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Here Come the Munsters AKA The Here Come the Munsters Movie
R2 - United Kingdom - Fabulous Films Review written by and copyright: Samuel Scott (17th July 2015). |
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The Film
 ***This is an A/V and Extras review only. For reviews on the movie from various critics, we recommend visiting HERE.*** America's favourite TV family returns with a Halloween adventure for the 90's! All is not well for the Munsters. Their peaceful home in Transylvania is under siege from confused and bigoted local peasants. The Munsters are misunderstood and it's time to leave Europe and head to the land where anything goes. The great US of A! So Grandpa, Herman, Lily, Eddie and the adorable fire-breathing dragon Spot decide to pack their bags and head off to visit Aunt Elsa and Uncle Norman in America. Once they get there however, they find that all is not well with the relatives. Uncle Norman has mysteriously disappeared and Aunt Elsa has fallen into a catatonic state. Young cousin Marilyn (sadly a very ugly girl) has been left to cope alone. As if this wasn't enough, the nosy neighbours take offence at the tourists and the police are called.
Video
Fabulous Films give the television movie "Here Come the Munsters" a DVD release in the United Kingdom for the first time and have licensed the title from Universal. The transfer is at an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and is anamorphic. Overall, the transfer looks fine, but it is far from reference quality. First things first, according to IMDB the original aspect ratio if 1.33:1, so it is disappointing to receive a transfer at 1.78:1, even though there are no obvious issues with the framing aside from the occasional cropped hair at the top of the screen. The opening scenes are in black and white, as they show villagers in Transylvania out to get the Munsters with their pitchforks. These scenes are presented like an old forties/fifties horror film with faux damage in a fun move that has the desired effect. After that, colours are quite mixed and similar to what you would get with nineties television with light pastel colours in clothing of "normal" characters and decor away from Marilyn's house. Blacks are deep but do exhibit occasional crush, notably when it comes to Herman's clothing, or some parts of Marilyn's home. Details are at the level you'd expect with some decent looking close-ups and moderate details in backgrounds. There is some light aliasing on occasion, and a little banding in the scene with the Munsters getting a lift from the hearse driver as they leave the airport, but nothing problematic. There are a couple of specks here and there, but the transfer is clean with natural grain throughout (it was filmed on 35mm). It might not amaze, but the quality overall is dandy. It would get a better mark had it been in the original aspect ratio. The feature is uncut and runs 88:54.
Audio
Fabulous Films have provided the feature with a single audio option; English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. As to be expected, separation is rather moderate and kept for effects more than the dialogue or Michael Skloff's (of Friends fame) score. Dialogue is clear at all times and there are no issues with syncing or with mumbling. Effects are well produced for a television movie, especially the squeeling tyres of cars as Herman escapes prison, or the various thumps like when Herman bangs the table at the unemployment office or crashes through walls. Volume levels are consistent, though the score can be overpowered by the louder effects on occasion. There are no issues with scratches, drop outs, pops, or crackles and I didn't notice any background hiss. I imagine this sounds exactly as it did during the original broadcast twenty years ago. No subtitles have been included.
Extras
No extras unfortunately. A retrospective of "The Munsters" would've been welcome.
Overall
A cheap made-for-television cash in, which fans will find watchable but others probably won't (though I did enjoy the early Christine Taylor role). For "Munsters" completists, it is worth a purchase.
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