Halloween II

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"You can't kill the boogeyman," explains John Carpenter in Halloween, and to prove it he brings Michael Myers back in this handsome but grisly sequel. Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode but spends most of her time cowering in a hospital gown, and Donald Pleasence runs around like a maniac as the panicky doctor desperate to hunt down Myers before he kills again. Carpenter writes and produces with partner Debra Hill, and together they replace the mystery and uncertainty of the original with an exponentially bigger body count and some strange tales about the Druids and pagan ceremonies, and the now-familiar family ties between Michael and Laurie. First-time director Rick Rosenthal (Bad Boys) paces the film at a brisk jog and directs it with a clean, crisp style, taking the murders out of the dark to display them in all their nasty detail. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Not bad for a sequel .......2007-09-14

This is a legendary movie no way it is as good as the first one though the ending kinda sucked.But if u love halloween movies or horror movies then yes pick this movie up to add to youe collection. its short and to the point.the movie starts off right after the first one and all threw its theres killing running screaming so dont let youre kids watch it pick this movie up u will enjoy give it a shot like i did.

2000 years later, we've come no further.......2007-08-31

In putting together this sequel, the powers-that-be decided to combine several of the strongest elements from the original film(Michael Myers, Dr. Loomis, the strong Halloween atmosphere)with the standard pace of an early 80's slasher film(people getting killed every 5-10 minutes.) For me, this is the ideal combination. There has not been a slasher movie since that I have liked as well.
Dr. Loomis is my favorite horror hero, and Michael Myers my favorite horror villain. They both enjoy some of their finest moments in this installment. I find this version of Myers creepier than the later incarnations, where he has suddenly grown into something resembling an nfl lineman. There is something in the deliberate movements, and the angular figure, that is decidedly inhuman. And Dr. Loomis elevates all of this to a far higher level than it could ever have achieved otherwise.His strength,courage, and iron will make him a hero. So do his moral concerns about seeing innocent people butchered. But there is also something in his personality that makes him the ideal adversary for the Bogeyman.Of course, as a psychiatrist, he feels professional responsibility. But it goes well beyond that. There is some part of his imagination that is obsessed with Myers, and some part of his humanity that is appalled by him. These feelings, taken in concert with his naturally heroic nature, make him the perfect combatant for Myers.
This movie has the ideal pace. The story is divided between Myers stalking people at the hospital, and Dr. Loomis working with the local police to track him down. Slowly, methodically, Michael Myers begins to remove the employees of the hospital, as he makes his way towards Laurie Strode.As always, he operates like a hunter, or sportsman. Several of his victims are given opportunities to save themselves, as they were in the first film. This is what sets Myers apart from typical killers-he is rather like an artist of the macabre. If it's too easy, he almost seems to regard it as beneath him. Of all the killings, my favorite is the nurse in the room with the aquarium. That whole scene is beautifully shot and lit, with the aquarium casting all sorts of reflections across the darkened room, and the cadaverous face of Myers gradually coming into view over the doomed girl's shoulder.The murder of the security guard is effective, as well.
The atmosphere is perfect. The long, winding hallways are ideal for a movie of this sort.There are just so many places where Michael Myers could be. The effect is only intensified as the night wears on and the primary lights are extinguished.The music is great, too. It incorporates the basic Halloween theme, but it has been altered enough to set it apart from any of the other films. It's not really a tangible thing: all of the elements just work for me.The doomed people, congregated in the dark hospital. The Bogeyman, always lurking in the shadows.Dr. Loomis, making his way ever closer to the scene of the slaughter.This is a film I never get tired of watching.

Great Sequel.......2007-08-30

This movie is on par with the original. It takes off where the first one left off. Donald Pleasence is a excellent actor and Jamie Lee Curtis is as well, as the girl in distress. The reason why I like the Halloween series is that there is a story behind the movies. It also feels like an epsiode of the Twilight Zone. I feel trapped with Laurie in the movie and trying to get away from Myers. Its the best horror sequel that has ever been made.

Bloodier, Sillier Sequel; Not a Bad Follow-up.......2007-08-27

"Is this some kind of joke? I've been trick-or-treated to death tonight."

"You don't know what death is!"

And then, the music...

The sequel to (at the time) the scariest and most successful independent film ever made, HALLOWEEN II is, probably, a better-looking film than the original. After all, there was a major studio behind this one--along with a new director and a disco-fied version of the original soundtrack that, surely, sounded SO COOOOL when the film was originally released. And the good news is that the movie's not half bad. Nowhere nearly as powerful as the original, it goes without saying, but entertaining enough.

Somewhere between the release of the original and the filming of this sequel, two important things happened. First, FRIDAY the 13th was released, ushering in a new era of mandatory gore for horror films. Second, Carpenter and Hill (both producing) realized that they had a lot of night left over from the end of HALLOWEEN. Consequently, new director Rick Rosenthal came in and made the sequel the second half of the same night as the first, and Michael traded in his very traditional kitchen knife for a hammer, scalpel, syringe, and .... steambath? Yikes!

The result is suspenseful, but predictable, horror fare with a lot of silliness. I liked it. Now, on to some trivia:

The ending to the first HALLOWEEN was actually re-shot nearly frame for frame for the beginning of this one (so that the film stock would match, I'm sure), but purists will notice a couple glaring differences: 1) Loomis fires seven shots from his six-shooter in this version, and 2) when the good doctor comes outside, he acts like he only realizes then--as opposed to the balcony shot in part I--that Michael has gone. Quibbles, yes, but I'm a fan.

(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire novel "Teeth: A Horror Fantasy.")

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger........2007-08-12

If this is true Michael Myers should enter into a world's strongest man competition.

I loved the original Halloween, I think it is one of the greatest horror movies there is and a great movie period. I liked the mystery of Michael Myers in the original and I bought into everything, any plot holes were ignored because I was so into the movie. For me horror is scary when it is realistic or I can relate in someway or the movie does such a good job I buy into what I am seeing. In this sequel i found myself annoyed by things or pointing out things that couldn't happen the movie never really got me.

I'd like to also point out I am not anti remake or sequel. John Carpenter himself has done one of the great horror remakes in The Thing [HD DVD] starring Kurt Russell. I didn't hate this nor did I love it. I think it is essential for horror fans in filling in the connection between Michael and Laurie. If this title had eluded you and you had seen the original and all other sequels you'd still know the connection but would be confused. I also do not believe this was made just for money and think John Carpenter was giving the horror fans what they wanted which was more Michael Myers and I think he makes a good effort trying to feed that hunger picking up literally from the original.

I always like to watch a movie fresh before reviewing and I did that with Halloween 2, however going by memory I would confidently say this is the strongest sequel of the bunch, and is worth a viewing.

I would give the dvd features but on the Goodtimes home video version of Halloween 2 there are none at all. The audio is only done in 3 channel Dolby digital and I have seen much better transfers.

**Interesting facts from the Internet Movie Database**
- This is the only Halloween film to show the morning after the 31st, every other movie ends on Halloween night.

- The film that the security guard and the Elrods are watching is Night of the Living Dead. (Which actually gets interrupted with reports on Michael Myers, maybe someone is trying to say something here.)

- The 17-year-old who was hit by the police car and burnt alive, at first believed to be Michael Myers, was supposed to be Ben Tramer, the boy Laurie confesses to have a crush in in the original Halloween. (Talk about having a bad nite)

- Believing Rick Rosenthal's version of the film to be too tame, John Carpenter shot a few gory scenes that were added into the film despite Rosenthal's objections.

Thanks for reading, share any comments.

Average customer rating:

You can't kill damnation mister!
Who's the one that let Rob Zombie get his hands on THIS?!
Puts the Horror in HORRIABLE
the REAL Halloween
MICHAEL MYERS IS HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween
Starring: Brian Andrews , Jamie Lee Curtis , Charles Cyphers , John Michael Graham , and Peter Griffith
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305546789
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Amazon.com essential video

Halloween is as pure and undiluted as its title. In the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, a teenage baby sitter tries to survive a Halloween night of relentless terror, during which a knife-wielding maniac goes after the town's hormonally charged youths. Director John Carpenter takes this simple situation and orchestrates a superbly mounted symphony of horrors. It's a movie much scarier for its dark spaces and ominous camera movements than for its explicit bloodletting (which is actually minimal). Composed by Carpenter himself, the movie's freaky music sets the tone; and his script (cowritten with Debra Hill) is laced with references to other horror pictures, especially Psycho. The baby sitter is played by Jamie Lee Curtis, the real-life daughter of Psycho victim Janet Leigh; and the obsessed policeman played by Donald Pleasence is named Sam Loomis, after John Gavin's character in Psycho. In the end, though, Halloween stands on its own as an uncannily frightening experience--it's one of those movies that had audiences literally jumping out of their seats and shouting at the screen. ("No! Don't drop that knife!") Produced on a low budget, the picture turned a monster profit, and spawned many sequels, none of which approached the 1978 original. Curtis returned for two more installments: 1981's dismal Halloween II, which picked up the story the day after the unfortunate events, and 1998's occasionally gripping Halloween H20, which proved the former baby sitter was still haunted after 20 years. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

You can't kill damnation mister!.......2007-09-13

I have always been a fan of the Halloween movie series. The original was w/o a doubt a true classic and masterpiece!

I recently saw Rob Zombie's version and was pleasantly surprised that it was pretty good. The Halloween series is the only horror series that I believe had a good story line.

Was that the Boogeyman? As a matter fact it was.

Who's the one that let Rob Zombie get his hands on THIS?! .......2007-09-09

Ah, that little Tommy Doyle. If only more people listened to him about the reality of the Boogeyman.

Who's the Boogeyman in this horror classic? Two words: Michael Myers. No, not the comedian. Someone better, someone more sick and sadistic.

Granted, this is a horror movie, with the occasional nudity. So what makes this stand out and become the building block of modern horror movies? The execution.

The story is well known. Myers kills his sister and is sent away to Smith Grove for fifteen years. Dr. Loomis has been treating him and is perplexed with Myers. "He hasn't said a word in fifteen years," Loomis professes. "...the devil's eyes."

Myers' is on a war path, taking out any pubescent and overly sexed up teen that is in his way. Why? To find his sister, Laurie Strode, played by the amazing Jamie Lee Curtis who can effortlessly command a stage.

What's great about this classic is that it doesn't rely on gore but the element of surprise. The fact that Myers is an enigma, with no actually reason to kill his prey. Is it for the hunt? Is it for the way he was treated as a child? We don't know, and quite frankly it is best we don't. Do we really want to sympathize with someone who just stabbed someone into a wall? No.

The movie is directed in a dim lighting as well, which adds more chills up and down the spine. The score is also timeless; a simple piano with each key the suspense picks up. A movie like Halloween is art in it's rarest form. It flows beautifully; the pace of the movie; the story; the suspense; and finally; the war between the two siblings.

It's not actually a "war." Just a slight slice around the arm, a coat hanger to an eye. But what's great is that it is left on a cliffhanger. Myers shot off a balcony only to be on the run for the sequel.

It was really a shame that Rob Zombie has ruined this classic. Turning his biological mother and father, who were decent human beings into a prostitute and a worthless couch potato was just insulting. Well, at least Myers has a new victim to kill...Zombie! And we have an awesome horror movie to cherish the moment in!

Puts the Horror in HORRIABLE.......2007-09-07

"What??? He gave this classic masterpiece 2 stars?!?" Is that whats racing through your so called brain? This film has been heralded as great horror, but its nearly as stupid, boring, and insulting to one's intelligence as some of todays worse slasher movies. This original version of the movie, unlike the Excorcist, does not stand the test of time. And why is that? Well, i hear time and time again, that this movie is a such a great essential classic. Being essential and classic doesnt apparently mean its truly great, becouse the acting is very bad in this movie. The script is dumb and the characters arent interesting or likeable. Its not as annoying and insulting as something like Halloween:Ressurection. ( a zero star movie) but its certainly NOT the great film its touted to be. And we hear "CLASSIC MASTERPIECE" over and over again in the same sentence as the title. But i honestly feel the people caling it that are just stuck on the fact that its suppost to be this "great classic" and dont or refuse to see it for what it is...a B-movie. Maybe it got popular becouse of the fact that in the late 70s, a movie with a killer in a mask like that, killing kids and people with a butcher knife was kind of a fresh idea. But as a movie, you cant deny how poor it is. It might be a classic old horror movie that sparked lots of trends, but this is NOT deserving of the word " MASTERPIECE ". Thats a complete lie. But people and critics keep saying it and saying it, but their words dont have meaning becouse it doesnt match up with the movie. The genre of "HORROR/SLASHER" movies hasnt been the most respected or acclaimed genres out there, to say the least. And i suppose within the relm of the endless sea of stupid gore fest slasher films, this must be the Father of them all and so its reveared as such a 'great' thing. But if you see it as a film, its not very good, and you dont even have to be some purist film critic snob. Anyone can see that fact. The music, the resounding piano theme is memorable and is classic. The legend that has become Michael Myers through out the years has grown beyond the depiction found in the original film. Michael Myers is not very impressive at all in this movie. He sounds allmost like an ape, how he breathes through the mask. And he just seems like he is mentally handicapped more than he is psychotic. And the 'teens' in this movie all look like they are allmost 30, like they should be outta college or something. Not convincing AT ALL as highschool kids. But all that is just side complaints. The movie itself is just boring, and i had to force myself almost to watch it in its entirity and give it a proper chance before i made final judgment of it. The image of Michael Myers and his theme music is what is truly legendary and haunting to this day....Not this film. Despite the 'popular critics' view, the recently re-telling of the film, directed by Rob Zombie, titled "HALLOWEEN". is far more superior film, that brings actual weight and respect to that legendary killer...MICHAEL MYERS. Out of respect for John Carpenter and his original film, watch this original movie made in 1978. But FIRST, if you have a choice for which to see first, id say see the Rob Zombie re-telling of "HALLOWEEN", first, that is a deep, emotional, and truly horrific piece of work, that captures the sheer intensity of what became the legend of Michael Myers that rises above and beyond the original, while stil giving it much respect. Rob Zombie delivers something awesome that truly and finally lives up to such a haunting legend...something neither the orginal or ANY of the sequals have EVER done, nor could do. Im no fancy critic, but im giving this 2 and half stars...the half is for its originality at the time, with its theme and character.

the REAL Halloween.......2007-09-02

I recently got back from the worst remake and probably movie ever made, Rob Zombie's Halloween. After about twenty minutes or so of that movie, I longed for this movie. Everything in this movie was perfect: The score, the actors and actresses, the setting seemed like a real home town, the gore was minuim but effective, and the story was good. There is no reason on Earth that anyone would hate this movie. If you prefer the other film over this classic, then you need to grow up.

MICHAEL MYERS IS HALLOWEEN!!!.......2007-09-01

halloween was and still is the movie everyone remembers and still talks about. enough said, john carpenter made you cringe and always look behind you with this one. he made babysitters all over the world lock their doors and keep a constant eye looking out the window. he made the boogyman real. this is a masterpiece. i'm hooked on this psychotic killer who just never dies. you can't kill evil, it just keeps on coming. and jaimie lee curtis, her breakout role, made a name for herself, great actress she has mad skills. this film is different from todays films but it still manages to scare you. you don't want to be alone, because he'll find you.

Average customer rating:

Death has come to your little town...
Will this have the correct color timing...?!?!?!

Halloween [Blu-ray]
Starring: Brian Andrews , Jamie Lee Curtis , Charles Cyphers , John Michael Graham , and Sandy Johnson
Director: John Carpenter
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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ASIN: B000UR9QHQ
Release Date: 2007-10-02

Customer Reviews:

Death has come to your little town..........2007-09-09

Once Halloween was Samhain, the one night of the year when the dead returned to cause trouble for the living.

Well, Michael Myers wasn't dead, but on "Halloween" he returned to cause trouble for the people of his hometown, with all its dark houses and teenage victims. And John Carpenter's masterpiece lives up to its reputation: creepy, eerie, harrowing, and full of solid acting from Donald Pleasance and Jamie Lee Curtis.

On Halloween, 1963, young Michael Myers lurked outside the house while his sister had sex with her boyfriend. After he left, Michael put on a mask, picked up a knife, and stabbed his sister to death.

Fifteen years later, Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) is about to take Myers to a legal hearing, when Myers (Nick Castle) breaks open the psych hospital and escapes in Loomis' car. On Halloween, teenage Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) notices a silent, masked figure popping up and disappearing near her school, house, and neighborhood.

Despite this, she goes about her babysitting duties, even taking care of another girl's charge overnight. The only problem is, the girl is dead, and so is another pal and her boyfriend. Dr. Loomis is staking out Myers' old home, unaware that Myers is now prowling the house where Laurie is staying -- and there seems to be no way to avoid the knife-wielding "evil."

It sounds like a thousand knockoff movies made since then, but "Halloween" formed the original mold. And like any other groundbreaker, it is the most stripped-down, intense example of the genre -- little gore, little graphic violence, but the way it's handled is enough to make your hair stand on end, and make you go to bed with a gun under your pillow.

And Carpenter handles the spookiness beautifully -- initially, the story is pleasantly average -- teen gossip, small-town atmosphere, and chatter about boyfriends, dances and babysitting. It has the occasional spooky moment -- such as Myers popping out of a hedge to stare at Laurie -- but isn't really scary just yet. But as Myers starts bumping off teenagers, the plot darkens and twists.

Carpenter spins up a claustrophobic, trapped feeling, partly due to a shadowy old house full of windows and doors, any of which could be Myers' way in. You can't help but jump with every shadow. And Carpenter sprinkles the plot with unspeakably creepy moments -- Myers quietly slithering in a window above Laurie, or dressing as a ghost with only his heavy breathing to identify him.

Curtis was the original scream queen thanks to this movie, and she does an amazing job -- even when she's racing around pounding on doors and shrieking, she seems realistic. Pleasance is just as good as Loomis, who is determined and full of dread at what his patient is, but also has his moments of humour (like when he frightens some pranksters at the Myers house). And though we only see Myers' face a few times, his masked face, silent movements and heavy breathing are the stuff of nightmare.

"Halloween" was a more psychological, atmospheric kind of horror, and it did its job almost too well. The original slasher movie -- harrowing, eerie, and petrifying.

Will this have the correct color timing...?!?!?!.......2007-08-26

The 1999 DVD release by Anchor Bay, (now Starz) had a Dean Cundey (cinematographer) supervised tranfer.
Halloween was shot in the summer in California where it hardly looks like fall in the midwest. Cundey had the film (and the 1999 DVD) color timed to look more "fall like" and to have creepy VERY blue light in the night scenes. The Divimax release from a few years back had a much sharper picture BUT the incorrect color timing. Suddenly, "Halloween" looked like summer in Cali. instead of fall in the midwest and much of the creepy blue light in the nightscenes was gone. MUCH less effective.

Question now, will this new BD have the correct color timing or will it just be the HD transfer they did for the Divimax DVD...?

Halloween (Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

You can't kill damnation mister!
Who's the one that let Rob Zombie get his hands on THIS?!
Puts the Horror in HORRIABLE
the REAL Halloween
MICHAEL MYERS IS HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween (Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition)
Starring: Brian Andrews , Jamie Lee Curtis , Charles Cyphers , John Michael Graham , and Peter Griffith
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009UW0N
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com essential video

Description

Divimax is a High Definition (HD) film transfer process that provides state-of-the-art picture quality--and can be viewed on any home entertainment system.

Customer Reviews:

You can't kill damnation mister!.......2007-09-13

Who's the one that let Rob Zombie get his hands on THIS?! .......2007-09-09

Puts the Horror in HORRIABLE.......2007-09-07

the REAL Halloween.......2007-09-02

MICHAEL MYERS IS HALLOWEEN!!!.......2007-09-01

Average customer rating:

A movie I like a lot more than I should
DON'T KNOCK IT!
Worst Halloween entry
One of my favorite films
THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE MORE ENTERTAINING THAN THE FILM...

Halloween 5 (Divimax Edition)
Starring: Donald Pleasence , Danielle Harris , Ellie Cornell , Wendy Kaplan , and Beau Starr
Director: Dominique Othenin-Girard
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FA57US
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Amazon.com

Starting around Halloween 4, that masked nut Michael Myers stopped chasing his sister (played by Jamie Lee Curtis in the first and second films, as well as Halloween H20) and went after his niece. Now he's chasing her around again in part 5, but it's a lot of other people who die in the process. Donald Pleasence continues his mad-doctor bit from the earlier movies, Danielle Harris is the unfortunate relation, and Donald L. Shanks plays the monster. The film is an improvement on parts 2 and 4 (part 3 having nothing to do with Michael Myers), but it still amounts to routine slaughter with none of John Carpenter's stylistic brilliance from the original movie. --Tom Keogh

Description

MICHAEL LIVES. AND THIS TIME, THEY'RE READY! Now Remastered In HD And Featuring An All-New Audio Commentary! Because Hell would not have him, Michael Myers survived the mine explosion thought to have killed him. One year later, his traumatized young niece Jamie (Danielle Harris of HALLOWEEN 4) is horrified to discover she has a telepathic bond with her evil Uncle…and that Uncle Michael is on his way back to Haddonfield. But Dr. Loomis (the late, great Donald Pleasence) has a new plan to destroy The Boogey Man in his childhood home using Jamie as bait. Tonight, the carnage begins again: Michael Myers is back with a vengeance! Ellie Cornell and Beau Starr return for this hit sequel that features grisly gore by K.N.B. EFX Group (ARMY OF DARKNESS, SCREAM, HOSTEL), and is now fully remastered in DiviMax™ for the ultimate in Michael Myers mayhem!

Customer Reviews:

A movie I like a lot more than I should.......2007-09-16

This review is a little long, so please bare with me.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers is a movie that has the fans split in the middle. A lot of people see this as the downfall of the series, while others praise it as the last great Halloween movie.

I have to admit Halloween 5 is a movie I like a lot more than I should and I sometimes think I like the movie for more what it could have been instead of what it is. The one thing I will say is Halloween 5 is probably the most flawed of the series.

The script written by Michael Jacobs, Dominique Othenin-Girard & Shem Bitterman was rather weak and filled with numerous clichés; John Carpenter & Debra Hill they aren't.

While not the worst script ever written, Halloween 5 has a lot of great ideas that never quite seem to work as well as they should. Bottom line is Halloween 5 feels more like a first draft rather than final shooting script.

They had some excellent ideas that if just re-worked a bit would have made Halloween 5 a very strong and solid movie despite being yet another sequel to long running franchises that dominated the 80s.

I love when Loomis says, "I prayed that he would burn in hell. But in my heart, I knew that hell would not have him." That does show some decent writing right there, though it is very much Carpenter/Hill.

The first half of the movie Jamie is a mute and she also has a psychic link with Michael Myers. While that may have turned off some fans I think it was actually a solid idea.

Jamie is helpless and afraid, but the problem is when all is said and done the psychic link between the two never really seems to go anywhere. At the end of the day it didn't advance the plot.

It seems the makers had some good ideas, but abandoned them along the way. Halloween 5 feels more like an early draft rather than final. Halloween 5 had some interesting ideas, but the execution wasn't really working well.

Some problems with the movie are just simple little things. The opening scene was kind of idiotic, which apparently was re-shot with somebody else and not done by Dominique Othenin-Girard; why would the old hermit just keep Michael is his house for a whole year? It was obvious the guy was hurt and the way the scene plays out the hermit doesn't seem to know who Michael Myers is. Its things that like are what bring down Halloween 5.

The hermit just lets Michael lay on the floor in a coma, logic would tell you to maybe go and get some help. The scene just really doesn't make any sense and bottom line is quite silly.

The characters unlike the past Halloween movies are more of your standard slasher movie characters. One can argue so was the original, but that was the original the one that helped kick these movies into high gear.

The characters lack the depth of some of the previous characters and seem to be there just to add to the body count. The one thing I did learn is the makers really must have liked Happy Days, since Mikey is obviously inspired by the Fonz.

Tina is a character like the movie that fans love or hate; personally I liked Tina a lot. Ok, sure at times she was a bit annoying, but at the same time I found her quite likeable as well.

The character of Sam had potential to be more than what she was, but she ends up being becoming the typical character in this type of movie, still she does the best she can and elevates the character just a bit.

The one thing the makers did get right was the Loomis character; the guy is pretty much at a breaking point. We always knew he was obsessed with stopping Michael and here it shows even more. All the years and violence finally caught up to him and he's pretty much willing to do anything to stop Michael.

Donald Pleasence is over the top at times, but that is exactly how the character is meant to be played. After the original Halloween, Loomis seemed to only be there since he was a fan favorite. Bottom line is he didn't really add much to the plot. But Halloween 5 actually does something with his character instead of standing around spitting out the same lines.

Donald Pleasence is one of my very favorite actors. He can play a role straight, but also over the top when it's meant to be played that way.

One of the biggest flaws is also the biggest asset for Halloween 5; The Myers house went from a normal sized house to a gothic like size mansion. Houses do not grow; I would have liked to have seen some kind of explanation on why the house is so big. Maybe someone was building there? May not be a great idea, but better than nothing.

As a director Dominique Othenin-Girard fairs a bit better, while he isn't John Carpenter by any means he is able to put together some fairly decent scenes, but again the script really brings down the movie. While Dominique Othenin-Girard isn't a very good filmmaker he does show some signs of life.

The pacing of Halloween 5 is very much mixed. There were too many scenes that take place is the daylight. While those scenes worked well in the original and were quite creepy they don't work quite as well here and some tension is lost due to that.

As I said the pacing was very mixed; despite a running time of 95-minutes there were too many scenes that were a bit pointless and slow the pace down rather than moving it forward.

The scene with Sammy and Tina, which seems to be outside the children's clinic where Jamie is, was just pointless. It didn't add anything to the movie and slowed down the pace. The introduction of Mikey could have been cut as well. In his next scene, which thankfully also happens to be his last would have served as a better intro and nothing plot wise would have been lost.

Another debate with fans is the two cops who offer up the comedy relief. I actually did like the characters, but they did break up the tension. A lot of their scenes could have been edited out or edited down and even if only a few seconds here and there it would have greatly helped Halloween 5.

That also brings me back to Tina, even though I did like her I will admit that at times she can be annoying in some spots. Editing would have helped there as well. Even if it was just one or two lines cut in some areas it would have taken away the more annoying scenes that Tina had.

The prank Tina, Sam and Spitz play on the cops really could have been taken out as well. At this point in the movie the false scare really wasn't needed and plus it was fairly obvious it was a prank being pulled so due to that there was no suspense on the scene, which just makes it pointless.

A lot of the scenes I brought up do greatly bring down the pacing; cutting those scenes wouldn't make Halloween 5 a classic of the genre, but I do think it would have made the movie a lot better.

What so many people hate about Halloween 5 is what I love the most, and that's the death of Rachel. Now let me explain that. It's not that I didn't like the character, because I did.

But killing off Rachel who was a major character in the previous so early on shows us anything is possible. Too many times the makers of these types of movies are afraid to take chances. They aren't willing to kill characters off because they are thinking about the next installment.

Rachel was a great character, but her death also helped Halloween 5 in other ways as well. It made Jamie more vulnerable. I understand why so many fans were upset, but I felt it helped the movie in some ways. Of course the downside is we lost a great character, but like I said I liked her death early on because it showed nobody is safe.

Director Dominique Othenin-Girard may not be a master of the horror genre, but he crafted several scenes that are the strongest of the series.

The barn scene with Sam and Spitz was one of the more solid scenes in the movie. The barn scene does go on a bit too long and does drag in some spots, but it was also one of the more suspenseful moments of the movie. It had great tension and very creepy feel. It could have been trimmed down just a bit though.

The car chase scene while a bit silly considering Michael really should have been able to run them down was a cool scene. It had some really great moments of suspense.

Tina's death I thought was actually one of the finer moments in the sequels. She sacrifices herself for Jamie and Jamie watches as Michael stabs Tina. The way Michael holds Tina for a moment afterwards as she is dying and telling Jamie to run. Then Michael simply lays her down and turns his attention to Jamie. I think that scene was excellent and quite creepy.

The final act to Halloween 5 was really strong as well. It was actually rather suspenseful and well-done. Again Dominique Othenin-Girard isn't what I would call a great director, but he does get some things right here and the chase scene in the final act he very much delivers. I still to this day feel the final act is a strong as any other final act in a horror movie.

This is where the house being so big greatly adds to the movie; Having Michael chasing Jamie around was very creepy and very well done.

Dominique Othenin-Girard and cinematographer Rob Draper do create a solid visual look. Halloween 5 isn't the most visually stunning movie I have ever seen, but it does look good. It has a European look much like the original Halloween did.

Some people say Halloween 4 captured the style of the original. I have to disagree. Go back and watch Halloween 5. The look of the movie was very much crafted like the original Halloween.

I think the mid-west look is captured but it's quite clear this movie was shot in the spring since the leaves are all green. But it's not a big deal since in the original we can see the fall look, but at times it's clear it's spring time.

I do feel the night scenes had more of a fall look; spring nights can sometimes be cool out much like fall nights. So that wasn't so much the makers as it is mother nature.

Another thing that has fans spilt is the man in black. Now you see this really was a double edged sword. Judging the man in black only in Halloween 5 and ignoring what he became it does add a great mystery to the movie. While, yes Halloween 5 is your typical stalk and slash movie the man in black gave it something a bit different.

We have no idea who this guy is; he just appears out of nowhere. That added some mystery to the movie. But the problem was I really don't think there were many directions to take the character. I believe it was bound to be a letdown for fans.

But judging it based only on Halloween 5 it was a solid mystery and the ending was a great cliffhanger and it was a shocking moment. The really funny thing though is how the man in black was able to take out the whole Haddonfield PD. Who was this guy really Jack Bauer?

So that does show you the writers had some decent ideas, but again the script feels more like an early draft rather then a final draft. Halloween 5 clearly needed some more work done. Had the script been polished up in some areas I don't think it would be one of the all time greats, but the final product would have worked more.

I'm not sure why there is so much hate for Halloween 5. In many ways it's your typical slasher movie that actually tries to be more than that. Halloween 5 has a solid plot, but gets lost due to the poor script. Halloween 5 has great music and a great villain and that helps elevate it over most slasher flicks released back in the 80s

Despite all the flaws in Halloween 5 it also has some really strong points as well. It won't rate as one of my all time favorites, but I think it's a fun watch and a movie I like a lot more than I should.

Don't go in expecting anything like the original. Just watch it as a slasher movie and it works; not a perfect movie, but when all is said and done it's a fun movie.

DON'T KNOCK IT!.......2007-09-16

This sequel really wasn't that bad...All the reviews that I have been reading here about "Halloween 5" claims that it is the worst sequel to the "Halloween" franchise.... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!! The worst was "Halloween 3". I am so sure that more people will agree...! The Rob Zombie remake of "Halloween" will someday be listed as one of the worst remakes in history!

Worst Halloween entry.......2007-09-14

Halloween is the best movie franchise but this movie is weak. The characters seemed to be rushed in from other movies from the time like Friday the 13th. I was watching Halloween 25 Years Later and they even admited this movie was rushed too quickly. Anther problem was Michaels mask. TUCK IT IN! It looks like the actor inside the suit didnt want to wear a mask, so he put it on loosely as possible. A few cool death scenes but other then that, this movie is probably the worst of the series.

One of my favorite films.......2007-08-28

This film is one of my absolute favorites from any genre. Like most sequels, it is simply a variation on the themes of the original. The Bogeyman stalks his victims, and Dr. Loomis stalks him, resulting in a 'triangular' hunt, of sorts. Of course, all of this is set against the backdrop of Halloween. What I find particularly appealing about this movie is that it fits comfortably within the confines of the series, yet still manages to be distinctive, as well. It is possessed of an aura that sets it apart from the other Halloween movies. However, it is still powerfully anchored to the essential elements of the original.
Perhaps my favorite dimension is the triangular hunt to which I have already alluded. For me, what sets Michael Myers and Dr. Loomis apart from typical villains and heroes is that neither of them derive their motivation from conventional human agendas.Myers, for example, is not driven to evil by any petty human frailty. He lives out what he is, and each action is its own reward. The same is true of Loomis. He knows, all too well, that, come what may, he has nothing to gain by stalking his patient. He has seen enough of Haddonfield to know that, no matter how much he may sacrifice, the best he can expect is to be misunderstood. He perseveres, knowing that he is risking his life for people who will never appreciate him, because this is who he is.Myers and Loomis share a bond that has been forged within the confines of the shadows.After all, the local police would suffice if all you wanted to do was to catch a shoplifter or routine hoodlum. But to combat the Bogeyman, a creature of the shadows, you need a hero who is equally at home in those solitary, dark places.
Halloween 5 makes use of the same devices that you find in the other films. The extensive cat-and-mouse scenarios, for example, with Michael Myers always just on the perimeter of the primary action.The part, early on, when he patiently stalks Rachel in her house, is effective. But my favorite sequence of this type happens later in the film, when the kids are in the old barn. This is perfectly lit, and perfectly paced, with Myers displaying all the patience of a master hunter as he silently watches his prospective victims. Once he does decide to act, the culmination is immediate and brutal. The barn sequence is one of my favorite scenes in any slasher movie.
The last half of Halloween 5 contains several of the greatest moments in the series.The car chase through the field, and the tragic death of Tina. Tina had her idiosynchrasies, but she did, ultimately, give her life for the little girl. This lends her death an emotional resonance that one does not ordinarily find in a slasher film.The final major segment, at the Myers' house, is incredible. The part where Jamie gets trapped in the laundry chute, with Michael Myers standing right beside it, is as suspenseful as anything dating back to the first film. The little girl frantically tries to scratch and claw her way back up the chute to safety-struggling with all her might to get a foothold, or some sort of traction-and, all the while, the hulking figure of the Bogeyman is only inches away, hacking furiously through the thin metal with his huge butcher knife. It is an inspired moment.
And, as always, Loomis rises to the occasion yet again. He overcomes the effects of a terrible knife wound to do battle with Myers once more.Considering his age, and the circumstances, and the fact that he takes the Bogeyman down with brute force this time-it may well be Dr. Loomis' finest hour.
There are other strong elements to be found here. The cinematography is beautiful and imaginative. There are lots of great shots where the murky darkness of the backdrops are offset perfectly by the bright crimson tones of the girls' costumes.Little Jamie's costume is used to even more vivid effect. It is possessed of a luster that makes her seem like a little sparkling amethyst cloaked in the darkness of night. The music is effective. There is a particularly nice touch at the point, about halfway through the film, where Loomis enters the Myers house. If you listen closely, you can hear gentle strains of the same music that was played when Loomis entered the Myers house in the original 'Halloween.' It adds a little nostalgic touch to the proceedings.On a more superficial note, I don't know when I've seen three such gorgeous women assembled in one movie. Rachel and Tina make a nice contrast, with Rachel being the ideal girl-next-door type, and Tina being somewhat more exotic looking.Which brings us to Sami. If I had to list the five best looking women I've ever seen, Sami would be on the list. She is a goddess.
There has been a lot of criticism directed at the more controversial aspects of this movie. The man in black,for example, or the two dumb cops. While I could certainly do without these characters(especially the cops) their presense is kept to a minimum. Out of an hour and forty minute movie, they are only onscreen for a couple of minutes. Some have been critical of the way that the Myers house has been transformed, or the way that Michael's mask looks. I simply look upon these things as this particular director's interpretation. At the end of the day, such inconsistencies have popped up throughout the series. They are no more severe in this edition than in any of the other Halloween films.
People often speak of having seen a movie 'hundreds' of times. Of course, I don't know how often they are exxagerating. For myself, there are only four movies that I have seen into the triple digits, and they all have 'Halloween' in the title(1,2,4,and 5.)These movies monopolize my imagination like nothing ever has. In this case, the special features are reasonably good, as well. I loved this movie from the first time I saw it, and I appreciate it more with the passage of time.

THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ARE MORE ENTERTAINING THAN THE FILM..........2007-08-24

Ahhhh...Halloween. I can remember when the sheer mention of the movie's title would make me uneasy. The flickering (and quite sick) jack-o-lantern that stared back at me from the opening titles of the 1978 classic. The eerie music that almost drove me insane with fright as a child. The memories of Michal Myers slowly stalking his victims like a hungry animal. The way the storyline was genuine and kept its audience interested. Yes...I remember, but memories are all that is left of this once fine classic.

We have here the fifth "Halloween" installment. We have a herd of annoying teenagers that are just set up to die. A Michael Myers mask that doesn't even come close to the original (come to think of it, the mask seems to change with every sequel, man...they can`t even get that right). A snob of a director trying to duplicate John Carpenter's style (and failing miserably). An entire formula that has been xeroxed again and again. A script that should have been nominated for an Oscar (sarcasm). The entire film is just hilarious. In fact...I have had more fun sitting down and reading the negative reviews here on Amazon than actually watching the movie!

It seems that every year, right around Halloween, the USA channel shows this film as part of its festive, late night entertainment. This is what my friends & I have longed referred to as comedy night, we all sit through this turkey and laugh to our hearts content.

Seriously, this is one of the lamest attempts at horror in cinematic history so keep those negative reviews coming!

Average customer rating:

FREAKY, SCARY, AND CREEPY!!!
Step right up for chills, spills and thrills!
Why did I bother?
One of my favs!
There are some nice horror visuals here... and the story isn't too bad.

House on Haunted Hill
Starring: Jeffrey Combs , Peter Gallagher , Famke Janssen , Max Perlich , and Bridgette Wilson
Director: William Malone
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00003CWRF
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Amazon.com

House on Haunted Hill is one of the new breed of waste-no-time thrill machines, like Deep Blue Sea, and a particularly effective example at that. The plot is pure contrivance: For a party stunt, a wealthy amusement-park manufacturer (Geoffrey Rush) offers five people a million dollars if they spend the night in a former insane asylum where the patients murdered the sadistic staff. But it turns out the five people who arrive aren't the five he invited--did his wife (Famke Janssen), who hates him, make the switch? From there events unfold with a smart combination of human and supernatural machinations; spooky jolts are dispensed at regular, but not entirely predictable, intervals. The visual effects owe a considerable debt to Jacob's Ladder, a much more ambitious movie; House on Haunted Hill just wants to get under your skin, and succeeds more than you'd expect. Rush is his entertainingly hammy self; Janssen, Taye Diggs, Ali Larter, and Bridgette Wilson are attractive and reasonably straight-faced about it all; and Chris Kattan is genuinely funny as the house's neurotic owner. Some elements of the plot seem to have been lost in the editing process, but it hardly matters. More bothersome is that the scares go flat when computer effects take over at the end--the digital images just aren't as creepy as the more suggestive stuff that came before. But that's just the very end; most of the movie has a lot of momentum. Watch until the end of the credits for a final bit of eeriness. --Bret Fetzer

Description

When an eccentric millionaire offer a group of opposites $1,000,000 to spend the night in a so called "Haunted House" with a murderous past, they figure it is a quick way to get quick money and leave. All of them are sure it is some made up story just to mess with their heads a little and test their courage. But, once they stay in the house they start to think about the mistake they made in coming there when mysterious things start to happen.

Customer Reviews:

FREAKY, SCARY, AND CREEPY!!!.......2007-09-04

my kind of movie. it had the goodies that i like, enough to make me jump. the whole storyline was good. people would do anything for money. they got in to deep. crazy stuff starts happening, freaky looking creatures start appearing, torturous stuff, but i really liked it. i've watched it lots of times, and it still has that same effect on me. where my hair stands on end. crazy, but i love those kinds of movies. the actors were good, geoffery rush, brilliant man, love this guy and he can act no doubt. any role this man is great. on the priates of the carribean as well. they play there roles so well, it's just believable. i certainly think this is a good one to give you a scare anytime of the year.

Step right up for chills, spills and thrills!.......2007-06-29

Ladies and Gentlemen, and American Idol haters and fans, allow me to direct your attention to the big screen, where you'll bear witness to chills, spills and thrills that will haunt you till the day you die. Behold the "House on Haunted Hill," and let the nightmare begin!

As far as remakes go, this is the best I've seen. I saw this movie alone, and let me tell you, it was quite a thrill ride. The high gore level makes this movie really fun to watch. Jeffrey Combs is the greatest actor of all time. Buy/rent this movie, and see if you can survive a trip through a Haunted House for the second time in many years...if you dare. Highly recommended.

Why did I bother?.......2007-03-26

I kind of wanted to see this movie when it originally came out in theaters, but I never got around to it...I'm glad I didn't. This movie was really bad. Most of the scenes just didn't make any sense. The characters weren't likeable at all, I couldn't have cared less if they all got killed. The acting was awful and the script was just down right horrendous. Some of the worst lines came from chris kattan's character like, "this house is alive, we're all gonna die" and "you give me my money right now...I want it, so you give it". Thats the kind of bad script that I'm talking about. The only slightly decent thing in this movie is some of the special effects. I would also like to give credit to geoffery rush for trying to do the best he could with what he was given. All and all...don't watch this movie.

One of my favs!.......2007-03-10

This is by far one of my favorite movies. This is definitely not for the weak of heart though, lots of disturbing imagery.

There are some nice horror visuals here... and the story isn't too bad........2006-09-01

House on Haunted Hill is your standard "group killed off one by one but no one knows who it is" ghost movie, and on that level, it works, despite having "been there done that". With that said, there are decent performances, but what really saves this film is the horror visuals and special FX, which are a little 'trippy' considering a asylum doctor who appears on the monitor, and his head flicks back and forth very quickly. Yes, it was based on an earlier work but it works well here, along with the basic gore FX and dark castle/mansion setting.

The pace is decent, and there are some memorable kills. I've seen worse, and at best, this is a slightly above average ghost film.

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THE BIG BANG.......FOR HORROR!!!
creepy, cool
How diabolical can a woman be???
Dream a little dream of me
Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Starring: Werner Krauss , Conrad Veidt , Friedrich Feher , Lil Dagover , and Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
Director: Robert Wiene
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305075492
Release Date: 1997-10-15

Amazon.com

A milestone of the silent film era and one of the first "art films" to gain international acclaim, this eerie German classic from 1919 remains the most prominent example of German expressionism in the emerging art of the cinema. Stylistically, the look of the film's painted sets--distorted perspectives, sharp angles, twisted architecture--was designed to reflect (or express) the splintered psychology of its title character, a sinister figure who uses a lanky somnambulist (Conrad Veidt) as a circus attraction. But when Caligari and his sleepwalker are suspected of murder, their novelty act is surrounded by more supernatural implications. With its mad-doctor scenario, striking visuals, and a haunting, zombie-like character at its center, Caligari was one of the first horror films to reach an international audience, sending shock waves through artistic circles and serving as a strong influence on the classic horror films of the 1920s, '30s, and beyond. It's a museum piece today, of interest more for its historical importance, but Caligari still casts a considerable spell. --Jeff Shannon

Description

This milestone film, known for its expressionistic sets and techniques, tells the strange tale of a sleepwalker under the spell of the mysterious and evil Dr. Caligari.

Customer Reviews:

THE BIG BANG.......FOR HORROR!!!.......2007-08-30

I was saving this review for number 99! Buuuut a dear friend of
mine commented that he has never seen a Silent film?????
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is generally regarded as thee MOTHER
of ALL HORROR films(no argument from me) this highly influential
psychological chiller tells of sideshow magician Dr.Caligari
who exhibits a zombie-like somnambulist whom he also uses as
a weapon for murder.(spoiler)In the end,though,everything
turns out to be the ravings of an asylum inmate or is it? With its
stylized painted flat sets and exaggerated makeup and acting
technique,Caligari single-handedly established the Expressionistic school
of filmmaking and created MANY standard HORROR plot devices-The mad
doctor,the ZOMBIE,the abducted heroine being carried off and I LOVE
saying this the FIRST!!!!!!!! To use the FAMOUS shock-twist ending
that is STILL used today! If you are a lover of HORROR or just
great cinema...Buy the DOCTOR...ITS TIME FOR MOTHER TO COME HOME
AND YOURS IS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

creepy, cool.......2007-07-03

I've been getting into these old suspense/horror/sci-fi films lately, and this has got to be one of the better ones. The plot is cool and mysterious, and the twisted sets in which the story takes place give it a strange, surrealistic feel. Anyone interested in silent films has got to check this one out.

How diabolical can a woman be???.......2007-07-01

Dr. Caligari presents the viewer with a frightening vision of the world through the lens of German Expressionism.

I cannot recommend this film highly enough. It's truly fascinating. And, it really (really) is an art film, since it purposefully and strikingly exhibits the new art of the German inter-war milieu. So, be prepared for an other-worldly excursion into the "total work of art," or Gesamtkunstwerk, of this monumental and influential film.

This film is best seen at night, alone, and with the modern soundtrack which is available on the fully restored version. If the DVD you're watching does not have (a) choice of two soundtracks (traditional music and much-scarier modern track), (b) tinted inter-titles set in a surrealistic (actually expressionistic) font, and (3) is fairly high quality, then send it back and get the restored version. The quality and completeness of silent films are a major factor in experiencing the art form as it was meant to be experienced. The modern sound track in Dr. Caligari makes the film much more accessible for modern audiences (the eerie effects in the modern track heighten the feel of the film for the modern viewer) - try both tracks, you'll see.

It's surprising how frightening and impactful this film can be. You will have dreams about it, I promise. These between-the-wars German films are riddled with creepy foreshadowing for us in the present, who know what was about to happen in Germany.

Anyway, I think the film is best viewed with NO NOTICE. You don't really want to know the plot (the meaning of the end of the film can be interpreted in radically different ways - keep that in mind when it happens). Only one note - artistically the German Expressionist movement is worth reading about after you see the film - you'll notice the theme of "death and the maiden" woven into this artwork. Also, this film is the direct ancestor of films like "Nightmare Before Christmas" and a lot more - you'll recognize the Expressionist look in many presentations in television and film.

WARNING - I would NOT show this film to children. It's very subtly and psychologically undermining - you'll be thinking and freaking about this thing for months to come - such a thing shouldn't be experienced by children - it's an adult, art film (no, not that kind) made for adults.

Dream a little dream of me.......2007-07-01

Two men are sitting on a cement bench by the garden wall. One casually says there are evil spirits all around. As a woman in white glides by the second man Francis (Friedrich Fehér) says that is my fiancée Jane (Lil Dagover) and let me tell you what happened to us.

As his story begins we are subjected to a weird world of light and twisted shadows. A string Dr. (Caligari played by Werner Krauss) brings a somnambulist (sleeping man played by Conrad Veidt) to a local fair. The somnambulist knows all things and can predict the future; he prophesizes correctly Allan's (friend of Francis and rival for Jane's hand) murder and pilfers Jane from her bed chamber. But how can this be; as Francis has been keeping an eye on the doc and the snoozer all night and they have not moved?

I leave you with this thought "Du mußt Caligari warden"

Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.......2007-06-20

One of the finest achievements of the silent era and in some ways an allegory of Weimar Germany's decadent demise, Wiene's "Caligari" is an eerie, heavily stylized horror film. With its distorted angles, chiaroscuro lighting, and jarring German expressionist sets, the film is a striking precursor not only to Lang's "Metropolis," but to the look and atmospheric feel of 1940s American noir. And its tale of a crazed doctor and his zombie-like proxy introduced a basic template for many later horror features. Still creepy and lurid after eighty-five years, "Caligari" will cast a spell on you.

Average customer rating:

Good movie, but Zombie's is way better.
WARNING!
The 1999 version...in a brand new cash-in slipcover!
Don't let Anchor Bay take advantage of you!
Top ten horror films of all time

Halloween
Starring: Brian Andrews , Jamie Lee Curtis , Charles Cyphers , John Michael Graham , and Sandy Johnson
Director: John Carpenter
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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