Customer Reviews

Puppet Master Boxset

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Puppet Master movies have never been considered high art by any means but they can be very entertaining in the nice B-Movie vein. What makes the series so likeable is the unique puppet characters and nifty effects. Sure the series starts to take a nose dive towards the end (with "Curse of the.." and "Retro...") but again what franchise doesn't? Charles Band's (a well known name in the world of low budget horror and science fiction) Full Moon Entertainment always releases their films with eye catching cover art and plenty of behind-the-scenes footage. Full Moon always seemed to be taking the consumers and fans in the highest regard when it came to VHS. Now let see how they treated the fans for the now ultra rare box set of the Puppet Master series.

The Box set at first glance seems like a well done job. We get all 7 Puppet Master movies housed in a nice box with a bonus disc called "45 Trailer Reel". All the movies contain their original box art (Except the box to Puppet Master has the title changed to "Puppet Master I" making me wonder if Full Moon thought their fans were morons) but the printing on the inserts isn't the highest quality. This is easily forgiven. All the DVDs contain amazing menu designs that are all animated and are like little cartoons themselves. Every DVD also contains the original behind the scenes "Videozone" as well as cast and crew bios so the extras were good.

The picture quality for the most part is on par with other Full Moon releases. Overall the digital transfer isn't great and is sub-par to other big name film companies such as MGM and Warner Bros. Still the films are far from unwatchable. The only film that didn't make the grade when it came to picture quality was Puppet Master II. The picture quality on this DVD is pathetic and worse than its VHS counterpart. The film has moments when the picture even goes digital. It hits its ultimate low when towards the end of the film the picture gets an annoying wavy effect traveling down the screen. I can't believe Full Moon released this movie with such a terrible transfer. It's a shame because every box set that was made has this terrible version of Puppet Master II with the wavy picture. (whats even more strange is the "stock footage" from Puppet Master II that was edited into Curse of the Puppet Master also contains the wavy effect).

Other than the Puppet Master II DVD, this box set is a great way to get all the Puppet Master movies in one place. There's not much for new for extras as the Videozone's were previously released on the VHS tapes but its still great to have them. The box set would garner a 4 rating if it weren't for the sub-par treatment of the Puppet Master II DVD. Hopefully if Full Moon ever gets the rights issues resolved with Paramount Pictures they will re-release the box set and fix the problem with the Puppet Master II transfer.

In my mind the best of all the Full Moon movies. Puppet Master is a Classic Gore fest that grows on you. I remeber when i first got the box last year off ebay for only $34.00 I coulden't wait to get it in the mail. These movies are classic and aloways will be. Full Moon has gone through some hard times and have over came them. And are putting out NEW films now, but they can and will never be able to match there earlyer work.

This is the First time ever that the Puppet Master DVD Box Set has been released with all of the films in it.....with an exception of Puppet Master: The Legacy released by Shadow Entertainment and Puppet Master VS. Demonic Toys released by Anchor Bay.

In Puppet Master, André Toulon is a puppet maker and the best of the kind. One day he happens upon an old Egyptian formula able to create life, so he decides to give life to his puppets. The Nazis seek to use this knowledge to their advantage and in desperation, Toulon commits suicide. Some years later four psychics get on the trail of a former colleague who suddenly commits suicide, and they decide to investigate the mansion he killed himself in. Along with his widow, they uncover the secrets of the Puppet Master.

In Puppet Master 2, the puppets return the original master, Andre Toulon, back to life inorder for him to help them kill and collect brains for more fluid for them to live off for another half century. And when a inspective group come to the hotel believe in nothing but Alex Whitaker's stories they keep watch, and throughout the movie they are hunted down one by one for their brains and when Andre sees Carolyn Bramwell who looks just like his dead wife Elsa, everything goes to hell.

In Puppet Master 3, Set in Berlin during WWII. The Nazi regime is attempting to develop a drug that will animate the dead, in order to use in the war effort. Toulin arouses suspicion as a Nazi dissident, and his secret is discovered. During a Nazi raid on his home, Toulin's beautiful wife is murdered. Toulin vows revenge, with the help of his animated puppets. This movie gives a new perspective on Toulin and his "friends".

In Puppet Master 4, A young scientist working on an artificial intelligence project is the target of strange gremlin-like creatures, who are out to kill him and thus terminate his research. By coincidence, in one of the rooms he uses, there's a mysterious case containing the puppets of the "puppet master". When the puppets are brought to life, they help destroy the creatures.

In Puppet Master 5: The Final Chapter, After having his demons destroyed, an anciet evil named Zutek creates a puppet of himself to release on the world. With the help of Toulon's spirit and the Rick Myers destroys the demon and becomes the new puppet master

In Curse of the Puppet Master: The Human Experiment, Robert "Tank" begins to work for Dr. Magrew sculpting a puppet for the Doctor to bring to life using the work of Andre Toulon. Robert begins to fall in love with the Doctors daughter, Jane. Unbeknownst to Robert the Doctor is trying to create a "perfect race" of puppet humans. Jane discovers a "matt puppet" which is from his first assistant. She comes back just in time to see her father, cut up by the puppets, has succeeded in putting a living human, Robert, into the puppet he carved.

In Retro Puppet Master, It's 1892 and Sutekh is hopping mad. It seems a 3,000 year old Egyptian sorcerer has stolen one of the God's secrets of life - that of instilling the souls of the dying into inanimate things. Sutekh raises three mummified former high priests, led by the villainous "First Servant", and charges them with recovering both the Sorceror and his secret. There is no lack of victims for the 3 high-faluting, stylish villains as they pursue their prey to 19th century Paris, and the very young puppeteer, Andre Toulon. Toulon runs a puppet theatre in the heart of Paris, and meets the sorcerer (the mysterious Afzel) when he is found by the lovely Swiss Ambassador's daughter Ilsa, after being nearly killed. It is there and then that we find the seed of things to come, and the origin of the Puppetmaster series of tales.

The Pupppet Master DVD Boxset also comes with a Bonus DVD, a FULL MOON 45 Title Trailer Reel. This a NTSC DVD Box Set. Is a Limited Collector's Edition. In Full Screen Format and all the movies come Full length. *Please Note: That this DVD Box Set is Very Rare and Out of Print! Each DVD comes in it's own DVD case with original artwork for the movie. Each movie comes with its orginal "Video Zone" a Behind the Scenes look at the Making of the film Video magazine!

If you want the complete Puppet Master Collection I recommend getting Puppet Master: The Legacy released by Shadow Entertainment and Puppet Master VS. Demonic Toys released by Anchor Bay. Both also avalible on amazon.com all for a very small price for you enjoyment.
If you liked this DVD Box Set check out these other DVD Box Sets also from Full Moon Entertainment:

FULL MOON CLASSICS VOLUME ONE!!!
Subspecies - The "Epic" Collection
THE STUART GORDON BOX SET
The Charles Band DVD Collection Volume #1
THE TRANCERS BOX SET
and THE DOLLMAN / DEMONIC TOYS BOX SET

This is a rare out of set print issue of all the Puppet Master movies in one box set. The set contains 8 DVD's with 7 movies and one 45 title trailer reel DVD. This set contains all the Puppet Master movies from Puppet Master 1989 all the way through 1999's Retro Puppet Master. Also has cool interactive menu's featuring all the Puppets and comes with a menu that shows you all the toys and how they work.

Overview:

Disc One-

The Puppet Master I- This movie features Alex Whitaker and three gifted psychics investigating rumors that the secret of life has been discovered by Master Puppeteer Andre Toulan. The Psychics end up discovering Toulan's secret of death in the form of 5 killer puppets. Tunneler, Pinhead, Blade, Ms. Leech and the Jester. Together, they are an army of skilled assassins, programmed to guard the secrets of the Puppet Master. - This movie was the best out of the whole collection and the special features include Magazine with interviews, coming attractions and the making of the Puppet Master.


Disc Two-

The Puppet Master II- The Puppets are back to settle some unfinished business. Joined by Torch, the newest member of the sinister troupe, the puppets exhume thier beloved creator Toulon but the Puppet Master has a deadly plan of his own. The special features include the sequal to Puppet Master, interviews, talks about the new puppet sensation Torch, is digitally re-mastered and features the special effects Wizardry of Academy Award Nominee David Allen (Young Sherlock Holmes).

Disc Three-

Puppet Master III, Toulan's Revenge- After hearing that Andre Toulan's puppets have no strings and seem to have a life of their own, Dr. Hess, a Gestapo henchman during World War II sends the Gestapo into the theatre to kidnap the puppets. Tulan's wife Elsa ends up getting captured by the Nazi's and is killed. Toulan begins to plan his revenge. He ends up creating a new puppet 'Six Shooter', models Blade after a Nazi and recreates Leech woman. Now Toulan's army is ready to take revenge.
Special Effects, Digitally remastered.

Disc Four-

Puppet Master 4, When Bad Puppets Turn Good- Three heads are better than one, especially for Decapitron, the new leader of Toulan's Puppets. With Weapons and morphing, Each of Decapitron's heads has its purpose and each will be put to the test when Blade, Tunneler, Pinhead and the others go toe to toe with their most sinister enemy, a team of terrifying totems. Featuring incredible stop motion animation by David Allen Productions, Directed by Jeff Burr (Stepfather 2 and Leatherface, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3) From the producers of Sub-Species and Trancers series.


Disc Five-

Puppet Master, The Latest Chapter- In the darkened Bugega Bay Inn the greedy Dr. Jennings has come to Pilfer Blade and the others. Hoping to get rich quick, he plans to sell their secrets as implements of war. Sutec, a dark Pharoah from another Dimension shows up with his own Puppet Totem to continue the quest of killing Rick, the new Puppet Master. Features a new Video Zone, Behind the scenes.


Disc Six-

The Curse of the Puppet Master, The amazing living Puppets of Andre Toulan now have a new Master. Turns out Dr. Magrew has been experimenting with Human assistants, but hell is about to break loose.
As captive in the Dr.'s House of Marvels the puppets watch silently as lives are being destroyed with every failed experiment. Now the puppets hunger for revenge is the only way to stop the legacy of evil.
Digitally remastered, Interactive menus, and Video Zone.


Disc Seven-

Retro Puppet Master- This movie is about Andre Toulan's days before he became the Puppet Master. This film is centered around an Avante Garde theatre in Pre World War 1 Paris and loving Ilsa, the Beautiful daughter of a Swiss Army Ambassador. When he witnessed the heinous murder of Afzel, an Egyptian sorcerer who has stolen the secret of life from an ancient God named Sutekh, he is now forced into a life and death struggle with servants of Sutekh who have kidnapped Ilsa. The puppets stand against a power of an ancient God in order to save the woman he loves. Digitally remastered with interactive menus.


Disc Eight-

Bonus Feature Disc- 45 Title Trailer Reel that features a variety of different horror movies such as Blood Dolls, Castle Freak, Lurking Fear, 10 years of Madness and other full moon releases.


I would give this collection 4 stars. Though most of the movies in the set are around 2-3 stars except the first one, the third one and Curse of the Puppet Master which were somewhat above average. They may not be great movies but you will never forget the killer puppets once you see them and they are something different for the Horror Genre. This would make a good edition to any horror fans collection.

[NOTE: Check out IMDb.com, or other places, for descriptions on the individual films.]

This box set is a collection of one of the biggest underground horror series around. It includes all of the proper PUPPET MASTER films (not including the newer "PUPPET MASTER: The Legacy" or "PUPPET MASTER vs. DEMONIC TOYS").

Because it was made in 2000, and because this series is FULL MOON's baby, the attention to detail is very well executed! The films look great, the DVD case and disc covers are all in full-colour glory, the special features on all of the movies are great additions... and even the animated menus are incredible and funny! Everything is greatly remastered, and PUPPET MASTER fans who own this box set should definitely be in love with it... I know I am!!!

As you may know, the only place you can usually find this is eBay, and not very often... not to mention the usual HUGE price tag on it, considering there was only approx. 2000 of these made!. (I was lucky enough to purchase it from FULLMOONDirect.com for only $100 US during a Limited Time Only deal.) Truthfully, though... If you are a very big fan of the series, the price you might have to pay for it (anywhere from $200-$250 US, approx.) might very well be worth it! (To me it is, anyhow.)

The main stuff to know about the box set is that each film is on its own disc, in its own case, and has its own respective special features, animated menus, trailers, and much more! There's even cast & crew biographies, commercials, interviews, making-of videos, and, not to mention, a Video Zone special featurette for all of the films, hosted by creator Charles Band.

There's even an extra 8th disc with a nice 45-trailer collection thrown in, highlighting many other FULL MOON films, such as The Pit & the Pendulum, Re-Animator, Subspecies, Shrunken Heads, and many more! (This DVD has about 1h30min of video on it.)

The amount of stuff here could last you weeks of viewing, and you'll definitely not be disappointed! Take it from me... This box set is INCREDIBLE!!!

Film/DVD List:
- "PUPPET MASTER" (1989)
- "PUPPET MASTER II" (1990)
- "PUPPET MASTER III: TOULON'S REVENGE" (1991)
- "PUPPET MASTER 4" (1993)
- "PUPPET MASTER 5: THE FINAL CHAPTER" (1994)
- "CURSE of the PUPPET MASTER" (1998)
- "RETRO PUPPET MASTER" (1999)
- BONUS: FULL MOON 45 Title Trailer Reel

P.S. - Contact me at msorge@hotmail.com for any info or requests!

Thank you,
Mike Sorge
"I am with you... Puppet Master." - André Toulon

Forget that the movies have no coherent flow to them and come up with the most over the top cheesy dialogue. Forget that this entire series, had it started with Part Three would have been much bigger than it ended up being. Forget the last few movies which had really little to do with the overall storyline and forget that in Part Two somehow Andre Toulon, resurrected from the dead, is a creep rather than the hero the rest of the movies make him out to be.

If you are a fan of this series I am talking to you.

Get this boxset!

There's probably not a whole lot of appeal to those who might just casually like the series but for the people like myself who in particular find the first Five movies in the series worthwhile you'll want to get it just for the behind the scenes video magazine clips alone. I found the genesis of the puppets and how they were built and used to be fascinating. I found Full Moon and Charles Band to be very inviting as if being a fan of their movies made you a part of their team.

And then there's the movies. There they are in all of their glory without having to dig around for old rental video cassettes. This is an OOP collection so while you might pay $130-200 for the set it ends up being worth it. You can find the later movies on disc alone but it is worth it to buy them all. The 45 trailer reel is a nice bonus and gives you a feel of the work Full Moon was up to and if nothing else is good for quite a few laughs as many of the movies were preposterous and silly.

All in all this being OOP makes this a collector's item for any Puppet Master fan and the videozine's make the DVDs worth the watch even if some of the movies have slightly more dubious plots than others.

Well if you are here you know what the Puppet Master movies are, they are not going to win any awards, but they are classics amongst those of us that lack low budget movies and these are pretty low budget.
Sadly the DVD quality is just as low budget as the movies. I've had to send my set back to Full Moon as one of the disc was unreadable on any player. The overall transfer quality is not that good and while they have a few extras on each disc, they appear to be nothing more than bad transfers from the original VHS tapes and not digital re-masters. Audio quality is ok, nothing great, seems to be just regular 2 channel stereo and not 5.1 surround sound that most movies are released in, even old ones.
Charles Band is known for doing things on the cheap and it would seem his latest offering of DVD movies is no exception and while I enjoy the campy-goofiness of the Full Moon line of releases, you'd think that at the asking price they'd at the very least but a little effort into the DVD transfers. So keep this in mind if you are adding to you collection the latest Full Moon Entertainment boxsets, like Trancers, Charles Band Boxset I and II, Stuart Gordon boxset and many more, they all have low transfer quality.All these series have been released on DVD in Australia by a company called Kangaroo Films. Although ostensibly Australian discs, they are notably region-free and in NTSC rather than Australia's native PAL TV system, possibly to circumvent legal issues with Paramount, who forced discontinuation of the Puppet Master boxset. However, there is no such company as Kangaroo films, so it is very likely that the boxsets are bootlegs, even though all are sold directly by Full Moon Entertainment. Just so you know.
The latest release of the Puppet Master Boxset is through Koch Vision, whereas the rest of the Full Moon videos I currently have are on Kangaroo Films.

After viewing all 7 films in this box set, I can't say that the films are that impressive to me. And that's really a big understatement at that. The strongest films here are definitely Puppet Master 1-3. After that, its all downhill from there. To me, the rest of the Puppet Master films included here are nearly unwatchable. Horrible plots, acting, production, and effects, all play a part in turning this horror series into nothing more than laughable and cheesy non-sense. So, as far as movie quality here, this set is barely worth 2 stars, if that. The only reasons I'm giving this set even a 3-star review are because of the rarity of some of the these Puppet Master films. Most of them are hard to find individually, so getting them all here together is a plus. (Though I think they have released a couple of more Puppet Masters since this set came out). Anyway, that's also the reason for the high price tag on this set. Not only are the films hard to find, but this set itself is kinda rare as well. So, if you're a devoted Puppet Master fan and feel the need to have them all, then this set is for you. And I would hope this would be the only reason anyone would buy this set, since there's no reason for anyone to watch this whole set (with the exception of films 1-3) no more than once in their life. As far as the DVDs themselves, the quality isn't that good and the sound is bad in most of the films. However, a bright spot is that every DVD has some bonus features, with a behind-the-scenes look at each film with cast and crew interviews. And most have filmographies and trailers. This set also comes with a bonus disc with a ton of movie trailers from the Full Moon company. Most of these trailers are simply laughable, its unbelievable what kinds of crap this company is willing to make!! Again, I'm giving this box set a 3 stars mostly because of the rarity of the set of films. If you're a causal horror fan, don't waste your money here. This is only for those of you who want the set for collection purposes only.

If you are a true horror movie fan, you don't only appreciate the high budget, really good horror films, you also appreciate the cheesy, low budget, not as scary films as well. The Puppet Master movies are cheesy as hell, but they are great because of that!!! Any true Horror fan would know what i mean!!!!

DON'T GET ME WRONG THIS IS A GREAT COLLECTION WITH GREAT MOVIES OF THE PUPPET MASTER SERIES BUT COME ON NOW THIS DERSERVE BETTER FOR ALL THE FANS OF THE PUPPET MASTER SAGA. TRUST ME THIS WILL GET RE-RELEASED ONE DAY WITH BETTER FEATURE LIKE DELETED SCENES AND BEHIND THE SCENE FEATURETTE AND NOT ONLY THAT IT NEED TO BE WIDESCREEN. [...]