Halloween

Rating:
Summary: Near perfect horror story.
Review: This is near perfect horror. Superb music, breath-taking suspense, great direction, and competent acting make this a classic horror film. Still scary!

Very highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Absolute Classic, but color-timing off on 25th Anniversary!!
Review: This is a true classic of the Gen that you don't see made like this anymore. There have been many imitations, but none have even come close to the sheer terror this movie sparks. If you want to get this movie, seek out the Limited Edition or the last re-release of this with the Hologram cover or the one with-out the hologram cover of the same transfer. I'd personally stay away from the Divimax 25th Anniversary edition if you want to see this movie the way it was intended. The color timing is completly off in this edition, which gives the movie a whole different feel. The grass looks green in the 25th anniversary one. When is the grass green in Haddonfield, Ill. at the end of October? The lights from porches are white, when in the original previous Anchor Bay editions they were dim green, or yellow porch lights. These maybe little minor differences to some people, but if you're a fan of this cult-classic, it's a major differnece, and gives the movie a whole different feel that just doesn't seem right.After all the releases that Anchor Bay has done on this film, you'd think this one wouldn't have been any different than the others with the color timing, except expecting a difference in the transfer, ie: sharp, crisp, cleaner picture. Not change the coloring for God's sake. The picture itself is a slight improvement over the other releases by AB, as in being crisp & cleaner, but the color is what screws this from being the "Definitive", and last dvd of this movie you'll ever need.Needless to say I was disappointed at this, as I was intending on this to be the definitive release, and was let down by throwing the color timing completley off. The sound though is very nice, and having the Commentary track that was on the "Criterion" Laser Disc thrown in, of Carpenter & Curtis, was a great touch. Please don't get me wrong though, I thoroughly enjoy this film no matter how many times I watch it, and never ceases to make you feel like you're being watched or something by some maniac, and you're going to be diced up at anytime. My only recommendation is if you haven't seen the film yet, (which I can't believe if no one has, especially a die-hard horror fanatic like myself), then stay clear away from the 25th Anniversary Divimax that is Anchor Bay's recent release of the film, and go for their last release of the film. It may cost you a few bucks for the Limited Edtion one seeing it's out of print, or the Hologram cover one, which is also oop, but the 2000 release of it that they sell here on Amazon is exactly the same transfer used on the Hologram cover release, and as it may not be as clean and crisp as the Divimax 25th, it at least is the correct color of the film, as was intended, and as was like in "EVERY" other Anchor Bay release of this movie. That's what burns me, is that color timing. How can they screw that up, when with every other release of this film by Anchor Bay, they were all correct? Inquiring minds want to know, but don't think we'll ever know? Aside of that it would be the definitve release of the film, but I guess we'll have to wait until someone is ready to do this right?Aside of all that hoopla, this is a movie that should NOT be missed, and should be watched and enjoyed by every horror fanatic out there. See where this whole Michael Myers thing started, with the best Halloween EVER. If you don't like this movie.... like, I mean, love this movie, upon viewing this for the first time or whatever, then you my friend have some issues. In my opinion. LOL. :O) Enjoy the show!!!

Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: Horror movies aren't made like this anymore. John Carpenter's 1978 masterpiece surpasses all other slasher movies hands down. If you haven't seen this movie and are a big fan of horror movies, then buying this dvd should be your only priority. Not many horror movies can be remembered for their brilliance, but Halloween will definitely stick with you for years to come. Both the directing and the truly incredible score will leave you wanting more in the end. Also check out Halloween II, very good sequel

Rating:
Summary: NO TRICKS..JUST TREATS
Review: WHAT CAN ONE SAY about a movie that even after 25 years continues to terrify and spook you? "Halloween" is like one of those nightmares you have where everything is so normal you can't believe it could happen. Carpenter and cinematographer Dean Cundey have created such an eerrie, "Normal" environment, that it's what makes this classic what it is----the boogie man lives, and even the numerous sequels after it, cannot erase the impact this horror classic has made...the score is one of the best horror film scores (along with Hermann's PSYCHO). One of the best!

Rating:
Summary: Great MOVIE.......and a GREAT DVD!!!!
Review: John Carpenter's Halloween is a complete classic. The sequels are also pretty decent as well. Not only is this movie a classic but anchor Bay's line of halloween DVD's are outstanding. The Halloween limited edition in particular which is currently out of print, probably has the best transfer out there. The sound quality is also upgraded to Dolby 5.1 The special feaures such as the The "Halloween Unmasked" Feature is interesting, along with trailers, and tv spots. This limited edition also comes with the tv version that has 12 minutes of added scenes not shown in theaters. Since Anchor Bay releases so many different verisons of the halloween dvd the best verisions you should own is the limited editon and the 25th anniversary edition. The 25th anniversary is the only dvd that comes with the Jamie Lee Curtis and john carpenter commentary along with a new documentary entitled "A Cut Abouve the Rest" and a 25 years later re-location spot. The divimax transfer is also really nice, looks like the movie was made 5 years ago. All in all this a great dvd and a classic horror movie everyone should own.

Rating:
Summary: Always to be a classic
Review: John Carpenter once said, "We have more to fear than killers in masks." Well he's right and he's tried to prove it by exploring different realms of fear in his films (gangs in "Assault on Precint 13" for example). His film "Halloween" took the mask killer concept to a whole new level, a level which unfortunately has been lost nowadays.

Mike Myers, the killer in the film, isn't a deranged, unstoppable apparition like Jason of "Friday the 13th." He's an insane killer of the Jack the Ripper persuasion, and in this film he escapes from the lunatic asylum where he's been since a little boy...when he killed his sister. He proceeds to stalk the town and kill people that night. Halloween night.

The ending...which I do not want to give away too easily, is also icing on the cake. It doesn't end the way you expect, and indeed it reminds you that there are crazy people out there like Mike Myers...waiting for you...to be alone...(I know I am corny)

Unfortunately, due to horrible sequals, Mike Myers has become a horrible Jason rip off. In the original movie he was an original killer. A mortal man who was simply deranged. Such men exist, and that makes this story all the more crazy.

Rating:
Summary: R.I.P. DR. LOOMIS!
Review: I own 1,2,4,5,6,7 &8! I don't own 3! I don't like it.

Rating:
Summary: Suspense, Suspense, and More Suspense!
Review: Halloween. That very word reminds everyone of that one night of the year in which fear can come out to play. The best movie to describe Halloween would most likely be John Carpenter's "Halloween".
It tells the tale of Laurie Strode(played amazingly by Jamie Lee Curtis)who is being stalked, stabbed, and horrified by a psychopathic killer named Michale Myers. Michale killed his sister at the age of six, was sent to an institution for years, and then escaped with one word repeating in his mind: Kill!
Laurie was babysitting when all the trouble began. Her friend wanted to have some "alone time" with her boyfriend so she sends the child she's babysitting to Laurie, who, with no choice in the matter, now has to babysit even more childeren.
However, when her friend is about to leave she is heartlessly thrown around, and later "sliced" by, the one and only, Michale.
Meanwhile, Laurie's other friend decides to spend the night with her boyfriend too, in the empty house across the street where Laurie is babysitting. It doesn't take much to figure out what happens to the two teen lovers.
So, when Laurie can't get into contact with her friends, she decides to go across the street and look around. From then on she's ruthlessly chased and nearly killed
Halloween is a great scary movie that really redefins it's genre. The whole plot is so frightening that you can hardly expect what will be around the next turn. However, some things got a little annoying. For example, how every 2 minutes the Halloween theme would play. It got so repetetive, an annoying that you just wanted it to stop. Plus, everything Laurie did was so dumb! Right after she barely hurt Michale, she'd drop her weapon(usualy a large knife)right next to the body and leave. Dumb! It got even worse when she did it a second time! On another note, I liked how the film contained small amounts of strong violence. It's nice to know that some films use more suspense than gore. All in all, it was a great movie, that will make you jump every time you watch it!
This Film is Rated R for Strong terror and violence, some strong sexuality, and Language.

Rating:
Summary: One of best low-budget horror films ever. Now a classic.
Review: John Carpenter is the master of low-budget shockers but give him a larger budget and generally his movie will be a train wreck. Sticking to the classic early work of Carpenter is the way to go if you want to see why this director is really revered as a master of the macabre movie.

Halloween is one of the most SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT LOW-BUDGET films ever made and it has spawned countless other imitations and set off many sequels. However none of the sequels, save for the second, comes anywhere near as close to achieving the effect of the first. Halloween was made by a young group of filmmakers, mostly under 30s in the late 1970s. The premise is exceptionally simple. A young deranged boy returns to his hometown as an adult to continue his killing spree. The film was originally titled "The Babysitter Murders."

The story does it have its problems, the acting can be dodgy at times and the film does have a short running time - however all corny plot misgivings are blown away by the suspense and the wonderful execution of the masked serial killer - Michael Myers. Make no mistake about it. Michael Myers is probably one of the most fantastic characters every committed to celluloid. He says nothing. His background is simply that he is psychopathically insane. He wears a white clown mask and he kills teenagers. So what makes him so unique? Its the way he moves and walks and the little things that he does, like turning his head from side to side when viewing his latest kill that makes him so intriguing. Never has a character seemed so complex by doing very little.

Halloween has three other things going for it. The scream queen, Jamie Lee Curtis, in her first real role, gives a solid performance as the teenager being stalked by a masked killer and when the film gets going she really does fit the part extremely well. Donald Pleasance plays a psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis driven to stop "The Evil" Michael Myers with an almost insane obsession with his escaped patient. The other thing is the cinematography of Dean Cundy. Halloween is one of the most VISUALLY STUNNING horror films ever made. Just look at the way each shot is lit and watch the way the camera moves. However the killer POV (point of view - a technique where the camera becomes the killers eyes) is not original and was done before in "Black Christmas". The cast is also only really just a handful of people. You can count them on both hands. So as far as low-budget horror goes this is the cream of the crop. For all they had the filmmakers certainly deliver on all counts.

Surprisingly the movie is low on gore but it still packs a punch most of which is audio driven. The wonderfully haunting soundtrack has since become a movie theme classic.

There are two versions of Halloween. The Cinema version and the TV version. The TV version is actually the longer version running in at an extra nine minutes and these additional scenes where shot by John Carpenter during the making of Halloween 2. The reason for the additional scenes was to create a longer running time for the movie which the television networks needed. Those additional scenes include a court mental health hearing, a visit by Dr. Loomis to see a young Michael Myers, a hospital room trashed by Michael Myers and additional scenes featuring Jamie Lee Curtis and her friends. This TV version is not really a directors cut but it does add a bit more depth to the film. You may not like the fact that Michael Myers is shown as an unmasked young boy though but it is still a joy to watch these extras.

Rating:
Summary: The original slasher flick
Review: Of all the glut of slasher flicks I have been subjected to watch over the past decade, the original "Halloween" is by far my favorite film. No movie has made me so wary of walking alone in the dark on Halloween, not to mention being in the dark in my apartment at night. It is amazing how a low-budgeted film like "Halloween" totally opened the doors for movies such as "Friday the 13th" and "Nightmare on Elm Street". John Carpenter created a masterpiece. Little did he know at the time...he also made a star out of a then-unknown Jamie Lee Curtis (daughter of Tony Curtis and scream queen herself Janet Leigh). Jamie Lee Curtis' performance as Laurie Strode remains ingrained in my head whenever I see Jamie on television. I was barely a teenager when I saw "Halloween" for the first time. The movie just freaked me out but in a good way. The music itself is unquestionably the scariest of all horror film scores I have ever heard. You know Michael Myers is coming when you start hearing the music. I think what makes "Halloween" such a classic is that it just isn't about blood and gore but rather the whole aspect of being stalked by a psychopathic serial killer like Michael Myers. Whenever I think of the late Donald Pleasance, I immediately think of his performace as Michael's psychiatrist Dr. Loomis. Forget Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers is the man. He scares the living daylights out of me than either of those two cheeseball serial killers. With that haunting music and that hideously evil, inside out William Shatner mask, Michael Myers is truly one of the most frightening characters in the whole horror genre. No matter how many times I have watched "Halloween", the movie surprisingly enough stands up well in over two decades since its release. Truly one of the most scary movies ever made.