A pointless box set release as the classics of Halloween, Escape from New York, The Fog and The Thing have already or are vastily approaching their Blu-Ray release in the U.K – so one wonders why Optimum Home Releasing have put the effort into releasing a new John Carpenter box set

And a pricy one that will set you back over £50 when it hits the high street on October 6th.

Now I love me some Carpenter, but I can’t imagine picking up this box set which hardly expands on the extra’s from their original transfers and haven’t got the added glory of Blu-Ray.

Full artwork and press release comes from DVD Times…

Halloween

• 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
• English DD5.1 Surround
• Halloween Unmasked 2000
• Trailers, TV Spots and Bios

The Thing

• 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
• English DD2.0 Stereo and DD5.1 Surround
• John Carpenter’s The Thing: Terror Takes Shape Making of Documentary
• Feature Commentary with John Carpenter & Kurt Russell
• Production Background Archive
• Cast Production Photos
• Production Art & Storyboards
• Location Design
• Production Archives
• Outtakes
• Production Notes
• Post Production
• Theatrical Trailer
• Cast & Filmmakers’ Notes: Kurt Russell, John Carpenter

The Fog – This is the recent 4th August 2008 release from Optimum (which replaced the previous Momentum Pictures edition). Features include:

• Anamorphic Widescreen
• English DD2.0 Stereo and DD5.1 Surround
• Tales From The Mist (30min documentary)
• Trailers

Escape From New York – This is the recent 4th August 2008 release from Optimum (which replaced the previous Momentum Pictures edition). Features include:

• Anamorphic Widescreen
• English DD2.0 Stereo and DD5.1 Surround
• Return to Escape from New York (23 mins)
• New and exclusive John Carpenter interview (31 mins)
• 3 x original trailers
• Snakes Crime (deleted original intro)
• Commentary with John Carpenter and Kurt Russell

They Live – Replacing the old Momentum Pictures edition, Optimum are releasing a stand-alone version of this sci-fi thriller starring Roddy Piper on 22nd September 2008. Features include:

• 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
• English DD2.0 Stereo and DD5.1 Surround
• Making of Featurette
• Commentary with John Carpenter and Roddy Piper
• John Carpenter Profile
• Roddy Piper Profile
• Meg Foster Profile
• Trailer

Assault on Precinct 13 (Special Edition) – Also released separately on 6th October 2008. Features include:

• 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
• English Mono
• Video Q&A with John Carpenter and star Austin Stoker at the American Cinematheque 2002 (23 mins)
• Director’s Commentary
• Isolated Music Score
• Production History (17 mins)
• 2 Radio Spots
• Trailer

Prince of Darkness

• Anamorphic Widescreen
• English DD2.0 Stereo