View Poll Results: Which franchise do you like best? Nightmare on Elm Street or Friday the 13th
Voters: 78. You may not vote on this poll
A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
10-23-10, 01:55 AM
#1
DVD Talk Reviewer
Thread Starter
A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
Couldn't find any topics showing this had been done before, so I thought it would be interesting to see how everyone feels.
Both franchises share a very similar history, starting in the early 80s and seeing a number of sequels, until finally meeting for a crossover film (Freddy vs. Jason), and even getting modern remakes one-year apart.
Personally, I have to go with NOES. The original is a classic, no question about it. I think Part 2 is criminally underrated and Part 3 and New Nightmare are equally solid entries in the series.
Ft13th has two really good films right out the gate, while things got a bit absurd from Part 3 on, despite the hockey masked Jason being the iconic image of the series.
At their lowest, Ft13th is easily the worst with Part VIII being awful, while NOES has Freddy's Dead that truly goes over the top in turning the character into a cartoon.
When it comes to FvJ, Freddy comes out on top, with Robert England as the obvious star of the movie. Jason gets a few standout scenes, but ends up needing help from his own prey to "win."
Last but not least the remakes. I did like that the new Ft13th tried to be somewhat original and capture the spirit of the series, while NOES squandered a tremendous actor with a ho-hum retelling of the classic story.
In the end, NOES is much more rewatchable, largely due to the consistent, upfront performance of Robert England, and it's best film's being honestly great examples of filmmaking.
Anyone else care to share their thoughts?
Both franchises share a very similar history, starting in the early 80s and seeing a number of sequels, until finally meeting for a crossover film (Freddy vs. Jason), and even getting modern remakes one-year apart.
Personally, I have to go with NOES. The original is a classic, no question about it. I think Part 2 is criminally underrated and Part 3 and New Nightmare are equally solid entries in the series.
Ft13th has two really good films right out the gate, while things got a bit absurd from Part 3 on, despite the hockey masked Jason being the iconic image of the series.
At their lowest, Ft13th is easily the worst with Part VIII being awful, while NOES has Freddy's Dead that truly goes over the top in turning the character into a cartoon.
When it comes to FvJ, Freddy comes out on top, with Robert England as the obvious star of the movie. Jason gets a few standout scenes, but ends up needing help from his own prey to "win."
Last but not least the remakes. I did like that the new Ft13th tried to be somewhat original and capture the spirit of the series, while NOES squandered a tremendous actor with a ho-hum retelling of the classic story.
In the end, NOES is much more rewatchable, largely due to the consistent, upfront performance of Robert England, and it's best film's being honestly great examples of filmmaking.
Anyone else care to share their thoughts?
10-23-10, 03:51 AM
#2
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th
- Shitty acting
- Shitty writing
- Shitty directing
- Pretty blah kill scenes
- Mediocre special effects
- Incredibly bad pacing (this is especially impressive seeing as how the movies barely hit the 90-minute range)
- Literal non-performance from Jason
- Sequels that get worse with each installment
- Lame retrospective documentary
Nightmare on Elm Street
- Good acting
- Fairly clever writing
- Generally good directing
- Very inventive kill scenes
- Creative special effects
- Good pacing
- Entertaining performance from Freddy
- Sequels that sometimes were superior to the original (and really, even the bad installments have their high points)
- Awesome retrospective documentary
I have to seriously question anyone who chooses Friday over Nightmare.
- Shitty acting
- Shitty writing
- Shitty directing
- Pretty blah kill scenes
- Mediocre special effects
- Incredibly bad pacing (this is especially impressive seeing as how the movies barely hit the 90-minute range)
- Literal non-performance from Jason
- Sequels that get worse with each installment
- Lame retrospective documentary
Nightmare on Elm Street
- Good acting
- Fairly clever writing
- Generally good directing
- Very inventive kill scenes
- Creative special effects
- Good pacing
- Entertaining performance from Freddy
- Sequels that sometimes were superior to the original (and really, even the bad installments have their high points)
- Awesome retrospective documentary
I have to seriously question anyone who chooses Friday over Nightmare.
10-23-10, 05:01 AM
#3
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
^You didn't mention the one area that F13th obliterates NOES:
( o ) ( o )
( o ) ( o )
10-23-10, 06:14 AM
#4
Inane Thread Master, 2018 TOTY
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Are any of us really anywhere?
Posts: 49,403
Received 904 Likes
on
765 Posts
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
i used to love the NoES series and Freddy will remain by #1 slasher, but as i grew and watched the F13 series, including the remake, i just think those shitty movies are more rewatchable and enjoyable as a whole than the NoES shitty sequels. Hell, X, and Friday redo are all guilty pleasures that i can watch many times before i can pop the NoES sequels in (save for 1 and Dream Warriors' 3).
10-23-10, 07:50 AM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th is easily my choice.
I can honestly say I never have really liked the Nightmare movies that much aside from the original and Part 3. Even the original I watched recently before seeing the remake and feel it really hasn't held up that well. Sure Freddy is a good character but the movies are just shit for the most part.
Friday the 13th has its bad moments as well but overall I find the series much more watchable. Yeah they're cheesy and not great in all departments but I can rewatch them way, way more than I ever could the Nightmare movies. Parts I-IV are all really good if you ask me and then Part VI and Part VII are good too. Part V is pretty weak but really isn't as bad as I used to think. I haven't seen Part VIII enough times to make a good judgement on it. I hated Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X though big time.
As for the remakes I think I would actually switch and say I enjoyed the Nightmare one better. Not really sure why so many people hated it as it seemed like somewhat of an improvement to me. Maybe that's just because I wasn't big on the original material to start with. Friday the 13th on the other hand just seemed like they were spoofing the franchise to me. Freddy vs. Jason I'd also say Freddy was better, but to me that movie played more as a Nightmare movie that happened to have Jason in it.
I can honestly say I never have really liked the Nightmare movies that much aside from the original and Part 3. Even the original I watched recently before seeing the remake and feel it really hasn't held up that well. Sure Freddy is a good character but the movies are just shit for the most part.
Friday the 13th has its bad moments as well but overall I find the series much more watchable. Yeah they're cheesy and not great in all departments but I can rewatch them way, way more than I ever could the Nightmare movies. Parts I-IV are all really good if you ask me and then Part VI and Part VII are good too. Part V is pretty weak but really isn't as bad as I used to think. I haven't seen Part VIII enough times to make a good judgement on it. I hated Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X though big time.
As for the remakes I think I would actually switch and say I enjoyed the Nightmare one better. Not really sure why so many people hated it as it seemed like somewhat of an improvement to me. Maybe that's just because I wasn't big on the original material to start with. Friday the 13th on the other hand just seemed like they were spoofing the franchise to me. Freddy vs. Jason I'd also say Freddy was better, but to me that movie played more as a Nightmare movie that happened to have Jason in it.
10-23-10, 08:48 AM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
The original F13 to me sucks, and the original NoES is one of my all time favs so I go on that... Funny thing is I kind of enjoyed the remake of F13 and hated the remake of NoES
10-23-10, 11:48 AM
#10
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
10-23-10, 12:23 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
Didn't they make a movie about this Vs. already?
10-23-10, 01:34 PM
#15
Banned by request
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
A Nightmare on Elm St. is my favorite slasher franchise of all time. The first film is not just a classic, it's really original for a genre not often known for creativity. And even the weaker entries usually had some interesting dream imagery. And call me crazy, but I prefer New Nightmare over Scream.
That being said, Friday the 13th is more fun to get drunk and watch for the sheer ridiculousness. My personal favorite is the one with the telekinetic girl. And the remake was actually really good at encapsulating the best parts of the 1-4.
The NOES remake was so bad I refuse to acknowledge its existence.
If I could only preserve one series, it would be Nightmare on Elm St. But both series have their highlights.
That being said, Friday the 13th is more fun to get drunk and watch for the sheer ridiculousness. My personal favorite is the one with the telekinetic girl. And the remake was actually really good at encapsulating the best parts of the 1-4.
The NOES remake was so bad I refuse to acknowledge its existence.
If I could only preserve one series, it would be Nightmare on Elm St. But both series have their highlights.
10-23-10, 02:26 PM
#16
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
Same here; it's really got everything you could want from a horror slasher. Is there any possibility the X rated cut will ever be released?
Do prefer NOES with the original, Part III, and New Nightmare as the best.
Do prefer NOES with the original, Part III, and New Nightmare as the best.
10-24-10, 12:40 AM
#20
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
Not likely. From what I understand, the film elements/extra footage from The New Blood were apparently all thrown out by Paramount in the 90's - the uncut scenes now only exist in the extremely low quality workprint footage that you can see as an extra on the most recent DVD.
10-24-10, 04:53 AM
#21
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,328
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
When you consider the originals, F13 & NOES are neck and neck for me, but as a series, I prefer F13.
10-24-10, 07:57 AM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
I'm a little surprised so many are choosing Nightmare. To me most of the sequels are God awful and barely watchable. Friday the 13th isn't perfect either, but I think they are much more fun to watch in a campy kind of way and overall I think its a better series.
10-24-10, 12:29 PM
#23
Banned by request
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
Well, as I said before, every Nightmare movie has some interesting dream imagery, and the only really terrible sequels (IMO) are 5 and 6.
10-24-10, 01:31 PM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Re: A Nightmare on Elm Street vs. Friday the 13th
I'd go with F13th as my favorite of the two, partly due to nostaligia. I'd seen the first 4 or 5 films in that series before I viewed the original NOES.