The Film:

By the time Friday the 13th-Part VII: The New Blood came around, Paramount wanted the filmmakers to do something different. Part V was a disaster, giving us a copy cat Jason, so they gave us him back in Jason Lives, a reinvigorating take on the character. That film was also a key turning point for Jason, marking his first outing as a “zombie”. I think the “zombie” version of Jason is his most famous time, mostly due to the character’s ever growing popularity.

Keeping with that “let’s shake up the formula,” Friday the 13th-Part VII: The New Blood gives Jason his most dangerous opponent, but also, in my opinion, is the most far-fetched film in the series. In this, Jason goes one-on-one with a reluctant teenager with the power of telekinesis. Essentially, Jason versus Carrie, I just find the whole thing ridiculous, even more so than him in space. Yeah, I said it. Tina (Lar Park Lincoln) is trying to recover from a traumatic past with the death of her father, and is at Crystal Lake with her doctor, trying to figure out her ability, and help her with her turmoil. But as the doctor sees an opportunity to exploit Tina, her rage allows the telekinesis power to go awry, awaking a seemingly dead Jason, who was forced to the bottom of the lake at the end of Part VI. Jason lives, and kids die.

I might seem down on this entry, and I’ll admit is far from my personal favorite, but I think each film in this series has ample charm to love, and is a key reason for fans, and even, myself to revisit the film. John Carl Buechler drops the humor from the previous entry, but gives us a lot of gory fun. Of course, this film, like many of the other Friday the 13ths were cut and almost hurt by the MPAA-Jason’s greatest rival, but we do get some sweet kills. The formula is pretty much the same, here, but the film goes bonkers with Tina’s showdown with Jason. In fact, it’s a lot of fun, even if it is kooky. Jason takes a licking this time out, perhaps his most vicious beating, until Freddy decided it was time to throw down. Tina gives Jason a lot to defend against, using her power to throw objects at him. There is a clever, yet subtle bit of confusion in Jason’s face in their final fight together, like the King of the Kill is even helpless against her.

Even with some plot holes, pacing issues during the middle of the film, and the overall wackiness of Jason battle a Carrie character, you cannot talk about this film with out talking about Kane Hodder. This was Kane’s first appearance as Jason, and he would continue to pick up the machete for three more pictures. He brings an intensity to Jason, not really ever seen before. With other Jason’s, they seem to lurk in the shadows, and stalk. Hodder is a bulldozer who crashes right through those horny teenagers. His presence is so iconic here as Jason, you can see a direct lineage from how Hodder crafted his Jason, into the newer killers from the remakes today. They’re all huge, mean, wrecking balls-of-a-man, err, killer. Also, the Hodder years had the best Jason masks.

The DVD:

Audio/Video: Paramount is continuing with their new Deluxe Editions of the Friday films, and each film is looking better and better. Picture quality is as good as Part VII has ever looked. Bright colors, sharp detail, very little source damage, making this a nice upgrade from the previous bare bones release, and a mild improvement over the version in the box set. With no Blu-ray set for this film, this is the best it will look. The audio is just as good. Nice sound separation and some bass. The new Dolby Digital 5.1 track is also probably the best its sounded on home video.

Commentary: Sporting a new track with the director and stars Lincoln and Hodder (on the phone), all is fun and light hearted. You’ll get some fun tidbits, especially from Hodder. While not the most informative or thorough track, it’s a pleasure for fans of the film and the series to check out once.

Jason’s Destroyer: Making of The New Blood: I enjoyed this feature more than the commentary, as they round up everyone for interviews. By doing this, they keep it all on track and get the good stuff fans want.

Mind Over Matter: Truth on Telekinesis: This is a fun tangent piece on the nature of telekinesis. I really enjoy when film’s bonus material take a side step into something unique and rewarding, that still relates to the film.

Slashed Scenes: Screw you, MPAA! We got DVD! Here are the deleted gore scenes, once deemed to brutal for a R-rating, with an separate intro to them. They’re in rough shape, but Friday fans will rejoice. The must watch extra on the disc.

Makeover Maddy: Um, well, girls are getting made over with make-up. Odd…

Conclusion: Friday fans will have their favorites from the series, and while it features Hodder’s first appearance as Jason, some neat make-up FX, and a kooky idea for a story, it’s not exactly the Friday I’ll immediately pop in. That should sway you away from this awesome new Deluxe Edition from Paramount. Fans, this is a must own.

The Film: Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The DVD: Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Flick

I can’t say that I was excited about the new Friday the 13th Part III: 3D Deluxe edition, mainly because as a fan of the series I already own the box set.  So yet another edition popping up sort of irritated me, but I was excited about the blu-ray versions of the Friday films and when I heard that Part III was going to include the 3D cut I was down right ecstatic.  Blu-ray is yet another way for studios to gouge away at my wallet, yet I can’t get mad at them at all because blu-ray looks beautiful and is an excuse for studios to pack new extras into our favorite titles.  Anyway, the plot for this entry into the Friday series isn’t anything new.  Nubile young hotties and their boy-toys head out to Camp Crystal Lake, make with the sex, and die.  But don’t fret because slashers really don’t need to be high on plot in order to be enjoyed by hoards of horror fans and gore hounds, and as far as Friday the 13th is concerned all I’m interested in seeing are awesome kills, naked girls, and Jason.  Of course all of the previously mentioned ingredients are present in this installment in the series.  

Director Steve Miner did a bang up job of creating another memorable entry in the Friday series.  The most memorable thing being that this is the Friday flick that shows Jason don the hockey mask for the first time, resulting in mass quantities of Jason lovers donning the hockey mask every Halloween since.  Also, Miner isn’t afraid to show a little skin and in this installment the girls are hotter than in some entries in the series.  

The big payoff for me with this blu-ray version of the flick is that it contains both the standard and 3D versions of the film.  Hidden away in the disc’s case is a pair of Friday the 13th 3D glasses that resemble Jason’s hockey mask.  How awesome is that?  Friday the 13th Part III: 3D is absolutely a killer film.  

The Blu-ray

Audio/Visual 

I was really impressed with the look of the film in both the standard cut and 3D version.  Sure it looks like a grainy slasher flick, but it’s supposed to look like that.  The 3D version did have a few problems and certain shots worked better than others but watching this awesome flick on Blu-ray in the comfort of my own home in 3D kicks ass.  The audio was solid and groovy.  The awesome warning that Jason is coming sounded perfect on my home theatre system, and for all you audiophiles out there that like everything in its original state, the original mono soundtrack is on here as well.  

Special Features

Fresh cuts: 3d Terror – This is an awesome HD feature that I personally wish would have been a little longer.  It clocks in at 13 minutes and tells the tale of how the flick got chosen to be shot in 3D and how shooting in that format took it’s toll on the cast and crew.  

Legacy of the Mask – Another cool HD feature that chronicles  the history of the famous hockey mask. 

Slasher Films: Going for the Jugular – This is a short (7 minutes) HD feature that explains what it is about horror’s masked killers that gets people out of the recliners and into the theatre.  

Lost Tales from Camp Blood: Part III – An HD fan film that I didn’t enjoy.  It’s pretty weak as far as fan films go, but I guess someone found it impressive or it wouldn’t have made its way on here.  

Trailer – Finally there is an HD version of the original theatrical trailer that is pretty cool but doesn’t really look like it benefits from the HD treatment.  

If your a fan of the Friday films this is a must own disc, even if you already own the box set, deluxe edition, or some other version.  

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Dont believe me  here’s the first 3 films rundown. (lil spoiler) Jason was a child and not the true killer of the first film. Jason was the killer of the second film and wore a sack over his head to hide his face and in the third film which was also in 3-D is when he donned the hockey mask.

Here now you can view the first official still which showcases the new jason wearin the sack from the upcoming friday the 13th remake which you can also view in the recently released trailer at the 2 minute mark

head on over here to shock for the image.

Source; shocktillyoudrop

Quick! Before Platnium dunes orders everyone to take the teaser down go here to view it! This was shown during last night recording of the Scream Awards 2008.

An official teaser will play in front of prints of this weekend’s SAW V.

I’m pretty stoked for the film, which opens on Feb 13th, 2009, what do you think about it? Post comments below!!