Product: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Original Uncut) [Region 2] (1974)
Rating: 5.0
TCM Ultimate Edition: you can throw those other editions out!
(this review refers to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Ultimate Edition only)This is the second "special edition" of TCM. The first was more or less cash grab by Pioneer around the time the TCM remake hit theatres. It offered a "restored and remastered" picture and soundtrack plus all new special features. It did have a few extra special features added to it from the original no-frills version, but everything else was the same.Well, another TCM movie hit theatres recently, this time a prequel, and yet again another special edition dvd for the original hit store shelves. I bought the dvd due to a favorable review in fangoria and was pleasantly surprised. If you've seen the movie before you know how good it is and that it really deserves a good special edition release. It's easily one of the best horror films ever made and quite possibly the greatest slasher film of all time.In this edition the picture has never looked better. It offers a new high definition transfer from the original 16mm camera originals. Gone is the grainy, pixilated, washed out transfer and in it's place is a vibrant, colorful, beautiful version of the film. The greens of the trees and grass and the blues of the sky nearly jump off the screen, while the interiors are dark and brooding, but sharp and clear. And in the last scene, you've never seen a more beautiful sunrise in your life. The sound is also improved. A new stereo surround soundtrack is available and it's crisp and clear. I've never noticed how great the soundtrack is until now. In some scenes it's loud and wrentching, and in others it's low and droning, providing a deep sense of dread.How about those special features? well, i haven't gotten through them all yet, but suffice it to say that they needed another disc for all the special features they decided to cram in here. There's all the special features of the last special edition (a blooper reel, radio and tv spots, the original trailer, deleted scenes, a still gallery, and an informative and entertaining commentary with director Tobe Hooper, cinematographer Daniel Pearl, and Leatherface himself, Gunner Hansen), but this time around they added much more including two documentaries titled "Fleshwounds" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth", as well as a tour of the original TCM house (which is now a restaurant, believe it or not) plus outtakes from the documentaries, and a brand new commentary with the actors and art director Robert A. Burns, all packaged in a really cool tin case.This is the definitive version of the film that defined a genre and helped start a new one. You're not going to find a better version of the film and there are so many special features it'll take you hours to sift through all of them. For fans of the film, you can toss your old copies because this is the one that should be in your collection. As for new comers, get ready for a thrill ride like you've never expierenced before, because the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is back and better than ever.