<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Great deal with some little flaws...
Review: The 4 star rating is for the quality and presentation of the DVDs, not the movies themselves. I am a huge Hammer fan and I am building up a collection. These seemed like a deal I couldn't pass up, so I will pour out the facts about this new set so you can make an informed opinion. For reviews of their plotlines, actors and the rest, it would be best to look up these movies by their seperate titles or at the links given below by this website.The good news about the DVDs:
*Two movies at a good price!
*Chris Lee (and others) commentary on Prince of Darkness!
*Large nice quality poster postcards inside of both films! They have the chapter stops on the other side of them.
*5 minutes of Behind The Scenes footage on Prince of Darkness with commentary by Chris Lee (and others!)
*House of Hammer short called "Dracula and the Undead," mainly clips from Hammer films with vampires in them but very cool, never seen a scene from Vampire Circus, so now I want to check that out! *Both movies are gloriously uncut! The Bad News:
*Widescreen ratio is smaller than average, which is disappointing. More so on Prince of Darkness...I think Satanic Rites was bigger, more the standard letterbox form.
*Films tend to jump a little. I have no idea if this is the original print of the film, the DVD or my player...or a bit of all three. It doesn't happen often enough for me to really complain about it since I have VHS versions of these which are much worse as far as film quality. Scenes "skip" a 1/3 second or so, such as in Prince when the woman gets out of the carriage. Happens about 5-6 times in the whole set.
*Hammer extra on Satanic Rites is the same "Dracula and the Undead" on the other DVD. So you get the same show twice. I guess that is ok if you are lending one of the DVDs out...but I would think they could have put on another House of Hammer.
*Holders for the DVDs tend to smack into each other and since they are both double sided DVDs (not one sided,) I worry about them getting scratched. They do come off the center without much effort, compared to the Midnite Movie ones you basically have to pry off, almost breaking the DVD in the process! Overall, a good effort. 4 Stars. Could have been 5 if there had been commentary on both films, no jumping of the frames and two different Hammer specials. But for the price, you really can't beat it. I would highly recommend this for anyone wanting to get a taste (heh) of what Christopher Lee's Dracula character is like and wonderful insights into the world of Hammer Films.
Rating: 
Summary: Fangtastic Double Feature
Review: This is an awesome movie collection
Prince Of Darkness is typical of a Hammer Film
Satanic Rites is somewhat hokey, but then again it was released in the 70's. In Prince Of Darkness Christopher Lee has no lines whatsoever, and I personally believe that only enhances his performance as Lord of the Undead.
In Satanic Rites, Lee once again dons the fangs and cape
to reprise the role of the Dark Lord for the final time
his lines are minimal, as they are in other Hammer vampire films, but then again most vampires are not interested in making conversation; They're more interested in draining the blood from a victim.
Again I state that Lee reprises the role of the Dark Lord for the final time and in this movie his demise is brought on by the Hawthorn plant, which supposedly was the same type of plant that was used for Christs crown of thorns and therefore is considered a holy relic. As always, Lee's performance as the Lord of the Undead makes the viewer fall in love with the Vampire and makes you want to be able to find a way to step in and intervene when Van Helsing (played by Peter Cushing) is preparing to destroy him. Note: Satanic Rites Of Dracula was given more than one title one of the other ones is Dracula And His Vampire Brides
Rating:
Summary: Fangtastic Double Feature
Review: This is an awesome movie collection
Prince Of Darkness is typical of a Hammer Film
Satanic Rites is somewhat hokey, but then again it was released in the 70's. In Prince Of Darkness Christopher Lee has no lines whatsoever, and I personally believe that only enhances his performance as Lord of the Undead.
In Satanic Rites, Lee once again dons the fangs and cape
to reprise the role of the Dark Lord for the final time
his lines are minimal, as they are in other Hammer vampire films, but then again most vampires are not interested in making conversation; They're more interested in draining the blood from a victim.
Again I state that Lee reprises the role of the Dark Lord for the final time and in this movie his demise is brought on by the Hawthorn plant, which supposedly was the same type of plant that was used for Christs crown of thorns and therefore is considered a holy relic. As always, Lee's performance as the Lord of the Undead makes the viewer fall in love with the Vampire and makes you want to be able to find a way to step in and intervene when Van Helsing (played by Peter Cushing) is preparing to destroy him. Note: Satanic Rites Of Dracula was given more than one title one of the other ones is Dracula And His Vampire Brides
<< 1 >>
| 
