The Hills Have Eyes: Part II (1985) Blu-ray

[ronnie21]

So glad that scorpion used original artwork for house/sorroity row, humongous, final exam..

[maybrick]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

I guess it was the best Image could get. Also don't forget the first film was shot in 16mm.

That has nothing to do with it. If they went back to the 16mm they would have had a superior product, but they didn't do that. All they did was take the old DVD and transferred it onto a blu-ray. There is absolutely zero difference between the two that I can tell.

[Nailwraps]

Kino has posted the extras for the DVD and Blu-ray:

http://www.kino.com/video/item.php?film_id=1272

Note, the aspect ratio is listed as 1.66:1, but that could be a typo. It may spell bad news to some who want the film in it's OAR (1.78:1-1.85:1) should it be in 1.66:1, but the film is open-matte for full screen (at least, that's what I think). But I don't think we should worry, it likely the listed AR on the site is a typo.

[Stige]

hmmm guess I'll wait for the reviews first, til then the stunning anchorbay uk version will hold me over just fine

[elDomenechHDG]

Does anyone know which library of films Redemption/Kino got their hands on that included Hills 2? I'd like to know what else might be coming soon. Thanks.

[Matt89]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

Kino has posted the extras for the DVD and Blu-ray:

http://www.kino.com/video/item.php?film_id=1272

Note, the aspect ratio is listed as 1.66:1, but that could be a typo. It may spell bad news to some who want the film in it's OAR (1.78:1-1.85:1) should it be in 1.66:1, but the film is open-matte for full screen (at least, that's what I think). But I don't think we should worry, it likely the listed AR on the site is a typo.

Ohh look at all those extras!

But you never know, 1.66:1 might be the preferred aspect ratio. When Dorm That Dripped Blood came out it was most likely shown at 1.85:1, but the blu-ray shows the film in the directors' intended ratio of 1.66:1.

~Matt

[ctyner]

Just finished watching the disc earlier this afternoon, and I can confirm that it's definitely 1.66:1. Unlike the Image BD of the original, this one is honest-to-God high definition too.

So, was the sequel not shot on 16mm? It sure looked that way to me, but maybe it was shot on 35mm ends or some particularly lousy stock or something. The overall texture left me thinking part 2 was shot on 16mm and that this Blu-ray disc was sourced from a 35mm blowup, but that could completely be me talking out of my ass. The grit's not as distinct as I'm used to seeing on the best 16mm-sourced BDs, but it doesn't look smeared away either.

I get the sense that the quality's about as good as the original photography will allow, struggling the most in the almost-unwatchably-underlit interiors. No clunky noise reduction or anything. A good presentation of a movie that's always looked terrible. (At least, I kind of remember thinking the VHS copy I watched twenty years ago looked horrific, and that was long before I was any sort of videophile.)

The audio is kind of a different story, with literally every single line of dialogue sounding crackly and distorted. I had to turn the volume down far, far lower than usual for it to even be listenable. Only extras are a modest-but-well-designed still gallery and a high-def trailer.

The movie is...well, even worse than I remembered, but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know there.

If you want to see some screengrabs:

[Katatonia]

Awesome, thanks for posting ctyner!

I don't really ever remember the audio to this movie ever sounding too great on VHS/DVD... is it presented lossless on the Blu-ray?

[fceurich39]

may i ask where /how u got your copy???

[Nailwraps]

You know, I got a question regarding a transfer to Part II; Does anyone remember when this aired on one of the Showtime networks? Is it the same transfer from the old Image DVD? Becuase the transfer they showed was completely awful. And judging by the screenshots here, it look like a fine improvement.

[CPT HOOK]

Originally Posted by Nailwraps

Does anyone remember when this aired on one of the Showtime networks?

I have it recorded on VHS off one of the Showtime airings. I haven't watched it in a long time though.

[ctyner]

Originally Posted by Katatonia

Awesome, thanks for posting ctyner!

Sure thing!

Originally Posted by Katatonia

is it presented lossless on the Blu-ray?

Yup. It's a stereo PCM track.

Originally Posted by fceurich39

may i ask where /how u got your copy???

Review copies went out really early. I have a review ready to go, but it doesn't look like I'm allowed to publish it yet with the release date so far out.

[Nailwraps]

DVDTalk review:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/53850...es-part-2-the/

[Stige]

Would anyone consider this a massive improvement over the anchorbayuk widescreen version? Don't know if anyone has both to compare with...


been sitting on the fence as to bite the bullet and buy this and part 1 on blu

[Nailwraps]

Originally Posted by Stige

Would anyone consider this a massive improvement over the anchorbayuk widescreen version? Don't know if anyone has both to compare with...

I like someone to compare screenshots with that and the Image Entertainment release. Also, DVDTalk has now given us the DVD review:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/54132...es-part-2-the/