Nightmare on Elm Street 2 & 3 [Blu-ray] [US Import]

For those who were griping about this release in earlier reviews, it was all bit premature: this "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 & 3" Blu-ray double feature is a decent budget Blu-ray catalog title release.

In fact, the respectable quality of this budget Blu-Ray release is evident right from the menu screen. In stark contrast to some recent double-feature Blu-ray releases, each film on this disc gets its own separate menu screen with all the usual selections one expects (e.g. scene selection, special features, audio selections, etc).

Then there's the picture quality. While neither transfer on this Blu-Ray is as impressive as the transfer for the original NOES Blu-Ray release was (which was formidably restored for its last Blu-ray release), they are both a good step up in quality from their earlier DVD counterparts. Both films are presented in 1080P, and are shown in their original theatrical aspect ratios of 1.85. Utilizing MPEG-4 AVC encoding, the bit-rate for both films (particularly "Freddy's Revenge") is admittedly a bit on the low side, with "Dream Warriors" averaging at 23 MBPS and "Freddy's Revenge" averaging at 20 MBPS; this means that those with super-duper large television screens may notice a slight bit of compression artifacting here and there. However, each film still sports a respectable transfer that should please most.

A healthy but unobtrusive amount of film grain can be seen throughout in both transfers (more so with part 3 than with part 2), giving each Freddy flick a pleasing, film-like presentation. Sharpness has been improved; digital noise and judder are absent (unlike the earlier DVD releases); edge enhancement and DNR is not an issue, as is the case with some recent horror catalog releases (e.g Lionsgate's "Scream" blu-ray releases); colors are accurate; and blacks are deep, although crush does rear its head from time to time (especially in "Dream Warriors"). In fact, the problems that do exist with both of these transfers (ranging from intermittent softness to crushing black levels) probably have as much to do with their low-budget production values as it does with the actual transfers of the films themselves; unless these films get some kind of restoration done, I doubt that a higher bit rate will make too much of a difference.

If I had to pick which film looks better, I'd have to say that (surprisingly) "NOES 2:"Freddy's Revenge" comes out on top. Even though the average bit-rate is higher on Dream Warriors" than it is on "Freddy's Revenge", "Freddy's Revenge" has an overall cleaner and consistent look, with far less black crush than "Dream Warriors". Could these films have been spruced up more for their Blu-ray debut? Absolutely...but in all, this is definitely the best that these films have ever looked on home video, and that should count for something.

The audio presentation also trumps its DVD counterparts, with two strong DTS-HD 5.1 soundtracks. While surround is rather flat for both films, the audio is clear, effective, and true to its low-budget audio origins.

The extras are solid, if a bit too brief. Each film gets several featurettes ("Freddy's Revenge" gets around 15 minutes total, while "Dream Warriors" gets roughly 30 minutes total), each broken up into 1-to-10 minute segments. All of the docs are stretched from 4.3 standard to 1.66 and presented in 480p. While none of these docs seem to have been recently made (I'd wager they were made in the 90's), they were not present on the individual DVD releases. Either they were made for the 1999 DVD box set's bonus disc (which I have never seen), or they were made for earlier Laserdisc releases (of which I have also never seen). Either way, they are worth a peek for those interested.

To sum up, at the current sale price of $13.99, the "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2 & 3" Blu-ray double feature is a good bargain for both hardcore and casual fans. I understand there are collectors out there who demand the box set or nothing for a film series (I am often one of them), but if Blu-ray double-features are presented and priced as respectably as this release, I have no problem with them; in fact, at the current $14.00 price point, I appreciate them. For those who have felt burned by poor double-feature Blu-rays in the past (e.g Echo Bridge's terrible double-feature Blu-ray releases of the "Halloween" and "From Dusk Till' Dawn" franchises), no worries; this is worth snapping up.

So much for the idiots who write a review before the product is released! The movies are of Blu-Ray quality, with a better transfer than even the special edition DVD (which I owned). The colors are deeper the picture is pristine (sometimes gritty in the darker parts of the movie) and the sound quality is heads and shoulders above some of my other 80's Blu-Rays. Loved IT!!! DO NOT TRUST ANY REVIEW BEFORE 9-27-11 (the release date). I guess people are feeling they get screwed if there is more than one movie on a disc, but the truth of the matter is that you could put 3 or 4 1080p movies on a single disc. The special features are a little lacking. Although adequate, they could have included extensive material that was seen in the documentary "A Nightmare in Red White & Blue" But if you are worried because they put 2 movies on a single disc, HAVE NO FEAR!!! They did this one right. Personally I hope more studios start doing this. THE ONLY THING TO LOSE, IS MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET!!!

I love the films. The only thing I'd rather have instead is if they just go ahead and put all nine in a Blu Ray Box Set for us.

I don't understand why some fans get so freaked out over these films not having their own box. This was clearly done because Blu Rays are still expensive to make and Part 2 will have little hope of doing well on its own. The price is great, it's almost like getting two for the price of one. So, if you're not a fan of Freddy's Revenge, think of it as a free gift.

I actually hope they keep releasing these this way. Four is seen as stronger than five and seven stronger than six. This way they pair up and all get out on Blu Ray.

That's the real point here people. That the movies we love get a high definition transfer done up right and put out on Blu Ray. To me, it doesn't matter if they films land in one box or two.

As for the films themselves, I love them both.

***Spoilers***

Freddy's Revenge:
To me, the homo-erotic psycho-sexual nature of this film was a huge plus. I think I heard Robert say once that this film did a lot better in Europe than in America. Not bashing America, I think he was just pointing out that the Europeans had an appreciation for that type of film that most Americans really didn't at that time. Also, homosexuality itself was a topic not really well welcomed or well known in the days this film came out. As a young kid, 23 now, I grew up with this film from the DVD Box Set. It was very personal for me. And, as Never Sleep Again points out, it was clearly personal for the actor too. The film shows an inner conflict in its subtext. Sometimes it boils to the surface. Newline and Bob Shaye were very brave for going out on a limb and making this type of a film when they did. It was an artist and gutsy move, especially considering its only the second film in the franchise. The first film was the only other one to compare it with; and its very different from the first film. It's so easy for people now to brush it off as the 'odd duck' because it doesn't fallow all the 'rules' the franchise later grew to have. I hope people will give it a chance again, this time around, and try to see the deeper side of this film that has made a niche for itself in the homosexual horror community.

***Spoilers***

Dream Warrior's
In many ways, this was the direct sequel to the original. Nancy coming back is a definite plus. The film adds a darker, religious nature to Krueger. It is here that Freddy is painted as an inverted Christ character; paralleled with the Anti-Christ. Both Freddy and Jesus are born of 'Mother Marry.' Freddy was conceived over Christmas Break whilst Jesus was 'born on' Christmas. Freddy's blood (genetics of his Father being one of a hundred maniacs) was given as the cause for his damnation while the blood of Jesus is used to redeem people. Freddy destroys innocence while Jesus saves the innocent. This extra dimension expanded the mythology of Freddy and allowed for the character to act as Christian commentary as an added dimension to Freddy already acting as commentary on suburbia. Also, the idea of fallowing suicidal teenagers facing a spiritual evil that divides the views of the doctors was a daring view that few are brave enough to take today. There is clear tension between the mainstream doctor and the one that is willing to have an open mind to the spiritual. Nancy's blending of modern science and a spiritual level is what I hope medicine will someday be in the future when enough people like her character with deep character get into those positions of society. Perhaps that's why (not kidding) I almost always cry when she dies at the end. While it is true that this is the film that sets the Freddy Formula in motion; that we will see again in almost every film, it does so with a deepness that the fallowing films sometimes lack. Not bashing the other films. I love them all. But this film has a perspective that clearly question why spirituality and science are being kept separate instead of being melded together to help the youth of our generations.