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Halloween: H20

Halloween: H20

List Price: $14.99
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: H20 delivers
Review: There is a general agreement out of Halloween fans that this is one of, if not the best, sequel. They're right.
Thanks to the return of JLC, some cool action, a tense atmosphere, a fresh plotline, and a fresh new look to the series, this easily ranks as one of the better sequels for me, and i'm sure most people will agree.
Halloween H20's plot, whilst not exactly all-new, is a complete change from the storylines used in parts 3-6 (i've never seen part 6, but i think i could pick it up), which are consequently never mentioned in this film. It is a return of sorts to the original Halloween storyline.
This time, we follow Headmistress Tate (Jamie Lee Curtis), who is now the principal of a californian private school. Even exactly 20 years after the original Halloween massacre, she still suffers frightful hallucinations about her masked maniac brother, Michael Myers, all the more so considering it's halloween time. Her fears though, as everyone keeps telling her, are surely unfounded, aren't they? Well, no. Because this Halloween, Myers is returning to hunt his surving sister, and will be slicin' and dicin' anyone who happens to get in the way.
This film contains some great action sequences and we do see some actual shocks and scares in this one, that are lacking in most of the sequels. Some complain that this film feels more like scream than Halloween. Considering Kevin Williamson (the writer of scream) and his involvement, i suppose this was inevitable. The film does have a very scream type feel to it, but this is to the film's credit, and injects new life into the Halloween series. The performances in this film are good to. JLC is as good as you would expect, while the teens, whilst not being great, are thankfully unnannoying. LL Cool J is the school security guard, and he's funny.
OK, this film isn't perfect. For instance, where is Myers' heavy breathing? What's up with his mask? Now you can see his eyes, and it looks goofy. In fact the Myers himself in this film isn't really great. I don't think that the actor inside the suit has acquired the style to play him well. Oh well, at least Myers is once again unstoppable. Or is he? Watch the ending carefully. Sadly, there is no Donald Pleasance this time around.

This film is doubtless though, a good sequel. Any self-respecting movie or horror fan should get it on DVD or video.
I'd give H20 3 1/2 stars for being entertaining, sometimes scary, and perhaps even a touch original.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: H20 delivers
Review: After the success of scream in 1996, it's perhaps no surprise that the ubiquitous Halloween series should get a sixth sequel in the next few years that followed. Halloween: H20, twenty years later, to give it its full title, shares quite a few similarities with the scream films, in its style and execution (no pun intended). Perhaps when it is considered that Dimension pictures, the company which brought you scream is the firm behind this latest installment, it's no surprise.
If you want a re-hash of Halloweens 4-6, you're going to be disappointed. This film has a new feel to it that was continued with the inferior Halloween resurrection. Admittedly, all the correct ingredients are there, family members, gruesome killings, stupid teenagers and of course Myers himself, but there are some big changes, both in style and cast.
First, the bad: Loomis is not present. This shows on the film as it draws on. Loomis was good bacause he provided a counter to all the screaming teenagers that permeate most slasher movies. Halloween films where generally superior because they had this factor. Unfortunately, it's now lacking. But Laurie Strode has returned for the first time since Halloween 2, meaning a change in storyline. It's not exactly all-new, but it's different from the last few sequels, and reprises the original Halloween/Laurie storyline.
Curtis shines as she reprises her role as Strode, but this time it's not her who's screaming most. She's no longer an innocent teenager, and, realistically, bears the mental scars of having a psycho for a brother. This makes for some impressively tense scenes in the film. The meat in the sandwich this time is Strode's son, played by Josh Hartnett, his girlfriend, and a few other friends. The scenes where Myers chases them underground are the most tense scenes in the Halloween series for quite some time. Although it's not as scary as the original Halloween, it's scarier than the other sequels i've seen (parts 2,4,8).
Overall, Halloween: H20, is an orignal entry in the series and outdoes itself as a sixth sequel. It's visibly changed for a more modern horror feel (think scream, etc.) but this is to it's credit. Although it's far from perfect, it's a superior edition to the Halloween series and a good horror film in it's own right. On a side note, watch the ending very carefully. It will keep you thinking how exactly another sequel came about. This is explained in Halloween resurrection.

3.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up to 4).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not perfect but slightly enjoyable.
Review: I was disappointed with this movie because everyone said it was the best sequel. I slightly agree with that. Resurrection was laughable. The 2nd was shameful, the 3rd wasn't even Michael Myers and the others I haven't seen but only included one of the original cast members but probably ...anyway.

H20 was made in 1998, 20 years after the original (hence the subtitle "20 YEARS LATER"). It is 1998 and Laurie Strode (the beautiful Jamie Lee Curtis) has changed her name and is now the headmistress at a private high school in California. She has been waiting for Michael Myers (NOT AUSTIN POWERS!) to come back for her, and he finally has and he's not only after her, he's after her son (Josh Hartnett in his first and worst role) and his girlfriend (Michelle Willaims of Dawson's Creek).

The movie doesn't really scare you, but it works as a thriller. I give the movie 8/10. HERE IS A CONTENT RATINGS BOARD FOR PARENTS WHO AREN'T AWARE OF THE FILM'S CONTENT:
(OUT OF 10 Stars 1 being the lowest, 10 the highest)

Language: 6/10
Sex: 2/10
Nudity: 0/10
Violence: 9/10

PLUS DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE DELUXE SERIES LOGO, the only features are a theatrical trailer, a mini featurette and a Creed music video (What's This Life For, from their first album My Own Prison).

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: This new Michael's heart just isn't in it
Review: Halloween H20 is a nice attempt to return to the core of the Michael Myers saga, but I think it comes up a little short in several ways. First off, you have to forget that films three through six in the series ever happened, which is a pity given that I enjoyed those more than most fans seemed to. Now, I am sure you remember Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), Michael's sister whom he tried to kill on several occasions in the somewhat distant past, the one who survived only to be killed in a car accident a short while later. Well, not only is she not dead, she has made two big mistakes in her new life as Keri Tate: she has had a son named John (Josh Hartnett) who has never seen a comb or hairbrush in his seventeen years of life, and she has developed some kind of relationship with a character played by Adam Arkin. I do not know why I dislike Adam Arkin so much, but I was begging Michael to kill him from the first moment I saw him. Anyway, Lori/Keri is now the headmistress of a supposedly highfalutin school in California, yet even after twenty years she is fighting her brother's demon, seeing his face over and over again every day. Her son knows the whole story, but he is tired of being overprotected, telling his mother that Michael is dead and no longer a threat - despite the fact that they never found his body. He is just a boy, but he should know better than to think Michael is out for the count. A little break-in and bloody mayhem at the home of Dr. Loomis' former nurse gives Michael all the information he needs to find his supposedly dead sister. Since it is Halloween, Michael thinks it is only fitting to celebrate the anniversary of his old murder spree with his newly discovered family. With only seven potential victims at the school (everyone else in the class having gone camping in Yosemite ' why the school would organize a camping trip on Halloween is the biggest mystery of the whole movie), there is really not enough carnage to go around, but the movie's opening walk down memory lane and a later reenactment of sorts by Lori of her trademark closet sanctuary escape plan help make up for some of the disappointment. The most impactful moments of the film are the occasions when Lori and Michael come face to face for the first time in twenty years, although Alan Arkin's little gun adventure qualifies as my favorite moment of the film by far.

Halloween H20 is a lot of fun in several ways. The manner by which a supposedly-dead Michael keeps appearing, even after twenty years, to a haunted Lori in mirrors and reflections is presented very well. I loved LL Cool J's character Ronny Jones, the school security guy and frustrated romance writer; he supplied many a laugh to help fill the void of no murders taking place for far too long. Jamie Lee Curtis' mother and Psycho shower victim Janet Leigh makes a fun cameo as Lori's motherly secretary, and it was nice to see Dr. Loomis' chain-smoking former nurse again. I was especially gratified to hear a voiceover of Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance) in the opening credits. For me, Dr. Loomis was as much a part of Halloween as Michael himself, and these films made since Pleasance's death really lack the spark he always brought to the drama. Speaking of no spark, though, I have to say I am not a fan of the new guy behind the mask. Chris Durand does not seem to bring anything to his character. I know that Michael is evil incarnate and pretty much dead inside, but he really just seemed to be going through the motions this time around. Finding out that he had been tricked and that his sister was still alive after all these years should have infuriated him, but Michael looks bored throughout this whole movie. There is one scene I especially hate; we look into Michael's eyes and see a reflection of a budding young victim; to me, Michael's eyes are supposed to be so black and empty that they will not reflect anything at all. Sadly, Michael is just not himself this time around, and the fact that he continues to have so much trouble killing one frightened woman is really starting to make him look pretty weak in my eyes.

All in all, though, the film is well worth seeing, if for nothing else than for the special little treats that long-time horror fans will appreciate. A more impressive actor behind the mask and a lot more bloody mayhem might possibly have made this movie something special, though.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: THE BEST ''HALLOWEEN'' IN YEARS
Review: THIS SEQUEL REALLY PUT MICHAEL MYERS BACK ON TRACK. IN THIS ONE; MICHAEL RETURNS 20 YEARS LATER TO FINISH OFF HIS SISTER [JAMIE LEE CURTIS], WHO IS NOW A TEACHER AT A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA, AND HAS A SON [JOSH HARTNETT]. THIS MOVIE IS REALLY THRILLING, ESPECIALLY THE ENDING. ONLY MAJOR FLAW; CASTING LL COOL J. LL HAS NO PURPOSE IN THIS MOVIE. THIS IS THE BEST SEQUEL THAT ''HALLOWEEN'' HAS TO OFFER. AND THE PLOT SEEMS TO IGNORE ALL OF WHAT HAPPENED IN HALLOWEEN 3-6. OTHER THAN THAT, THIS MOVIE IS GREAT AND IT'S UP THERE WITH THE ORIGINAL.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: At least Jamie Lee Curtis is back
Review: This was definetly my least favorite of all the Halloween movies.
The only good thing about it was that Jamie Lee Curtis returned.
I didn't like the fact that they totally disregarded the last two movies. Although Jamie Lee does talk about how she faked her own death, she never mentions the fact that she has a daughter (who appeared in Halloween 4 & 5.)I was also bothered by the fact that the movie was not set in Haddonfield, it just wasn't the same. It was like taking Jason out of Camp Crystal Lake. The movie almost seemed like an excuse to find roles for the up-and comer teens which where very hot at the moment. I also had a serious problem with the guy they cast as Michael Myers. Gimme a break! First of all, he was way to short, he walked like a duck, and YOU COULD SEE HIS BIG BLUE EYES! Michael's eye are supposed to be black! Also,the mask was totally wrong. The scariest mask they used was in The Curse Of Michael Myers. The only thing I enjoyed about this movie was the fact that they did keep it going by making another movie. If I wasn't a die hard Halloween fan, I probably would have enjoyed this movie alot more, but there was just too many things wrong about it. I didn't fit in with any of the other movies in the series. They should have gone back to the end of Halloween 5 and started again.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Impressive return to form for Michael Myers saga
Review: HALLOWEEN H20 20 YEARS LATER (USA 1998): Now living under an assumed identity as the principal of an exclusive private school in California, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is once again besieged on Halloween night by her murderous brother Michael, who appears to be targeting her grown-up son (Josh Hartnett).

Apparently instigated by Curtis herself in the run-up to the twentieth anniversary of the original HALLOWEEN (1978), and with uncredited script contributions by SCREAM writer Kevin Williamson, HALLOWEEN H20 20 YEARS LATER was promoted by Dimension Films as the 'final showdown' with boogey man Michael Myers (though its success at the box-office virtually guaranteed even further sequels). An ingenious script - credited to Robert Zappia and Matt Greenberg - simply ignores the lackluster sequels which followed in the wake of HALLOWEEN II (1981) and makes a credible attempt to develop the characters beyond the usual stereotypical boundaries (plagued by nightmares which cause her to fear for Hartnett's safety, Curtis refuses to grant the boy his independence, leading to conflict and tragedy), all of which serves to underline the dramatic impact of Michael's subsequent rampage. There are too many false scares during the first half of the film (one of which involves Curtis' real life mom Janet Leigh, cast here in a deliberate nod to her appearance in PSYCHO), and the influence of SCREAM and its imitators is evident in the hip dialogue and MTV-style editing, though Daryn Okada's widescreen lensing successfully replicates the look and feel of the first two 'Halloween' movies, and the relentless chase scenes which dominate the second half of the narrative are staged with genuine cinematic flair by director Steve Miner (previously responsible for entries 2 and 3 in the 'Friday the 13th' franchise). Nancy Stephens reprises her role as a nurse from the original HALLOWEEN in a memorable pre-credits sequence, and Michelle Williams (TV's "Dawson's Creek") turns up in a supporting role alongside Adam Arkin ("Chicago Hope") and LL Cool J (DEEP BLUE SEA), while Hartnett (PEARL HARBOR) makes an OK big screen debut as the focus of Michael's psychotic attentions. The film is dedicated to the memory of the late Donald Pleasence.

'Halloween H20' runs a compact 85m 52s on Dimension's region 1 DVD, which letterboxes the wide Super 35 frame at 2.35:1. Picture quality is generally OK, but the absence of anamorphic encoding has resulted in visual compromises throughout, particularly in terms of sharpness and detail. Released theatrically in a choice of Dolby, DTS and SDDS digital soundtracks, the DVD is presented in Dolby 5.1, which is fine for the most part but undistinguished overall. Extras include a trailer, a hideous music promo (for a rock song by Creed which plays over the closing credits and kills the movie's carefully-wrought atmosphere stone dead!) and a brief 'Making of' documentary, during which producer Moustapha Akkad promises (threatens?) to continue making 'Halloween' movies for years to come!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An Improvement From the Last 2
Review: This was a great Halloween sequel, better than the last two.This is a huge alternate ending after the 2nd Halloween, What would happen if Louri Strode did not accidents die in in a car accident but only faked that she died, what would happen she had a son instead of a daughter.You get to find out in Halloween 20 Years Later where Michael has not shown his covered up face in 20 years.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not happy with this one!
Review: This is basically a direct sequel from Halloween 2,leaving out 4,5 and 6,can you believe that?!anyway Lauries life has been ruined by what happened to her,Michael kills Marion Chambers from the first and second and finds Laurie and her son and we got LL Cool J in this who didnt even die!well at the end we thought that Michael was dead cause he got decapitated,but thankfully for Ressurection director of the second fixed that up for us,i remember seeing this movie and i just walked out of the cinema laughing!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Michael goes cross country....
Review: Where do I begin with this one? First of all, I think it's great that they bring back Laurie Strode, and the beginning scene is the only part of the movie that somewhat resembles any of the other "Halloween" movies.

One of the key factors in the previous movies in the series was the fact that they were in Haddonfield...that was where Michael's rage began.....While the setting is still scary, a boarding school in Cali just doesn't give it the same spooky feel, and I just felt like I was watching an episode of Dawson's Creek (besides the fact that Michelle Williams was in the movie).....Also, the mask looks completely different, you're not supposed to be able to see his eyes, and the hair is all messed up....And the worst part, as a fan of the series, is that it completely ignores the story line from parts 4-6...just because the director doesn't like those films doesn't mean they don't exist.....

I'm completely for the empowered woman who finally faces her demons, or in this case her psycho killer brother, but as a fan of the series, this ranks right near the bottom of the heap....if you like the "Halloween" movies, get it just to say you have it, but in my opinion it's one of the worst in the series....


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