...a review of a classic movie experience brought to the big screen
Film fans love to see classic films brought back to the big screen, and among those horror fans especially love it when classic horror films get a big screen showing.
So, not being able to resist the siren call of another classic coming to the big screen for a two night only engagement, I eagerly bought my tickets to experience "A Nightmare on Elm Street" on the large screen!
My evening with Freddy started like any other. I combed my hair, put on my best t-shirt, brushed my teeth, packed my flask, grabbed my own Freddy K. glove and was out the door. I found the theatre full with an eclectic array of persons--old, young, weird, and really nerdy. We were all there to see the same thing, the king of bad-ass Boogeymen on the big screen.
First I will say I was disappointed that New Line Cinema didn't do anything for the occasion, no giveaways, no contests, no drawings for fabulous prizes--I mean they weren't even giving away copies of the new Nightmare dvd coming to stores on 9/26! I mean that re-mastered DVD is the reason they're even doing this event and I can't even get a change to enter for a free one?? That's pure shenanigans and the first strike on my list. [Wench note--sure they are--online--go to the Hollywood Horror page for your chance to win one!]
The the lights dimmed. I quickly emptied the contents of my flask into my mega-large coke and began to applaud when New Lines original logo began to shimmer onto the screen, those lush red lines flickering and forming New Line Cinema! Then it began, and suddenly we realized that the sound was not good, I had my hopes up for some Dolby digital, but what I got was some old school sound. I sighed. "Here's to hoping," I said as I sucked down my soda and marked my second strike down. Add in the technical problems that left us watching 20 minutes without sound! Only to then have them restart it from the beginning, the only plus to that was they fixed some of the sound and at least it was slightly better and louder.
Then I realized the picture, the picture was not...how can I put this nicely? Well it simply was not good. In fact it wasn't even film at all, but a video transfer. After the movie I quickly rushed home to put in my Nightmare original release DVD and was not shocked to find that it was in fact a better picture quality than what I had just shelled out 10 dollars for! While the film was watchable, it lacked clarity and definition, the parts filmed at night or in the dark were so dark you couldn't see any detail on the screen. I have not seen Nightmare looking this bad since the WHS days! Needless to say it was strike 3. I know New Line is trying to get us out there to buy the newly re-mastered edition on 09/26--but is that any reason to not give us a primo presentation when I've paid movie theatre prices! I frankly could have watched my DVD at home on my HDTV and surround sound and have more of an experience than I did in that hot theatre.
Then after the credits came the compilation of "Freddy's Best Kills" a retrospect of his best on screen carnage through his numerous films. Alas that was not as cool as it sounds. Perhaps his kills, mixed in with him getting his ass whooped in part 4? Or maybe just some of his scarier moments--like him coming out of the closet at Heather in New Nightmare. I was unimpressed.
I can't diminish the fun it was seeing the first one on screen, considering I missed it the first time round (I was only 5 years old). It was liking getting a visit from an old friend. It reminded me of when Freddy was scary and not so much of a pun-throwing, silly-face-making clown.
All in all I won't be rushing out to see any more classics on the big screen unless I'm sure I'm getting quality film and sound--with today's technology I can get the same experience at home without the crowded theatre and without the sticky floors, thank you!
film 5 stars
film quality 2 stars
Overall presentation of event 1 star!
New Line if you're going to keep double dipping and taking my hard earned cash for the movies I already own, can you at least make these special little events something more exciting and memorable!
Hyde has spoken!
Originally Published on Horror-Web by Hyde 10.02.06
Film fans love to see classic films brought back to the big screen, and among those horror fans especially love it when classic horror films get a big screen showing.
So, not being able to resist the siren call of another classic coming to the big screen for a two night only engagement, I eagerly bought my tickets to experience "A Nightmare on Elm Street" on the large screen!
My evening with Freddy started like any other. I combed my hair, put on my best t-shirt, brushed my teeth, packed my flask, grabbed my own Freddy K. glove and was out the door. I found the theatre full with an eclectic array of persons--old, young, weird, and really nerdy. We were all there to see the same thing, the king of bad-ass Boogeymen on the big screen.
First I will say I was disappointed that New Line Cinema didn't do anything for the occasion, no giveaways, no contests, no drawings for fabulous prizes--I mean they weren't even giving away copies of the new Nightmare dvd coming to stores on 9/26! I mean that re-mastered DVD is the reason they're even doing this event and I can't even get a change to enter for a free one?? That's pure shenanigans and the first strike on my list. [Wench note--sure they are--online--go to the Hollywood Horror page for your chance to win one!]
The the lights dimmed. I quickly emptied the contents of my flask into my mega-large coke and began to applaud when New Lines original logo began to shimmer onto the screen, those lush red lines flickering and forming New Line Cinema! Then it began, and suddenly we realized that the sound was not good, I had my hopes up for some Dolby digital, but what I got was some old school sound. I sighed. "Here's to hoping," I said as I sucked down my soda and marked my second strike down. Add in the technical problems that left us watching 20 minutes without sound! Only to then have them restart it from the beginning, the only plus to that was they fixed some of the sound and at least it was slightly better and louder.
Then I realized the picture, the picture was not...how can I put this nicely? Well it simply was not good. In fact it wasn't even film at all, but a video transfer. After the movie I quickly rushed home to put in my Nightmare original release DVD and was not shocked to find that it was in fact a better picture quality than what I had just shelled out 10 dollars for! While the film was watchable, it lacked clarity and definition, the parts filmed at night or in the dark were so dark you couldn't see any detail on the screen. I have not seen Nightmare looking this bad since the WHS days! Needless to say it was strike 3. I know New Line is trying to get us out there to buy the newly re-mastered edition on 09/26--but is that any reason to not give us a primo presentation when I've paid movie theatre prices! I frankly could have watched my DVD at home on my HDTV and surround sound and have more of an experience than I did in that hot theatre.
Then after the credits came the compilation of "Freddy's Best Kills" a retrospect of his best on screen carnage through his numerous films. Alas that was not as cool as it sounds. Perhaps his kills, mixed in with him getting his ass whooped in part 4? Or maybe just some of his scarier moments--like him coming out of the closet at Heather in New Nightmare. I was unimpressed.
I can't diminish the fun it was seeing the first one on screen, considering I missed it the first time round (I was only 5 years old). It was liking getting a visit from an old friend. It reminded me of when Freddy was scary and not so much of a pun-throwing, silly-face-making clown.
All in all I won't be rushing out to see any more classics on the big screen unless I'm sure I'm getting quality film and sound--with today's technology I can get the same experience at home without the crowded theatre and without the sticky floors, thank you!
film 5 stars
film quality 2 stars
Overall presentation of event 1 star!
New Line if you're going to keep double dipping and taking my hard earned cash for the movies I already own, can you at least make these special little events something more exciting and memorable!
Hyde has spoken!
Originally Published on Horror-Web by Hyde 10.02.06
