Rating: 
Summary: great collection, quality lacking
Review: I love the concept here..."all in one"...it has everything (and more) that I would want in terms of the films. I am dissapointed by some of the sound and picture quality issues mentioned by others, and confirmed during my viewing. Frankenstien has some shots that are totally "out of focus" due to extreme compression during non-moving shots, dracula's sound is poor, etc. when universal asks the public to lay out big money for a special edition set they could at least make sure the transfer is optimal. I would have rather cheap cases and no figurines than an overly compressed or poorly transfered dvd!
Rating: 
Summary: Careful..., The Sequel or Beauty's Only Skin Deep
Review: I decided to bite the (silver) bullet and view the one (I thought) non-defective set in the box--Frankenstein. Now that I know for SURE that the whole set has to be returned, I can offer some constructive comments on at least two of the disks in the box.
The menus were actually pretty cool and were very easy to navigate. Included as extras were trailers from Frankenstein (which I suspect was made for a re-release, as it didn't have an early-30's "flavor" and wasn't remastered) and "Bride," also not remastered and seemingly more of its "time." The Frankenstein print wasn't bad but wasn't great either; there was evidence of compression and the print showed no evidence of having been cleaned up. So much for "The Restored Version."
"Bride" actually looked and sounded better, despite its not being described as "restored." In addition to the trailer, extras included an "archive" which consisted of a series of consecutive stills of the film. Not bad, but I got the impression it was thrown in because they needed SOME sort of extra to include.
Things fell apart, however, with "Son." All was well for a while and then it degenerated into a pixelated mess of frozen audio and video. There seemed no point in proceeding to "Ghost" and "House" and I sadly await notification from Amazon on the return procedure. I didn't bother with the commentaries.
While I'm aware that few of us can resist attractive packaging at a low price, the single most important criterion for a DVD--at least to my mind--is the quality of the print. Univeral has failed MISERABLY with this set on all counts except the packaging (which includes the busts); so typical in this day and age to market style over substance. Scratched disks, bad transfers of incomplete films ("no-groan" Dracula), and really crummy quality control--Caveat Emptor. You've been warned...
Rating:
Summary: Close.. but no cigar!!!
Review: This set is great, terrible packaging not withstanding. But, I wish all the films, or at least more of the films, had commentaries. I have the original 8 film collection, and the commentaries are excellent on all of them, and really put that set a rung above this one.However, it is great to have all these films together in one package, even if some of them are not are not totally restored. There is also a scene missing in Werewolf of London, in which the main character claws the face of the other main character, Dr. Yogami. This was close up, and very extreme for it's time. Check out the trailer, the scene is in that, but not in the film. All of the films are pretty good transfers, with defects only a hardcore dvd critic would notice or care about. Although I gave this a four star rating, I was a little disapointed that Universal didn't really do this set right, and those Van Helsing Commercials are horrible. Overall, it is worth the money Lets see the Creature and Invisible man films next Universal, and do it right next time.
Rating: 
Summary: Careful...
Review: I haven't bothered to watch any of the material on this collection because I'm not sure yet of how to proceed with exchanging for a non-defective set--return the whole box or just the two defective components?
The Amazon reviewer complaints started pouring in AFTER I'd pre-ordered my set, so I kept my fingers crossed. Sure enough, one of the disks in the Dracula set had, if you will, "broken loose of its moorings," and was horribly scratched (due in part, I'm sure, to the "protruding plastic" on the beds on which the disks rest). In addition, the program sheet in the Wolf Man set was mangled and ripped; it hadn't been placed properly in its sheath. To add insult to injury, I've read reviews stating that, unlike the initial release, Dracula's death groans are missing. And let's not forget the complaints about compression and Universal's negligence with regard to remastering. Tsk, tsk--did they think no one would notice? I now have to wonder if the Van Helsing plugging I've read about is optional, since commercials can't be skipped on Universal's Double Secret Probation release of Animal House.
Go to Universal's website and let them know about your displeasure with their cheeseparing, self-promoting policies. This really is unacceptable; demonstrate your displeasure where it hurts--in their wallets.
For what it's worth, the figurines are great and are what saved this from being a one-star review. If I ever manage to acquire a non-defective set, I'll review the disks with regard to quality.
Rating: 
Summary: ***Timeless collection*****
Review: I do not quite understand all the fuzz about "bad transfer", "better first edition" etc. I have watched almost 80% of the complete material included: there were no mistakes or flaws of any kind. I have the first edition of DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, BRIDE and compared it with the new ones. Conclusion: although FRANKENSTEIN is not in pristine condition, the new edition is even better that the old one !!! All classic Horrormoviefans will go for this edition - if not for the main features then for the inclusion of the sequels and a nice addition of three beautiful figurines.
Rating:
Summary: Great stuff, bad packaging
Review: I really like this set. I'm not a professional so to me the dvd quality is more than aceeptable, but I read that a lot of guys found it bad. But I can say that the disappointing thing of this set is the dvd packaging, damn digipack, one of the Dracula set was loose and got scratched, and this is very bad to me, cause I treat my discs so good. And it's a shame to receive your set already damaged. A double Amaray case would have fitted much better. I give it 5 stars anyway for the content.
Rating:
Summary: Horrifying manufacturing standards slaps Universal
Review: I hope other DVD releasing companies don't take Universal's route and take high quality material and send it to a cheap manufacturer. I would stay away from this set and buy the previously releases DVD's of these films while they are still available in the secondary market. The original DVD's are 5 times as good and manufactured to the highest standard. I'm sure people giving high ratings to these sets have never seen the originals. What a bummer.
Rating:
Summary: Horrifying manufacturing standards slaps Universal
Review: I hope other DVD releasing companies don't take Universal's route and take high quality material and send it to a cheap manufacturer. Stay away from this set and buy the previously releases DVD's of these films while they are still available in the secondary market. The original DVD are 5 times as good and manufactured to the highest standard. I'm sure people giving high ratings to these sets have never seen the originals. What a bummer.
Rating:
Summary: "Transvection from man to werewolf...
Review: ...occurs between the hours of nine and ten at the full of the moon." This collection is tremendous fun! "The Bride of Frankensten" and "The Wolf Man" represent the very finest of the Universal classic horror films and atmosphere drips like wax in these tales from the shadows. Lesser-known films, like The Werewolf of London, are icing on the cake. And the busts of Frank, Drac and Woofie are hefty, quality collectables! This collection is a tremendous value for the film lover and collector. I'd like to see a follow up set that would include Universal's "The Invisible Man", "The Mummy" movies and more Karloff and Lugosi films. "The Creature of the Black Lagoon" doesn't belong in this expressionist-influenced genre. Nor does 1943 "The Phantom of the Opera"(no dissin' Claude Reins though). Those two films are the reason I didn't buy the Univeral Classic Monster collection upon first release. An earlier reviewer mentioned the abrasive spur in the back of the individual dvd holders. Good advice there! I scraped off the sharp plastic immediately, I think it might be the villan in a few quality issues mentioned. If you are a film buff, you will love this wonderful collection, it belongs in your home.
Rating: 
Summary: What Happened to Dracula's Death Groans???
Review: After reading an earlier reviewer's comments, I was truly disappointed to find out that the Dracula Legacy Collection, seems to contain an unrestored version of DRACULA. By unrestored, I'm referring to Dracula's death groans that were edited out per censors' request at the time of the movie's original release, BUT later restored to video, laserdisc and the earlier DVD version. If you play Disc 1 of the Dracula Legacy Collection, and watch DRACULA with Skal's commentary, you'll hear the death groans in the final scene. However, if you play the original movie version or the newly scored version by Philip Glass, the death groans are absent. (Except for one little one). In addition, the earlier DVD version has clearly FAR better audio quality, and possibly even better image quality. Someone at Universal, please explain this!!! I'm glad I didn't sell off any of my original Universal Monster DVDs in anticipation of these Legacy Collections being superior. In the case of the Dracula Legacy Collection, the only real plus is finally being able to get a DVD version of HOUSE OF DRACULA; if only to complete the collection on DVD. For the serious collector and fans of the original 1931 Dracula, the earlier DVD release (The Restored Version) may still be your best bet...if you can find it. Oh well, I suppose "There are far worse things...." Both the box set with the busts or the three separate Legacy Collections are certainly priced right!!!
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