Halloween (Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition)

Rating:
Summary: H25: A Few Treats And A Very Bad Trick
Review: John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN, is my favorite horror film, and is for sure the best of its kind. Over the last several years, Anchor Bay, has released different versions of the film on DVD. As much as I hate when there are multiple versions of the same film on DVD, I had to check out the 25th Anniversary Edition of one of my favorite films

On Halloween night in 1963, six year old Michael Myers, kills his sister in cold blood, and is put away in a mental hospital. His psychaitrist, Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) soon discovers that his patient is "waiting for some secret silent alarm to trigger him off". Fifteen years later, Myers (Nick Castle) escapes and heads back to his home town of Haddonfield Illonois, to continue his reign of terror. This time he goes after three high school friends, Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis), Annie (Nancy Loomis), and Lynda (P.J. Soles). Dr. Loomis rushes to Haddonfield to try and stop him.

The film's story and simple style has been with me ever since I saw the movie when it first aired on NBC-TV in 1981 From its script, effective cinematography by Dean Cundey, and that unforgettable theme and film score from Carpenter. It is that winning combination and fine acting from Pleasence and Curtis that set this film apart from any of its wanna be contemporary clones. It's hard to put into words but its magic. I forgot how little gore was in the film until I sat down recently to watch it. The film's "style over substance" approach really works. The amazing thing about all of this, is the fact that part of the style was by design, and the other part was dictated by a limited budget. It is what I like to call "filmmaking on the fly".

Before I get into the extras on this DVD, first, a word or two about the television version, which is now avaible as part of a limited edition 2 DVD set (I also own that version as well-but the TV cut is not included in this Annversary set), or as a separate purchase with no extras. The T.V. version adds 12 minutes of footage that was shot to satisfy network execs, who wanted to pad the film, after some of its more violent and objectionable material was edited for broadcast. Carpenter stated that he doesn't care for the additional scenes, but I kind of like them, since they were part of the film, the very first time I saw it. Either cut of HALLOWEEN works very well.

The commentary from Carpenter, Hill, and Curtis hasn't been available since the Criterion Laserdisc went out of print. It is a good track, that's lots of fun, even though each participant was recorded separately, it's still a winner. The retrospective documentary A Cut Above The Rest leads off disc 2. Part of the program aired in 2002, as part of the AMC channel's annual Monsterfest. The 87 munute documentary repeats some stuff heard on the commentary-but I can live with that. All new to the mix is a 10 munute featurette on California locales that subed in the film for Haddonfield Illinois. Poster/still gallery, talent files, TV spots, radio ads and trailers (from the previous edition) are included. DVD-ROM material rounds out disc 2. Wallpapers, screensavers, and a printable script can be yours.

With all the hoopla and "new" extras, I still don't consider this edition all that great, over the limited edition from '98. Here's why: For some reason, the folks at Anchor Bay, decided to tweak with the print of the film. Certain scenes seem like the color has been tampered with. Not all of them, but enough, for this fan to notice. That's why I can only give the Anniversary Edition only **** stars Recommended, but I still plan to keep my Limited Edition around, just the same. Together, both sets, make for the ultimate scare.

Rating:
Summary: Great suspense horror classic from John Carpenter.
Review: This is one of the best horrors films, that ever came out in the late seventies and also the best slasher film. Directed and Co-written by John Carpenter(The Fog, The Thing, Ghosts of Mars) gives this film a strong suspense and chills also. Good performances by Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis. Carpenter also score the film. This film made history in 1978, produced by Debra Hill(Also co-written the film) made this unforgettable in the history of horror films. The plot is simple: In 1963, an six year old boy killed his sister without a reason and then fifteen years later, he escapes and then return to his home town and he stalks and kills babysitters. The plot might seems dumb but it`s works surprisngly well. DVD is remastered in THX Picture Quality and Sound. Include: Widescreen anamorphic format(2.35:1) and Pan & Scan. Three different soundings for the film: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono. The extras are an 30 min documentary on the film, trailers, radio spots, photo gallery and bios. Panavision. Grade:A-.

Rating:
Summary: This movie will never get old
Review: Yes this is a classic masterpiece of genius, this mayb the best killer horror movie ever, this played the other day, its like my 100th time watching it, what do you expect it's Michael Myers this is were it all starts.

Rating:
Summary: STILL THE BEST
Review: I`ve seen this film numerous times and it still is the most frightening film for me.... I still have nightmares after watching this... It was made for very little money and has the quality of authencity and realism; yes you get the feeling it could happen in your o w n neighbourhood... Indeed - now that`s why it scares the hell out of me hehehe

Rating:
Summary: the absolute best
Review: this is scary intence and my personal favirote this is a MUST see for movie fans ecpecailly horror movie fans.

Rating:
Summary: Don't fear the Reaper...
Review: One day young Michael Myers decided that his sister shouldn't live anymore. She must have been in her late teens. He was six. He stabbed her to death. It was Halloween.

15 years later Michael escapes from the mental asylum. He returns to his hometown, Haddonfield, persued by his psychiatrist, Dr Loomis.

In Haddonfield people are preparing to celebrate the holiday. We follow three girlfriends who are going to meet with their boyfriends, and babysit. The great thing about having things taking place on Halloween is that this holiday means many things. It means party, which means opportunity to work (babysit), and it means horror. Of course you can mix these quite naturally.

Leaves are falling from the trees. The girlfriends are still in the classroom... being asked about fate in literature class. There are children in the schoolyard scaring each other, saying that the "Boogeyman" is coming on Halloween. And Michael Myers appearing everywhere, just watching or driving his (stolen) car. John Carpenter knows how to set the mood. And his music in this film is gold.

There are scarier movies out there, but it's hard to top the mood of this one.

Rating:
Summary: If it's not broke, don't fix it.
Review: Ok, I have to give this a 3 based on the original film alone. I bought it(though not from amazon), as well as the previous DVD release of Halloween. However, this version of it loses points because of the travesty that has befallen this excitingly frightening film. In an attempt to "improve" the video quality, they have simultaneously drained the film of it's mistique. No longer does Michael Myers seem to materilize out of the darkness, now he simply steps out from behind the corner. Essentially, this version of the film falls prey to the idea that every nighttime scene should have a blue hint. The Shape (as Myers is also known) is no longer that, he is now just a guy in a blue-lit room. I recommend you buy the previous version, if you can still find it.

Rating:
Summary: This is not a treat but a trick
Review: why do people like this trash it isn't scary nor interesting and the movie is slow paced that it looks like director John Carpenter shot this while walking slowly and the movie is low budget there is hardly any blood or good special effects instead fans like it for its so-called suspense and laughable scares. The main plot is a boy who murdered his sister and returns years later to kill babysitters in his hometown. Halloween is no treat but a trick. Fans of horror films should rent something better. The only good part is when Jamie Lee Curtis is laying on the ground and in the background Michael Myers sits up slowly looking at her.

Rating:
Summary: This is the Best Horror movie ever!!!
Review: If you take an audience that never seen either Psycho or Halloween and had them watch both films, let's see how many screams per each film there are. Halloween like Psycho has a believible storyline where both characters could really exist. It wasn't until after the first film where Michael gets shot about a hundred times and still lives that the character isn't plauseable anymore. But, the pure terror that is given off by this faceless killer relentlessly stalking his victim is chilling, that when you leave the theater and get in your car to go home, you have to check the back seat to make sure Michael isn't there. Now that's what I call scary!

Rating:
Summary: If you want the all star movie, go for this one
Review: "Halloween", created by John Carpenter, is the earlier of the three transformed horror series (Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street are the other two). It features Donald Pleasance, a British actor who did quite a bit of stage work, and even spent a year in a German prison camp when he was in the Royal Air Corps during WW2. He plays the mad doctor/hero, Sam Loomis, who dedicates 15 years to try to get inside the head of a child who brutally murdered his sister when he was six. His shocking quotes were, "I met this 6-year old boy with the blackest eyes...the devil's eyes." and, "I spend 8 years trying to reach him and another 7 trying to keep him locked up because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply...evil."

Also featured is Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, Michael's (the killer's) sister, who is stalked by Michael himself. But Loomis is hot on the trail, and tracks down Michael, only to see his unmasked face with Laurie. He shoots Michael six times, once in the heart, and then the most climactic horror events ever begin.

So see this movie if you are interested in a more realistic, classic series and you like the idea of a Halloween killer. It's just great!