Category Archives: Collector’s Den

Ultraseven: The Complete Series (DVD)

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Courtesy of Shout! Factory, Tsuburaya Productions iconic “Ultraseven” series from 1967 is available on DVD in a fully restored edition with all episodes present and accounted for. With subtitles options and a crisp picture and color scheme, “Ultraseven” is about as good as it’s ever been, a truly interesting and entertaining icarnation of Ultra Man that promises to keep audiences watching.

“Ultraseven” focuses on the Terrestrial Defense Force establishes the Ultra Guard, Earth’s six guardians who act as enforcers for the planet, protecting citizens from extra terrestrials and monsters with the use of high tech machinery and vehicles.

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Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection [Blu-Ray]

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As with all box sets, there will be controversy and debates among horror fans about what belongs in this set and what doesn’t. “The Bride of Frankenstein” is the only sequel, there’s a baffling inclusion of the Claude Rains “Phantom of the Opera.” And no “The Fly”?

In either case, included in a wonderful box set, with a copy of the 48-page booklet “The Original House of Horror,” and of course eight horror gems for fans of Universal Studios that completely changed the horror genre forever. Not to mention, they changed the way film was made, forever.

Dracula
(1931, 75 min.)

For me the main attraction of “Dracula” is the performance of Dwight Frye. While “Dracula” is a stellar and often compelling bit of vampire fantasy horror with the great Bela Lugosi offering the most iconic portrayal of the vampire lord, for me the performance that always stuck out was Dwight Frye. His turn as the assistant Renfield is magnificent and his devious laugh is just chilling.

This is a man who has lost all semblance of his persona to Dracula, and now just an animal. He’s mad, and he’s vicious. “Dracula” lives up to its reputation as an entertaining and whimsical bit of horror cinema with remarkable performances, and incredible set pieces, all of which marked a turn in the genre thanks to director and visionary Tod Browning. “Dracula” is where Bela Lugosi was at his all time greatest, and as the count, he drips magnetism, charisma, and threat of a century old monster desperate for blood shed and willing to destroy whom ever he feels stands in his way.

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The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season (Limited Edition) [Blu-Ray]

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SEASON TWO
Season two of AMC Network’s “The Walking Dead” is perhaps the most controversial and also the most daring. AMC made the dunderheaded decision of cutting the reins from show runner Frank Darabont and cutting the series’ budget in half right before the premiere of the high rated series that managed to break every cable record in the time of its premiere. Why AMC continues to handle the business in such a manner is baffling. The release of show runner and critically acclaimed director Frank Darabont from the series is one that continues to anger fans, but happens to be a blessing in disguise.

Fans complaining that the show detracted from the comic book source material were in store for much more in the way of detraction with Darabont’s intent on tailoring the series more toward his sensibilities and including wild card episodes at the start of every season. His vision of slow burn storytelling just didn’t sit well with AMC Network and fans either. Fans complain that the first half of “The Walking Dead” season two is sluggish and uneventful. While I disagree, the first half of the season that gets most criticism is that led by Frank Darabont. Season two is almost as flawless as season one, and is given much more room to fail than season one was.

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Fright Fest: 12 Movies (DVD)

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From Mill Creek Entertainment comes almost eighteen hours of movies that vary in quality but are guaranteed to entertain you and keep you in your seat all Halloween day. Featured in this set are twelve movies, all of which are some films I myself have been trying to acquire for years. For fans looking to purchase this DVD and see what they’re in for, here is what you’ll be getting:

From 1998 comes Devil in the Flesh a respectable and memorable “Fatal Attraction” clone starring the gorgeous Rose McGowan as the alluring but dangerous Debbie Strand who sets her sights on the handsome teacher of her new high school and seduces him in to a web of black mail and deception that ends with a slew of dead bodies unfortunate enough to cross her path.

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Hostel/Hostel Part II/The Tattooist/The Hunt for the BTK Killer – 4 Movie Collection (DVD)

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If you’re willing to do without the nasty things like special features, and trailers, the four horror hits from Mill Creek Entertainment isn’t really that bad a purchase. If you can stand to sit through two terrible horror films and two mediocre ones as well, then you’re really not going to be disappointed considering the price tag on the four film set.

Another in a line of consumer friendly sets, Mill Creek releases a four horror film set for modern horror fans and all things considered it’s a solid release with four films that may not be masterpieces but are at least worth experimenting with. With the four movie collection on DVD, here is what you’ll ultimately get:

Hostel (Unrated Director’s Cut) – Produced by Quentin Tarantino, “Hostel” is a torture porn horror film and box office winner directed by Eli Roth that sets the light on a group of American travelers who end up in a ring of depravity and torture when they attempt to find random sex and sew their wild oats in Europe over their vacation. Though Eli Roth’s horror film suffers from bad writing, an uneven tone, and a horribly homophobic narrative, “Hostel” does come out ahead with some strong performances and a good lead role by underrated actor Jay Hernandez. And for folks who appreciate it, there are cameos from major horror icons who play members of the elite Hostel who pay thousands of dollars to torture innocent people for their own pleasure and satisfaction. Don’t believe the hype, hostels don’t exist.

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100 Greatest Horror Classics: 24 Disc Set (DVD)

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You’re probably saying, “Hey Cinema Crazed, I have over a hundred and twenty seven hours to kill. What ever shall I do?” Well, I have just what you’re looking for, friend-o. From Mill Creek Entertainment comes the double boxed set of your usual horror classics and not so classics all compounded in to a hundred horror movies and twenty four discs all for your viewing pleasure. With spiffy cover art like you see at left, and the movies included, what else would you want? What else, I ask? Well? Answer me, damn it.

Featured among this massive set is two episodes of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” entitled “The Chaney Vase” starring Darren McGavin and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” starring Diana Dors! There’s also “The Amazing Mr. X” from 1948, “The Ape” from 1948, “The Ape Man” from 1943, and various other gems like “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die ” from 1962, the always terrifying “Carnival of Souls” from 1962. As usual there’s the classic that started the entire slasher sub-genre, “Dementia 13” and the John Barrymore 1920 classic “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”

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Best of Bond… James Bond: 50th Anniversary Collection (Digital)

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I am by no means a James Bond fan. I am one of the few people in the world that have never seen an actual James Bond film in full. Granted, I am a big fan of Daniel Craig and Sean Connery, but the film series never called out to me. However while I am not a Bond fan nor have I ever seen an actual Bond film in full, I am very much aware of the music behind the Bond films.

For fans of the film series, “Best of Bond…” is a remarkable and utterly incredible compilation of the some of the best and most iconic Bond music ever made. From scores to soundtracks and themes, this music compilation has it all. And then some.

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