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Friday the 13th Part 3 Blu-ray Review |
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Friday the 13th Part 3 Blu-ray
3-D Paramount Pictures | 1982 | 95 mins | Rated R | Jun 16, 2009
Friday the 13th Part 3 Blu-ray ReviewWho says the characters in this franchise are flat?Reviewed by Martin Liebman, June 12, 2009 I have warned thee. Though presented in nicely-done 3-D and introducing the famous hockey mask, Friday the 13th Part 3 is about as derivative and repetitive as its predecessors. Amped-up gore, various objects that seem to poke straight out of the screen, and a hip new soundtrack that bookends the film can't save the picture from its primary problem, its sale of an almost identical bill of goods as the previous two outings. Intermingled with the typical teenage characters are a few new victims of various ages and backgrounds, and the primary theme of a hulking, deformed man tearing through an old lakeside woodland campground remains the same. Like the previous two films, Friday the 13th Part 3 offers little-to-no redeeming qualities. Nevertheless, despite its pointlessness and repetitiveness, it's still rather fun to watch even through a prism that never obscures who will die and who will remain to give Jason his due at the end of the picture.
Beginning almost immediately after Friday the 13th Part 2, Friday the 13th Part 3 sees Jason back for more blood. Though driving past the scene of the crime at Camp Crystal Lake and seeing the plethora of ambulances, police cars, and body bags that populate its landscape, a new group of teenagers who will fall prey to Jason's blade trudge ahead and set up camp near Crystal Lake. Along for the ride is a pair of doped-up 1960s throwbacks and, later on, a trio of punk bikers. Among the teens is Shelly (Larry Zerner), a special effects wizard and prankster; Chris (Dana Kimmell), a girl who survived an attack by a man believed to be Jason two years earlier; and Chris' boyfriend, Rick (Paul Kratka). As day turns to night, a day defined by fun, romance, and danger turns deadly as Jason stalks the innocents, once again adding to the legend of "Camp Blood." Surprise, surprise. Friday the 13th Part 3 recalls the previous two films in almost every sequence. Like Part 2, this one begins with an extended flashback scene to the end of the previous film. Moments later, a televised newscast also, albeit more briefly, retells the same story, just to make sure anyone who walked into the theater a few minutes late has the opportunity to play catch-up and not become lost under the deluge of deep philosophical undertones and countless metaphors that define the series, allowing such poor souls to glean the crucial background needed to fully appreciate the artistry of Friday the 13th Part 3. After killing a random couple, Jason moves on to terrorize, once again, some kids, this time accompanied by two hippies and an unwelcome biker gang, in practically the same style as the previous two outings. The film wears on, and on, and on, with several cheap scares and loud musical cues passing the time until the real fun begins. Adding insult to injury, Part 3 ends with a sequence that plays out as virtually identical to the first film, with only a few small altered details to give it a semblance of originality. Technically, Friday the 13th Part 3 impresses with its 3-D presentation. The film regularly sports impressive depth and layering, most every scene giving the impression of a realistic environment. Several of the key effects -- whether the more mundane, such as an old-style antenna rabbit ear poking into the theater, or the more graphic, such as an eyeball popping out of its socket or a pitch fork to the gut -- work very well and punctuate the experience. Although the presentation suffers from the usual problems associated with 3-D, it's done well enough here to make the entire film a worthwhile experience from a purely technical perspective. The characters in the film are a bit more original here, too. Shelly, a special effects prankster, lends some levity to the picture and makes for, perhaps, the most sympathetic character of the entire run. Otherwise, the script does virtually nothing to distinguish this bunch from any of the others that appeared in the first two films. The acting in Part 3 is the worst of the series, the film featuring a collection of wooden performances that add a bit of unintentional comic relief to the film. Last but not least, most fans will remember Part 3 not for its kills or 3-D presentation but rather for its introduction of the famed hockey mask. The prop has become the face of the Horror genre and recognized the world over, and the mask and the hulking, unmerciful killer behind it perhaps more than anything else making Friday the 13th the quintessential Horror franchise. Video  Friday the 13th Part 3 debuts on Blu-ray with a good all-around 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer, the first of the series to be presented in a scope widescreen format. Available on the disc are both the 3-D and 2-D versions of the film. The primary video source, the 3-D image, features the expected ghosting issues, appearing as extraordinarily heavy in some scenes but far lighter in many others. Colors aren't incredibly vibrant, but the basic hues stand out well enough. The image takes on a pink highlight throughout, but like other 3-D outings such My Bloody Valentine, the sacrifice in color, fine detail, and ghost-free imagery may be forgiven in exchange for the novelty of the experience and the nice depth and visual gags that accompany this image. The 3-D version sports a fair amount of grain. The 2-D version delivers a suitable yet ugly "backup" presentation. Clarity and detail are average across the board. Grain and noise spike during certain sequences and remain consistently heavy throughout. Plenty of pops and scratches and stationary spots appear over the image. Colors are sufficiently rendered throughout. Blacks and flesh tones neither impress nor disappoint. Though an adequate presentation, the 2-D version cannot beat the fun of the 3-D experience. Audio  Friday the 13th Part 3 hacks up Blu-ray with a dull Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. A rather basic soundtrack, this one delivers a front-heavy yet adequately clear experience. Highlighted by the newfangled early 1980s disco-style music with hints of a Science Fiction feel, the odd presentation sounds good enough as it plays across the front during the opening credits. The more traditional Friday music, too, suffices in delivery, and the trademark chanting flows through the center with a chilling presence. Likewise, dialogue plays straight up the middle and without any discernible hiccups. The track features a small bit of ambient noise that spreads out across the front. Chirping birds or a gentle breeze play well enough but don't necessarily impress. A rather dull listen, this one supports the visuals nicely enough and keeps the film moving along without any sonic difficulties. Supplements Friday the 13th Part 3 scares up but a few extras for this Blu-ray release. Fresh Cuts: 3-D Terror (1080p, 12:52) features Crystal Lake Memories author Peter Bracke discussing the background of the film, followed by 3-D supervisor Martin Jay Sadoff discussing the 3-D process. Also included are interview clips with cast and crew discussing the process of bringing the film to life in a whole new dimension, sharing memories from the set, alternate endings, and the film's reception and success. Legacy of the Mask (1080p, 9:33) looks at the history of the famed hockey mask that has become the series' trademark piece. Slasher Films: Going For the Jugular (1080p, 7:09) examines the formula of the films, what makes Jason scary, the appeal of the genre, and more. Concluding the supplements is Lost Tales From Camp Blood -- Part III (1080p, 4:49), a short tale of terror, and the Friday the 13th Part 3 trailer (1080p, 2:09). Also of note is that this set contains only two pair of 3-D glasses; most 3-D Blu-ray releases come with four. Final words Friday the 13th accomplishes its task of recreating the previous two films in 3-D, but as far as any sort of novelty outside the actual presentation, forget about it. Part 3 features the same old tired -- but nevertheless still somewhat effective and, most importantly, fun -- formula, and for all the film sets out to do, in this case feature Jason killing a bunch of people in 3-D, it works well enough. Though parts of the film are laughably yet unintentionally goofy, particularly the clichéd "damsel in distress" final act, Friday the 13th Part 3 makes for a great party movie and a fair all-around Blu-ray presentation. It's just too bad Paramount only included two pair of glasses with it. 
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