SCANNERS TRILOGY [Blu-ray] New Release – Restored and Uncut – Special Edition (David Cronenberg)

Scanners boxset
Had the first 2 of these got this to upgrade condense as well as getting the third great condition and looks awesome

DVD Review (Complete collection)
David Cronenberg’s Scanners is without doubt the best film in the series, but if you liked the concept of the first entry of the saga you will probably find a way to enjoy Scanners II and III. They are definitely not that bad. So, if we also take into account the special features (though I do miss some deleted scenes, a making of, etc.), the good quality of the picture of all three movies and the packaging, we definitely have quite a nice DVD collection.SCANNERS (1981)1 disc. Feature running time: 99 min. Audio: Stereo 2.0, Optional 5.1., DTS. Feature aspect ratio: Widescreen presentation (1:85.1) Enhanced for 16:9 TVs.Region 2. English subtitles for the Hard of Hearing (feature only)>Extras* ‘The Directors: The Films of David Cronenberg’: 59:02 min. documentary* ‘Inside Scan: Scanners’: 08:28 min. featurette* Trailer 1, Trailer 2 and Trailer 3.* ‘The Brood’ trailer* Film Notes* Biographies: David Cronenberg, Jennifer O’Neil, Patrick McGoohan and Michael Ironside* Stills gallerySCANNERS II: THE NEW ORDER (1991)1 disc. Feature running time: 100 min. Audio: Stereo 2.0, Optional 5.1., DTS. Feature aspect ratio: Widescreen presentation (1:78.1) Enhanced for 16:9 TVs.Region 2. English subtitles for the Hard of Hearing (feature only)> Extras* ‘Inside Scan: The New Order’: 07:42 min. featurette* Trailer 1, Trailer 2 and Trailer 3.* Film Notes* Biographies: Christian Duguay, David Hewlett, Deborah Raffin.SCANNERS III: THE TAKEOVER (1991)1 disc. Feature running time: 95 min. Audio: Stereo 2.0, Optional 5.1., DTS. Feature aspect ratio: Widescreen presentation (1:78.1) Enhanced for 16:9 TVs.Region 2. English subtitles for the Hard of Hearing (feature only)> Extras* ‘Inside Scan: The take over’: 05:31 min. featurette* Trailer 1, Trailer 2 and Trailer 3.* Film Notes* Biographies: Christian Duguay.

Five Stars
Quality

5 for Scanners 1, 1 for the rest…
Oh why couldn’t they let it rest at number one?This 3-movie package is useless to say the least. If they only had released the original “Scanners” all by itself in a Collector’s Edition, perhaps in a 2-Disc version crammed with gems such as discarded scenes, newly recorded interviews with cast and crew, this special treat would have been truly enjoyable.But no. In order to get rid of the other two duds, they HAD to slam them with a jewel of the Horror genre, directed by no less than David Cronenberg.As if Christian Duguay, the misguided director of both sequels, had the talent and the vision of Cronenberg, but no, not an iota. Pure commercial crap and cheaply done as well…What made anyone think that someone else could actually step into the shoes of actors such as Patrick McGoohan, Michael Ironside and Jennifer O’Neill?Even conceiving that the sequels state the early demise of the original characters in a freak accident, one would have expected some truly talented and at least somewhat experienced actors and actresses to take over from there, but what one gets are just wannabes and as bad as one can possibly still tolerate.Not to speak of all the same-o, same-o cliches attached to the original movie, that by the third installation, become almost a joke if not outright funny.It is amazing that someone came actually to think that this would be a welcome addition.If I were David Cronenberg I would have sued their pants off.But let’s concentrate of what is good in this. As said, the original “Scanners” uncut and beautifully remastered image, at least for this medium (DVD), and a perfect sound in DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 (and this for all 3 movies). One gets to finally watch it as it was meant to be experienced. It is even better looking and sounding than when it first appeared on screen, especially when the “pounding” sounds appear, one can feel the tension invading the room. Imagine what it does to you when the climax at the end of the movie reaches its apotheosis…There are a couple of extras. The first, and most important one, is “The Directors: David Cronenberg”, and the other one is “Inside Scan: Scanners”.It also comes with Biographies, Film Notes, Stills and your usual Trailers.I am waiting for the said Special Edition, or perhaps an Ultimate Edition of this movie, just to give it a full 5 stars.But because the releasing company wanted to play smart I gave it just 2 stars, and I am doing it out of spite, since it seems to have become a habit with these companies to include trash with masterpieces, such as for instance, in the case of “Species” and “Species II”, where they absolutely needed to ruin a perfect duo, by adding two more which are as stupid as can be, ruining therefore the entire franchise.Unlike the original “Hellraiser” trilogy, or let’s say, the “Phantasm” quadrilogy, where the storyline continued at a comprehensible pace and actually added to the value of the original movie, these additions in the above mentioned titles are just there to ruin your appetite for more and actually threaten, just in case one may get hold of part II or part III of “Scanners”, or III and IV of “Species” to eliminate the interest in the originals and this, in my humble view, is simply a crime and should be stopped.But in the end, it is up to you to judge. Your taste may be different than mine, and I am convinced that there might be some who actually like the sequels. I absolutely didn’t!

Swift delivery and very satisfactory service. Plus it’s an excellent film and I’m looking forward to enjoying a crisp new bluray copy… thanks!

I loved this movie when I was a kid so I recently ordered it so I could see it again since they never play it on cable t.v. It’s still pretty good even nowadays. I have seen all of them, there were quite a few, but the first 3 were really pretty entertaining. Lots of gore if you like that. 🙂