Mondo Kane

Well, after particpating in over 10 different challenges here, I've actually decided to try and fill out a checklist for once (Gasp!)

It looks like I've got access to everything except:
No Blu-ray player Can watching a cable (Or PPV) movie in 1080p on my HDTV qualify?

Undeadcow

Cable TV itself counts as a format, if I understand correctly; so three formats could include DVD, online streaming, and cable (which is how I did it last year). Also consider theatrical release as an accessible format, perhaps also VHS. Pay-per-view or on-demand might count as a separate format than cable TV too depending on interpretation.

MrStayPuft

I plan on getting into Hammer horror this year, so what dvd boxsets/collections would be a good place to start for a good price?

I plan on getting for sure the Hammer Films: Icons of Horror Collection with Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, Curse of the Mummys Tomb, The Gorgon, and Scream of Fear based on reviews of The Gorgon from last years thread.

So what is the better option between the next two?
Boxset a)TCM Hammer Horror Collection with Horror of Dracula/Dracula has Risen from the Grave/Curse of Frankenstein/Frankenstein Must be Destroyed

-or-

Boxset b)Dracula: 4 Film Favorites with Horror of Dracula/Dracula has Risen from the Grave/Taste the Blood of Dracula/Dracula A.D. 1972


Obviously I don't wanna double up on the two Dracula films, so which is the better boxset of the two?

asianxcore

Ugh, going to be so busy in October.

It would be nice if I could watch the same as I did last year but I don't think it's going to happen.

Ash Ketchum

I'd go with the one with FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED. I enjoyed that one when I saw it on broadcast TV decades ago and will be seeing it again, this time on DVD, for this challenge.

orlmac

I love all of the links supplied on the checklist, it will really help to find movies to fill it out, but I have a question. For the category starring someone does the movie watched have to feature the actor/actress in a starring role or can it be a movie with the actor/actress having a less important role in it?

coyoteblue

The Hammer Horror Series (Brides of Dracula / Curse of the Werewolf / Phantom of the Opera (1962) / Paranoiac / Kiss of the Vampire / Nightmare / Night Creatures / Evil of Frankenstein) is still in print. It's more expensive that any of the boxes you've mentioned, but you get twice as many movies and a broader selection of Hammer horror. No, Christopher Lee Dracula movies though.

shadokitty

Last year bought the Frankenstein Legacy set. This year I want to add one more Universal Frankenstein movie to my list, but I am torn between Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man or House of Dracula. I only want to get one of the this year. Any recommendations on which is the better one to get?

Dimension X

Horror of Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein are a great place to start, so get the one with the two Frankenstein films. Plus, you have to be a pretty big fan of the Dracula series (or Hammer films in general) to want to own Taste the Blood of Dracula or Dracula A.D. 1972, so hold off on those.

SethDLH

I love Drac '72! But your recommendation is a good one, the set with the Franky films is a great place to start. The Icons of Horror set is good, but the movies aren't top notch Hammer fare but they aren't crap either.

SethDLH

Aren't those movies available in the other Universal Legacy sets? If so I suggest just grabbing those sets because they're all loaded with awesome stuff.

Trevor

Chad,

Can you change the checklist language entry so that it's not English-centric? Make it "watch a film in three different languages"?
One of us! One of us!
As mentioned, TV and VHS are different "formats". Other options include laser and the various ripped formats to portable devices or computers.

MrStayPuft

Thanks for the replys and suggestions! Looks like I'll place an order for the TCM set tonight.

I saw this set as well, but based on the reviews of all the freezing/pixelation problems, I think I'll skip it. After all, this set has 8 movies on 2 double-sided discs, whereas the other sets only have 4 (1 movie on each side). Don't know if I wanna risk it.

clckworang

I know that feeling. My work schedule is going to get later starting next week, which I know will affect how much I'm able to watch after work. I'm not happy about that at all, which bring me to the other reason why I will be so busy. I'm going to start working on a career change, most likely going to get an alternative teaching certification, so I'm really just hoping I'm able to hit 100 like I have in the past.

Chad

For whatever reason I planned on putting both the categories and entries in alphabetical order. That only ended up sticking with the latter and I just left the other in the incomplete and shuffled state you see.

As to why, who knows?

Video game addition.

Not at all. Just a simple cameo will suffice.

A good example being

If we made it where they had to have a starring role the filmographies would shrink quite a bit being quite a few of them are character actors.

Done.

And speaking of that, I'm instantly regretting not including at least one non-English speaking actor.

NoirFan

MrStayPuft, if you have a region-free player, the 21-disc Hammer box from the UK is the way to go. It's been as low as £26.97 in the past, but is £32.47 ($51.52) before VAT right now on Amazon, which is still a great deal for 21 films. The packaging is super cool and several of the films have commentaries and other extras.

BobO'Link

Of those 2 I'd go with the TCM set as you plan to do... but... if you've not yet placed your order, rather than either of those I'd suggest you pick up:

Horror Classics Collection (The Curse of Frankenstein / Dracula Has Risen from the Grave / Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed / Horror of Dracula / The Mummy / Taste the Blood of Dracula)

It's currently just under $16 from several Amazon MP vendors with prime shipping. For the extra $10 you also get Hammer's The Mummy *and* Taste the Blood of Dracula. That's less than you'd pay for the TCM set and picking up the single DVD releases of both of those individually. It's also 6 films on 6 disks rather than 4 films on 2 flippies.

Even with the possiblilty of issues, like cyoteblue, I'd recommend this set anyway. Just be sure to order from someone with a good return policy. *None* of those films are available elsewhere and several are quite good.

BobO'Link

Yes, they are.

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man is on the Wolfman Legacy Collection which also includes The Wolf Man, Werewolf of London, and She-Wolf of London or in a 2-pack with House of Frankenstein which shadokitty already has in that Frankenstein Legacy collection.

As far as I know, House of Dracula is only in the Dracula Legacy Collection along with Dracula, Dracula (1931 Spanish Version), Dracula's Daughter, and Son of Dracula.

Since you're pretty much going to get one of the Legacy Collections I'd flip a coin. Personally, Dracula barely beats out The Wolfman but the version on the Dracula Legacy Collection has a minor audio issue that keeps me from wholeheartedly recommending it over The Wolfman Legacy Collection. If you already own the single releases of Dracula and/or The Wolfman I'd get whichever Legacy Collection has more films you would like to see first.

Just make sure that you purchase from a dealer with a good replacement policy as all the Legacy Collections are on those frequently troublesome DVD-18s Uni used.

NoirFan

The Dracula set does have, as you note, Dracula's Daughter, which, to my mind, is the best of the Universal sequels.

BobO'Link

I'd have to give that title to Bride of Frankenstein, although Dracula's Daughter *is* quite good. I'll catch myself watching Frankenstein wondering where certain scenes are only to remember they are actually in Bride.

Chad

I can now officially confirm we have all four sponsors back from last year.

As far as what the actually prizes will be, it goes like this:

- I'm roughly 95% done picking out the HamiltonBook.com selections and will post soon.
- With Troma it's just a matter of waiting on what they're gonna offer.
- Ditto with Something Weird.
- Full Moon literally just emailed me a package tracking number and won't know what's inside until it arrives.

There you go.

clckworang

Awesome! Very exciting news!

MrStayPuft

*drool* Wow, that is one incredible boxset. Sadly, my dvd player is not region free. Neither is my blu ray player for that matter.

Thanks for the suggestion! Don't know how I missed that Classic Horror Collection with 6 films on it, so I placed an order! Glad I saw your suggestion before I ordered that TCM Collection. 6 films on 6 discs sounds much better than flippers. I think this set along with that other Hammer set with the Gorgon will hold me over for this challenge. Thanks again!

NoirFan

Yeah, I was debating qualifying Daughter as second-best, but much of the humor in Bride just falls flat for me.

davidh777

Thank you, sponsors!