Universal monsters or Hammer monsters?

[Werewolf]

Universal by far.

Better character designs (Hammer's monsters are too bland and generic) and better character development. You felt for the monsters. They had depth and soul and didn't just go from point A to point B killing stuff in their path. People often praise Lee's Drac over Bela which I feel is undeserved. Lee's Drac was more evil and violent but that was it. Little to no personality. Lee has often stated he hated the Dracula role and it shows. He is a terrific actor but his Dracula was very wooden in my opinion.

Don't get me wrong, I really dig the Hammer monster movies. Great movies. Fun movies. Classics in their own right. But as good as Universal? No and wouldn't even exist it it wasn't for Universal's movies. Honestly compare Whale's Frankenstein or Bride of to any of Hammers. Same with Bela's Dracula. Bela had personality, depth and charm. Lee's was just stereotypically evil.

[wolfie]

Did Hammer actually have any monsters? The films were updated versions of the Universal films and monsters from other studios.

I'm trying to think of a monster that Hammer invented for it's films.

[PNGwynne]

I tend to prefer Universal, but I really dig some of the Hammer "non-franchise" monsters: the Reptile, Plague of the Zombies, the Devil Rides Out (Moccata!), Curse of the Werewolf, even Lee's Kharis.

IMO Lee's Drac is over-rated, but Cushing obsessive & amoral Frankenstein is great.

Some Hammers, like Phantom of the Opera, Sister Hyde, & esp The Gorgon, have great ideas that didn't quite gel, due to budget, execution, etc.

[unataper]

Hmmmm....

Universal for monsters, Hammer for boobs.

Don C.

got my vote!!

[galaxyexplorer42]

Love em both. If I had to pick one over the other for dolls, I guess I'd say Universal... But saying that, I AM hoping that Hammer is one of the Licences that somebody picks up for 8" figures in 2011!

[Type3Toys]

It actually depemds on my mood. I think the one thing that really made the Hammer stuff stand out was the fact that they were in color. Dont get me wrong, I did B/W films. The B/W stuff seems to be more erie, gothic. But the color seems to be more frightning because we see real life in color.
As far as action figures go, Hammer is a HUGE untapped market! If I were EMCE, I would be really trying to capture a slice of Hammer pie before someone else does.
Could you imagine a Lee Dracula, Reed Werewolf or Cushing Van Helsing in mego scale with the same quality as the EMCE Universal Monsters or the Spector Toys Dark Shadows lines?

[MIB41]

Yeah it would be cool to see an 8 inch version of Christopher Lee as Dracula. Here is my twelve inch beauty...

[Type3Toys]

Yeah it would be cool to see an 8 inch version of Christopher Lee as Dracula. Here is my twelve inch beauty...

http://megomuseum.com/mmgallery/file...opherLeeAA.jpg

Sweetness!! Could be a Hammer Horror movie day fo me thanks to that picture!

[MIB41]

You know what John? That's an excellent idea. I think I need some classic Dracu-Lee playing in the background while I work. Great idea.

[Cmonster]

Sweetness!! Could be a Hammer Horror movie day fo me thanks to that picture!

About time you took a break from Dark Shadows...

SC

[Gorn Captain]

My comparison:

Frankenstein: Universal wins.
Dracula: Hammer wins.
Wolfman: Hammer wins.
Mummy: Universal wins.

Hammer's creatures were a bit more vicious, but then again, they came over 20 years later and followed the times. I loved Oliver Reed in Curse.

And Hammer created some nice new creatures, like The Reptile, a female monster. I also liked their zombies in Plague.

[Cmonster]

Paging General Lepage... Paging General Lepage...

SC

[Mr.Krusher]

Hammer for me please, without a second thought. Lee and Cushing are unmatched, and the Prowse version of Frankenstein's Monster is FAR more effective than the Karloff version, in my humble opinion.

Though there is ONE Monster from Universal's stable that I prefer over ALL others though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE1dEoaLthw

(Watch all of these if you are a fan...very cool documentary...)

[wolfie]

the Prowse version of Frankenstein's Monster is FAR more effective than the Karloff version, in my humble opinion.

)

Mr Crusher, go and stand in the corner with your face to the wall and do not come back until i tell you to.

[Mr.Krusher]

I will NOT sir! and its Krusher, as in the MONSTER, NOT Crusher, as in the space tart!

C'mon...Karloff's Frankenstein was about as SCARY as a kitten!! It was a GREAT portrayal, dont get me wrong - very tragic and unsettling, but I still prefer the Prowse version.