Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extras! It's what the people want! NAM LAND!!, October 21, 2006
If you are a serious fan of horror films or you already have the bare-bones DVD version of TCM 2 then you need to buy the Gruesome Edition now. Comparing Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 to the original or the other sequels/remakes is pointless because this film is a beast all its own. It was made to be different than the first and Tobe Hooper lived up to it. It is quite obvious that this film is camp, but thats what makes it so great. The absurdness, the heavy gore(lovingly provided by legend Tom Savini), the rockin' soundtrack(The Cramps, Concrete Blonde), and the action just makes this one of my favorite horror movies ever. The performances are completley memorable. Bill Mosley's Chop-Top character is one of the funniest and most iconic roles ever. Caroline Williams is one hell of a shrieker and plays the part of Stretch to a T. The locations and set pieces really gives this film an epic feel, especially the amazing underground lair of the Sawyer Family. The only horror fans that I can imagine that wouldnt like TCM II are those who like "serious" horror only or purists of the original. This was made for the American horror fan. I mean come on, dueling chainsaw battles between Dennis Hopper(Blue Velvet, River's Edge) and Leatherface? This is the stuff dreams are made of. The original carries the "classic" disturbing value, but Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 takes the cake as far as entertainment value is concerned.
The extras are great. The 90 minute interview segments with the actors/filmakers is great. Bill Johnson(Leatherface), Bill Mosely(Chop-Top), and Caroline Williams(Stretch) recall their fond memories and share great stories on this wonderful flick. The great Tom Savini also shares his memories on working on the film and creating the gore. The deleted scenes arent overly amazing, but the underground parking lot jock slaughter scene was FUNNY! You just have to see it. That and it was funny to know that Joe Bobb Briggs was going to have a role in the film. Bottom line is that this DVD is a must have. Nuff said.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incoming Mail!, June 8, 1999
By A Customer
Well, it's just really funny. I can say this. Nothing like the first, which drew a lot of praise from afficionados who know great filmmaking when they see it. TCM II is great for other reasons: these murderers are so whacked you have to laugh and you have to ask, over and over, were they REALLY acting? How could anyone ACT this well?Chop-top owns the film. His scenes ooze brilliance, though Drayton's march down victory lane at the beginning, when he proudly accepts first prize in the Texas Chili Championship, leaves you breathless: "I love this town, this town likes PRIME MEAT!!" How is it that Chop-Top comes to own the film? Several vignettes from a key scene tell the tale: --The crazies have infiltrated the radio station and the female DJ is nervous. What do they want? Chop-Top wants to buy some "radio ad time" and while he waits for her to give him the particulars, he uses a heated coat hanger to scrape off and eat pieces of the scalp-flesh that help camouflage his metal plate. --Later in the scene, the crazies are getting down to business. Program Director LG finds himself on the receiving end of a cast iron shampoo administered by our beloved metalhead. As he delivers the goods with the ball peen hammer, Chop Top screams, "Incoming Mail!" --Same scene, Leatherface and Chop-Top scuffle. Chop-Top's hairpiece is compromised. He turns to Leatherface and lets loose: "Leatherface, you BITCH, you burned my Sonny Bono wig-doooooo!" I won't give the rest away. Buy this one and watch it repeatedly.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent extra features...BUT MISSING GORE!!, August 31, 2008
This DVD is definately worth buying if you're a die-hard TCM2 fan like me. However, MGM should be ashamed that they released a 'Gruesome Edition,' when it is still missing key "money shots." I'm lucky enough to own a laserdisc edition than Elite put out in 1996.
OK, before you doubt me, let me explain. After watching this new dvd edition, I was impressed by the sound and picture improvements that MGM did on the film. But if you're gonna release a cult movie like this and label it 'gruesome' and unrated, then relase it in its true, uncut form!
Here be the key differences between the Gruesome DVD and the Elite Laserdisc:
- L.G.'s assault at the K.O.K.L.A. radio station: The Laserdisc version has more close ups of the brutal hammer blows delivered by CHOPTOP. Although I didn't count and compare the details scientifically, there are more close-ups of the head shots and several more actual on-film blows to the head. Take my word for it-laserdisc version is more brutal overall. MGM must have chickened out and edited this scene, hoping that we fans wouldn't know the difference...SHAME!
-More panning back and forth between Rick and Buzz after Leatherface half-decapitates Buzz on the bridge. Very slight difference, but again, more gore on ELITE version.
-When Lefty shoves his sawblade into the stomach of Leatherface, the ELITE version shows a second or two extra close-up of the blade making a mess outta "Bubba's" guts. Of course, the new MGM release is missing this key insert shot.
There you have it, folks. While this release is a must-have for fans, I took a star away from my review for the simple fact that MGM didn't go for the true gory, uncut version of this cult classic like they should have. The resposible people at MGM should be put into the next batch of "Sawyer's Famous Chilli" as punishment. BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..........ZZZZZZZZZZZ
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