Rating: Summary: so much potential Review: I have been a fan of this movie since it was released, and in fact I like it much, much more than the original. I was so excited to learn it was coming out on dvd....until I actually bought it. I was so disappointed in the quality of the dvd. I've had a vhs version since 1990, and the picture quality on my vhs tape is better than the quality of the dvd version even after watching the vhs tape countless times over the past 13 years. I don't even know why artisan went through the trouble of releasing this dvd. Hopefully they will do the right thing and remaster the film in a later reissue.I would have given this movie 5 stars, but simply put the quality of this dvd is the worst of any dvd I own so I give it 1 star.
Rating: Summary: presentation=miserable Review: WHY WHY WHY don't companies like Artisan recognize that horror movie fans, being basically nerds (like me), are more fanatical about video and sound than anyone else? Anchor Bay - bless 'em -gets it, and so can mainstream studios ("The Fog" release is brilliant). But not Artisan. Instead of admitting that we're very intelligent film-goers who don't live in our parents' basements (well, most of us), they throw us the lowest common denominator garbage like this worthless DVD of a very good film. (Which for me very nearly equals the original; Roddy trapped atop the elevator while the bat-Regine claws her way up remains very effective.) All quibbles about wide-screen aside (I don't know which is true, but I did see it in the theatre and it sure seemed wide-screen), the picture quality is amazing for its sheer awfulness. I'm so sick of throw-away presentations like this. They put out the least possible amount of effort to get by, and assume that fans will be happy to have the film in any form. Well, no more. Boycott this DVD! Power to ignored and maligned horror fans everywhere!
Rating: Summary: No Widescreen Review: Okay so this wasn't the best sequel, but for completists such as myself, I expect that when a movie (finally) comes to DVD it should be the best possible version of the film. This is a cheapie. It's been cropped-NO WIDESCREEN here. The picture is grainy and the soundtrack is only 2.0. Artisan-you guys better shape up! I'd suggest saving your money until a better version is released...if that ever happens.
Rating: Summary: Worthy sequel, medicore DVD presentation Review: I loved FRIGHT NIGHT PART II upon its original release in '89. Having picked it up again in its first DVD incarnation, I can't help but feel disappointed. The film itself suffers from sequelitis in general. The story is nowhere near as compelling nor well-told as the first, but it is still a lot of fun with the same core protagonists from the original and features well-done effects and direction. While the original FRIGHT NIGHT still carries a strong 80s flavor, this film feels even more dated, however, and suffers accordingly. Still, those who enjoyed it back then should pick it up now - still a great late night viewing. The DVD, on the other hand, is unfortunately typical lower-grade Artisan fare. A bare-bones DVD, the picture looks terrible - grainy, foggy and full of defects. Of course, who but perhaps Anchor bay would invest the time and money to restore a film as this (and perhaps they will some day)? Fans will doubtless be happy to own this film in any form and it looks no worse than it would on any late night cable station. Knee-jerk naysayers will bemoan the lack of a "widescreen" presentation, but this film was originally shot in a full-screen ratio (perhaps because it was directed toward a growing home-video market at the time, though it did enjoy a brief theatrical release). All in all, a really fun film and not a bad buy at all for fans of the series.
Rating: Summary: Why Even Bother? Review: If I rated the movie alone, I'd give it five stars. Unfortunately, I have to warn anyone who wants to buy this DVD format from Artisan. I own over 150 DVD's and I've never come across such a sad excuse for a DVD. The picture quality is HORRIBLE! If you look closely, you can see that it was taken from a tape source, and not the original. Plus, Artisan claims on the back of the box that it is formatted from its "original" aspect ratio, and that it was shot in full screen. That is a blatant lie. It was shot in letterbox widescreen, just as the first film was. You can even tell when you watch it that it has been cropped to death, and at certain moments the screen moves from right to left to catch what's missing. The audio is 2.0 Dolby surround, which is fine. However, when you turn the volume up to hear the more quiet parts of the film, you hear tape hiss. Beware of Artisan releases on DVD. Their transfers are usually like this. I have a few other older films released by them, and they're pretty poor in the quality department. It is a great film however, and is worth having no matter what. I guess this DVD is better than not having it...Almost.
Rating: Summary: Quality is worse than VHS and Laserdisc. Terrible!!!!!!!! Review: The picture quality is like a TV channel. Its like your watching the movie on TV. There is fuzz and disturbance (like a regular TV channel would have). The picture is not sharp at all and the colors are a little off. I'm at a loss for words on the quality of this DVD. Very disappointed! Fright Night, which is 5 years older than Part 2 is exactly how a dvd should be, so what happened to this one? The picture quality on this DVD is worse than the VHS and Laserdisc!!! Artisan needs to be contacted to have this DVD taken off the shelves and re-released. And, if they won't do that, we need to get together and sign something to have Columbia Tristar (who released the first Fright Night on DVD) to release Fright Night 2 on DVD.
Rating: Summary: No Widescreen! Review: Okay, so this sequel wasn't the best, or even close to the original, but for completists such as myself it was ok. I would've appreciated AT LEAST a Widescreen transfer. This DVD version is a reformatted (cropped) cheapie. The film is grainy and has only a 2.0 Audio. I'm surprised Artisan released this as is. Save your money.
Rating: Summary: inferior to the original Review: I've seen this once and it was once too often. Fright Night was groundbreaking in how it treated vampires legends and poked fun at the late night television horror show. This is just boring. I just don't buy that this new enemy, the previous vampire master's daughter is even related to him. He was solitary; she has this entire herd of people and "children" around her. I think the director wanted it to be sexy but since I don't buy the set-up it really just seems silly. The only good thing is that they got the original heroes back and some of the new "baddies" are creepy and well-acted.
Rating: Summary: Good movie, lousy DVD Review: I actually really like this film and thought it was every bit as good as its predecessor. I have anxiously been awaiting it to come out on DVD ever since I heard it was coming to the format this August. And what do I and I am sure countless others get? A joke of a DVD from Artisan worthy of using as the throne for your favorite cold beverage. The transfer looks as if the master for this DVD was an old VHS rental circa 1989. Not only that but the film is presented in 1.33:1 pan & scan. Artisan states on the back of the case that the 1.33:1 aspect ratio is what the film was actually shot in. What a joke...the film was shot at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and anyone can tell just by watching how many of the shots in the DVD presentation are framed that this is the case. Add to this absolutely NO special features and meak 2.0 Dolby Digital sound transfer and this is a DVD you should just pass by. If I could give DVD film '0' stars, I would. I have never been unsatisfied with any of Artisan's DVDs until now; I am wholey disappointed in this purchase and I suggest you stay away...it [is not good]. No pun intended.
Rating: Summary: It's Been Reformatted Review: Okay, so this sequel wasn't the best, but for completists such as myself I appreciate transfers that aren't so lazy. The picture is grainy and it's been reformatted to fit your TV screen-NO WIDESCREEN transfer. Very surprising coming from Artisan. I guess that accounts for the low cost all the dealers are selling this for. Do yourselves a BIG favor and save your money.
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