Righteous Recommendations
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Releases Reviewed:
The remake of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre has just about as many different releases as the original. Now that there are a number of similar titles both old and new, you'll need to pay a little bit of attention to what you're getting.
You can find it on Blu if you're wanting HD. If not you have 1 and 2 disc DVD options available.
The single disc DVD offers a cheaper buying option for those who don't care about extra features. While I did have the chance to see both DVD versions for myself they were borrowed from a roommate so I didn't have the opportunity to pour over every minute detail like I normally try to do with these guides.
Video:
1.85 widescreen: It's a strong image which is important considering how much of it takes place in the dark.
Audio:
5.1 Dolby EX and DTS (2.0 option): The audio quality is solid creating a strong atmosphere with a good use of music and effects.
Packaging:
The case is standard plastic.
An insert contains the cover art and a chapters list.
Extras:
-Music Video: “Suffocate” by Motograter: This video appears to be included with all releases of the film.
-Trailers: These include the theatrical trailer and 7 TV spots.
DVD-ROM:
I didn't have a chance to explore the DVD-ROM content though I haven't seen anything to suggest that it's anything exciting.
Other Editions:
The Blu offers 1.78 widescreen at 1080p with 5.1 Dolby HD sound. The quality gets high marks so it should look and sound quite good. Extras include 3 commentaries, the “Chainsaw Redux” documentary, an Ed Gein documentary, deleted scenes (offered by themselves and as part of a larger feature), screen tests, the music video that appears on just about every release, and some trailers. Most, if not all, of these are the same as what's offered on the DVD.
Final Thoughts:
The options here are easy enough to sort through. If you want HD go with the Blu, if not (or if you really want the crime scene photos and other packaging extras) go for the Special Edition DVD or the single disc version if all you want is a cheap copy of the film on your shelf.
Want to get your hands on something you read about? Click the links below.
The New Line Platinum Series version is a 2 disc DVD release that includes much of what is on the Blu.
Video:
1.85 widescreen: It's a strong image which is important considering how much of it takes place in the dark.
Audio:
5.1 Dolby EX and DTS (and a 2.0 option): The audio quality is solid creating a strong atmosphere with a good use of music and effects. The quality of the movie appears to me to be exactly the same across both DVD's.
Packaging:
This one comes in a cardboard box. It has a metal plate featuring the cover art of Leatherface with his weapon of choice. Inside the box is a folder painted up with a chainsaw blade motif. It unfolds to display a chapters list and a pocket to hold an envelope containing several crime scene photos.
Extras:
-Crime Scene Photos: These are a physical extra and come in an envelope that is held by the DVD folder. They are real crime scene photos from the Ed Gein investigation so beware if you are faint of heart.
-Commentaries: There are 3 featuring the producers (including Michael Bay), the director, various members of the crew, the composer, the screenwriter and several of the actors including Jessica Biel. Some of these tracks are put together from other sources rather than the typical scene specific approach. They talk about the aspects of the film you would expect from their positions in the crew as well as discuss why people like horror movies and what the characters experience during the story.
-Deleted Scenes: There are 7 deleted/alternate scenes that can be viewed individually or as part of a documentary that is this package’s equivalent of the optional commentary found on most releases. This is a presentation worth seeing.
-Chainsaw Redux: This is a behind the scenes feature that gets into all the typical details of how this production came to be. It's over an hour long and pretty interesting.
-Ed Gein: This one explores Ed’s history and crimes hypothesizing on what drove him to do what he did. It compares him to popular killers in the cinema and briefly chronicles his legal battles and hospital stays right up to his death. It’s not very flashy or slick although it does use scenes from the movie to illustrate the comments as well as real documentation.
-Screen Tests: There are 3 screen tests from the actors.
-Concept Art Galleries: There are a couple of these. I didn't see these listed in the Blu-ray list of extras.
-Music Video: “Suffocate” by Motograter: This video appears to be included with all releases of the film.
-Trailers: These include the theatrical trailer and 7 TV spots. -Previews: Check out some other projects.
DVD-ROM:
-Script To Screen: Check out the script as the movie plays.
-Storyboards: View the storyboards as the movie plays.
