncut releases. This is what I meant earlier when I said fans would never be happy. I think the bottom line is that Paramount is trying to restore these but in the end, it might not be possible and I hope fans understand this. The effort could be there and the final results might not be what we wanted but there isn't anything else to be done. The cut footage in OFFICER is lost so we should probably expect "some" stuff to be lost here.

So, for F13, I will rebuy these for the extras, which will be commentaries, interviews and perhaps deleted scenes. I'll do this because I love the series. I own the NIGHTMARE set and this is something I'd never rebuy. I'll watch the movies but don't need extras for any of them. With F13, I'll take some extras but if it doesn't happen I still have the movies to watch at least.

Ryan Wishton · 03-23-2004, 02:06 AM

Michael,

I remember someone posting months ago that Friday 5 only has 10% or so of it's violence intact...

Part 6 was butchered as much as 7... It was shot in 3 versions... A Directors PG-13, R, and X...

The Friday 6 we have now is the Directors PG-13 version with an R rating...

Every movie in the series with the exception of Part 1 and 3 I think is heavily cut... Savini mentioned that Part 4 was even submitted to the MPAA a few times... This is a movie most thought had no cuts...

About this set in general... I have been seeing people all over who claim to know about this set... Some claim we will be happy with the set... Some claim this set will be a waste of time... But, anytime I or someone else have asked for more detail, no answers are given... So, I wouldnt know what is true and what isnt...

You would think Paramount has a gag order on these people... No one likes to talk about this set at all or the details... Personally, the best thing to do is just to wait for Paramount to release official specs themselves before getting excited or disappointed...

Walt Riarson · 03-23-2004, 02:18 AM

Simply put, I don't understand Paramount's reasoning for releasing this set if they're not going to listen to what the fans have been campaigning for. Uncut releases are a must. Otherwise, I'm wondering why Paramount is even bothering with this set.

A considerable amount of sales will be lost if they aren't uncut, I'd wager.

Ryan Wishton · 03-23-2004, 02:31 AM

Walt,

Actually, believe it or not, people would buy this set as long as there were tons of extras I think... Look at the Nightmare Box set... None are the uncut prints that are out there and very easy to find... No one seems to care or notice though because the box set has so many extras...

There are a section of people who wont buy this set cut... It will put a dent into who will buy it and who wont... For example, if it is all theatrical versions again, I wont buy it... It just would not make sense to me to upgrade...

One must admit New Line did do a great job on the transfers... But, I would have preferred they invested their time and money in restoring the uncut prints and workprints over paying for all those new interviews and extras I dont watch...

A funny thing I notice... People buy a movie because it has hours and hours of extras... They say look at all the extras... I will ask how were they??? Their answer to me... I dont know... I didnt watch them, I just wanted them...

I have found that many people will be sold as long as you give them a lot...

Me??? I prefer quality over quantity... I would rather have two excellent, killer, spectacular extras before 100 bad to mediocre ones....

For example, I would want one uncut movie with excellent picture and sound before I would want a badly cut movie with a horrible transfer and a ton of extras.

Personally, I will buy this set if I see at least effort made... If Paramount by some chance just cant find all the uncut prints, so be it... But, as long as I know they did restore and find what they could, I would be happy... Some may be lost or gone forever... Nothing anyone can do, not even Paramount if thats the case... Sure, people might be upset... I would think oh damn... But, if there is nothing anyone can do about it, there is really nothing that can be done...

It has just always been strange to me these bigger series seem so hard to locate material for... But obscure movies no one ever heard of (some of the Anchor bay movies for example) somehow end up uncut with very watchable transfers even though they are 10 times as rare and unknown and even older in many cases...

Simon Caleb · 03-23-2004, 08:51 AM

"I remember someone posting months ago that Friday 5 only has 10% or so of it's violence intact..."

Yes that was me, I found a 1985 CFQ interview/article where Danny Steinmann went into some detail as to the amount of gore cut by the MPAA & Paramount.

I agree quality over quantity, it doesn't fill me with hope that Paramount or rather the team they have putting the extras together are focusing on interviews at film convention panels etc.
Personally I say scrap that & put out the unrated versions & I'd be a happy bunny, but it all hangs on their ability to find those trims, time will tell.

Matt Pelham · 03-23-2004, 09:16 AM

Right, I'm thrilled to death that Paramount is spending time to make Friday SEs, but I am worried about the uncut issue.

Michael, I really think no one can possibly complain if Paramount releases these in the most uncut form available, the general consensus seems to be extras are good, but uncut is the most important consideration. I am a little worried Paramount will release regular r-rated Special Editions then when fans complain have an attitude like "What? We gave you what you wanted".

Remember when Paramount held a poll to decide the most wanted titles on DVD? One of the top responses was "My Bloody Valentine uncut!". Then Paramount released the standard R-rated version.

Simon Caleb · 03-23-2004, 09:31 AM

With regard to My Bloody Valentine, the ball is in Paramount's court, the producer found all the MPAA trims & other dialogue exstensions in his office, some 9mins in lengh it's been reported, and I'm told Paramount were not interested in putting out a complete version..at the time he asked them. Now If the Friday box set is a great seller, I'd be surprised if they didn't revisit that film down the line.

At the end of the day it's all about economics, would an unrated MBV shift in large enough numbers for them to spend money on a restoration? I seriously doubt it, An Officer & a Gentleman on the other hand...
Until such time I can day dream over the unrated MBV

Ryan Wishton · 03-23-2004, 09:53 AM

Simon,

I wouldnt doubt if re-issues of both My Bloody Valentine and April Fool's Day would come out in the future if this Friday set sells well enough...

Paramount is running out of Horror titles... They will need something to put in their future Sept/Oct lineups...

If Paramount is worried about a loss, they could always lease them to Anchor Bay who could restore the prints...

I will never understand why Paramount is so dead set against leasing out some of their movies to another company... It's not like they would loose full rights... All that would happen is that Anchor Bay would restore the film and keep the profits from that specific release... After the disc is made, the rights would go right back to Paramount... Paramount would make money from leasing the rights...

New Line did the same thing with Elite for The Elm Street series in the mid 90's... New Line still to this day has the rights...

Anchor Bay went to Dimension and offered to restore the producers cut of Halloween 6... Dimension also refuses...

Is restoration really that expensive??? Does anyone know anything about this??? I mean Anchor Bay restores uncut prints all the time and the prices are cheaper than big studios... They still manage to turn a profit it seems even on really strange titles I myself have never heard of...

MGM restored The Burning uncut for Amazon on VHS at one point and turned a profit...

I mean if movies like those are turning a profit, I cant imagine why Friday the 13th, My Bloody Valentine, April Fools Day, etc. would have such a problem or be a loss...

The Friday the 13th series sells better than My Bloody Valentine, Aril Fools Day, etc., but I think all would turn some kind of profit...

This goes for all genres really... An Officer and a Gentlemen for example would sell well enough to warrant a restoration...

Personally, I wouldnt mind seeing the 3 hour version of the campy razzie movie "Mommy Dearest." I know... Im sick... lol...

P.S. I have just heard the "Children of the Corn" series of all unholy things will be getting High Definition Widescreen transfers... This is madness... If a series ever wasnt warranted for restoration, it would have to be this... Some of the movies only made $500,000... The two movies that did make it to the theaters bombed very badly.... This is just madness I say...

Hobogoblins would deserve restoration before this series... Madness...

Will K · 03-23-2004, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Personally, I wouldnt mind seeing the 3 hour version of the campy razzie movie "Mommy Dearest." I know... Im sick... lol...

Now that is an enticing prospect!

Simon Caleb · 03-23-2004, 12:31 PM

Ryan, Some companies have already tried to prize MBV out of Paramount for a restoration, Dragon films in Austria I believe told me they (Paramount) asked for far too much money for a limited issue dvd release, Anchor Bay have also been after it with no luck.
And I think Don May Jr over at Synapse may have asked about Diabolik at one point.

I too don't understand why Paramount, Warner etc don't entertain the thought of leasing out their unloved offspring, The Devil's Criterion Collection anyone?
Now if only the Friday series had been with MGM

So you let that one slip, your a Mommie Dearest fan huh? I'll not rest until they release it with a miniature wire coat hanger pin, just like Palace Pictures did here in the UK with Eating Raoul, I still have my miniature frying pan badge that were handed out with both the theatrical & home video release, now that’s camp.

Interesting you’d bring up Children of the Corn, heavily cut for an R rating, the Japanese theatrical release contained a whole scene in a police station with the Sheriff being bumped off with a large kitchen knife, there was also more tea room massacre, footage of which EMI UK had a reel of but neglected to reinstate into the UK print.
I wonder if AB will uncover that long lost footage? Not that I’m a fan of anything but the musical score on that one!