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Hellraiser / Hellbound - Hellraiser II

Hellraiser / Hellbound - Hellraiser II

List Price: $49.98
Your Price: $44.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Clive Barker is one of the modern masters of horror
Review: "Hellraiser" still stands out as one of the most intruguing, visually morbid, and utterly dark horror films I've seen. I was not particularly scared but more so astonished by the visuals I was seeing: Hooks piercing flesh, bodies writhing out of floorboards from the taste of blood, eroticism and desire as a catalyst for horror, a man with nails banged into his head. I still believe these images and themes are what gives (at least the first movie) its lasting appeal. "Hellraiser" is centered around a box described in Clive Barker's novel "The Hellbound Heart" as the Lament Configuration. By solving the puzzle of this box, one opens up a world of pleasure and pain. A man named Frank who solved the secrets of the box is torn apart but is gorily ressurected by the blood of his brother Larry. Driven by desire, Frank's former lover and Larry's wife Julia helps Frank literally put the skin back on his bones. It isn't long before beings known as Cenobites come searching for Frank while Larry's daughter Kirsty becomes inadvertently involved in the mayhem. The special edition of this DVD includes a great audio commentary by Barker and star Ashley Laurence as well as a making-of documentary. "Hellbound: Hellraiser II" is an uneven, ambitious, but overall not-so-satisfying film also included in this set. Hours after the events that concluded the original "Hellraiser," Kirsty finds herself in a hospital run by a doctor obsessed with the occult. This eventually leads to the Lament Configuration, a journey into hell, and a look into who the Cenobites were. Not as good as the original but still relatively entertaining, "Hellbound" does contain one particularly disturbing and infamous scene involving a crazed man and a shaving razor. "Hellbound" comes with similar extras as "Hellraiser" (commentary with director Tony Randel, writer Peter Atkins, and star Ashley Laurence; documentary, etc.). My one complaint of the set is the cumbersome packaging which consists of a large tin box, something that Anchor Bay has done with other DVD special editions like Fulci's "The Beyond". I cannot say what compelled Anchor Bay to do this, but I think the large tin box is more a burden than a treasure. It is numbered, however, which is nice. Overall, this is a good set to have for fans of Barker's vivid imagination.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Hellraiser....get ready to be scared
Review: A modern horror classic in its own right, Hellraiser makes for a great night with popcorn and friends. The movie basically focuses on a device (a small rubbix cube box) which acts as a portal for good old pin head, a bad guy that basically kills people in the most gruesome ways. The movie has a flavor of 80's horror films which can never be replicated in the sea of CGI and computer special effects that exists nowadays. This Limited Tin set includes both the first and second installments on this great series for double the mayhem. As a collector's item it is a great purchase. As a horror classic you basically owe it to yourself to experience it if you haven't already. This is the perfect chance. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: HELLRAISER THE LIMITED EDITION BOX SET ROCKS!!!
Review: Both Hellraiser Movies in this Limited Edition Tin are really Great. The sound picture quality that comes from these 2DVD's is supurb! Contrary to what it says on Most websites about the packaging of these 2 DVD's in Hellraiser Limited Edition Tin they are not packaged seperatly in the standered Black Plastic DVD keepsake case, but they come in a Clear CD Style Jewel Case, in which is 2 Sided, and just large enough to hold both DVD's. The main problem with my Hellraiser 2 DVD set is that the Animorphic Wide Screen Options on Both Hellraiser 1,and 2 do not work properly. One great thing is that for all of you fans who never got to see the actors who where hidden behind the layers of Make-up such as ButterBall, and The Chattering Cinobite, for the first time you will get to see them without there make-up. Over all, Anchor Bay Did a Great Job putting this Box Set together.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Tin Set EVER made!
Review: Everything about this tin is awesome! Not only is the tin itself cool, but you get two amazing horror films. Finally these movies are presented in widescreen and mixed in Dolby 5.1 so you can see and hear everything intended! Plus, you get all this, great featurettes, and the BEST commentary tracks next to clerks/mallrats/chasing amy ever!! These tracks are completely hilarious and informative, everything a commentary track should be. Although you can tell Clive "I'm the best horror writer/director ever" Barker is sick of the Hellraiser series, he gives 110+% on his commentary track. Do yourself a favor and buy this set or... "Your suffering will legendary, even in HELL!" Sorry, I had to write that.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: FANTASTIC!
Review: Fantastic horror film!! If one ignores the Hellraise II plot inconsistencies (i.e., we're in England...no, the STATES!!!--hence the 4 stars), it makes a wonderful horror film devoted to the followers of forbidden pleasures.

Of course, pleasure has its price...a one-way ticket to hell...unless, of course, someone brings you back.

An intense sexual affair causes Uncle Frank to be brought back from the dead...and he can only regenerate if he gets more blood. This sets the scene for the first Hellraiser movie where Kirstie (Frank's brother's daughter) thwarts evil.

The second movie delves into Hell itself and involves Kirstie trying to find her father there (who had become a victim in the 1st film). Hell looks like someone's basement, true, but I can imagine a hell where nothing looked different as you keep walking, and walking, and walking....

Subject to your own interpreation to be sure. Unfortunately, it was subsequently followed by 2 poor sequels. The only saving grace of Hellraise III is one of my favorite Pinhead quotes from all of the films: "There is no good, Monroe, there is no evil...there is only flesh, and the patterns to which we submit it."

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: FANTASTIC!
Review: Fantastic horror film!! If one ignores the Hellraise II plot inconsistencies (i.e., we're in England...no, the STATES!!!--hence the 4 stars), it makes a wonderful horror film devoted to the followers of forbidden pleasures.

Of course, pleasure has its price...a one-way ticket to hell...unless, of course, someone brings you back.

An intense sexual affair causes Uncle Frank to be brought back from the dead...and he can only regenerate if he gets more blood. This sets the scene for the first Hellraiser movie where Kirstie (Frank's brother's daughter) thwarts evil.

The second movie delves into Hell itself and involves Kirstie trying to find her father there (who had become a victim in the 1st film). Hell looks like someone's basement, true, but I can imagine a hell where nothing looked different as you keep walking, and walking, and walking....

Subject to your own interpreation to be sure. Unfortunately, it was subsequently followed by 2 poor sequels. The only saving grace of Hellraise III is one of my favorite Pinhead quotes from all of the films: "There is no good, Monroe, there is no evil...there is only flesh, and the patterns to which we submit it."

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Two great horror movies get a well deserved DVD treatment
Review: HELLRAISER: A typical, naive husband and his sexual unsatisfied wife move into a lonely old house that has the misfortune of containing the shredded remains of his soon-to-be-resurrected evil brother. Clever, well plotted and genuinely disturbing. Directing debut for horror novelist Clive Barker, and still remains to be his undisputed masterpiece. HELLRAISER II: Takes off hours later where the original finished. The sole survivor of the family massacre Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) finds herself in a mental hospital run by an occult-obsessed psychiatrist with a determination to open the gates to hell and the whole nightmare starts all over again. Not too bad a film as far as sequels go. Definatelly a work of art compared to the following chapters. Only this film was butchered by the MPAA on its theatrical release and lost a lot of its well deserved respect. THE DVD: Both films are THX certified which delivers clear enough picture and a beautifully haunting 5.1 Dolby track, and are presented in their original 1.85:1 widescreen format and a 4:3 fullscreen presentation. Both DVDs feature the original theatrical trailer, a picture gallery, a commentary track and a doco on each film. Both documentaries are entertaining and informative, but the one for Hellraier, "Resurrection", is much longer and more enjoyable than the one for Hellraiser II, "Lost in the Labryinth". The only letdown of this wonderful treatment is the absence of a Deleted Scenes section, especially for Hellraiser II. The two infamous scenes of Pinhead and the Female cenobite dressed as doctors, and chatterer going through the process of his face undergoing disgusting changes are scenes that every fan is howling to see which is a real let down. Both discs come packaged in a limited edition tin which is a definate must for any cult horror collector. This edition also contains a 48 page booklet with rare, behind the scenes pictures from Hellraiser which is always delightfully ugly to look at. The only downside of the packaging is the way the discs were packaged. They are both in a standard 2-CD case which is terriblly unsatisfactory. But apart from one or two issues, its a fair enough edition which will be a well treasured collector's item in the near-future.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: great scary movies
Review: hellrasier 2 is better then the first one in ever way, better story, better F/X, better everything, it,s great but it,s stil a twisted and sick movie as well. pinhead is one of my favorites, forget about the other ones in the series, the first 2 movies were the best. the extras are good, wish they put more extras on the dvd. they are worth getting if you really like scary and sick horror movies. i think that hellrasier 2 is a classic.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: great scary movies
Review: hellrasier 2 is better then the first one in ever way, better story, better F/X, better everything, it,s great but it,s stil a twisted and sick movie as well. pinhead is one of my favorites, forget about the other ones in the series, the first 2 movies were the best. the extras are good, wish they put more extras on the dvd. they are worth getting if you really like scary and sick horror movies. i think that hellrasier 2 is a classic.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Intelligent Evil
Review: How many horror movies have you seen where the evil presence has a psyche? None? Me either until now. What drives these characters to do these things? In these movies you'll find out and also how they came into being these abhorrations. The gore and horror is standard shlock, but the story line is compelling. It is refreshing to finally see a movie where the evil characters actually interact with the good guys instead of mindlessly slashing away. Clive Barker, you're a guru!


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