Jason X 3 On DVD!

Just in time for Father's Day -- three "Deluxe Edition" DVDs of three of the better Friday The 13th movies! And after all, Jason, the hockey-mask-wearing slasher of sexually promiscuous teens, is the Republican dad in us all.

Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter was supposed to be the last in the series, and was directed with aggressive vigor by Joseph Zito. Jason has been taken to the hospital morgue, but rises to return to Camp Crystal Lake to do more damage. Crispin Glover is one of the teens and does a frenetic chicken dance that is hilarious. And ultra-cute former soap star Peter Barton has an an unfortunate encounter with Jason in the shower that is skull-crushingly great. Extras on the disc include an ending that mercifully wasn't used, commentary by the director and "slashed scenes." This is one of the better of the movies too.

Friday The 13th Part V: A New Beginning (Paramount) was the meta-Jason film. Little Tommy, who murdered Jason in Part IV, is now a cute disturbed teen at a camp for disturbed teens. When murders start happening is Tommy taking up where Jason left off? Commentary by the director Danny Steinmann is pretty interesting about where the studio wanted this franchise to go. And an extra, The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited Part II, is wonderful as well.

Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (Paramount) is the best of the Friday The 13th movies. Directed by Tom McLoughlin, Jason is resurrected from his grave, struck by lightening and is now immortal. But the director has wonderfully witty touches throughout the film -- and keeps it scary too. One kid is seen reading Sartre's No Exit in his bunk, and when Jason is going on a rampage, one kid crouched under a cot says to another kid: "So what did you want to be when you grew up?" I feel close to this film in many ways too -- because the Jason mask I have hanging in my kitchen (one of the best Christmas presents ever) is from this film!